The Hollows is a very interesting and unique place. It started out simply as the setting, a fictional town I created, for my novel FRAGILE. But, over the years, it has become much more. Last week, I visited with one of my favorite book groups, run by the wonderful Pat Dowling at Clearwater Yacht Club. And one of the members, Kurt, had a very insightful comment and question about The Hollows. He said:

“To me, The Hollows is a symbol of the Universe.  My question is, does The Hollows act more upon the characters or do the characters more influence The Hollows?”

I loved answering because it so gets to the heart of what The Hollows has come to mean to me.

The Hollows is, in some sense, how I see life. It has an endless number of shades and layers, and it shows various parts of itself to everyone. The Hollows is someplace different for Jones Cooper than it is for Eloise Montgomery than it is for Ian Paine. They all see what they want to see in the place, and they all take away a unique experience. Jones, who is a very practical, feet-on-the-ground type of guy, views The Hollows as he would view any other place. Eloise sees — and hears — a totally other perspective, something beyond the buildings and trees. Someone like Ian — troubled, addicted, sensitive — is having another experience yet again. They are all acting upon and being acted upon by The Hollows in different ways. Like life, The Hollows is exactly what you expect it to be, exactly what you put into it — and yet there are many elements that are totally out of your control.

Thanks for the great question, Kurt! I realized that I have been speaking to Pat’s group since my first book ANGEL FIRE was published in 2002 — so thirteen years! Wow! What a blessing to have such loyal — and fun — readers!

The Hollows Roadmap.  The Hollows is not a series in the traditional sense, because the books feature different people and stories, however they share moments with regard to place and connections that form when we inhabit a place.  Whether it’s your first visit, or you are returning to The Hollows, here is a tour guide you can follow that just might give you the richest experience…

FRAGILE. This is the best place to start, it’s the first book to feature The Hollows, Jones Cooper and Eloise Montgomery.  ( ebook on sale for $1.99! )
THE WHISPERS, THE BURNING GIRL and THE THREE SISTERS. These three e-short stories span 30 years in the life of Eloise Montgomery and explore what The Hollows means to her and her family. Their tendrils reach back before FRAGILE and ahead through CRAZY LOVE YOU and beyond.
DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND. Introduces Willow Graves. And is the second book to feature Jones Cooper, including an exploration of his past.
IN THE BLOOD. Introduces Lana Granger.
CRAZY LOVE YOU. Introduces Ian Paine & Priss.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in The Hollows!