A Conversation with Don Reid

What was the original inspiration for O Little Town?

Around the turn of the century, a member of a traveling circus troupe was murdered in Staunton, Virginia, the town upon which this story is based (and also my hometown). Her name was Eva Clark. Every year mysterious flowers are placed on her grave. That was the inspiration. The rest is fiction. 

What sort of research did you do as you wrote this novel?

I love research books. I have loads of them. I used them to check dates and become familiar with fashions and learn about common expressions from the early 1900s. I didn’t have to do much research for the 1958 storyline—I just referred to my own memories. I was only a kid then, but I was deep into that decade with my formative years.

Which character (or characters) do you relate to most in the story?

This may sound corny, but there’s a little bit of me in each of the characters. In order to really know them and develop them, I think I had to become a part of their thinking process. I love Walter—his grumpiness and wisdom. His matter-of-fact look at life. And I found Dove attractive even though she was full of problems of the heart. I really liked all these people. Even Doris. (Every family has one.)

How did you approach the writing of this novel? Did you map out the story before you dug into the writing, did you follow an idea to see where it took you, some combination of the two?

I did my own strange outline. This wasn’t anything like I learned in creative writing classes in school. I listed all my characters on a legal pad and drew lines from one name to the other and then wrote on the lines what their relationship was. Then I made notes about what I wanted to cover in each of the chapters—just three or four lines to remind me where the story would go. I knew from day one how the last page would read. 

As the book took shape, what surprised you most about the characters or storyline?

I don’t think anything about the storyline surprised me, but the people did. They all were more complex than I first thought—less “black and white.” There were no goodie-goodies and not a devil among them. They were the people next door and I was just looking in their windows. 

How would you describe the role of faith in O Little Town? The role of family?

The whole punch to the book is forgiveness. Every character whose family played a role came from a strong and good and faithful family. Some of the folks in the 1904 storyline didn’t have strong family connections. They were just out there drifting. And without God we all would be.

What was the most rewarding aspect of writing O Little Town? The most challenging?

The most rewarding thing was seeing these people leap from my mind to the paper and take on life. That, and having people respond with a smile after reading it.

And the most challenging? Keeping the timelines in order. Making sure the ages checked out and worked within the time frame.


What do you hope readers will take away from the story?

I hope they’re entertained, inspired, and moved. I hope they recognize in the characters people in their own lives, and perhaps even see themselves in there somewhere.