UPDATES AND A NEW BOOK IDEA

Written By Jana Hutcheson

In May, I wrapped up a 32-year teaching career. That’s right—32 years! People keep asking if I’m enjoying retirement, but to be honest, so far it just feels like a normal summer break. I’ve been told it won’t feel real until school starts back in August, when everyone heads back to the classroom and I’m still at home. I can’t wait to spend fall mornings outside, enjoying the cooler temperatures while walking or reading on my patio bed swing!

Last night, I had the privilege of attending my first book club meeting as an invited guest, and I’ve decided the small-group experience is my favorite type of author event! I’d never participated in a book club as either a member or an author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It turned out to be so much fun! It was really just about food and fellowship. We sat around the dining room table while I answered their questions about my book and my writing process, and we even talked a little about faith and what it looks like to exercise it in the midst of hard circumstances. The ladies were so gracious and complimentary. They really made me feel like a celebrity.

One of the first questions they asked was whether I’ve started working on another book, and the answer is yes! I have started outlining another story. I’m currently calling it What Happened in Gin Tilly. It’s a prequel to The Spring in Trulee Holler, set in 1985 at a South Alabama campground and RV park that’s also home to an iconic fry shack. It’s told from dual points of view: Silas, the main character in The Spring in Trulee Holler, and Hattie, someone from his past whom he mentions in The Spring in Trulee Holler. It explores what it looks like to forgive someone who’s wronged you deeply, while also asking a bigger question: What gives life meaning? What is our purpose? I want it to be fun, enchanting, and thought-provoking!

Jana Hutcheson

Jana Hutcheson lives and teaches in the same small Alabama town where she grew up. Her first story was a piece of fanfiction inspired by The Outsiders, which she found years later in her parents’ attic, reread, and promptly threw away. Due to a busy schedule, a bent toward perfectionism that shows up only when she’s writing, and an array of unexpected life events, it took her fourteen years to complete The Spring in Trulee Holler. Her quirks include being a picky eater and filling all her silent moments with eclectic playlists. Besides her family, she loves long afternoon walks, greasy burger joints, and the smell of burning leaves.

https://jana@janahutcheson.com
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