Brief

The Palms is a redemptive narrative that weaves the stories and points-of-view of Ronnie, Clara, and Mary as they form a blended family and try to build a new existence.

What We Liked

- The bones of a great story are here;
- The story does begin as a redemptive journey of a man who seeks companionship and is in dire need of a second chance at life;
- Plenty of room for creative reshaping, and world building;
- There is potential for real, compelling relationships;
- The main character is sympathetic.

Synopsis

This story is about Ronnie Wells, 68-years old, a reformed ex-con who befriends a struggling young mother Clara and her daughter Mary. Ronnie killed a man and spent 33 years in prison. Upon his release he moves into a trailer park in Pensacola, Florida named “The Palms.” He meets his neighbors who are really in need and seeking stability in their lives. Clara is a drug addict and prostitute and Mary is 7-years old growing up without proper guidance. Ronnie aims to help both of them after casting away Clara’s abusive drug dealing-pimp boyfriend Joe.

Finally fed up with watching Joe’s abusive behaviors endangering Mary and Clara alike, Ronnie intervenes when Clara is thrown to the ground in front of him. Joe leaves and things begin to drastically improve for the young mother. Clara manages to quit drugs and prostitution while gaining more acceptable employment and even begins studying for an upcoming GED exam. But things take a turn for the worse when Ronnie is ambushed and severely beaten and Clara relapses into her old meth addiction. The ex-boyfriend Joe also returns for revenge that tragically spins out of his control.

Joe’s plan falls apart and a local drug supplier kidnaps and prepares Mary to be sold to a pedophile doctor. Ronnie must bail Clara out of jail, find Mary’s location, and plan for her rescue, which proves to be no easy task. Ronnie has to kill a man in his trailer who was sent to kill him, releasing a rage that’s been bottled up for over 35-years. Ronnie and Clara arrive at the stash house where Mary is being held and one by one he kills everyone involved. Mary is reunited with her mother but it comes at the cost of Ronnie’s life who is gravely injured during the exchange. Clara and Mary depart Florida in a stolen car in search of new identities and a fresh start.

About The Author

Clay Anderson is an Adjunct Professor of History at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. He received his BA in History from Kennesaw State University and MA from Mississippi State University. He has six diverse publications, fiction and non-fiction. These publications include two non-fiction book reviews in Texas Books in Review and East Texas Historical Journal, one non-fiction article in the Journal of Big Bend Studies, and three fiction short in the Fourth World Journal, Adelaide Literary Award Anthology, and The Bangalore Review. He is currently an MFA student in Creative Writing at Reinhardt University. The Palms is his first novel. He lives in the mountains of North Georgia with his two dogs.