STORIES BEHIND THE STORY

Researching the Mountain

Kentucky through my camera.

I took these photographs while researching The Weight of a Second. They record some of the places I visited as I developed the setting for the novel.

The Red Bird River was low and slow during my winter visit. The novel takes creative liberties with the river, presenting a more dramatic version of the real setting.

Photographs by Troy E. Kirk

The Red Bird River bends between bare trees during Troy’s winter research visit. — The Red Bird in winter
The river during my winter research visit, when the water was low and slow.

From the research trip

Select a photograph for a closer look.

Troy’s photograph of the weathered Chief Red Bird historical marker. — The Chief Red Bird marker
A historical marker I photographed during my Kentucky research.

A road curves between wooded hills beside a sign for Daniel Boone National Forest. — Entering the forest
A roadside sign marking the entrance to Daniel Boone National Forest.

A Kentucky roadside store and gas station beneath wooded hills. — Along the road
A roadside store and the surrounding hills, photographed on my research trip.

Personal research photographs. The story illustrations appear separately in Explore the Mountain.

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Researching the Mountain

The Red Bird in winter

From the research trip

The Chief Red Bird marker

Entering the forest

Along the road