Down in the Holler: Behind the Story

A debrief on the background and inspiration behind this quirky murder mystery

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Just in case anyone needs to catch up:

Down in the Holler - Table of Contents

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Down in the Holler is complete! This story has been drifting around in my head for almost two years, and putting it into words has been one of the most rewarding and exciting writing endeavors I’ve ever undertaken. Thank you so much to everyone who read the story and cheered for Judith (and Tim!) - I can’t tell you how much it means to me.

As a debrief for myself and to answer some questions about the background and inspiration for Down in the Holler, here’s a little bit about the origins of Judith, Autumn, and their story:

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Inspiration

A couple years ago when my family moved into a fixer-upper house¹ at the end of a semi-rural cul-de-sac, I thought that there was nothing beyond our street but a patch of wilderness with a lovely little pond and a thick stand of trees. Then one day in autumn, I took my kids to the end of the cul-de-sac to look at the turtles in the pond, and through the mostly-bare tree limbs I saw a mansion.

A huge stone mansion just across the pond and up a hill, looming over the wilderness and our little neighborhood.

As you can imagine, this was candy for my imagination.

I started concocting stories about a ghost house² that only appeared at certain times, about the crimes that took place within its walls and the tragic, vengeful ghosts seeking retribution. Very melodramatic, very fun.

And the protagonist of these stories, a fact-focused paranormal investigator with psychic abilities, started poking me and demanding attention, not leaving me alone. As I daydreamed and fiddled with the stories in my head, I tried to tweak this protagonist’s personality, but she would not allow it. Her name was Judith, and she did not take kindly to nonsense.

Background

The case itself was loosely inspired by a real missing persons case - the disappearance of Brooke Henson from Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina. Autumn’s last name, Hanson, is a tribute to Brooke, whose case is still unsolved.

Autumn’s disappearance in Down in the Holler shares many similarities with Brooke’s, including the note she left behind and the primary suspect being her then-boyfriend. But, as in Autumn’s case, Brooke’s body has never been found and there was never enough evidence to make any arrests. Now, 25 years later, law enforcement in Traveler’s Rest continues to search for Brooke’s body and for answers to her unexplained disappearance. In Down in the Holler, I tried to give Autumn and her family more closure than Brooke and her family have yet experienced.

The Psychic Stuff

I have to credit the podcast Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World for much of my knowledge about psychics.³ Jimmy Akin has analyzed alleged psychic phenomena in several episodes and has provided information about the different types of phenomena, how real-life psychics cooperate with law enforcement, and how paranormal investigators approach their work. So the mentions of hauntings vs. apparitions vs. place memories - all thanks to this podcast!

If you’re interested in learning more, Jimmy Akin is very thorough in his investigations, does not jump to the assumption that all strange events are paranormal, and is very respectful and logical in his approach to even the most bizarre questions.

My family teases me for how frequently I bring this podcast up in conversation, but it really is one of my favorites!

While it’s not an exhaustive list of the paranormal topics covered on the podcast, here’s a list of some of the episodes that informed my portrayal of the paranormal in Down in the Holler:

• Ep. 164: Border Patrol Ghost

• Ep. 210: Haunted House of Marin County

• Ep. 246 and 247: Dowsing

• Ep. 264: Interview with Pam Coronado, Psychic Detective

• Ep. 306 and 307: After Death Communications

Resources and Vibes

Deep Cover: Never Seen Again (Season 3)

This is the podcast where I first heard about Brooke Henson’s case. Deep Cover mostly deals with how Brooke’s case intersected with the life of a woman named Esther Reed, but if you would like to learn more about the real-life inspiration for Autumn, this is a great place to start!

The Jen Fulwiler Show

Judith is much more analytical than I am, and there were times when I needed more insight into how a highly analytical person would cope with the chaos and unpredictability of this case.

Enter

Jen Fulwiler

! Jen is a standup comedian who gives fantastic and hilarious life advice about cultivating community on her podcast The Jen Fulwiler Show.⁴ A huge part of her comedy and storytelling relates to her experiences as a very analytical person living in the midst of chaos (six kids and a writing/comedy career). I’m an avid listener to her podcast, and Jen’s stories about her life, family, and numerous spreadsheets gave me some insights into how to write Judith in a more engaging, sympathetic, and realistic way.

Justified

If you want more Kentucky Gothic vibes, this is the TV show for you.

Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers

These are my murder mystery ladies. I love their stories so much, and they are the ones who first sparked my love for twisty mysteries. I started reading Agatha Christie in middle school⁵, and Dorothy Sayers is my go-to rainy day comfort read.

Thank you

I really cannot say thank you enough to those of you who have stuck with me through this story. I’ve been blown away by the support and kind comments, and, as a lifelong mystery buff, it’s a literal dream come true to be able to craft a story that chills, thrills, and brings a satisfying resolution.

Thank you for the likes, comments, restacks, and messages, and most of all for reading this quirky little story. This really is the best online fiction community, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it!

Judith (and Tim!) will be back again in October for their next adventure, tentatively titled Beasts of the Field.

1. When I say “fixer upper,” I really mean a fixer upper. Like, holes in the walls, 30+ year-old carpet, yard infested by prickly sandburs fixer upper.

2. This mansion may come into Judith’s story at some point, although probably not in the same way that I initially imagined it.

3. I generally am quite skeptical of claims of psychic phenomena, but I’m not categorically opposed to the idea that it could be real.

4. Can you tell that I listen to a lot of podcasts?

5. Y’all, I was and am a NERD.