Late hoodoo-practicing Beaufort County sheriff inspires grandson's novel
Hoodoo magic, wild Lowcountry landscapes and a dangerous quest define the debut book by Beaufort native James E. McTeer II.
In "Minnow," a young boy by the same name traverses a fictional Beaufort County in the late 19th century, across salty marsh flats, palmetto jungles and sandy bluffs of the Sea Islands in search of medicine that will heal his ailing father.
The adventurous tale won the 2014 South Carolina First Novel Prize.
The win secured McTeer a book contract with independent publisher Hub City Press in Spartanburg, which works with authors who emphasize the Southern experience and have a strong sense of place.
Capturing a sense of the Lowcountry was very important in "Minnow," McTeer said.
"I think anyone who grows up in the Lowcountry knows the world you grow up in is in your blood. Whether it's bogging in the marsh or spending time at the beach, it's something you share as a fellow citizen of the Lowcountry that I don't think exists anywhere else," he said.
"The way we interact with the terrain -- you play, you work, you live there with it. I grew up immersed in that and loved it."
Although McTeer, 31, now lives in Lexington, he returns to Beaufort monthly to visit friends and family and enjoy the environment. He works as a school librarian in Columbia.
McTeer also drew inspiration for the book from his grandfather, J.E. McTeer, the late Beaufort County sheriff known for his practice of hoodoo.
"He died before I was born, but I grew up learning all about his legendary life," the younger McTeer said. "I read all four of his memoirs before I wrote the book. Knowing the personalities and knowing how witch doctors operated and what they practiced, I learned all that from reading about my granddad."
There is no direct historical correlation in "Minnow," and J.E. McTeer does not appear in the book, but there are similarities.
When the local pharmacist in town doesn't have the right medicine for his father, Minnow must find Dr. Crow, a Port Royal rootworker with purple glasses. The old man will give him the medicine only if he can obtain dust from the grave of Sorry George, an infamous witch doctor.
J.E. McTeer is said to have had a rivalry with a local rootworker named Dr. Buzzard, known for his expensive clothes, evasion of the law -- and purple glasses.
"There's a lot inspired by history, but a lot of fantasy too," McTeer said.
The fairy-tale slant of "Minnow" is geared toward young readers, but is appropriate for all ages, he added. "I feel like it's a simple story with strong roots. It's something a lot of people can understand."
With the momentum from the First Novel Prize, McTeer is on a book tour to promote "Minnow," with signings in Beaufort and on Hilton Head Island on May 2 and 3, respectively. Come July, he will take a break from promoting the book, as he and his wife, Jess, are expecting their first baby.
"Right now it's all about getting 'Minnow' out there," McTeer said, "and getting ready to change some diapers, too."
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This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Late hoodoo-practicing Beaufort County sheriff inspires grandson's novel."