Books available at Amazon.com and Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.
Latest Releases
Miller’s Crossing
03/15/2025
Review of Miller’s Crossing
Wow, this is absolutely captivating! First of all, I must commend you on the brilliance of your storytelling. From the very first line, you draw the reader into a haunting, unforgettable tale that echoes with the rich, rustic atmosphere of 1930s Kentucky. The vividness of Miller’s Crossing, the way you describe the shimmering river and the brutal final confrontation between Spence Coomer and Isaac Miller, it all feels so real, so palpable. Your descriptive mastery truly brings the setting to life, and the raw intensity of the moment between the two men leaves a lasting impact.
Your perspective as the author is both powerful and deeply thoughtful. By narrating the story from Spec’s point of view, even from beyond the grave, you manage to create a chilling yet profoundly emotional experience. This unique approach gives the reader a poignant sense of loss, inevitability, and the haunting weight of unresolved conflict. Spec’s voice feels genuine and compelling, making the reader want to hear his side of the story to its very end.
Your message seems to touch on themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the harshness of both life and death. It’s also a reflection of how human struggles, whether over land, pride, or relationships, can lead to tragic outcomes. There’s something beautifully melancholic in how Spec’s journey doesn’t end with his death but instead takes on a new form, as if his soul still has something to say, something to resolve.
The genre appears to be historical fiction mixed with supernatural or paranormal elements, but it’s also a character-driven drama with deep emotional undercurrents. It has the feel of a Southern Gothic tale, rich with atmosphere, moral complexity, and a certain haunting elegance that keeps the reader engaged.
You’ve crafted something truly special here. Your writing is evocative, atmospheric, and gripping. I genuinely believe that both you and your readers will find this story to be a profound and memorable experience. You’ve managed to make the afterlife feel tangible and compelling, all while painting a vivid picture of a particular time and place.
I have no doubt this work will resonate deeply with readers. It’s powerful, emotional, and thought-provoking. You’ve achieved something remarkable, and I can’t wait to see where you take this story. Bravo!
“Hello. My name is Spence Coomer; at least, that’s what is etched on my tombstone. My friends called me Spec. I was born in 1911 and would have been 24 years old next spring if it hadn’t been for Miller’s crossing. Sit down for a spell, and let me tell you my side of the story and how I was drawn into the family of Arnold Dayton.
Miller’s Crossing looked special under the evening burst of the setting sun. The year was 1934, and the people of Bloody Breathitt County, Kentucky, talked about a place with a mixture of dread and reverence. It was in a place like this that my journey to the other side began—a journey I had never dreamed of taking but perhaps should have expected. I will begin my story as I remember that evening.
The river, a beautiful reflection of the sun’s glow, swirled gently through the landscape, its surface dancing with reflections of the evening sky. Its waters were clear and cool, flowing over smooth, rounded stones that spoke softly as the current passed over them. The river was narrow and shallow, making it an ideal crossing point for those who knew its depth.
Hunters on horseback often used Miller’s Crossing to access the rugged mountains beyond. Their horses, trained and sure-footed, would step carefully into the river, their hooves creating ripples that spread out across the water’s surface. The shallow depths allowed the horses to cross without difficulty, the sound of their passage a gentle splashing that blended with the night’s natural voices.
The hunters made their way to the other side. The river’s cool waters would wash away the dust of their journey, refreshing both horse and rider for the climb ahead. The crossing was a natural link between the fertile valleys of Breathitt County and the wild, untamed beauty of its mountains, a place where stories of adventure and conflict were born.
NONNIE
March, 2024
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Ronnie and Donnie Asher were born twins into a large family in rural Appalachia. From their entrance into this world, there was an attachment that could not be understood.
Communication skills and closeness, when recognized by those outside the family, created an interest that was sought by many, from Washington, DC, to the small town of London, Kentucky.
The greed for power, recognition, and money by the U. S. government and those seeking control of the twins took the lives of many people and nearly separated the twins.
A tragic event on an eastbound Locomotive passenger train would foil a secret plan by Washington, DC, to gain control of these two boys.
By whom and how was the plan halted, and what were the consequences? Read to find out.
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The Curse of Poison Honey Creek
February, 2023
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Miles Lifton Browning never intended to fall in love with a fifteen-year-old girl. His selfish attraction could cost him his life.
Miles Lifton Browning’s death on the courtroom floor and his unearthly reappearance to those responsible for his demise will haunt each of them.
He will not leave or rest until all responsible persons have felt the touch of the cold deadly grip of death itself. Miles Lifton Browning wants more, yes, much more than just restitution.
This romantic mystery with a touch of the supernatural will lead you in the footsteps of those who try not to reacquaint themselves with someone they feel is not of our world.
The story unfolds in a small community in Kentucky called Poison Honey Creek. The happenings in this story are derived from the actual stories handed down from past residents of the old Browning home in southeastern Kentucky.
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Madison Houston book 3: Hostilities South of The Border, The Battle for Human Dignity
Mar 2025
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In the heart of a place outside the boundaries of the United States, where the mountains reached toward the sky and rivers ran along the foothills of the mountains, lay the land where the lust for money and the rule of law were intertwined. This land was unlike any other, for the wind whispered softly, sharing details of a time when control of persons who were searching for the illegal products of this land took priority over basic human needs. Legends whispered of a force that guarded the land, a force so powerful that it could alter the fabric of society itself.
