In the Pines

In the pine-shadowed corners of Depression era Louisiana and Texas, a family clings to love, memory, and survival as war and secrets unravel the ties that bind.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, In the Pines follows the intersecting lives of the Loftin family, their kin, and the women who keep their homes, heal their wounds, and carry their burdens. As sons march off to war and daughters face the echoes of past choices, matriarchs like Ma Loftin and Annie Cole anchor a legacy woven with heartbreak, resilience, and quiet magic.

From the sweltering work camps of the South to the icy shores of the Aleutian Islands, this sweeping, character-driven saga captures the strength of ordinary people in extraordinary times, people who bury their dead, raise each other’s children, and fight fiercely for every small joy that remains.

When the world burns, what survives are the stories we carry and the kin we choose to love anyway.

©2025 Velma Loftin-Stoneburner (P)2025 Velma Loftin-Stoneburner