Rome native publishes new novel based in Kingston

Rome native Walton Young has published a new book ?A Gathering of Eagles.?

The novel begins at Christmas in the year 1919. Prescott Freeman returns home to the family farm in Kingston after fighting in World War I.

He finds another war waiting for him ? a bitter conflict between families, a conflict fueled by greed and revenge.

Deeply rooted in time and place, Young?s ?A Gathering of Eagles? is a novel about family and about land. A memorable cast of characters delivers a fast-moving story propelled by loss and the redemptive power of love.

Young was born in Rome and received his PhD in English, with a concentration in creative writing, from the University of Georgia. He teaches creative writing and Southern literature at Truett-McConnell College.

An excerpt from the book:

Morgan Ledbetter cradled the shotgun in the bend of his left arm and walked slowly along the narrow dirt road. His sons followed silently. He lifted his eyes under the brim of his soiled slouch hat. The sun was just above the crest of the hills. The wind rushed from the pines and the hickories at the side of the road. The sons stopped and stared at each other and wondered what to do.

?Pop, you all right?? Josiah, the elder, said.

?Yeah, I?m all right. You boys go on home. I want to walk to the top of that there hill.?

?Why, Pop??

?None of your business. Get on home now. Your ma will be worried.?

The boys looked at each other again but said nothing and walked around Morgan, as if he were a large dark boulder suddenly sprung up in the midde of the dirt road. He crossed a grassy field and climbed the hill. It was not a steep climb but by the time he reached the top he was breathing heavily. The top was clear. The timber had been cut many years ago. Thaddeus Freeman had cut it. He had a right. It was his land.

?No, he didn?t have a right,? Morgan Ledbetter said.

?A Gathering of Eagles? is available at the Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Rome as well as online at amazon.com. It retails for $16.99

Source: http://romenews-tribune.com/bookmark/16860870

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