From Family History to Fiction: The Genesis of Jennifer L. Holm’s Key West Novels

In this bonus edition of the Book Club for Kids podcast, host Kitty Felde sits down with acclaimed author Jennifer L. Holm to explore the creative origins of her celebrated novels, Turtle in Paradise and Full of Beans. Holm reveals how family heritage, local folklore, and personal anecdotes coalesced into the rich, historical narratives that define her work.

The Accidental Inspiration: From Penny from Heaven to Turtle in Paradise

Holm explains that Turtle in Paradise did not begin as a standalone idea but rather as a "throwaway line" in her previous novel, Penny from Heaven. While the latter is set in 1953 New Jersey, the inclusion of a grandmother character from Key West—inspired by Holm’s own great-grandmother—created a narrative thread that demanded to be pulled. Her great-grandmother was a "Key West conch," a term referring to the Bahamian immigrants who settled in the region during the late 1800s. Holm describes Key West during the Great Depression as a "quiet backwater" that stood in stark contrast to the bustling tourist destination it has become today, providing the perfect atmospheric backdrop for her story.

Historical Research and the "Shirt String" Connection

To capture the authenticity of the Depression era, Holm relied on a multi-layered research process. She began with oral histories from her own family, then transitioned to the Key West Historical Society. By immersing herself in archives and interviewing elderly residents who had lived through the era, she bridged the gap between historical fact and fiction. A pivotal moment occurred when she met Tom Hambright at the Historical Society, who helped her discover she was a "shirt string cousin" to local residents. Through this connection, she gained access to the "Curry genealogy," allowing her to physically walk through the houses her ancestors once inhabited, effectively letting her "sink back into time."

Character Development and the Scorpion Ritual

The character of Turtle was heavily inspired by Holm’s mother, who spent her summers in Key West as a child. Coming from the "metropolitan" environment of New Jersey, the young girl found the island life of Key West strange and bewildering. Holm highlights a specific "strange ritual" that became a central plot point: the instruction to "shake out her shoes" before wearing them. This wasn't merely a quirk but a survival necessity, as scorpions were known to hide in dark spaces like shoes and mailboxes. This cultural clash between a Northeasterner and the wild realities of the Florida Keys serves as the emotional core of the character’s journey.

The Tradition of Nicknames

Holm also delves into the unique tradition of "nicknaming" prevalent in early 20th-century Key West. She notes that the practice was widespread, ranging from "salty" to humorous, such as "pork chop." This tradition informed her character naming, including the titular "Turtle," which pays homage to the region's history as a hub for "turtle farming," where turtle meat was a staple—and remarkably cheap—food source. Holm even shares a personal anecdote about her own childhood nickname, "Fern," which arose from a family joke involving her inability to write her full name, Jennifer Louise Holm, correctly as a child.

The Birth of Full of Beans

Perhaps the most charming segment of the discussion is the origin of the prequel, Full of Beans. Holm credits her son with the inspiration, noting that he was the original model for the "diaper gang" because he was an "incredibly colicky baby." Years later, when her son finally read Turtle in Paradise for a school assignment, he requested a book focused on the character Beans and even provided the title, Full of Beans. Holm concludes by noting that it was the "most wonderful sort of birth of a book" she has ever experienced, marking a rare moment where she took creative direction from her own child.