Opossum Trot and Beyond

     When I was a kid, I pictured being an author as this almost magical experience not too dissimilar from a Jedi using the force. I imagined writers as artistic figures who were are able to tap into this ambiguous creative spirit that flowed through their body and onto the page. I thought inspiration could be triggered by small things, but once struck would burst from my brain like a hidden reserve of oil. 
     The reality is much less sexy. Inspiration definitely plays a part in the process and there are scenes I've written that seem to appear almost fully constructed (See Ezekiel's fight with Eden's dad in The Thin House), but 99% of writing is a lot more like playing with a Rubik's cube. You have a general idea of what is should look like and you spend a lot of time shifting and moving pieces to make it fit just right. Editing and rewriting play a much role in delivering a finished book, than I ever would have guessed. Particularly in the later stages, which is where I find myself. 
     So as a respite from the formatting and back and forth with printing services, I thought it may be therapeutic to take a break and share a little more about what comes next in The Hinderwood as well as future books. 

     Readers of The Thin House noticed that one of the strongest relationships in the book is between Finn and his Grandparents Ezekiel and Eleanor Blacklock. Eagle eyed fans may have also noticed that the story is dedicated to grandparents. I've said in earlier posts that I grew up in a Southern storytelling culture that was largely established by my parents and grandparents. When I wrote my first book I wanted to capture the feeling I grew up with of a young boy who is thrust into this world of elaborate and colorful mythologies. 
     Some people expected the second book to continue on this theme, and to basically see the continuation of Finn's story. I can honestly say that was never the plan. I envision Jackalope Stories as three separate, standalone (if overlapping) stories that are all ultimately tied together in an "event style" fourth book that serves as my bookend to the world I first created with Thin House. 
     That said, each of the three standalone stories is really founded on a type of relationship and a different stage in my own life. Thin House was my childhood relationship with grandparents and parents; whereas, The Hinderwood is my adolescence and my relationship with my younger siblings. I had a lot of readers ask about the parallels from my personal life that worked their way into the first book, and I've said before that good writing is personal writing. I expect this to intensify with book two. 

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     The Hinderwood takes place in the fictional town of Opossum Trot, Mississippi. Opossum Trot is an important corner of the Jackalope Stories Universe that will appear again in this series as well as other stories I intend to tell in the future. 
    Opossum Trot is based on my mom's hometown, Liberty Ms. Liberty MS was founded in 1809 and my mom's family, The Blalock's have been a big part of the community for generations. The town only has about 700 people, but it has a rich and colorful history which made it the perfect foundation on which to build Opossum Trot. 

     My siblings spent countless summers and weekends exploring the town and vast networks of trails my grandfather and great uncles cleared through the pine forest surrounding all the rural homes. It hasn't changed much since I was a kid, and it still has a magical quality that is hard to articulate. When I started considering the setting for The Doe Brother's story there was no other possibility. It was easy to picture Jack and Jimmy walking the quiet country roads and doing odd jobs for crazy old guys like Buford and Cash, who are based lovingly on my great uncles. 
     I actually first visited Opossum Trot as a writer when working on a comic book a couple years back. The comic didn't work out, but the quirky town has been stewing in the back of my mind for some time now, and I fully intend to go back not only for Hinderwood but for other future projects as well. 
     Readers may remember Opossum Trot from The Thin House. I actually mentioned the Opossum Trot Funeral Home in the chapter introducing The Auditor. It's no coincidence that book two follows one of the otherworldly bureaucrat's other files, and I think it's safe to assume you will see more of him throughout book two and three. In many ways The Auditor is the glue between the stories and his story is a big part of what I have planned for the finale in book four. 
     Anyways, I hope you're as excited as I am. I feel like I've been hanging out in Opossum Trot for years now, and I can't wait for you to do the same. Talk soon!