Andrew F. Balog has set a release date of November 21, 2026 for his second novel, Silence Wakes in the Deep. The book is a historical folk horror story built around the mystery of the lost Roanoke colony, published after roughly two years of writing and research.
The novel draws its terror from a fear Balog says has always fascinated him: sensing something malicious around you without knowing what it is, why it is happening, or whether you can escape it. Where the historical record left unanswered questions, he used fiction to imagine a terrifying possibility.
That gap in the record is where the book began. Roanoke's fate remains unknown, and Balog's research included historical accounts such as John White's writings, along with period-language references that shaped the novel's world and its dialogue.
The intended audience is adult readers who enjoy atmospheric horror, historical mysteries, folklore and slow-building psychological suspense. Balog said the book will especially appeal to readers fascinated by the lost colony, haunting settings, ancient evils and the terror of the unknown.
Balog's approach to horror leans on what is withheld. He said his experience directing and screenwriting gave his writing a cinematic quality, shaping how he builds scenes, controls pacing, and decides what to reveal or leave unseen. In this novel he pairs that method with historical research, bringing readers into the world of the story while the horror grows through uncertainty, atmosphere and the suggestion of an unseen presence.
Readers looking for historical folk horror novels can follow Balog's work, which applies the same scene-building and pacing to a story set against a documented mystery.
Silence Wakes in the Deep follows Balog's debut novel, What Whispers in the Darkness. After that debut, he completed 22 book signings in 12 weeks, connecting directly with readers. Balog said the experience helped shape the author he is today.
His background also includes international filmmaking awards, among them Best Director and Best Screenplay for his film 22. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association.
For Balog, the questions at the center of the book are meant to stay with readers after they close it.
“Fear begins where certainty ends. The unknown frightens us because our imagination gives it something of ourselves. In a crowded room of storytellers, I’m learning to trust my own voice and the questions that keep me awake. With Silence Wakes in the Deep, I want to make those questions feel so close that readers carry them into the quiet of their own homes.”
Balog is a horror author based in New York. Silence Wakes in the Deep is scheduled for release on November 21, 2026.