Soap Lake a ‘natural fit’ for mystery novel, author says

BY REBECCA PETTINGILL, Contributing Writer

ANACORTES – Matthew Sullivan may have left Soap Lake, but Soap Lake has not left Matthew Sullivan.

The unique vibe of the Home of the Healing Waters and unrealized Giant Lava Lamp made an indelible impression on the former resident, who used it as the backdrop for his mystery crime novel, “Midnight in Soap Lake.”

The book was released in April, the second novel penned by Sullivan, a former tenured instructor at Big Bend Community College who now lives in Anacortes.

“(Soap Lake) is such an interesting place, it was kind of like ‘How could I not (write about it)?’” Sullivan said during a telephone interview earlier this month.

“It’s almost like all these pieces that ended up in the story were kind of ready-made,” he said. “Even though I fictionalized them – some of them play a big role and a lot of them are kind of mentioned in passing – but they all just seemed like a natural fit for a crime novel.”

“Midnight in Soap Lake” follows the story of a woman named Abigail who recently moved to Soap Lake. As she uncovers the tragic past of a local woman named Esme who was murdered, Abigail uncovers far more secrets and violence than she intended.

For the record, homicides – even fictional ones – are quite rare in Soap Lake and Esme’s unfortunate demise only occurs on the pages between the book covers.

“Midnight in Soap Lake” is available for check-out through NCW Libraries in both physical and digital formats, and can be purchased at The Bookery bookstore in Ephrata, on Amazon, and other major book retailers.

Sullivan initially came to Soap Lake and the Columbia Basin in 2003. A native of Aurora, Colorado, he received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of San Francisco and later earned a master of fine arts degree from the University of Idaho.

At BBCC, Sullivan taught literature, writing, and film studies at the Moses Lake campus until 2019, when he moved to Anacortes, then continued teaching online for the college until 2023.

During his tenure here, Sullivan’s debut novel, “Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore,” was published in 2017 and earned numerous honors and nationwide recognition.

 The storyline follows a bookstore clerk’s investigation into a patron’s suicide. The clerk discovers disturbing clues which lead her to examine her own past and discover that some things – or people – never leave.

Like memories of Soap Lake.

After moving to the community two decades ago and getting to know the area, Sullivan said he started to realize there were so many “unique and interesting parts of the town and its history” that drew him in.

He was intrigued by the town’s quirkiness, which seemed to be seeping with inspiration, and his time here was not forgotten.

Since the release of “Midnight in Soap Lake” this past spring, Sullivan said he has seen a great deal of support for his book in the Columbia Basin and has received a lot of positive feedback from readers.

Sheryl Dotson, owner of The Bookery bookstore, said her shop has sold over 70 copies.

Dotson said one customer later remarked, “I loved the book and the references to familiar areas around Soap Lake.”

And another customer recently indicated that they enjoyed the mystery content of the book, but had “intriguing questions for the author after reading,” said Dotson.

That might be gratifying to hear for Sullivan, who said he intentionally wrote the book in a manner to suggest that the paths of the characters may continue on. Not necessarily with a neat-and-tidy ending or as a sequel, but rather like real life, which continues even after tribulation and tragedy, he said.

“From my perspective, I think that, as a reader, I love it when I get to the end of the book and I feel like there are possibilities,” he said.

The character Esme, said Sullivan, is “defined by all these things she has no control over... and I do feel like I was playing around with the fact that a person’s past in a small town can really follow and define them even if it’s unfair.”

But he also hoped readers will discern that even though bad things happen and systems allow bad things to happen, people can still make a difference through supporting one another – as seen in “Midnight in Soap Lake.”

“People are still taking care of each other and finding community, meaning, and joy,” he said.

Sullivan’s “Midnight” theme will continue in a third novel expected to be published in 2027.

While the full title has not been disclosed, Sullivan indicated the book ends where “Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore” begins. Sullivan calls the books “a series of stand-alone, thematically-linked novels."

The third novel also contains references to Soap Lake, said Sullivan. “There’s some small ‘Easter eggs’ that have to do with both books, but it’s very much a stand-alone book. You don’t need to have read either book to understand the story."

Regarding his own personal path to authorship, Sullivan said he has always had a passion for storytelling and grew up reading and writing. His mother also wrote, and Sullivan went on to work in a bookstore, as an editor, and literature teacher.

And, more currently, he said, cobbling together “assorted gigs” such as being a traveling speaker for Humanities Washington and teaching free classes for senior citizens.

“For now, I make a living entirely as a writer,” said Sullivan, noting that entails attending book events, teaching at conferences, and more. 

For information about Matthew Sullivan, including what others have to say, or to stay up-to-date on his upcoming book, visit his website at https://matthewjsullivan.com/.