THE VALDOSTA DAILY TIMES: I understand you are originally from Lowndes County. What part? And where do you live now?

LARRY WILKERSON: “I was born in Hahira and lived here until my early teen years when I moved with my family to Hawaii. I lived in the Islands for 17 years, graduating from the University of Hawaii with a degree in business and foreign trade. In 1972, I returned to the mainland and have lived in the San Francisco Bay area with my wife since then. I have returned many times to my home town of Hahira and have an extensive family network here. I want to add that it is not a coincidence that the main character in the book, Susan Taylor, was modeled after my Aunt Sue (Fiveash). The story also uses a fictitious college and town just a few miles to the west, named Valmine. The name Valmine, by the way, is an acronym of VALdosta and MINEola, two nearby towns. But about 60 percent of the action in the book occurs in the town of Hahira.”

THE VALDOSTA DAILY TIMES: Do you have more books planned?

LARRY WILKERSON: “Of course. I am receiving enormous pressure to do a follow-up story of ‘The Invisible Jury.’ I will admit that the response to this first book is encouraging me to think of other stories. I am fascinated by current social problems and ‘creating’ a solution through a fictitious story, but it has to be a believable solution. I am really enjoying this creative process.”