Since I'm looking at my own ancestry in the area, it'll be a lot of Scots-Irish. Also, traditions of protective magic in re: mining, because I think I remember stories of very early mines having protective shrines.

Ah, research. It suddenly occurred to me that the deaths of miners could be seen as a sacrifice to the earth in return for taking the coal and gold etc.

I did a quick google and there are a million sites on appalachian folktales. I'd help, but I just remembered I can't.

An excerpt of your story is up on the site now. I forgot to put up excerpts.

FYI, writers, apparently Walter Mosley has a new book about writing your novel in a year, and it's excerpted in this month's Oprah. It's a lot of, "No, really, just write every day. It'll be OK." but his style is engaging.

I'll have to read it in the grocery line, because I refuse to give money to Oprah. Her and Disney, they've both become Evil Empires in my mind.

Walter Mosley's good, though. He has been somebody I've kept in mind a lot while I've been trying to change up the detective story..

A drabble challenge for Monday:

"My god! Its full of handwavium!"

As with all challenges, you are free to interpret as broadly as you wish.

And anyone else feel free to make another one.

Connie, thought you might like to know. As of this moment, we've sold more copies of Shepherd of the Wolves than any other story.

Hee

when/will sales figures be available?

Probably with royalty statements in September.

oh yay connie! I was looking at the "people who bought this title also bought" list - some impressive company there! And yay Deena!