The story of Peter Pan is one of both unrelenting joy and heartbreaking sadness. Of an eternal youth caught in an endless game. Of pirates and fairies, mermaids and natives, of the Lost Boys and those who did not wish to become lost. It is a story that has been told time and again, even by the man who created the character, J.M. Barrie. Though many versions of the story are beloved, perhaps the most famous telling is the animated version by Walt Disney. Released in 1953, it has endured in the public consciousness, having been rereleased multiple times over, supported by a stream of merchandise, a steady presence in the Disney parks, and of course the never-ending direct-to-video prequels featuring Tinkerbell.
With his love of all things Disney, David Gonterman was no stranger to Peter Pan. Whether knowing or not, the idea of a lost boy had been something he played with in the past, working on the overarching Book of FoxFire concept. However, each time he tried to tackle what would come next, he could never find the hook. Why was he swept away, why did he return, and what did it all mean? It was in 2004 that it finally clicked - what if the young Adam Packbell was not just the victim of a living book, but instead had become an an actual Lost Boy? That the world of Neverland, of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Wendy Darling, were all real?
Lost Boy Found was released in 2007. Using the pen name “Daveykins Foxfire,” Davey felt a true sense of pride with its release. His first complete novel, it was available not only on his homepage, but also as a physical book through the self-publishing press Lulu. His hope was that the story, experimenting with the form, would prove his growth as a writer. That he was no longer the fanfic writer that had made him infamous.
While loose ends were left for a possible sequel, none materialized. Indeed, of the six novels that David published through Lulu, this is the only one that has been delisted. But like the lost child in the story below, perhaps one day it will return and see the light again, maybe just a wee bit wiser than before.