SPITTING IMAGE

A Novel for ages 9-14
Published by Clarion
April 2003

When I began to think about writing a novel for older readers, I had in mind an image of a girl and her grandmother. I knew what kind of person the girl should be. I knew what kind of person the grandmother should be. But I did not know what kind of story my book should be. What could I have these two people do? I had characters, but no story!

Months later I learned of a true incident that happened in Letcher County, Kentucky, in 1967. A Film Board of Canada photographer, Hugh O’Connor, had been filming poverty in the area under the auspices of the U.S. government. He was shot and killed by a local landlord. The man who killed him was only sentenced to one year in prison.

My local PBS station aired a documentary film about the case, “Stranger with a Camera.” It explored the issues of shame and dignity, and talked of how people felt when they became the poor ones pictured in the media for the entire world to see. Suddenly I knew what my story should be! And I would set my story in my native Kentucky, a place I have a great love and respect for.

I was born in southeastern Kentucky, in Paintsville, in 1951. It was coal-mining country. A lot of people who lived there were poor. Although we moved to Michigan when I was still a baby, I spent many happy summers down home as I grew up. I loved going there. I loved the smell and shape of the mountains, the great food, and the laughter of the good people who were proud of accomplishing so much with so little.

Lots of the bits and pieces of Spitting Image come from things in my own life. For example, here you can see a picture of my dad with his beloved ’41 Mercury Coupe. It was the inspiration for the only remaining photograph of Jessie’s Grandpa Henry. My father loved this car. He did not drive it into a river one night as Jessie’s grandpa did!

Also, I dedicated this book to my sister because I love her very much, and because she, in some ways, reminds me of Jessie—but shhh, don’t tell her

S. C.
Aug. 2003