A Twist of Tobacco

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.

When people say Southerners before the Civil War it automatically brings to mind Tara and Scarlett O'Hara, sweeping lawns and massive garden parties.  The truth of the matter is that the majority of southerners were simple farmers or merchants. In researching A Twist of Tobacco I visited a wonderful working farm museum near Dover Tennessee. Homeplace 1850's Working Farm   was absolutely fascinating and gave me much background for the daily life of my ancestors before the war began.   Typical Two Pen House with detached kitchen at rear   Parlor with bed and trundle for visiting company. I am standing in the front door of the Pen and you can see straight into the kitchen. Smokey the house cat. Making tomato sauce in the hot kitchen. Stairs to the loft and upstairs bedrooms Loft room As you can see, these people lived a life far different from what is often portrayed in movies and TV sh...

"Baby Henry was asleep in a basket on the porch while Carol sewed yellow trim on her son’s Butternut coats. Lizzie had painstakingly cut out the patterns for the uniform jackets and pants. And during the quiet afternoons, when the men were in the field and the children were in school or taking a nap, Carol had been sewing the uniforms for Watt and Ed. She said a silent prayer for all of the boys already gone to war."   from A Twist of Tobacco I have found so many tiny little tidbits of information in my research over the years.  It's these actual bits that give my story life and authenticity.  A page from Watt's actual Confederate Pension Application.

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...