Ask the Author: Allison Gunn
Answered Questions (1)
Allison Gunn
I'm absolutely thrilled that you loved Nowhere!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and review it.
As far as books/media that helped inspire the book, it is a wide range with quite a few classics that you may have already enjoyed long ago. Some of these include: Pet Sematary and Storm of the Century by Stephen King; Bird Box by Josh Malerman; and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Each of these have also been translated to the screen, and I highly recommend watching the adaptations alongside the books.
HBO's Mare of Easttown; The Outsider (also a book by King); and True Detective S1 are similar television shows that share similarities with Nowhere, though they were not necessarily foundational as I was initially writing the book.
However, some of the pivotal books utilized in Nowhere's development are a little more off the beaten path:
- Books and articles focused on faerie lore served as the foundation for the story. This is something I've been interested in since I was a small child, so there's no singular source I can point to and say "That's the collection that did it!" I'd recommend digging into some of the original fae tales from Celtic lore to start.
- A great examination of modern fae lore as well as other "paranormal" phenomena that often ties back to Appalachia is a two-volume book called "Where the Footprints End" by Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner.
- "Backwoods Witchcraft" by Jake Richards also helped clarify certain practices referenced in the book and is just an all-around fascinating dive into Appalachian magick and folklore.
- I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Appalachian Reckoning," an anthology by Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll as this very much helped round out my representation of local characters, such as Jeremy, the Morelands, and the Wises in a manner that (hopefully) challenges tired stereotypes. This non-fiction book was compiled in response to J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy which many of us in Appalachia felt was a cruel misrepresentation of the region despite its initial popularity.
I should also note that art and music deeply influence all of my work, so several nods should go to:
- The artist Brian Serway (https://bserway.com/). His work encapsulates the vibe of Nowhere in a manner that I didn't think was possible! I have many of his prints around my home, and each one takes me right back into Nowhere.
- Visuals from video games such as Silent Hill were also deeply influential in creating a specific atmosphere for the story.
- Many, MANY musicians also helped shape the tone of Nowhere (as you may have guessed while reading since lyrics are interjected throughout). Rather than listing them all, I'll share the Spotify link to the playlist I created for Nowhere: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Qg...
Hope this gives you plenty to explore in the vein of Nowhere! Thank you again :)
As far as books/media that helped inspire the book, it is a wide range with quite a few classics that you may have already enjoyed long ago. Some of these include: Pet Sematary and Storm of the Century by Stephen King; Bird Box by Josh Malerman; and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Each of these have also been translated to the screen, and I highly recommend watching the adaptations alongside the books.
HBO's Mare of Easttown; The Outsider (also a book by King); and True Detective S1 are similar television shows that share similarities with Nowhere, though they were not necessarily foundational as I was initially writing the book.
However, some of the pivotal books utilized in Nowhere's development are a little more off the beaten path:
- Books and articles focused on faerie lore served as the foundation for the story. This is something I've been interested in since I was a small child, so there's no singular source I can point to and say "That's the collection that did it!" I'd recommend digging into some of the original fae tales from Celtic lore to start.
- A great examination of modern fae lore as well as other "paranormal" phenomena that often ties back to Appalachia is a two-volume book called "Where the Footprints End" by Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner.
- "Backwoods Witchcraft" by Jake Richards also helped clarify certain practices referenced in the book and is just an all-around fascinating dive into Appalachian magick and folklore.
- I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Appalachian Reckoning," an anthology by Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll as this very much helped round out my representation of local characters, such as Jeremy, the Morelands, and the Wises in a manner that (hopefully) challenges tired stereotypes. This non-fiction book was compiled in response to J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy which many of us in Appalachia felt was a cruel misrepresentation of the region despite its initial popularity.
I should also note that art and music deeply influence all of my work, so several nods should go to:
- The artist Brian Serway (https://bserway.com/). His work encapsulates the vibe of Nowhere in a manner that I didn't think was possible! I have many of his prints around my home, and each one takes me right back into Nowhere.
- Visuals from video games such as Silent Hill were also deeply influential in creating a specific atmosphere for the story.
- Many, MANY musicians also helped shape the tone of Nowhere (as you may have guessed while reading since lyrics are interjected throughout). Rather than listing them all, I'll share the Spotify link to the playlist I created for Nowhere: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Qg...
Hope this gives you plenty to explore in the vein of Nowhere! Thank you again :)
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