My initial inspiration for creating Mr. Tucket was to cover the West with a single person. I hate to use the word saga, but it's kind of that. One of the reasons I think that Francis has become popular is that I think there are similarities between Francis Tucket and Brian in Hatchet. Both boys must deal with a survival situation. One of the reasons I put Francis in the Mexican War in Tucket's Ride was because the Mexican War has historically been ignored in writing.
Historians jump right from mountain men to cowboys and longhorns and topics like that.
The reaction I've had from teachers and librarians is that they want more. Some specifically ask to have Francis go to a certain spot and deal with specific historical events. I get quite a bit of mail like that. It would be impossible to have him do everything that teachers want me to have him do. Mr. Tucket couldn't ride enough to cover the territory that needs to be covered, but he will definitely get around.