The season begins in 1964 at the fictional mental institution, Briarcliff Manor, following the stories of the staff and inmates who occupy it, and intercuts with events in the past and present. From the 2012 season American Horror Story: Asylum, this is Lana’s (Sarah Paulson) Hero Novel for Book Reading. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to welcome to Newman’s Books the writer of Maniac: One Woman’s Story of Survival. It’s been on The New York Times Best Seller list for ten weeks now. The book is a sensation. And, after devouring it in one sitting, I can honestly say … she’s my hero. Please welcome my new favorite author, Lana Winters.” It’s 1969, Lana escaped Briarcliff years ago, and her book on the Bloody Face murders has finally been published. Read aloud in Episode 12 this special copy of the book actually contains written pages of the actual novel as an insert at the bookmark.