Samantha has seen her fortunes as a writer plummet since she decided to leave the horror genre behind for romance writing. Her agent Coraline continues to receive requests for more Grinning Charlie novels but Sam declares that she's moved on from horror. However with her husband Mark business dealings faltering, combined with her reduced income, Sam can't refuse an offer from a large publisher linked to a film deal. Planning a surprise for Mark with the news on their anniversary she shows up at home unexpected to witnesses an event that turns her in a different direction. Sam decides to go to the small town of Warren for isolation and a bit of Inspiration to write her new book. Sam's makes great progress with her novel until an unfortunate accident effects her mental state and alters the rest of her time in the community.