Photo © Cheryl Lynn Huber Inspired by the people and places (not to mention the Cajun cooking) he discovered while researching Canaan's Tongue, John Wray has decided to take his author tour to its source and actually raft down the Mississippi River in a vessel of his own construction. Click here for John Wray's tour dates Photos of said vessel along with some other pieces that inspired John while he was conceiving and writing Canaan's Tongue can be found below.   This is the boat that John Wray built for his tour. We have been assured that it floats. Photos taken on a research trip to the South that reflect Wray's idea of Geburah Plantation:   Two photos used as inspiration for the characters Virgil Ball and Kennedy:     This soldier looks like my half-brother Peter, which might explain why I used it as a template for Virgil Ball, hero of my narrative. A list of 19th Century words, a sample typewritten page, and the insert for a CD from the Anthology of American Folk Music: Crossed-out words are ones I used. A piece of text I inserted in a "Stutter Kennedy" section.   The songs on this anthology, especially "King Kong Kitchie Ki-Me-O" provided a soundtrack for me as I wrote. John Wray's office, the book is spread out in eighteen sections on the floor:   This was the first picture I tacked up on the wall of my office. Read more about Canaan's Tongue