About the author

 J Randall Floyd is the proud father of four sons and nine amazing grandchildren. He lives in southern Indiana in a log cabin located on five acres. Reading, writing, and spending time with the grandchildren are his favorite things to do. Gardening is also a passion tending three vegetable gardens, numerous flower gardens, and a small orchard from spring to late fall. He loves wildlife and feeds the birds, squirrels, and rabbits daily. He also cares for his dog Atlas and an occasional stray cat. Deer, possums, and raccoons frequently roam the property at night and often pose for the trail cameras. His love of writing, influenced by his experience living in Tennessee as a boy, has enriched his storytelling. The stories he heard from grandparents, neighbors and family enhanced his understanding of past and present struggles. Randall was six years old when he recalled his first memory of Tennessee. He lived in a small three-room house with his mother, grandparents, and baby sister. The house had no water or indoor plumbing, and one lone lightbulb hung from the ceiling in the kitchen. A wood stove heated the house, and a wood cookstove prepared their meals. Randall remembers the meals being the best he has ever eaten. The family retrieved water from a spring a hundred feet down into a hollow. Randall carried water in buckets weaving his way up the winding, worn path. While sleeping in the attic was not an ideal situation, Randall made the best of it. Climbing a wood ladder, he reached the bed lying across the bare wood floor joist. There was no light, floor, or ceiling. The only thing between Randall and the outdoors was the tin roof on top of the house. The summer heat was stifling, and the winter cold combated by layers of quilts. Randall left Tennessee when he was eight and returned when he was ten. Upon return, the house had water, an electric stove, and lights throughout the house. The finished attic had a steep stairway built for access, but the outhouse remained a staunch reminder that indoor plumbing had yet to reach the place. Randall began to make his own story. School, sports, girls, and grief. Unknown sounds in the night and grandmother’s stories forever etched on his mind. In Randall’s books, you will find his story and much more. Look for Jackie and me in the fall of 2021. Thanks for reading, and God Bless.