A Biography of an American Family

WELCOME dear visitor and friend!

I have published my website for ease of viewing details about my novels, short stories, poems and more. I also believe that through publishing various materials on my site you will get to know me and my works better.

I hope you have a grand time browsing through this site and that it will stimulate you to actually read my various works of true-life, history and whimsical poetry. And your enthousiasm will result in your subscription to my various blogs and I look forward to communicating with you via my site on various topics or looking forward to your comments about my novels and other writings.

I have recently published my sixth novel, Southern Storm. It is a sequel to my former book, Southern Sanctuary, which is another fictitious story; however, several of the depicted events are an accurate reflection of many of the entrenched attitudes in the South during the 1950’s. If the reader has previously read the first book, Southern Sanctuary, the story will smoothly flow into a continuation of the original story.

However, this novel is complete within itself; for in briefly recapturing the main events of the original story, I revealed to the reader the entire story of both novels. This narrative presents a shocking conclusion in this unusual love story and stimulating mystery. It is a continuing testimony that displays a vivid picture of revenge and vigilante justice in the South during the 1950’s. The unfolding events in this novel reveal the shocking aftermath of the first book.

Thank you for your visit.

Don Pardue

Welcome to True Life & Other Stories

About Don

An Eye for an Eye

Random Reflections

Maiden Harvest

Southern Sanctuary

Southern Storm

Tom, Dick, and Harriet

Blossoms of Winter

Quotes & Insights

C.S. Lewis

Virginia Woolf

Hemingway

What My Readers Say

Blossoms of Winter
Good insights

Blossoms of Winter makes a "good read." The story follows the lives of one family's five rowdy sons as they sow their wild oats on their way to responsible adulthood. Well written.

~Marilyn Neilans

Tom, Dick and Harriet
Right on for our generation

Don Pardue nails it with this story about how it feels to be a 68 year old man, dealing with loneliness, well-meaning family members, good friends, and an old love. I appreciated the larger print, too ... made it really easy for my old eyes to read!

~Marilyn Neilans

Tom, Dick and Harriet
Great book!

I purchased several as gifts for my buddies. If you reflect on how your high school reunions might turn out, you'll get a kick out of the humor in this book.

~Donald Dickinson

Maiden Harvest
A Sociological Experience

This book was a sociological experience for me. I knew nothing about the life of a farmer and how dependent they are on mother-nature; of course it's obvious now, but I never thought about it. It is also about the disease of alcoholism and how it can ravage a family. The protagonist, Ben, guided his family through their perils with a firm, loving hand. He was loving and non-judgmental toward his wife, but always acting in the best interests of his girls. He kept them safe and secure. They trusted him and knew they could always depend on him. A great read about strength, character, love and faith. I will hold this book close to my heart and return to it again and again for the lessons of honesty, respect, integrity and kindness that it conveys. I look forward to reading this writer's other works.

By Katherine Jones

Maiden Harvest
A delightful view into a time gone by

As a daughter of modern Appalachia, I felt a bond with the Granger girls as they played in the hills, woods, and creeks of East Tennessee. As an only child, I enjoyed seeing what it might be like to live with six sisters. As an author, I believe that Pardue does a masterful job of illustrating each character and keeping the girls' unique personalities true and consistent throughout the novel. I laughed, teared up, and related to the characters' experiences and emotions. This book is a fantastic study of one man's struggle to raise six girls in tough economic and personal conditions. Through his kind-hearted, loving, and dedicated character Ben Granger, author Don Pardue teaches readers about goals, hard work, sacrifice, loss, survival, and the hardest job of all: parenting.

By Jody Cantrell Dyer

Author of The Eye of Adoption, the true story of my turbulent wait for a baby

Maiden Harvest
Engrossing

This well-written book is rich in details; American and Tennessee history as well as the family's own story. Don has an almost poetic style, especially when he is describing the beautiful East Tennessee countryside.

I enjoyed it a lot!

By Lyn Neilans

Maiden Harvest
A Biography of an American Family

As a fellow author, I found Mr. Pardue's book to be a stunning accomplishment. He has written a chronology of events in the lives of one rural Tennessee family over the decades as though he had been present with a recorder and a camera. There is such richness of detail that it took my breath away. I didn't doubt the authenticity of one conversation or one small incident that took place over the years.

What makes this book so amazing is not that it's about an extraordinary family, but that the author has shown us what is so extraordinary in one average family's decency, commitment, hard work, and unconditional love.

By Cheryl Peyton

Maiden Harvest
Thanks for the memories

Even though I personally know the author and his family, I would have loved this book if I had not known them. This is a story of farm life in the South during the depression and wars. Though the father of six girls never had much money, he was one of the richest men in Tennessee. He had the richness of the love of his family. This book is for anyone that appreciates hard work and righteous living. Be prepared to deal with your own life's worth as you finish this book.

By Carl Dunn

Southern Sanctuary
I enjoyed this book

There is just enough action to make the story gripping, without unnecessary violence. I've read Don's other books, too, and liked them all.

By Marilyn Neilans

Southern Sanctuary
Blacks and the KKK in the 1950's of the South

Fabulous! I couldn't put it down, staying up to all hours to read what was going to happen next. Having Southern history of slaves and the KKK interwoven into the plot made the story all the more compelling. Couldn't believe a man raised in the South could write such eye-opening incidents. Good Job! From one author to another.

By Bobbi Phelps Wolverton, author BEHIND THE SMILE

Southern Sanctuary
Just do yourself a favor and read it!

If I were a producer, I would want to make a movie out of this book. Don Pardue tells a gripping story of a young man who leaves Chicago after fighting in the Korean War. He moves to the South in search of sanctuary but he finds a lot more than he bargained for. A fascinating historical fiction full of wisdom. It's so good. I won't try to explain it. Just do yourself a favor and read it.

By Kathy Jones

Maiden Harvest
Maiden Harvest: A True-Life Novel (Kindle Edition)

As a fellow author, I found Mr. Pardue's book to be a stunning accomplishment. He has written a chronology of events in the lives of one rural Tennessee family over the decades as though he had been present with a recorder and a camera. There is such richness of detail that it took my breath away. I didn't doubt the authenticity. What makes this book so amazing is not that it's about an extraordinary family, but that the author has shown us what is so extraordinary in one average family's decency, commitment, hard work, and unconditional love.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who can appreciate how family bonds can...

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Testimonials from my Readers

On Blossoms of Winter "Good Insights"

Blossoms of Winter makes a "good read." The story follows the lives of one family's five rowdy sons as they sow their wild oats on their way to responsible adulthood. Well written. ~Marilyn Neilans

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