By Holly Kline
“The Ghost of Cheeney Creek,” a novel written by Indianapolis resident Madalyn S. Kinsey, is set in Fishers during the 1960s and revolves around a group of kids playing on a farm who experience adventures including brushes with a Civil War ghost. The book makes reference to both past and existing Fishers and Noblesville landmarks including the real Cheeney Creek, the ABC Drive-In and more.
The book is fiction but based on experiences at Kinsey’s family farm at 106th and Allisonville Road.
“I wanted to honor the area,” Kinsey said. “I wanted to capture a time that was so much fun; it was a time without handheld electronics and one black and white TV that got three channels. There was so much to do at that farm with the creek and all of the farm structures.”
Local artist Sharon Cazzell produced drawings for “The Ghost of Cheeney Creek” that include illustrations of well-known local places from the ‘60’s like the Northern Beach Swim Club, the ABC Drive-In and the Rainbo Roller Rink.
Kinsey grew up in Indianapolis and spent time as a child at the family farm in Fishers where her mother was raised. Kinsey and her cousins played and had adventures at the farm, just like the characters in “The Ghost of Cheeney Creek.”
The ghost in the book, named James Payne, is based on an actual grave at a cemetery near the farm. The grave belongs to Civil War soldier James Parker and, according to Kinsey, was featured about two years ago on a SyFy channel reality show. The ghost of James Parker is said to haunt the area.
Kinsey enjoyed the process of writing her first book.
“I feel like I was transported away into what I was writing about. It was like a movie in my mind and I enjoyed going there,” she said. “I’m about to finish a second novel that builds on the first.”
“The Ghost of Cheeney Creek” is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and in the gift shop at Allisonville Nursery in Fishers. The public is invited to Kinsey’s book signing on Oct. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Columbia Club, located at 121 Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
