I’m sitting here moving slow as the weather keeps bouncing from 60 to 20 degrees and the arthritis isn’t impressed. It’s supposed to be 60 today so I might haul myself out of here and go hiking in the area I’ve been posting about for the last few weeks. This week we’re still in These Haunted Hills but I’ve moved ahead to ch 2 so we can meet Dr. Joshua Zimmerman (whose doctorate is in ecology), ghost hunter, steampunker, geek. We meet him just after he finishes a talk to a bunch of girl scouts as a favor to the naturalist who works in the park. As it so happens the unnamed (in the story) naturalist is my friend and partial inspiration for Josh. I’ve borrowed his website for Josh. If you’d like to see the real website, head here. Haunted Hocking . Most of the action will be set in Jackson, Vinton, Meigs and Athens county. I live in Jackson. And if you’re poking around the site thinking hmmmm that’s a lot of dirt roads, you’re right. I live where pavement isn’t really a thing.
And oh this area Stroud’s Run State Park is what got me thinking about this story originally. There is a haunted cabin in the park (Athens county if you want to look up the story).
So let’s meet Josh.
As the girls were herded down the trail, Joshua spotted a couple other hikers inspecting Ash cave. One man watched the water splashing down over the lip of the shelter cave. A Star Trek ball cap in science blue shielded much of his face. Sunglasses and well-kempt beard in deep walnut completed the obfuscation of his features, and yet Joshua knew who he was but only because he was expecting Brendan Halloran. He’d asked the author to meet him here because he thought that if Halloran was going to write a book set in the area he should see some of its most beautiful parts. Halloran wanted ghosts, and Ash Cave could provide those.
If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!
Jana Denardo 
Nicely drawn first impressions portrait 🙂
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Thank you.
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I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this story. Love the description of Brendon in the snippet – and Joshua in your intro.
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Thank you. It’ll be a while, it’s still just at the beginning of being created!
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The real backdrop to this story is as fascinating as the story itself! 🙂 I really do like this a lot.
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Thank you very much. The Hocking Hills is the best part of living here.
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I love your description of Brendan—it’s easy to picture him. 🙂
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Thanks so much. I’m glad you liked it.
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A true fan never leaves his Star Trek hat behind, even when he’s about to have a ghostly adventure. 🙂
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Thanks and no a true fan never does.
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Great description.
I really love the way you’re showing us the place where the story is set.
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Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
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Great description of Brendan, and the picture is beautiful.
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Thanks, Louise. If you ever find yourself hiking in the States, these aren’t as well known as some place but they’re a lovely hike (and relatively easy since I’m able to do it!)
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You really made him come alive with this description. I’m looking forward to the ghosts too! 🙂
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Thanks Charli! I’m working my way there. I’m looking forward to bringing the wicked ghost alive (and I have the perfect model for her too).
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I LOVE the pictures that go with your snippets. What a beautiful place. I also loved the snippet. Great introduction to a character.
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