New Book Announcement

I have been waiting for this day for some time. In my experience, writing fiction that hasn't been shared with anyone is learning to live with voices in your head and elaborate invisible worlds that no one else visits. If you do your job right this imaginary world doesn't always feel so imaginary. You can clearly envision the geography, local flora and fauna, and the overall vibe of this place that exists in your head. Not only that, but the citizens of this fictional place become more and more real until you can almost hear them bickering, laughing, and vying for your attention. This phenomenon intensifies until you reach a point where you have to do something about it, or see a therapist. 
     So to put off having to set up an official appointment with my father-in-law, it's time for a new book. I can now officially announce that the second book in the Jackalope Stories series will be released on February 19th. To celebrate, I would like to reveal the completed cover for The Hinderwood which you can see below. 

    As you can see the talented Teo Skaffa has done the impossible and created artwork on par with (if not outright superior to) The Thin House. I was a fan of Teo's work even before we started working together on these books, because of his ability to tell a story and set a mood with subtle artistic choices. I can confidently say that ability is on display with the front and back covers. 
    The Hinderwood is a slightly more mature story than The Thin House. The protagonists are a little older and the subject matter is darker, while still being true to the spirit of Jackalope Stories. When Teo sent me the completed covers I was blown away with his ability to subtly capture the personalities of the characters as well as the ominous and mysterious nature of the place they find themselves through a series of unfortunate events. 
    I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I consider myself tremendously blessed to have such a talented artist to work with on this project. There are big things in Teo's future, and I highly encourage all my readers to check out his portfolio. You can see more of what he's up to on his website Teoskaffa.com 

​     So let's talk a little bit more about what you can expect from this next story. The Hinderwood takes place several years after the events of The Thin House and follows two brothers named Jack and Jimmy Doe. The brothers were orphaned at a young age and through a series of misadventures come to find themselves in the care of Ms. Dubois, an elderly, retired librarian in the small town of Opossum Trot, Mississippi. 
     Opossum Trot is a strange place, but the Doe's are well equipped for strange. Nonetheless, neither are prepared for the dark turn their story takes one Halloween night when both brothers find themselves thrust into a bizarre and dangerous world. Their otherworldly odyssey leads to encounters with some familiar faces and horrifying new threats. Surviving will only be possible if they can come to terms with dark truths about who they are and where they come from. 
     

      As I mentioned, The Hinderwood is the second installment of The Jackalope Stories Saga, but much like The Thin House it can be read as a standalone story. However, readers from my first book will appreciate a continuing sub plot that will frame future books and lead to a final story that will tie everything together in a conclusion that's been several years in the making. In the coming weeks you can check back here for more teasers and character spotlights in advance of our February release, but for now check out the back of book summary below. Talk soon! ​

​     When Jack and Jimmy Doe left New Orleans to live with a new guardian in Opossum Trot, Mississippi, the brothers thought they would finally live out a normal childhood—at least by their standards. They expected unfair fights with schoolyard bullies, hard work with ornery neighbors, and an endless supply of terrible though well-intended cookies.
​     But one Halloween night, Jimmy convinces his older brother Jack to break through the chains and locks on a wooden shed behind the town mortuary. By the time Jack rubs the blinding light from his eyes, Jimmy is already gone, stolen away by a pale hand with sharp, yellow nails. While Jimmy struggles against his ravenous captor, Jack can only give chase into a strange world—taking every risk necessary to find his lost brother before time runs out.
Because once spirits in the Hinderwood forget their purpose, they fade… or they feed.