A Twist of Tobacco

I met with a distant cousin yesterday who had some interesting information for me.  (Incidentally I had a couple of surprises for me.)  First but not least in the info was a transcription of The Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionnaire, Confederate Soldiers compiled by Gustaus W. Dyer and John Trotwood.  They sent the questionnaire to both Confederate and Union soldier and compiled the study around 1920. I found the questions condescending and the answers very enlightening. (misspellings are as originally written) These excerpt were from the form filled out by Samuel Mortimer Ownby, Woodbury, TN. State your full name.   Samuel Mortimore Ownby. State your age.   76 In what state and county were you born.?   Tenn. Marshall Co Were you confederate or federal soldier? Confederate Name of your company: Company I Reg 14 nixon's Cavlary What was the occupation of your father? Farming Give full name of your father.   Ely Cr...

Each writer has a different process to get words on a page. Some type directly into a word processor, some write in long hand and some dictate into a machine. There are even a few who still use a typewriter. I start in longhand, then type and print, then read aloud and make notes and adjustments, then print again.   RINSE and REPEAT. From the soon to be launched A Vow Unbroken, here is an example of a 3rd rewrite and the longhand edits and hopefully (but no promises) the final draft.

First draft of A Vow Unbroken has gone to the editor. Can I get a Whoopeeeeee?

Are you weary of naked bodies on book covers; bored with the half dead walking amongst us; perplexed by alternate worlds and dimensions; well past the age of teen-age angst? Do you ant to read a good story about real people, in a down to earth fashion with an authentic historical background? Then order your copy of A Twist of Tobacco today. Available in softcover or Kindle editions at Amazon . Or receive a SIGNED copy from the Author .

Historical fiction at its finest! By S. Breheny on February 10, 2016 Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase This is the kind of writing I absoluting LOVE! The writing flows so smoothly making it easy to "get lost" in the story immediately. The wording and phrases are accurate for the time period and locale. I especially appreciate all the descriptive passages so I can visualize clearly what each character is doing and might be feeling. It is apparent that Rita has done abundant research on many subjects combining all those elements to create a vivid portrait of real life in 1800's Tennessee. Thank you, Rita, for your labor of love! A Twist of Tobacco

I really like your book! Tears were running down my face yesterday when I was reading it! I am not even half way through! I received this message today on a completely unrelated thread. Authors depend on reviews to generate sales but also to keep us motivated. We need to know that people are reading and getting our message, what ever it might be. Notes like that really make my day. Get your copy today   A Twist of Tobacco  

In our research quest for A Twist of Tobacco, my husband and I visited the Tennessee Confederate Soldiers Home Cemetery located in Hermitage Tennessee. The home and subsequent cemetery was built on the grounds of Andrew Jackson's plantation The Hermitage. Built in 1892 the home closed in 1933. Residents of the home are buried in the Confederate Cemetery. My great uncle Cahal Knox Polk Ownby was a resident there and was buried in 1918. There is a large monument and the soldiers are buried with a simple stone engraved with their regiments. The graves were placed in an outward spiral. the nearest stones were the first and the farthest stones were the last. The last confederate veteran resident died in 1941.

In September of 2001 I took my first genealogy research trip to Tennessee. Two distant Ownby cousins and I planned to spend at least 10 days touring the area and researching in courthouses.   And we did.   We met up with other distant cousins and spent time in the towns and ate way too much country cooking. We based ourselves in Murfreesboro, Cannon County. We were actually researching several families but that's another story for another book.  Along the way we were directed to property that belonged to Eli Craig Ownby and some that is still in family hands. Tobacco drying shed on land still in possession by an Ownby descendant.  The creek featured in A Twist of Tobacco .    Of course yours truly (on the right) had to wade in the creek like a little girl.  After all Queen was my great Aunt. View from the road where Eli and the children lived after the war. I'm afraid this chapter of my r...

Watch the trailer for this new historical novel by Rita Ownby Holcomb A Twist of To bacco

In the summer of 2000, during a heat wave of 110+ and one of the worst draughts in Texas history, (and for you non Texans,   THAT'S BAD).   I decided to find my great-great-grandfather's grave.        Eli Craig Ownby was buried in 1892 at Pilot Grove Cemetery, which is only about 15 miles from my home.   My husband, Darrell, grew up even closer to the cemetery and "knew" all about it.   One hot August afternoon we took a ride over there and started walking the stones.   We found Eli's daughter Elizabeth Nancy Taylor's, grave but couldn't find his.   I had a picture of the grave stone which was about 5 foot tall taken around 1980 when another researcher was visiting from Tennessee   We walked the cemetery twice and couldn't find it.   Finally Darrell said, "Maybe it's really at Cannon" (about 3 miles down the road).   So we drove to Cannon Cemetery .   Wal...