Setting Info

Hawksaw

Hawksaw is a small rural town in western Mississippi. It has a population of about 400 and most of those people are retired, farmers, retired farmers, and young families looking to live the idealized version of a pastoral life. It is surrounded on three sides by an enormous forest that is slowly being cleared for pastures and crops. Something is keeping this from happening too quickly. The legendary Tulla Creek Bridge is the main method of entering and leaving Hawksaw, and many will tell you it's the only way in and out of town, but there are several smaller backroads that eventually find their way through the woods and back to the innerstate.

Notable Locations:
Dale's Donuts
The Fleamarket
Hospital
Hawksaw Public Library
The Sunnyside Up Diner
Light of God Baptist Church

The House of Twisted

The hill that Pecan Dr. wraps around overlooks most of Hawksaw and on top of that hill sits a House. Flanked by fences and backed by trees, the two-story house has sat empty for about thirty years. That is, until now. This is where JW and Deuteronomy live. It features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a mostly finished basement.

A mysterious character only known as The Old Man lived in this house for many years. This was the house in which Deuteronomy and Feverdream were both woven. The smoke-like nightmares flow between the house's walls like blood flows through a body. The attic is bigger than it should be. JW is slowly discovering the secrets of the House and only time will tell if it accepts him.

The Woods

Consisting mostly of various species of pine, the Hawksaw Woods are a sprawling labyrinth of overgrown ruins from the 1800’s, dry creek beds, wetlands, and ankle-snapping mole holes. A fairly even mix of old and new growth make the woods feel timeless. They are shot through with narrow roads both dirt and asphalt, though they are in poor repair. A railroad track marks the edge of civilization. Beyond those tracks are mysteries yet to be discovered by the House of Twisted’s residents. The Hawksaw woods are full of surprises, many of them with sharp teeth and unclear intentions.

Places in The Woods

Tree Circle - a meadow JW finds. Perfectly sawed off tree stumps stand in a wide circle that’s open to the sky. He finds this in book 1 and isn’t sure what to think of it. He hasn’t talked to Deuteronomy about it.

Pond - an old cow pond that still has a little water in it. Home to mostly turtles and snakes and minnows.

The Tracks - railroad tracks that separate the Hawksaw Woods from the unnamed outer wilderness. I haven’t decided what cities border Hawksaw other than a little town a decent drive away called Muddy Creek where JW goes to the psychiatrist.

The Buick - a rusty old car found far from any roads wedged between some trees. Full of squirrel stores and, mysteriously, some fresh porn magazines.

The Devil’s Hand - a wretched-looking old tree featuring a hole with mysterious properties. No, not like that! Well, maybe…

Church of the Holy Serpent - a tiny, weathered old church near a creek. JW found a body in there once.

The Campfire - a campfire that appears in various places all around the woods where spirits meet to drink, tell stories, and gamble their years.

The Witch’s Hut - A silver 1990’s era airstream camper on cinder blocks surrounded by a well-tended little garden, lawn furniture, plastic flamingos, and an old pickup truck. Home to Vidaya.

The Treegate - Two birch trees that JW has marked. Passing between these trees will send you to a horizon called Ever Autumn.

The Shortcut - A road that slices through the woods to the north-east. A neighborhood of old, fallen-in houses lines the street and the road has been blocked off with sawhorses for years. There’s a legend that if you go down that road and see one of the houses with their lights on, you’ll be trapped in the Shortcut forever.

Residents of The Woods

Vidya- a witch in her 60’s who loves NASCAR, cooking, and not paying property taxes.

That Sparrow That Bit JW on the Foot That One Time - JW watches for him whenever he’s in the woods. He doesn’t know what he’s gonna do to him once he finds him, but he WILL find him.

The Boys - unclear if they actually live in the woods or just come to the Hawksaw Woods to meet with Deuteronomy for the campfire. The Boys are a group of spirits that consist of a Civil War soldier who keeps his eyes in his pocket, a man so large nobody has seen the top of him, some kind of lizard-fish skeleton, and a human(?) two-year old boy in a suit. They are Deuteronomy’s poker buddies, but it’s unclear if they actually like her or not.

Fairies - fickle, spiteful, vain, and curious, several elusive beings that resemble the fairies of folklore live in the trees and rocks throughout the woods. Their appearance varies greatly, sometimes even differing between encounters. There is at least one individual who reliably portrays himself as a naked old man with a horse’s head who calls himself The Puca. JW has had brushes with the fairies and he hates them so, so much. But he does leave offerings for them to keep them out of his hair. It only works sometimes.

Wanting Deer - Headless deer that only seem to show up during or right before a tragedy. Some linked them to forest fires, but only because they were of the most unusual-looking animal seen fleeing them.

At Least One Dogman/Werewolf - a vicious, hulking creature spotted in book 2! oOOoOOoOooo!!!!