Jawbone Holler, the debut novel of veteran agricultural communicator Mace Thornton, was released by retailers this month. The compelling historical fiction tale recounts the adventures of Perry Adams, an ambitious, flawed and misunderstood young pioneer.
Set amid the strife of pre-Civil War America along the border of Missouri and Kansas Territory, Jawbone Holler’s story invites readers to share Perry Adams’ harrowing journey of self-discovery and resilience, offering scenes of adversity that are both inspiring and thought-provoking. Thornton’s vivid prose and meticulous research bring the era and the book’s characters to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and struggles of frontier life. The complex characters and their intertwined destinies add depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.
Throughout the book, Adams is forced to address his personal demons as he strives to overcome numerous external obstacles in pursuit of life, love and liberty, all with a goal of establishing a corn farm in pre-Civil War Kansas Territory. The fast-paced plot takes the young man on an initial journey from his native Indiana, where he has hit rock bottom, to the untamed but much-promoted land of Kansas Territory. The story is also driven throughout by a strong agricultural theme.
Thornton, a native of Troy in northeast Kansas, says the colorful characters Adams meets along his way maintain the book’s swift pace from cover to cover. Adams, himself the great-great-grandson of a pirate, forms unexpected bonds with a local constable, several freedmen farmers, a bartending couple, an outspoken shopkeeper, and even a mysterious “genie.” Another important character is a local schoolteacher who plays piano in secret at the bar to make ends meet. Love blooms amidst chaos, and Perry’s quest for freedom and his fight to survive become intertwined with matters of the heart.
In addition to completing Jawbone Holler, Thornton is a partner at Stratovation Group where he works for primarily agricultural clients in areas such as audience research, marketing consulting and strategic communications.
Before joining Stratovation, he led the communications teams for two of the nation’s most important ag groups, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the United Soybean Board. Thornton is a graduate of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. He drew inspiration for Jawbone Holler from the Missouri River Hills of northeast Kansas, where he was born and raised, and from the stories that echo through those hills from the people who embrace them.
For more information or to order Jawbone Holler, visit the website here.
