Willis' 'Destiny' a sweeping Louisiana family saga

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkzpyTJfvR0

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.

Tuesday ebook spotlight - Randy Willis

    “The best men I’ve known have been cowmen,” wrote Daniel Hubbard Willis Jr. in 1900. “There’s a code they live by—it’s their way of life. It starts with an abiding reverence for the Good Lord. They’re taught to honor and respect their parents and to share both blanket and bread. Their words are their bond, a handshake their contract. They’re good stewards of His creation, the land. They believe the words in His Book. Learn from these men—from their stories of triumph over tragedy—victory over adversity, for the wisdom of others blows where it wishes—like a Louisiana Wind.” 

     “Louisiana Wind: a Novel of Louisiana” by Randy Willis is the story of such men and the kindle edition is only 99 cents to download at Amazon.com. 

     Randy Willis is the author of many books, including “Three Winds Blowing,” “Texas Wind,” “LIGHT,” “The Apostle to the Opelousas,” “The Story of Joseph Willis” and is the co-author of “Twice a Slave,” which has been chosen as a Jerry B. Jenkins Select Book, along with four bestselling authors, and adapted into a dramatic play at Louisiana College by Dr. D. "Pete" Richardson.

     He 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.
     Willis 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 in Austin, with the goal of empowering at-risk teens to discover their greatness. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Joseph Willis Institute at Louisiana College.

     Randy Willis was born in Oakdale, Louisiana, although he now resides in the Texas Hill Country. He is a fourth great-grandson of Joseph Willis.

Louisiana Book News is written by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. The first two books in her award-winning series are free as ebooks! Visit http://www.cherieclaire.net/.

Two family histories showcase life in Louisiana

             Two non-fiction books out now by Louisiana authors delve into unique family history: “Three Winds Blowing” by Randy Willis, an examination of Rev. Joseph Willis, who was the first non-Catholic to preach west of the Mississippi, and “People of the Good God” by Hardy Jones, a memoir about growing up Cajun.

            Willis, a native of Oakdale who now resides in the Texas Hill Country, is the descendant of Rev. Joseph Willis and considers himself the family historian. He has published others books on Rev. Willis, including “The Apostle to the Opelousas: The Story of Joseph Willis” and is co-author of “Twice a Slave,” the latter of which was made into a play

Rev. Willis established churches in southern and central Louisiana and was friends of William Prince Ford, the first owner of Solomon Northup, narrator of “Twelve Years a Slave,” and James Bowie. Rev. Willis and Ford founded Spring Hill Baptist Church in Forest Hill; Bowie was a neighbor. Randy Willis relates these connections in his fictional account, “Three Winds Blowing.”

Randy Willis is an ASCAP-affiliated songwriter and president of Quadra Record Company. He is also 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, that seeks to empower at-risk teens in Austin, Texas. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Joseph Willis Institute at Louisiana College.

Hardy Jones may have been born in Florida but it didn’t take long for him to realize he was Cajun through his mother’s side and a blend of nationalities — like most of Louisiana — through his Felice family of southwest Louisiana. He realizes his heritage and identity in his 20s, relating this unique connection to food, culture and music while living in an Anglo world through his memoir, “People of the Good God.”

            Jones received his B.A. in English from LSU, an MFA in creative nonfiction from The University of Memphis and a Ph.D. in English from UL-Lafayette. His previous book is the novel “Every Bitter Thing” and Hardy’s short story “A New Bike for Little Mike” and his personal essay “Dry Gumbo” were nominated for 2015 Pushcart Prizes. Hardy is an associate professor of English and the director of creative writing at Cameron University. For more information, visit www.hardyjoneswriting.com.

Book news

            The UL-Lafayette Thursday Night Reading Series will now make its home at Artmosphere, 902 Johnston St. in downtown Lafayette. The event will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm Thursdays.

            The 13th edition of “The Louisiana Review,” a magazine of poetry, short stories, essays, reviews, plays and art has been published by the Division of Liberal Arts on the LSU Eunice campus. Copies of the Review are $5, available by sending a check for $8 for the cost of the book and shipping to The Louisiana Review, P.O. Box 1129, Eunice, LA 70535. For information on submitting contributions for the 2016 issue, visit www.lsue.edu/la-review.

            The summer issue of the Southern Review, which publishes literary voices from around the world from the LSU campus, is now available and features a special section titled “Writing Katrina: Ten Years After” with works by poet Alison Pelegrin, author playwright John Biguenet and filmmaker Zack Godshall. As always, the book is filled with artwork, poetry, essays and more. To purchase a copy, visit http://thesouthernreview.org.

Chere Dastugue Coen is the author of "Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History," "Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana" and "Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana" and co-author of "Magic's in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets." She also writes Louisiana romances under Cherie Claire, including "A Cajun Dream" and "The Letter." Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.