Editorial Content for The Pecan Children

Quinn Connor is the pen name for Robyn Barrow and Alexandra Cronin, who had quite an impact with their debut novel, CICADAS SING OF SUMMER GRAVES. They met in college and have been communicating through the medium of writing ever since.

Their latest book, THE PECAN CHILDREN, is a nice juicy slice of southern Gothic with a mix of horror and magical realism that only could have been set in this region of the country. Twin sisters Lil and Sasha Clearwater reside (quite fittingly) in the small Arkansas town of Clearwater, which is most famous for their annual harvest of luscious pecans. The pecan orchard that Lil mostly looks after faithfully produces the finest in the area.

"...a nice juicy slice of southern Gothic with a mix of horror and magical realism that only could have been set in this region of the country....The ageless supernatural elements give it an ancient and powerful atmosphere that will linger in your brain long after the story is finished."

Clearwater has fallen on hard economic times, and many of the sisters’ friends and neighbors have left. Sasha has returned with her small riverboat in an attempt to rekindle the special bond she has with Lil and to save their land from the many greedy, prying hands that would love to take it from them at a pittance of what it’s worth. Their enemies will soon learn (if they haven’t already suspected) that they are dealing not only with two special young women, but with a piece of land built in an area that is living, breathing and capable of things that most would only dream up in their most fantastical nightmares. Amidst the kudzu and cries from the herons comes the Gothic horror element of the story that will keep you guessing and continuing to read this engaging tale with a sense of wonder.

The time that Sasha spent away from Clearwater in New York expanded her horizons and made her forget a little. Thus her reconnection with homebody Lil is so important as Lil becomes her memory. She reminds Sasha that the current difficult times are nothing new, and when they were young, there were people who tried to coax their mother to sell the property and “raise her two young girls in Memphis.” This is why they are better together and make a formidable team against the forces that oppose them. They also have learned how to use the haunted land --- which used to scare them like a Stephen King novel when they were young --- to their advantage.

Harvesting the golden and magical pecans may very well be the answer for them. Lil knows that this fertile land would dry up if it was managed by someone else, which is why their dedication to it will repay her and Sasha for their labor and commitment. The land remains a living and breathing creature with more supernatural power than the weak-minded can imagine, and they have found the perfect weapon in their battle to save their heritage.

The folklore of the region and the many characters, from both the present and the past, help drive THE PECAN CHILDREN into interesting territory, and the tale is never dull as a result. For those not attuned to the ways of the American South, this will feel like time spent in a foreign country. The ageless supernatural elements give it an ancient and powerful atmosphere that will linger in your brain long after the story is finished.