Fran Cannon Slayton author, dreamer

Frequently Asked Questions

What made you switch from being a child sex abuse prosecutor to being a children’s book writer?

Writing for kids is a lot more fun than prosecuting them, even though I believe the work I did as a prosecutor was important. Back in those days I not only prosecuted kids, I also prosecuted people who hurt them. The reason I write for kids, and the reason I first became juvenile prosecutor are the same: Kids are important. And growing up can be challenging.

You’re a Virginian - what made you write about the state of West Virginia?

I’m a first generation Virginian. But my mother and father, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and most of my cousins are all from the wild, wonderful state of West Virginia. Although I love my home state, West Virginia holds a very special place in my heart because of my frequent visits there when I was a child.

Is the setting in How To Hop a Moving Train - the town of Rowlesburg - a real place?

You bet it is! And it’s beautiful. It’s where my father grew up. But sadly, when the train engines switched from steam to diesel in the 1940’s and 50’s, many jobs in Rowlesburg were lost forever - as they were in many railroading towns across America. And in 1985 a devastating flood swept through the town, taking with it many houses, memories, hopes, and tears. But although it’s seen hard times, Rowlesburg is a tough old girl. She’ll be around for a long, long time.

It’s rumored that you come from royal lineage - is that true?

Well, sort of. I come from a long line of Buckwheat Princesses. What? You’ve never heard of a Buckwheat Princess? Every year in Kingwood, West Virginia (which is about twenty minutes away from Rowlesburg) they hold the Buckwheat Festival, an amazing county fair complete with livestock, midway rides, artisan crafts, music and most important, a never ending supply of buckwheat cakes and whole hog sausage! Back in the old days, all the county schools elected Buckwheat Princesses to be part of the royal court. My mom was one, along with my aunt Barb, my Aunt Mary, and my cousin Carolyn! (No, I wasn’t one - but only because I lived in Virginia!!)

Are the events in How To Stop a Moving Train real events that actually happened?

No. How To Stop a Moving Train is pure fiction. But some of the situations are based upon tidbits of stories my father told me about growing up in Rowlesburg.

What the heck is “dieselization,” anyway?

Dieselization refers to the period in history when train engines switched from steam power to diesel. Steam engines used coal to heat water, making steam to power the engine. This was very labor-intensive, requiring many employees to operate and maintain the trains. The more powerful diesel powered engines became popular because they were more economical for railroad companies. As steam engines were phased out of service, many railroad employees who had once worked on the steam engines were no longer needed, and they were either transferred or laid off. Today, almost all railroads worldwide use diesel engines, and steam engines can only be found in the hearts of old-time railroaders, museums such as the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, and in a number of wonderful historical societies, state parks, and companies that preserve this aspect of railroading heritage such as the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, West Virginia.

Do you have relatives who actually worked on the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad?

I sure do. My grandfather was the foreman of the B&O Railroad in Rowlesburg in the 1940’s. And my Uncles Bill, Mike, and Dick worked on the B&O, too, as did my cousin, Roger. My cousin Kevin still works there.

You’re not old enough to have experienced the 1940’s first hand - how did you research the era?

Thank you for noticing how not old I am! Just like Jimmy, the main character in How To Stop a Moving Train, I guess you could say railroading is sort of in my blood. Not quite the same way as it’s in Jimmy’s blood - for him, the railroad is everything, and it’s grounded in his everyday world. For me, it’s more in the ether - a part of my family history that’s always just been there; a part of Rowlesburg that I have always loved, but missed out on because I was too young to remember how it used to be. Writing this book helped me discover the Rowlesburg - and the steam engines - that I missed out on. It helped me connect with a grandfather and uncle I never knew. And I was able to do it all because my father, uncles, aunts and cousins were willing to share some of their wonderful memories with me. So a little advice to the elders: share your stories with the kids and grandkids. And to the kids: listen and wonder and make up your own truth from it all!

You had a secret dream when you were writing How To Stop a Moving Train - what was it?

This is hard to admit out loud but I wanted somehow to revitalize Rowlesburg again. To bring jobs back to a town that once bustled with activity in the 1940’s. To bring people there to see the beauty of its mountains and the generosity of the people. To return it to the hometown it once was for a wonderful boy named Jimmy Cannon. Part of my dream was - and is - to raise enough money to help buy the old high school that Jimmy attends in the book. It’s for sale and a group of people in Rowlesburg want to buy it, but haven’t yet been able to raise the money. My dream would come true if this book could somehow help them do that.

Scroll down to find:

Fran’s Bio
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Downloadable Jacket Cover Sketch & Info
Interview Contact Info
Downloadable Photographs of Fran (B&W and Color)

Downloadable photos of Fran Cannon Slayton, for media use

Interview Contact Info:

Media@francannonslayton.com