The Fall of Bellwether

The Fall of Bellwether is the winner of the Amity Literary Prize awarded by Anamcara Press and was a finalist in the ScreenCraft's Cinematic Novel Competition, 2023. The author transports readers to 1841 Midwest, immersing them in a world of duplicity and struggle. A mother and daughter fight against abandonment and starvation, their resilience challenges the very fabric of the town's beliefs. With its vividly depicted setting, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, this historical fiction masterpiece weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, forgiveness, and the power of unity. Step into the pages and discover the strength that can be found even in the darkest of times. The novel opens with a riveting scene, the moment of Elinor's impending execution. The narrative paints a stark picture of the town's hypocrisy-as the same people who once attended church with Ada, now act as judge, jury, and executioners. With masterful strokes, the author breathes life into the people of Bellwether, capturing the intricate web of relationships-Sarah and Hiram whose love is forbidden, and Eva and Uriah who open the door to forgiveness. Authentic dialogue draws readers into this exquisitely sculpted tale that exalts love, forgiveness, and communal bonds. A literary gem that stands as a testament to the indomitable resilience of the human spirit.

About the Author :
Chad V. Broughman was the recipient of the Rusty Scythe Prize Book Award and the Adobe Cottage Writers Retreat honor in New Mexico. As well, Chad was awarded two chapbook contracts for his short story collections--"The Forsaken" and "Slighted"--both published by Etchings Press. His fiction can be found in journals nationwide, such as Carrier Pigeon, East Coast Literary Review, River Poets Journal, Burningword, Pulp Fiction, Sky Island Journal, and From Whispers to Roars, and he is anthologized in Write Michigan Short Story Anthology, On Loss, and Scribes Valley Anthology. He is a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize nominee, holds an MFA from Spalding University and served as co-editor for the fiction/poetry blog "Cafe Aphra" based out of the United Kingdom. Chad teaches English and Creative Writing at the secondary and post-secondary levels but is most proud of his roles as a husband and devoted father to two rambunctious young sons.

Review :
Broughman has created an American epic, a grand story that stretches across land and water, time and race, gender and religion. ... as characters go off to war, flee to cities, and escape the terrors of slavery, we encounter the awesome forces of mercy, hope, even forgiveness. Broughman's prose sweeps from achingly tender to brutal and bare-knuckled, his prowess managing multiple voices and tensions. ...brazenly beautiful writing. -John Mauk, author of Field Notes for the Earthbound "Chad Broughman's debut novel is as beautiful as it is brutal, a tale of small-minded evil and redemption set in post-Civil War America. The Fall of Bellwether left me feeling like I'd just read a horror story wrapped in a lullaby. It's a page-turner that will stick with me forever." New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Donovan, Take A Chance on Me The fictional town of Bellwether is home to complicated characters whose lives are forever entangled and whose stories Broughman weaves together with vivid detail and great care. This complex novel does not shy away from the evil that can emerge from narrow-minded communities and their false piety and prejudices, but in these pages, too, a reader will find sophisticated understanding and remarkable grace. -Patricia Ann McNair, author of Responsible Adults ... dystopian in scope and yet closer to home than we'd like to believe. Here is America: from slavery to the Civil War to the Great Chicago Fire, from brothels to mining camps to church pulpits. The Fall of Bellwether shows how even the most hopeless can be redeemed, and just when all seems lost, true treasure is found. -Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone ..Juxtaposed with the beautiful woods of the upper peninsula of Michigan, this historical novel follows multiple, intertwined, dark and poignant story lines which each illuminate the complexities of enslavement in all of its forms. The lessons it teaches are those still desperately needed today. -Patti Eddington, author of The Girl with Three Birthdays: An Adopted Daughter's Memoir of Tiaras, Tough Truths and Tall Tales