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Here you’ll find a behind-the-scenes look at my first book, The Tale of Jeter Gray Fox. These notes share fun connections to places, characters, and folklore woven into the stories.
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Welcome
This collection features five original illustrations from The Tale of Jeter Gray Fox. Each one offers a glimpse into the characters and landscapes that shape the world of the story.
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Autumn Snack: The Gray Fox in the Persimmon Tree
This illustration became the very first glimpse of Jeter Gray Fox—though I didn’t realize it at the time. The story already lived in my head, unwritten but fully alive, when I found myself sketching a gray fox perched among the branches of a persimmon tree.
I’ve always loved these trees in late autumn and winter, their bare, twisting limbs dotted with bright fruit like lanterns against the season’s gray. The colors seemed made to complement the fox’s unique silver coat. Around the border, I wove the tree’s flowers and leaves, a reminder of the cycle of seasons and the way nature tells its stories in layers.
When I finished, I fell in love with the piece. I knew then that this was Jeter, and that this fox would one day step forward to become the cover of my book.
Jeter and Basil Hiding in Pokeweed
This illustration from The Tale of Jeter Gray Fox captures Basil and Jeter in a mischievous moment, spying food with mouths slightly open and eyes wide. The two foxes crouch in a pokeberry patch, sizing up their prey with equal parts curiosity and cunning.
Jeter is a gray fox, native to the Appalachian Mountains. Unlike most foxes, gray foxes can climb trees thanks to their semi-retractable, hooked claws and rotating wrists. You’ll often find Jeter napping in the branches—though don’t tell him I gave away his secret. He prefers humans not know about his climbing skills!
Basil, on the other hand, is a red fox. He carries a trace of Europe in his voice—likely England, though it can be tricky to tell when conversing with forest creatures. Basil is polite, a touch too trusting at times, and always appreciative of compliments. If you happen to see him, be sure to admire his striking tail. He’ll be delighted. Basil’s favorite resting spot is the top of a sun-warmed tree stump.
Forest Predators
This illustration from The Tale of Jeter Gray Fox shows just how many creatures consider chickens a tempting meal. An owl waits silently with sharp talons ready, a black bear looms with heavy paws, an opossum and a raccoon creep forward with mischief in their eyes, and a snake coils in quiet patience. Each one strikes a pose as if about to spring right off the page. Oh dear—life in the barnyard is never easy when so many predators are lurking!
A Fox in a Flurry of Feathers
A sudden storm of feathers bursts from the trees, catching poor Basil Red Fox off guard. In that instant, he begins to wonder if this might have been a very bad idea.
A
very
BAD
idea
Jeter's Yarn
Jeter is a clever little fox, spinning his tales like spider webs and ensnaring anyone who stumbles into his tricks. What fate awaits Basil Red Fox once Jeter’s plan unfolds?
Foxes have long been celebrated in folklore as sly and intelligent creatures. From Aesop’s fable The Fox and the Crow to the medieval adventures of Reynard the Fox, these tales highlight their cunning nature. To discover how America’s own gray fox carries on that tradition, step into the pages of The Tale of Jeter Gray Fox.
