For Barron, place is one of the most important elements of his writing; he believes strongly that readers must experience the story's fantasy world through all their senses. In an interview with Amazon.com, he said that "a strong sense of place inspires and infuses everything he writes." With his background as a writer firmly rooted in his experiences with nature, Barron uses vivid descriptions of the natural world filled with accuracy and detail to create his story's reality. Barron's view of the natural world is indeed one of the most compelling aspects of his writing.

The Ancient One is set in the Pacific Northwest in the fictional town of Blade, Oregon, with the Lost Crater forest area located nearby. Blade is a muddy, wet, and dreary town overwhelmed by a chronically depressed economy and inhabited by angry unemployed loggers. There has not been a good day in...