The Last Coon Hunter begins the Ryland Creek saga, introducing Widower Jacob Ernst and his two sons, Nathan and Mead.  It also depicts the lifestyle in rural Upstate New York, the passion of raising and chasing behind coonhounds in the night time forests,  and the bonds between family and their hounds.

Just as important: the reader learns about Painted Post (my real hometown) and some of the wonderful legends and history behind this storied place.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED AS A WRITER

Many special things happen as an author. One special lesson is that each reader takes away something very personal. Their individual takeaways are just as real as anything any writer ever meant.
 
The two biggest, common surprises for me in writing the Ryland Creek series that I hear from readers are:
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• Just as much as hunters, avowed non- and even anti-hunters like the series. The way one dear reader put it: "It's not just about coon hunting as much as it is about the people who go coon hunting." There's a lot of truth to that sentiment.

 

• The realization that Upstate New York is not at all like New York City (NYC). Yes, in this part of New York, we have millions of acres of forests, rivers, fields, farms, and waterfalls. A rural lifestyle is very much enjoyed by the folks who live outside the five boroughs in NYC. There's a great deal of pride in the life we live.

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Nathan and Sharon in The Last Coon Hunter

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A spreading red oak in the Painted Post area.