Welcome to EskieMama Reads Sunday Spotlight!
Today we are spotlighting Rita Ownby Holcomb's
A Twist of Tobacco!
Enter to win a signed copy of A Twist of Tobacco from Rita Ownby Holcomb!
Fact Based Fiction
A Twist of Tobacco!
A family is like A Twist of Tobacco, layered, folded and twisted until each leaf becomes inseparable.
A family is like A Twist of Tobacco, layered, folded and twisted until each leaf becomes inseparable.
Ten-year-old Lizzie proudly watches her brothers; uncles and close neighbors ride off to war in their butternut uniforms not realizing that she will soon be responsible for her five younger siblings.
Based on family stories and traditions and backed by years of research, this historical novel immerses you in the war torn hills of Middle Tennessee, the blood bath that was Chickamauga and the hell hole of Rock Island Prison.
Follow the Civil War lives of the eleven Ownby children during The Civil War.
Book two in the series is entitled A Vow Unbroken and continues the family saga through reconstruction Tennessee as the family endeavors to rebuild and fulfill each of their personal dreams.
Heaven's Promise-A Final Twist is slated for release in November, 2016.
Grab your copy TODAY!
A family is like A Twist of Tobacco, layered, folded and twisted until each leaf becomes inseparable.
Ten-year-old Lizzie proudly watches her brothers; uncles and close neighbors ride off to war in their butternut uniforms not realizing that she will soon be responsible for her five younger siblings.
Based on family stories and traditions and backed by years of research, this historical novel immerses you in the war torn hills of Middle Tennessee, the bloodbath that was Chickamauga and the hell hole of Rock Island Prison.
Follow the Civil War lives of the eleven Ownby children during The Civil War and watch for subsequent books in the series.
What initially inspired you to write A Twist of Tobacco.
Several newspaper articles about my great grandfather and his brothers and sisters motivated me to tell their story. I can’t give away the ending because that would spoil the twist of the third book in the series.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Working with facts and dates and people who are real. Fact based fiction is difficult. You are locked into most characters and events that you can’t change so you must make those dry facts come to life. The other hard part was accurately writing the horse and battle scenes. Thankfully I have an excellent beta reader who is a real life cowboy and a battle aficionado.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
I don’t have a favorite. All three book have been a true labor of love. Tough love sometimes. It hasn’t been easy but it has been a true adventure, bringing these people to life so many years after their deaths.
I don’t have a favorite. All three book have been a true labor of love. Tough love sometimes. It hasn’t been easy but it has been a true adventure, bringing these people to life so many years after their deaths.
Book two in the series has been released and is entitled A Vow Unbroken.
What are your future project(s)?
I am presently in rewrites for book three, Heaven’s Promise-A Final Twist
What are your future project(s)?
I am presently in rewrites for book three, Heaven’s Promise-A Final Twist
Now an exciting excerpt from A Twist of Tobacco!
Lieutenant John Returns
The sun was weak in the morning sky, when Lizzie sent Queen looking for any late berries, roots, fruit or vegetation so they could have something to eat for supper. The little girl had managed to find a few late berries. The old apple tree on the hill had a few pieces of fruit left that the birds hadn’t destroyed yet. There was a bit of watercress from the creek and a few wild turnips. Not much, but it would have to do. She was discouraged and wandering down the path day dreaming when all of a sudden she found herself face to face with a big gray horse.
Startled, she let out a squeal. She turned to run off into the woods when a deep voice said, “Whoa, Shadow Dancer! Well, low and behold, if it isn’t the little Queen of my heart?”
In one movement, he leapt from his horse and lifted the child in his arms. She giggled, dropped her basket, wrapped her arms around his neck, and cried, “Lieutenant John, I knew you’d come; you said you’d come; I’ve prayed that you’d come. Pa’s gone and we’re hungry and the babies keep crying and there’s a stinky, nasty yank in the barn, and I’m so tired…”
She felt safe for the first time in weeks and, as she delivered her babble of words, she snuggled into his arms and simply drifted off to sleep.
John Christopher couldn’t help but notice how much thinner she was since he last saw her. The plump little girl with shiny curls and a quick smile was now pitifully thin. Her hair was dull and lank. Her clothes hung on her tiny frame. He lifted her hand and noticed that her fingers and palms were scratched and bleeding. He put the tiny palm to his lips and she whimpered in her sleep.Her fragility and the dark smudges under her eyes tugged at his heart and a tear slipped from his eye as he contemplated the horrors of this cruel war. Motioning to one of the men to retrieve the basket and any edible bits of food, he handed Queen to one of his men and remounted the big gray. He lifted her up and settled the still sleeping child in his arms.
Rita Ownby Holcomb is a fourth generation Texan who has always been fascinated by the question, "Where do we come from?" Her genealogy research has led to the birth of the A Twist of Tobacco series. She is a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
I really enjoy reading about the Civil War time period and would really enjoy reading "A Twist of Tobacco".
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