Journey Back in Time: The Inspiration Behind Pollyhollow

by Chandra Perkins

Welcome, fellow adventurers, to a tale spun from the threads of nostalgia and imagination! Today, I'm thrilled to peel back the curtain and share the origins of Pollyhollow, a place that exists only in the pages of my novel "Pirates and Witches and Other Obsessions." But this fictional town has roots in reality that run deeper than you might expect.

Image by Dawn Rose from Pixabay

Now, before we dive deeper into the mysteries of Pollyhollow, let me take you on a trip down memory lane. You see, my upbringing was steeped in the tales of yesteryear, courtesy of my mom. She'd regale me with anecdotes from her own childhood in Indiana during the 1930s and '40s, a time when a quarter could buy you a world of delights, from flour and milk to a ticket to the movies.

Image by Robindo from Pixabay

In those simpler times, small-town life pulsed with a charm all its own. From casual chats with the town doctor to impromptu conversations with jailhouse inmates, my mom's stories painted a vivid picture of a bygone era—a picture that served as the blueprint for Pollyhollow's nostalgic allure.

Now, I must confess, while my roots may lie in Indiana soil and my heart longs for the echoes of the past, I never had the chance to walk the streets my mother once trod. But where reality falls short, imagination swoops in to save the day. Drawing from my mom's reminiscences and a hearty dose of fact-checking, I breathed life into Pollyhollow, infusing it with the essence of a bygone era while keeping one foot firmly planted in the future.

Image by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

But why, you may ask, did I choose to blend elements of Steampunk with the quaint charm of the 1940s? Well, the answer lies in the rich tapestry of history and innovation that defined that era. From steam-powered marvels to gas-lit streets, the 1930s and '40s brimmed with a sense of excitement and possibility—a perfect backdrop for the adventures of Pollyhollow's denizens.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

And as for the question of why my characters cling to vintage fashion and technology in an age of smartphones and instant gratification, the answer lies in the rubble of a world torn asunder. In the wake of catastrophe, survivors turned to the relics of the past for guidance, scouring museum archives for scraps of knowledge to rebuild their shattered world.

Image by Anfesamo from Pixabay