Writing Travels with Gannon & Wyatt

Wyatt with our knowledgable friends, Antonio and Bee, in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Writing Travels with Gannon & Wyatt is an adventure in itself, given all the work that goes into each book.

The series is often described by educators as “realistic fiction.” That means the books are a mix of imagination and reality, or fictional adventures in realistic settings.

While the brave characters in Travels with Gannon & Wyatt novels often cross paths with sinister villains and tend to get themselves into some wildly dangerous situations, the descriptions of the landscape, wildlife and local culture are all very true to life.

At schools across the country, students ask how we come up with our stories. The imaginative process is just one part of it. A whole lot of travel and research are also involved. To explain how we go about it, and more importantly, the goal of the series, coauthor Patti Wheeler and I have written a short explanation below.

OUR PROCESS, OUR MISSION

Part journal, part fictional adventure story, Travels with Gannon & Wyatt brings the magic of nature and faraway cultures to the imaginations of young people and their families. Each exciting installment is part of a global journey that subtly instills the importance of conservation, cultural understanding, and strong family values.

Prior to writing each book, we travel to the location where the story takes place. While there, we meet with cultural and environmental experts, socialize with locals, ask questions, and listen. We take lots of photographs and video, and write down everything we learn along the way. When we return home, we review our material and dream up a fun, high-stakes adventure story that we hope our readers will really love.

The fictional characters that guide Gannon and Wyatt on each journey are proud representatives of their cultural and embody skills important for today’s youth—critical thinking, clear communication, collaboration, and creativity. These characters are curious, smart, and compassionate.

Our hope is that this method of storytelling and research produces a uniquely entertaining novel, one that not only educates, but encourages readers to begin their own journey of global discovery—a journey that might one day inspire them to help make the world a better place.We sincerely hope you enjoy Travels with Gannon & Wyatt, and as always we thank you for your support.

Happy Travels!

Nuuk, Greenland: One of the great pleasures of travel is meeting new people.