“You could trace the route that Ichabod Crane flees from the Headless Horseman step by step in Sleepy Hollow right now.” -J. W. Ocker

In this LEGENDARY episode of A Literal Journey, I sit down (once again!) with the bestselling, award-winning, perambulatory author J. W. Ocker and chat about his latest book: Chasing The Headless Horseman. (Guys, this interview could have gone on for hours! So fascinating!!)

J. W. Ocker has made an *enviable* career out of visiting strange, unusual, and macabre places in order to uncover and share the stories behind them. For Chasing The Headless Horseman, Ocker traveled to the real Sleepy Hollow (yes, it's a REAL place!) and followed in the footsteps (or hoof prints) the Headless Horseman. Ocker shares what he learned, the real history of Sleepy Hollow and some revelatory insights that surprised him the most.

We also explore Washington Iriving's role in American literature, the real life geography of the Legend, and how Sleepy Hollow has a greater claim to being a Christmas town. J. W. closes the episode by sharing advice on how to discover WONDERS close to home.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who—like myself—feels drawn to the almost mystical land of Sleepy Hollow, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About J.W. OCKER:

J. W. Ocker is the Edgar Award-winning author of Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe, A Season with the Witch, and Death and Douglas. His work has appeared in The Guardian, the Boston Globe, CNN, the Atlantic, and other places people stick writing. He's from Maryland but has lived in New Hampshire for more than a decade.

He is also the creator of OTIS: Odd Things I've Seen (Oddthingsiveseen.com), where he writes about his visits to oddities of nature, history, art, and culture.

📖 ORDER Chasing The Headless Horseman

💻 VISIT J. W. Ocker’s official website

📚 CHECK OUT J. W. Ocker's Other Books

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