Frequently Asked Questions
Questions people commonly ask Google (and me) about Damnation Spring and writing.
Is Damnation Spring a real place?
No, but north of Klamath, near where Rich and Colleen live in the book, there is a Damnation Creek. It flows downhill through old-growth redwoods to the Pacific Ocean. The geography is fictionalized to protect the privacy of the place.
Is Damnation Spring based on a true story?
Damnation Spring is fiction, but many of the details about herbicide spraying and birth defects, including the cases of anencephaly (when a baby is born missing parts of the brain and skull), are inspired by true stories in A Bitter Fog by Carol Van Strum.
Can you explain the ending of Damnation Spring?
The ending you read in Damnation Spring is the 6th ending I wrote. It’s not at all how I thought the book would end (it surprised me too). It’s something that happened with some frequency in real life around Klamath at that time, and it’s a reminder of how quickly—in an instant—all our lives can change.
Why is Del Norte County spelled “Del Nort County”?
I chose to use a phonetic spelling so that readers who aren’t familiar with the area would have the local pronunciation in their minds as they make their way through Damnation Spring.
Where does Damnation Spring take place?
Damnation Spring takes place in the redwood forest in Klamath, on the far northern coast of California, in Del Norte County, north of Arcata and south of Crescent City.
What is Damnation Spring about?
Damnation Spring is about a very tall logger obsessed with a very tall tree, and his wife, a midwife who begins to suspect that herbicides the logging company uses might be poisoning their community.
How many pages is Damnation Spring?
442. 445 if you read the acknowledgments. It takes some people a little while to get into it. (Stephen King said: “By the time I was 50 pages in, I could hardly put it down.”)
I’ve written a book. Do you have any advice about finding an agent?
The best advice I’ve heard comes from Margaret Atwood, who says choosing an agent is like choosing a spouse: you go with the one who really loves you.
It might be helpful to read the acknowledgment sections of books you admire to see who represents the writers. Google those agents and read, listen to, and watch any interviews they've given. If you feel like an agent might be a good match for your project, send a short, simple email query. Poets & Writers has a good basic how-to guide here. Their series of Q&As with agents might also be helpful reading.
There were periods for me, in writing Damnation Spring, when I felt so dejected and hopeless I would have signed with any agent who'd wanted me, but the truth is, you only need one. You're looking for the person who, ideally, is going to champion your work for the rest of your career; this will be one of the longest and most important professional relationships of your life. Don't be discouraged by rejections; they're part of the process. You're looking for a person who believes in your work, who will tell you the truth, and who has a vision for getting it into the hands of editors and readers. It may take a while to find this person, but when you do, you’ll know.