Rusty Pickett Never Told Me What Year It Was
When I first started writing Rusty Pickett, I never assigned him a year. The journal simply needed to feel old. Then I began noticing how seemingly innocent details—a water filter, trail mix, a sleeping pad—quietly anchored him in a much more modern world. Join me behind the scenes as I share how a careful edit moved Rusty back to around 1895–1905, one object and one word at a time.
The Book That Became Many Journals
A Wild Guide began as the field journal of a single wilderness journey. Then Rusty Pickett needed mountains, deserts, forests, rivers, and more room to live each adventure honestly. Here is why one proposed guide became a collection of complete field journals.
Sketching the Map
Every memorable adventure needs a place to begin. Before the first chapter was written, I picked up a pencil and started sketching a simple map. What began as a few trails and landmarks soon became an essential part of building the world behind Journeys Of The Crew: The Adventure Begins.
This Page Will Never Be in the Book
Every chapter begins long before the first sentence. Take a peek behind the curtain at the notebook pages filled with sketches, questions, crossed-out ideas, and arrows that slowly become a Journeys Of The Crew adventure.
The Rule I Keep Breaking
One of the hardest lessons I've learned as a writer isn't knowing what to add. It's knowing what to leave out. Here's why I keep deleting explanations and trusting readers to discover the story alongside Tommy.
The Things You'll (Hopefully) Never Notice
Every finished story is supported by countless decisions readers will never see. From hand-drawn maps to trail distances and changing light, here's why the invisible work matters just as much as the words on the page.
Building a World One Question at a Time
Believable worlds aren't built by having all the answers. They're built by asking better questions. From muddy trails to forgotten landmarks, here's why curiosity is at the heart of every Journeys Of The Crew adventure.
No One Sees the Whole Trail
Tommy may be the main character, but he should not be the only one who notices what matters. Nate sees possibilities, Adam spots problems, and Murphy senses what the boys cannot. Together, they see more than any one of them could alone.
The Day Tommy Stopped Being an Idea
Every memorable character starts as an idea. Over time, though, something changes. Here's how Tommy, Nate, and Adam stopped being names on a page and became boys whose decisions I could no longer write for them.
Why I Keep Going Back to the Woods
Every visit to the woods teaches me something new. Sometimes I come home with a photograph. Other times I come home with a story. More often than not, I come home with a reminder to slow down and pay attention.
Welcome to Field Notes
Every journey leaves behind a few notes. Welcome to the journal where ideas, inspiration, and adventure continue beyond the books.