Author of epic historical novel will hold book signing Saturday
Published 11:29 am Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Star Photo/ Kevin Green Pictured is a replica knife made by a Sycamore Schoals State Park volunteer for author Patricia Ann Ledford. The knife is featured in the Ledford's new book as being carried by its antagonist Dragging Canoe.
Star Photo/ Kevin Green Patrica Ann Ledford with a copy of her book that she will be signing for readers at Sycamore Shoals State Park Saturday.
Kingsport native and now author Patricia Ann Ledford will be signing copies of her first book “Strings—The Story of Hope” this Saturday at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ledford’s book has been a lifelong desire for her, and although the fictional Strings is her first book, Ledford is not new to making a living with the written word.
After an early career in politics helping with gubernatorial candidate Nate Winston in 1974, Ledford went on to become Tennessee’s first film commissioner. The admirable role included duties such as working on film projects and television programing.
The new author says in the sleeve of her book that she has over 40 years of “copywriting for clients in Nashville and Chattanooga [before] she finally achieved a life-time goal of writing stories of her own creation.”
Ledford said she spent two years researching and writing Strings.
The novel is a sweeping rendering of its protagonist Hope O’Connor and her horse Isaiah and what happens after her home is set ablaze by a native American war tribe led by Dragging Canoe, who was the chief of Mialaquo. The story is set during the Revolutionary War, and the turn tide Battle of Kings Mountain and spans four generations.
A summary of the story, which is also in the sleeve, concludes with “Hope’s compelling story will grab your heart with such concern, you’ll keep reading just to see if she survives—and if the strings unravel enough to allow love.”
Although Strings is a fictional book, it is based on actual historical events and persons.
The choice of Sycamore Shoals as the venue for the book signing was not happenstance. The historic park was a muster site for the Overmountain Men.
The park also has a walk through display of Dragging Canoe and was a font of information for Ledford to pull from when she wrote the book. A reenactment volunteer also made Ledford a replica of the knife that would have been carried by Dragging Canoe.
Further information about the upcoming signing can be obtained by calling the park at 423-543-5808.
