Janet Pesicka Watson

Hi, readers! I'm a poet and writer who has lived in Florida for most of my life. My husband and I raised four children while living on both the east and west coasts of the state. We currently make our home on five rural acres north of Tampa.

I've always enjoyed studying the cultures of indigenous people and admire how they adapt to their various environments, which are often harsh and primitive. "Sons of The People" was inspired by a 7,000-year-old archeological site just a few miles from Cape Canaveral. Among the more than 160 Early Archaic people found in a burial pond was the body of an adolescent boy who suffered from a crippling birth defect and other injuries. Obviously, his hunter-gatherer people loved and cared for him, carrying him for all his life on their migratory journeys.

I focused my story on this ancient boy, his brother, and his clan. The culture and circumstances are based on what I have learned about primitive lifestyles, but I felt "at home" with the setting. A number of the book's events and adventures were drawn from my own personal experiences in Florida's unique natural environment. Throughout the writing, I felt very connected to the boys. The pond photographed on the cover of the book is on our property, but it is very similar to the pond that figures prominently in the story.

It is a pleasure to share this tale of a long-ago past, and I was so happy that it was a recent finalist in the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.