What the Hollow Takes

What the Hollow Takes is a sweeping Southern literary novel that blends family saga, coming-of-age drama, historical fiction, and a touch of Appalachian mystery. Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, it follows a young Alabama boy whose family is haunted by a generations-old pattern of tragedy. After his father’s death shatters what remains of the Hamontree family, he struggles to hold together a household unraveling under grief while his older sister, Nell, flees to California in search of freedom, purpose, and a life beyond the confines of the hollow that raised her.

Told through alternating narrative chapters and deeply personal letters, the novel explores loss, resilience, family bonds, and the tension between fate and self-determination. As Nell immerses herself in the cultural upheavals of 1970s California—from the fading counterculture movement to the political turbulence of the era—her brother remains rooted in Alabama, confronting the whispers, secrets, and shadows that seem woven into the land itself. Rich in atmosphere, heart, and historical detail, What the Hollow Takes is a story about the things we inherit, the things we carry, and the courage required to break free from both.

What the Hollow Takes — a haunting and deeply human novel set between the hills of rural Alabama and the restless promise of 1970s California. A story of grief, resilience, family, and the secrets that echo across generations.