The Making of The Hobo Code

The Hobo Code is a hero’s journey.

Fifteen-year-old Jack takes it upon himself to to help his younger siblings travel from the Midwest to the west coast. He doesn’t relish taking a trip with no money, no idea where they’ll stay, and little hope of success in finding their way across the country. But if they don’t try they may lose each other forever.

Researching information this novel sent me on an adventure with Jack, George, and Hannah. They helped me see things I never knew existed.

Did you know that Los Angeles once had a fantastic railway system?

Transit map of LA 1906

I cannot begin to tell you how many rabbit holes I merrily wandered through, searching for relevant information to bring the novel to life.

There is more information on the research for this not yet published work here to learn more about the journey.

Stories lurk all around.

Some hide in dark closets, under the bed, or in the far back of a dimly lit basement waiting to emerge. They might drift within the clouds on angel’s wings to bring us out of the darkness and into the light.

Stories keep life interesting.

Top photo is on Pinterest

Learn Something New To Restructure Your Brain

I’m Back

Changing our mind literally changes our brain. Exciting as that is, I didn’t anticipate the new language would temporarily hinder my writing.

It’s been an age, maybe two since I’ve posted on my blog. I set aside work on the Charlie Chameleon stories, much as I love them, to write The Hobo Code, a Young Adult historical fiction novel based on my family history. I’ll mention more about that in a future blog.

We’ve been traveling since November of 2018, leaving the United States to wander through central and western Mexico. I cannot believe how much the world has changed since then.

I’ve continued to edit the Charlie Chameleon stories and finish what I hope is my final draft of The Hobo Code during our adventures. During all of this I was thrilled to be asked to contribute to a group named Writers In The Storm. Here’s a post about my attempts to write while traveling in a foreign land.

I promise not to be gone so long. Thanks for sticking with me.

Cheers!

Image by James Smith from Pixabay