This week’s guest blog is by Randy Willis, author of “Twice a Slave,” “Three Winds Blowing,” “Louisiana Wind,” “Beckoning Candle,” “The Apostle to the Opelousas,” “The Story of Joseph Willis” and many magazine and newspaper articles. His latest novel is “Destiny,” a sweeping family saga that spans four centuries.
It begins and ends on Christmas Day 1941, at the Ole Willis Place located on Barber Creek near Longleaf, Louisiana. The Ole Willis Place was located on present-day Willis Gunter Road, off Boy Scout Road. There’s a huge gravel pit and sand dunes next to where the house once stood.
Destiny is a sweeping family saga that spans four centuries. It is the story of two great nations and Randy Willis's ancestor’s struggle from tyranny—religious and political. A powerful epic with love stories, battles, testimonies, drama, politics, history, and even humor. Inspired by true stories.
Destiny is more than a novel. It is a nonfiction novel inspired by true stories handed down by my ancestors. They depict real historical figures and actual events woven together with imaginary conversations with the use of the storytelling techniques of fiction. Truman Capote claimed to have invented this genre with his book “In Cold Blood” in 1965.
Watch the book trailer:
About Randy Willis
“Twice a Slave” has been chosen as a Jerry B. Jenkins Select Book, along with four bestselling authors. Jenkins is the author of more than 180 books with sales of more than 70 million copies, including the best-selling “Left Behind” series. “Twice a Slave” has also been adapted into a dramatic play at Louisiana College by Dr. D. "Pete" Richardson, associate professor of Theater with Louisiana College.
Willis owns Randy Willis Music Publishing (an ASCAP-affiliated music publishing company), and Town Lake Music Publishing, LLC (a BMI-affiliated music publishing company). He is an ASCAP-affiliated songwriter.
He is the founder of Operation Warm Heart, which feeds and clothes the homeless, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Our Mission Possible, empowering at-risk teens to discover their greatness in Austin, Texas. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Joseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies at Louisiana College.
Willis was born in Oakdale, Louisiana, and lived as a boy, near Longleaf on Barber Creek. He currently resides in the Texas Hill Country.
Willis graduated from Angleton High School in Angleton, Texas, and Texas State University in San Marcos. He was a graduate student at Texas State University for six years. He is the father of three sons and has four grandchildren.
He is the fourth great-grandson of Joseph Willis and his foremost historian.
Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.
Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.
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