Rock Bottom, Tennessee

By: Kimberly Nixon

Narrated by: Dani Nelson

Life is hard for Ruby growing up in poverty on the wrong side of the mountain on her grandfather's farm where literally the sun didn’t shine. The Appalachian setting isn’t her friend as she searches for an easy life at the "tippy-top" with contentment and security. Ruby makes a series of bad decisions, causing her life to tumble into an unexpected outcome.

Joseph knew that he always wanted to be a teacher. His family, one of the more prosperous on the mountain, surrounded him with love and support and encouraged him to find happiness with a family of his own.

Leon, a former farm hand on her grandfather’s farm, darts in and out of Ruby’s life on his way toward a life of crime.

The Four Winds meets Blind Tiger in this tale during Prohibition Era Appalachian Tennessee, set in the early 1900s, where setting and mountain community become other characters of the story. Based on a real-life tale of the author’s grandmother, the listener gets immersed in Ruby’s choices as she searches for worthiness and belonging. Was the adventure worth the risk of losing her family? Will Ruby ever find what she is looking for?

©2022 Roots and Wings Press, LLC (P)2022 Roots and Wings Press, LLC

Ruby

I talked to Ruby while I read her story. Ain’t easy being a poor girl living Appalachia in Rock Bottom. Couldn’t put it down.

Great Story of Tragedy and Triumph

This is a great story about the life of a woman born in early 1900's Tennessee. She was raised in poverty by people trying to survive. Other children who had more bullied her. She was a smart person in some ways and very foolish in other ways. She survived the loss of her parents, a child, and a marriage. Ruby lived a sad life; but made the best of her situation.
She was able to find success in business and a new husband later in life. I want to know more about her and about where her mother went when she left; I hope there is a sequel!
the narrator was wonderful! I felt like I was in Tennessee listening to the characters speak.

Family story well told

I loved this story. We all have history of our grandparents or great grandparents on what they had to do to survive in the depression years. This story is one that is really interesting about a smart, intelligent woman who did what she had to do to survive. With that choice she also lost much. Story told by her granddaughter is really worth reading or listing too. Looking forward to reading Kimberly’s next book coming in April. 2024.

Great story. Great narrator

Ruby was an amazing woman who did the best she could at the time. Her heart was broken so many times but she persevered. This story is rich and heartfelt. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Motherhood

Not sure how this woman could have given birth to so many children and leave them along her journey of life.