Someone "out there" from Atchison? (Kansas City, Topeka: school, shop)

[LookinForMayberry]

DH and I recently visited Atchison, again, and I love it still. When I was there in '97, I considered a book idea and now the idea is returned.

I am hoping to find someone from the region, still near enough to be familiar with day-to-day life there, that could help me understand the local viewpoints. I want to use Atchison because it is small enough to portray a community, vibrant enough to have local economy, and close enough to farm land to bring that aspect into the picture.

The book will portray life of a Western transplant to Middle America, sort of "a Yuppie Grows Up in Rural America" theme.

I am hoping to bring in the topics of American farming, small business, and community and how REAL people solve conflict when they don't have "Microsoft" millions.

Anyone interested in becoming an unpaid consultant? Replies here, via DM, or public message on my profile are all welcome.

Thanks, in advance.

[thriftylefty]

Atchison is a River and Rail road town, Pro slavery, It kind of makes up the top of a triangle from Kansas City and Topeka Kansas, ("The Atchison,Topeka and The Sante Fe") Today I would think people would routinely make the drive to either city about an hour away for real entertainment. If you are not a Midwesterner you may not be aware of the fact that many mid-westerners routinely make 100 mile drives for shopping or entertainment, So just because a place looks like it is in the middle of no where, Some middle class people in those cities school their kids in a small town and drive the hour to work a good job, Its the same hour commute whether you are sitting in your car in Chicago or driving 70 miles an hours in to Kansas City.

To make the life there seem realistic you wouldn't want all your characters to be small town and folksy. I have traveled the state quite frequently and have found many big city converts in small town America. I cant tell you how many friends I have who spent their 20's, 30's, and 40's working in places like LA or New York and while on a visit to see a sick relative or reconnect with an old friend in a small town, decide to give up the so called rat race. many of them just want to spend the last 10 years or so of their working like in a small community they would like to retire in.