Mother and son escape abuse, find shelter and mystery
Some kids have to grow up fast. This is the story of Lonnie Tobin, one such young man. Weary of the physical abuse his mother is subjected to from his father, he takes matters into his own hands. Convincing her to flee their fearful home life, son and mother sneak away in the night to the small town of Rocky Branch, where they find peace with her family. It is a corner of the world he thought they had left behind forever. But mysteries abound in this little wooded village, and an unexpected adventure begins when word of a nightly monster on the loose stirs fear among the residents. Young Lonnie soon forgets about his father and becomes fascinated by the story, only to find he might be spending a little too much time on the strange side of the tracks.

The Strange Side of the Tracks takes us back to revisit childhood days when summer vacations spent with relatives invited investigation of new surroundings, and in this story, opened an opportunity to explore the possibilities of an unsolved mystery that perplexed even the grown ups of this little town. Avant’s writing flows like honey, sweet and tasteful, leaving an aftertaste of total satisfaction.
—Dave Potter, author of A Place of Stones
Paperback • $17.00 • 978-1-935166-95-5
283 Pages @ 6” x  9”
E-book • $3.99 • 978-1-935166-96-2
GEORGE LARRY AVANT (December 22, 1950 - November 8, 2012) passed away just months after signing the publication contract for this, his first and only novel. George travelled all over the country with his family as a radio broadcaster for thirty years, often serving in gospel ministry. For many years, he was half of The Light Brothers, a comedy duo. A writer, humorist, painter, and avid reader, Avant returned late in life to rural Arkansas, to a small town rich with history and personal memories, where he was inspired to write this novel. He left behind a daughter and two sons, all of who helped George bring his work to completion, and assisted editors in preparing the text for publication.