Hardscrabble Road

THE ENTIRE MACLEOD CLAN is haunted by secrets—and young Roger “Bud” MacLeod doesn’t realize he carries the biggest secret of all. Growing up poor in Depression-era South Georgia is hard enough, but Bud is also cursed with a stutter and a birthmark that disfigures his face. His hateful father and amoral mother make life worse still, despite his brothers’ efforts to shield him.

To survive, Bud must discover his strengths and confront the sins of his parents. First, though, he’ll need to grasp his own truth: that he can’t embrace his future until he comes to terms with his past.

George Weinstein is the award-winning author of the beloved Southern historical novel HARDSCRABBLE ROAD, its sequel RETURN TO HARDSCRABBLE ROAD (winner of the Literary Titan Book Award and Readers' Favorite Award Bronze Medal), the kidnapping thriller WATCH WHAT YOU SAY, the small town, amateur-sleuth murder mystery AFTERMATH, the modern domestic drama THE CARETAKER, and the multi-cultural novel of forgotten US history THE FIVE DESTINIES OF CARLOS MORENO. A popular speaker with book clubs and at literary festivals, George is fond of telling readers the stories behind the stories and providing writers with advice he wished he had received when he embarked on his so-called writing career in 2000.His work has been published in the Atlanta press and in regional and national anthologies, including A CUP OF COMFORT FOR WRITERS. His first novel, the children's motivational adventure JAKE AND THE TIGER FLIGHT, was written for the nonprofit Tiger Flight Foundation, which is dedicated to the mission of leading the young to become the "Pilot in Command" of their lives. He wishes that there had been such an organization in Laurel, Maryland, where he misspent his youth.George is the twice-former President of the Atlanta Writers Club (AWC / www.AtlantaWritersClub.org) and is its Executive Director. He also holds the lifetime title of Atlanta Writers Conference Director and manages two conferences per year (www.AtlantaWritersConference.com) for the AWC to give writers access to publishing house editors, literary agents, and other industry professionals. He lives with his wife and her two daughters in Marietta, GA.Information about George's books, excerpts, endorsements and reviews, book club questions, and more, are available on his website: www.GeorgeWeinstein.com.