Angela Merlo is an author and journalist whose writing delves into the complex intersection of hope and despair. Her debut novel, Devil's Lake, captivated readers with its haunting blend of angels, demons, and the supernatural. The story follows a young woman who finds freedom from her anxiety and depression through the mysterious powers of a strange man she may not be able to trust. The novel, praised for its unique fusion of psychological depth and unique supernatural characters, earned a five-star review from Indies Today and was recognized as a finalist in their annual contest.

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Angela’s path to becoming a writer began in 2014 when she serialized Devil’s Lake on Wattpad under the alias light-in-darkness, where her gripping storytelling quickly attracted a following. In addition to her work on the novel, she has competed in fiction contests, with her short story Mother reaching the final rounds in a high-profile competition for a television adaptation.

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Currently, Angela works for a local newspaper and has previously worked at a Catholic Diocesan newspaper. In 2022, after years of spiritual exploration, Angela converted from Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy, a journey she is now chronicling in a memoir she is preparing to publish.

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Influenced by both modern and classical authors, from the eerie worlds of R.L. Stine and L.J. Smith to the theological brilliance of Flannery O’Connor, Angela’s work seeks to bring the light of hope to the places filled with the darkest despair.