Music, Moonshine,and Murder

Music, Moonshine, and Murder unfolds amidst the hills of early 20th century North Carolina, a time when women's rights were scarce. Days were spent toiling in the fields under the scorching sun for meager wages, with Maggie Gross among those facing societal scorn as an unwed mother at just sixteen. Music offered solace in Maggie's life; adept with her banjo since childhood, she harbored dreams of gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage with the Carter Family. Amidst prejudice for her unconventional family, Maggie eventually wed Jim Setzer, settling in a lawless community where moonshine flowed as freely as judgment. Their union faced its sternest test one brisk October morning, an event that would reverberate through generations, reshaping the lives of Maggie's boys in unforeseen ways.

Set against the rugged hills of early 20th century North Carolina, 'Music, Moonshine, and Murder' delves into a time of limited women's rights. Women toiled in the fields under the blazing sun, earning paltry sums, and faced harsh judgment for deviating from societal norms. Enter Maggie Gross, a banjo-playing young woman ostracized for her unwed motherhood at just sixteen. Her dreams of musical stardom clashed with the prejudices of her community, but she found solace in her marriage to Jim Setzer amidst the lawless backdrop of Ferguson, where moonshine flowed freely and crime lurked in the shadows. As Maggie and Jim navigated the challenges of their tumultuous world, a chilling event on an October morning shook their community, leaving a profound impact on her two boys and setting off a chain of events that would resonate through generations. This gripping tale on the back cover of the book encapsulates the struggles of women like Maggie, facing adversity, prejudice, and the relentless pursuit of a better life against the backdrop of a volatile era in the Smoky Mountains."

I'm Madge Rebecca Gross, aged seventy-eight, with three daughters and a cherished niece. I wrote "Music, Moonshine, and Murder" because, of my ten siblings, I'm among the last five alive and wanted to share my grandmother Maggie's story as best I could, though many who knew her are gone. The book is fictional but based on truth. Having attended art school and painted for years, I also love storytelling. "Music, Moonshine, and Love" is my sequel, focusing on my father, Chelsie E. Gross, Maggie's youngest son. Now in Leesburg, Virginia, with my daughter Melissa, her husband Arek, and their kids Amelia and Adam, I'm surrounded by love. I'll keep writing about the remarkable people of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I grew up, while cherishing time with my family.