In about two weeks, New York Times bestselling author Carsten Stroud is likely to type the last word in his three-part book series set in the town of “Niceville,” Okaloosa County’s nicest little town in the South.
The book series’ town of Niceville is the backdrop for strange events and happenings as police Detective Nick Kavanaugh works to make sense of everything.
“The real Niceville is such a contrast to what I am writing about that it appealed to me in an ironic way to name the town in my book after this beautiful, seaside city,” Stroud said in a telephone interview.
“It’s the complete opposite of what would go on in the real Niceville,” he said.
In the series, the strange happenings can be attributed to Tallulah’s Wall, a giant wall in the middle of town. The name comes from a Cherokee myth about a female spirit who lived in a gorge in the forests near Savannah, Ga. Her name was T’al U’lah and she was called The Eater of Souls.
Stroud discovered Niceville — the only town with that name in the United States — while vacationing in Destin. The pleasant atmosphere and beautiful setting were an inspiration for his fictional thriller.
Stroud said the soon-to-be trilogy is best read in order, but he writes each book so it can stand on its own. When writing, Stroud starts with a general arch, but says he lets the characters drive the story.
“They’ll do some things that surprise you,” he said. “I like to balance the needs of the structure with the will of the characters.”
The first book, “Niceville,” focuses on the disappearance of a young boy. The sequel, “The Homecoming,” was inspired by Niceville High School’s football team and includes an investigation of several locals who have disappeared.
He has about 100 more pages to go before “The Reckoning” is complete. He anticipates the book will be on sale by next spring.
“I think it should bring the series to a thrilling conclusion, but I’m leaving the door open,” Stroud said. “I have a conclusion, but I want to keep things humming a bit.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.