About the Book
Inheriting an old southern homestead in the deep woods of East Texas may not always be a good thing.
The House on Camp Ruby Road is the story of three generations of women living in the Big Thicket of deep East Texas. It is a mystical place where Eden Devereaux, a college student in the early 1960s is drawn into a haunting world full of damaged and grotesque people, reminiscent of Southern Gothic literature. After inheriting a crumbling southern homestead in the Big Thicket upon the death of her mother, Eden must find out why she is entitled to it. But more importantly, who wants to make sure she doesn't inherit it and why.
The story weaves around three women: our heroine, who is searching for answers to a childhood dream; an elderly black woman who is living in the house and who holds the key to the mystery of the dream; and a young girl from the river bottom people, fleeing an unbearable life. They form an unlikely bond through adversity. Eden is aided in her search by handsome Jeff Callahan, who better understands the strange world in which she finds herself.
Will she be driven away by blood feuds, secrets, and ghosts? Or will she take a stand and claim what is hers? Through her true Texas grit and determination, she will find out the truth about who she really is, and who it is she truly loves.
About the Author :
Twyla Ellis is a descendant of pioneers who came to Texas in the 1840s. She grew up roaming the dense pine forests in The Big Thicket around Livingston, Texas at the homes of her grandmother and great-aunts and uncles. Her family was one of the founding families of Livingston, and her great-great-great grandfather was the first city treasurer in the eighteen-forties. She fell in love with the lush flora and fauna and the haunting feel of The Thicket, its sounds, sights, and smells. The House on Camp Ruby Road is the first of a series of independent novels set in The Big Thicket of deep East Texas, under the banner of Ghosts of the Big Thicket, which will all have a Southern Gothic bent. Twyla holds a degree from Howard Payne University and had taught English and Music. She has been a member of NEA, TSTA, and TETA. She was a statewide officer and conference speaker with TETA (Texas English Teachers Association). She has run her own children's party and event planning business, Parties by Twyla, as well as Remembrances Antiques and Gifts in the Houston area. She is certified in computer graphic design and free-lances in her spare time. Nothing makes her happier than road trips with her family to interesting old Texas towns. She loves church, antiquing, fossil hunting with her husband and sons (they hunt, she watches), Big Bend, old barns, the Alamo (don't all Texans?), exploring deserted buildings, southern revivals, her Pomeranians, Sophie and Missy Rose, and especially, The Big Thicket. If she had to give you a one-word bio of herself, she would probably say, that obnoxiously joyful, hug-driven, southern relative that you'd like to hide in the attic, just might be me.
Review :
"... Set in 1963 just outside the Big Thicket (where law seems just a rumor), this beautifully written, unique page-turner is unexpectedly wonderful. There are strong, consistent characters to love or hate, a star-crossed romance, a Buster-Billie romance, period racism, domestic abuse with perpetrators that would have been at home in Deliverance, and cameo appearances by a helpful ghost. I liked everything about this book. I could see this as a movie or tv series."--Jackie M., NetGalley
"Fun, fast moving read with the predictable character to dislike and main characters you want to see more of. Looking forward to the second and successive books in the series."--Nikki B., Librarian, NetGalley
"This sprawling novel had characters I fell in love with, a Texas town that felt inviting and a house that felt like home. Long buried secrets were revealed, a mystery solved & a perfect ending achieved ..."--Brandy H., NetGalley
"An old house, secrets, and ghosts. Throw in a little romance and you have a great read! ... This story takes place in 1963 and has so many elements that make it a page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and look forward to book #2."--Lisa G., NetGalley
"... We read about hatred between poor and rich, black and white, town-dwellers and country. All in all the book has a message for us all kindness to our fellow man, and making assumptions based on first impressions, a message for us all."--Helena M., Educator, NetGalley
