Secret Nebraska Sandhills takes readers beyond the highways and familiar attractions to discover the hidden stories of the region. You describe many of the stories as having been discovered accidentally. What was the first unexpected story that made you realize there might be an entire book hiding out there?

I was doing a book signing event for my previous book, 100 Things To Do In The Nebraska Sandhills Before You Die, when a man told me a story that blew my mind. That man was a former county sheriff. He shared with me the report he received about there being alien tunnels near Ringgold, Nebraska. I won’t share all of the details here, but when this man – I will call him Sheriff John – told me this tale and mentioned extraterrestrials and even the US president, well, when it came time to put this book together, that tale was one of the first ones that I investigated. I am thankful that we were able to exchange contact information and the man didn’t entirely give me the cold shoulder when I started calling and texting- touching base was difficult at first.

The addresses, prices, photographs, captions, and “pro tips” make the book genuinely useful for travelers, but it doesn’t read like a conventional guidebook. How did you decide how much practical information to include?

Many of the features in the book are not places that the public can get to easily. It is not a travel book. My intent was to entertain and enthrall. Only if the feature has a bona nfide attraction included in it did I include the tips.

Was there one photograph that became much more meaningful after you learned the history behind what you’d captured?

Due to my 11 years as editor of Nebraska Life magazine, Nebraskans know me for my writing AND photography. One critique I heard most after my travel book, 100 Things To Do In The Nebraska Sandhills Before You Die came out was that there were ot enough photographs. In Secret Nebraska Sandhills, there are more than 160 color photos. I felt that was important because photos can do so much to help tell a story. The circuitous photo of the North Loup River in the book’s final feature has become very meaningful. The reason is that, due to the river cutting into the roadbed, there is now a construction project underway to move the road to the south. The scene that I have long considered the most beautiful place in Nebraska will soon no longer be able to be seen by the public. The photo captures a special moment in Sandhills time.

Your book repeatedly demonstrates that extraordinary stories can hide inside places most people barely notice. What do you think we lose when we travel only to famous destinations and stop paying attention to everything between them?

To me, the best history and best stories come from the unknown places. The known attractions can be fun, but adventurers should never focus only on those. By being curious about how seemingly ordinary people live, and by wondering about their history and/or that of a particular place, we learn more about the culture of an area. And ultimately, I think we learn more about ourselves.

One last question: after all your research, do you believe in the Walgren Lake Monster?

I do not believe that there is a gigantic serpent-like reptile reminiscent of the Loch Ness Monster swimming in or near Walgren Lake. But I believe it does exist in the history and culture of the Sandhills. Folklore is oftentimes more entertaining than the truth, and I like to think that we haven’t solved all of Earth’s mysteries just yet.

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