Coming Of Age

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Reminiscent of 'To Kill A Mockingbird', this "sensitive and gripping" coming-of-age story evokes backcountry Kentucky in the troubled 1950's in prose that's spare yet lyrical -- a "special" novel worthy of joining the ranks of an illustrious Southern literary tradition.
-Kindle Nation-

Every once in awhile, you read a book in which every element fits together so perfectly that you just sit back in awe at the skill of the storyteller. 'Then Like the Blind Man' is one of these books. ...[It] grabs you from the very first page and carries you along, breathless and tense, until the very last, very satisfying sentence. Freddie Owens has created something special.
-The San Francisco Book Review-

In an American coming-of-age novel, the author presents a stunning story with clarity and historical accuracy, rich in illuminating the Appalachian culture of the time period. …[It] brings history alive, depicting American union labor practices and the racial prejudices that were so prevalent in the 1950's.
-Publisher's Weekly-

Then Like the Blind Man' is an electrifying porthole to the south of the '50s, where, though inane prejudice may have dominated, kindness and justice also had a place. Orbie's sharecropping grandparents, by defying convention with unnerving grace, become founts of colloquial wisdom whose appeal is impossible to resist, and the Orbie they nurture -- the best version of a boy who may otherwise have been lost -- is someone the reader comes to love.
-Michelle Schingler / ForeWord Book Review-


With much of faith and learning, 'Then Like the Blind Man' is a strong addition to general fiction collections with a focus on coming of age tales.
-John Taylor / Midwest Book Review-

Note From The Author:

Two memories served as starting points for a short story I wrote that eventually became this novel. One was of my Kentucky grandmother as she emerged from a shed with a white chicken held upside down in one of her strong bony hands. I a boy of nine and a “city slicker” from Detroit looked on in wonderment and horror as she summarily wrung the poor creature’s neck. It ran about the yard frantically, yes incredibly, as if trying to locate something it had misplaced as if the known world could be set right again, recreated, if only that one thing was found. And then of course it died. The second memory was of lantern light reflected off stones that lay on either side of a path to a storm cellar me and my grandparents were headed for one stormy night beneath a tornado’s approaching din. There was wonderment there too, along with a vast and looming sense of impending doom. For these and many others of my childhood memories I must thank my grandparents. Had I not been exposed to their homespun and wizened ways I would not have been able to begin my short story much less this novel. The same goes for my dear, good-hearted parents who survived the bad times to enjoy the good.

Synopsis:

A storm is brewing in the all-but-forgotten backcountry of Kentucky. And, for young Orbie Ray, the swirling heavens may just have the power to tear open his family’s darkest secrets. Then Like The Blind Man: Orbie’s Story is the enthralling debut novel by Freddie Owens, which tells the story of a spirited wunderkind in the segregated South of the 1950s, and the forces he must overcome to restore order in his world.

Nine-year-old Orbie already has his cross to bear. After the death of his father, his mother Ruby has off and married Victor, a slick-talking man with a snake tattoo. Orbie hates his stepfather more than he can stand; a fact that lands him at his grandparents’ place in Harlan’s Crossroads, Kentucky. Orbie grudgingly adjusts to life with his doting Granny and carping Granpaw, who are a bit too keen on their black neighbor’s for Orbie’s taste, not to mention their Pentecostal congregation of snake handlers. Soon, however, he finds his world views changing, particularly when it comes to matters of race, religion, and the true cause of his father’s death.

Equal parts Hamlet and Huckleberry Finn, it’s a tale that’s rich in meaning, timely in its social relevance, and rollicking with boyhood adventure that is certain to resonate with lovers of literary fiction, particularly in the grand Southern tradition of storytelling.

Read An Excerpt @ http://bit.ly/13tTVKJ

Buy The Book @ http://amzn.to/ZUjgAb [close]

[close] A compelling coming of age story about three friends, Lori, Brandon and Angela. Each have their own dreams and aspirations. As they grow, they learn to depend on their friendship to overcome obstacles and tragedy. Their lives are followed through letters in a shoe-box that Angela had written a pen-pal. Letters that brought comfort to unexpected readers. [close]

[close] "All the right elements for an epic summer read...Perfect for third graders or older or to read to younger children" -- Seattle's Child Magazine which selected Horatio's One Wish as one of its five recommended summer reads.

"Horatio's One Wish is in the style and genre of Charlotte's Web," says The Midwest Book Review, which calls this new novel "unforgettable," "inspiring," and "a must" read.

This is a story that touches your funny-bone and your heart. It is suspenseful from the opening sentence and humorous throughout, but most of all, the characters in the story endear themselves to you. What makes Horatio's One Wish so special is how much you care about Horatio and his band of friends and how moved you are when you finish the book.

Horatio has lived alone as long as he can remember. His only friend is a river otter named Rollic, who visits him nearly every day. But when Rollic goes missing, Horatio knows he must try to find him. With the help of hamster twins, Whisklet and Whimser, Horatio embarks on an adventure beyond anything he could have dreamed. Along the way, Horatio meets Leala, a champion archer from the hedgehog village--a village Horatio never knew existed. Leala opens a door to a home Horatio has yearned for all his life. Will Horatio continue on and risk his life to rescue his friend or will he follow Leala back to his long-lost home?

Horatio's One Wish takes you on a journey full of magic and mystery, into a world of woodland creatures and strange beasts. A summer-time adventure story that shows what true loyalty means. [close]