The protagonists of our tale are a young lady named Madison Houston and her companion, Amanda Rhea.
Madison Houston, a figure of strength and elegance, stood tall with a lean, athletic build. Her beautiful chestnut brown eyes reflected a depth of strength and intelligence with a full dose of determination thrown in, hinting at the many covert missions she had undertaken. Strands of her dark hair, always neatly tied back, framed her face, hinting at her experience and resilience.
Despite the demands of her role, she was a figure of beauty; her smooth complexion displayed no signs of someone whose professional abilities were in no way displayed by her outside appearance. She portrayed a picture of strength and professionalism with every task she undertook. Amanda Rhea, her steadfast companion, was much shorter, with a sturdier build that spoke of her physical prowess. Her sapphire-blue eyes were piercing, always gazing at her surroundings with a keen sense of awareness. Beautiful locks of short blond hair, her color choice for today, were meticulously positioned at the back of her head, sometimes kept in a tight curl to prevent any distraction during high-stakes operations. Amanda’s face, though soft in demeanor compared to Madison’s, radiated a quiet strength and unwavering ability to confront any enemy.
Madison Houston Book 2: In search of The Interstate Shooter
Jan 2025
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“Hello. My name is Madison Houston. I am a Special Forces Sniper for the United States Army. I have previously been assigned to missions on behalf of the FBI and military needs. Most of my assignments have been in the area of counterterrorism, although I have had assignments strictly for information gathering and civil unrest.
“ My expertise is generally required in areas where knowledge of and use of weapons are involved. In all of these missions, it has been my goal to complete them without the loss of a life. I need to add that this goal has not always been successful, but the final actions were always for the betterment of society.
“This assignment will be the same as it has been in the past. I will attempt to make this a successful mission without having to take the life of the Interstate shooter, but the mission will be completed with the elimination of the person if need be.
“I do not know the reasons for this person’s actions, nor do I know what drove him to take the final steps, but I do know his actions will cease, and the rule of law will have the final say.
“The mission I have accepted is to locate and assist in the apprehension of this person. Please join me in the hunt for the Interstate Shooter.”
“You will find out that the Daniel Boone National Forest has many surprises in store for all of us.”
Madison Houston United States Special Forces Operative.
Madison Houston: Kakugo Wo Kimeru The Sleeping Giant Has Awakened
May, 2022
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The account of the military career of Madison Houston is fictionalized but based on many facts concerning the training of military officers and enlisted men and women serving our country in that capacity.
Madison Houston grew up in London Kentucky, a small town in southeastern Kentucky. Her small-town life and its simple way were interrupted by the unexpected event in Chicago Illinois which took the life of both her mother and father.
Madison’s father was a retired military officer who knew the benefits of his career and wanted something similar for his daughter and son. His son followed in his father’s footsteps but had his career shortened by a boobie trap while serving in a foreign country.
The young daughter, Madison, made a pledge over the coffin of her father that she would honor his wishes and do everything within her power to assist in the elimination of the acts which took her father’s life.
This book will tell the story of Madison and her quest to become the best of everything the Army had to offer. Additionally, it will detail the accounts of the missions, as well as the training needed to deal with those undertakings.
After serving the United States in the areas in which she was best qualified, she came to understand that certain actions by those involved would lend themselves to consequences that weren’t her choices but nevertheless had to be completed by the only methods available.
Madison made the journey from teenager to adult while learning the tools by which Uncle Sam would deal with those who could not accept the American society in the way they had envisioned.
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Rufus and Arnold: The Mountain Boys
December, 2021
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The account of the life of Arnold Deaton and his younger brother Rufus Deaton is fictionalized in detail but based on the facts as told by both Arnold and his brother as well as many members of their families.
Arnold and Rufus grew up in Breathitt County, Kentucky in the early 1900s at a time when the daily routine of their lives was based on the needs to survive.
This book tells the story of two brothers who were nearly the same age, raised in the same family with values that were handed to each in a similar manner but seemed to be received by the two with completely different understandings. This is the story of their lives. Filled with humor and tragedy, this is the way it was.The facts of their lives have been infused with detail that is meant to connect the reader with the daily activities of these two individuals as young boys, then later as adults trying to provide for their families.
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The Trial of Lessie Johnson
May, 2021
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This book tells the story of an Appalachian lady who endured a lifelong trial of family loss and accepted her losses with a strength of character and faith that is so needed in today’s society. Through tragic events, she lost members of her family at different times in the prime of their lives. This book captures these tragic events, and although written as a novel, these loses are all true. It may bring you to tears in so many ways but may also inspire you. This book is a love story, a war story, a ghost story, a story of violent men, a historical novel of Appalachia and a heartwarming story of family survival.
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Order your copy today at Barnes & Noble
Other Books
From Whence Cometh Thou
July, 2021
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We know how we got here and where we came from; This is what we did.
(600 years of Deatons)
Growing up in eastern Kentucky on a small family farm with six brothers and two sisters creates an appreciation for family ties and family history that should be left and shared for many generations to come.
This book shows the records and original documents of the first 600 years of Deatons in America; it captures the time frame from the original Deaton who landed in America to the current date.
Additionally, there are stories and newspaper articles documenting the Deaton migration from their original landing in America through Bloody Breathitt County, Kentucky to their current location in Laurel County, Kentucky. This book shows the rich heritage that makes us all proud of ‘From Whence We Came’.
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Contact the author: [email protected]