Books by Roy Owenby


The Owl Knows Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage In the Shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains In Awe of America All Who Served Are Heroes Blue Ridge Mountain Bandits The Wilderness of Ren - Book One Back Button

The Owl Knows

The Owl Knows

An Appalachian Trail Mystery

Two female teachers are camping in the wilderness at the juncture of Wayah Mountain and the Appalachian Trail. One is murdered and the other disappears without a trace. Through a series of discoveries, the plot thickens with actions by the husband of the murdered woman, the Franklin Police Chief, the SBI, FBI, and hand-picked special deputies.

Two years pass as they fail to find the now-believed serial killer. The story carries us to a mountain in the Nantahala National Forest, where a team of expert lawmen must extract the killers from their cliff hideaway.

The novel, a work of fiction based on true similar events, successfully blends mystery, friendship and love through a mixture of desperate events that culminate in an exciting finish. It is a must read for joggers, hikers and trail buffs who can and should learn to protect themselves in the outdoors.

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Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage

Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage

A Caricature of Southern Appalachian Life

Enjoy the highways and byways of the Appalachian Mountains through the eyes of a man who has traveled thousands of miles throughout the South collecting stories and committing them to paper. The stories are often funny, sometimes touching, occasionally poignant, never disappointing and always appealing. Understand his pride as he describes his upbringing by pool by God-fearing parents and grandparents. See through your mind's eye as he covers the breadth of human emotions from sadness, despair and sympathy to courage, hope, laughter and love. Travel down the leaf-strewn roads of yesteryear with a barefoot boy. Wonder why it takes four men and ten dogs to catch a fifteen pound raccoon. Laugh about an entire regiment of Union soldiers who get diarrhea from a stew cooked up by a Tennessee youth. Experience the joy of music played from the heart on old-time fiddles and dulcimers. Feel the triumph of an herbal healer as she pulls a fever-ridden child from the brink of death. Witness the fear of running through the woods from a ghost bent on vengeance for the loss of a loved one. Hear the thunder of old-timey preachers as they pound on the pulpit and warn of hellfire and brimstone. Walk through the cemetery of a little country church and feel the kinship of those who have gone before. Yes, enjoy over sixty original stories that portray the soul of Appalachia now brought together in one book.

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In the Shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains

In the Shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains

Stories to Soothe the Soul

The majority of the stories in this book occurred within or in the locale of the Great Smoky Mountains, but not all of them. A few simply fit in with the theme of the book and are included to add variety. The fact is, all good stories need a home somewhere, and they are original, informative and funny. And of course, quite a few of them are stories about descendants of families who migrated to Western North Carolina. Despite hardship, disease and death, they endured. Woven throughout their historical journeys are beautiful stories of honesty, love, friendship and family. They didn't just live in the mountains; they farmed the land until they became part of it. It's burned into the souls of their descendants whether they realized it or not. After all, anyone can be descended from royalty, but the sons and daughters of God-fearing Mountain pioneers are born of a legacy that transcends fame, wealth and power.

The reader will not find any of these stories anywhere else. Standing on the shoulders of the author's second book, "Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage," this book provides a wealth of folklore, humor and mountain history. Given the nature of the stories, however, they are in no way duplicated, and each story stands on its own in both form and function.

The author dedicated this book to the country mothers in his life. Their perseverance and commitment to raising their families and their Christian values have influenced him through his lifetime. And it shines throughout this exciting story collection, giving the reader impetus to pass it on for the enjoyment of friends and relatives.

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In Awe of America

In Awe of America

Traveling Where Adventure Never Ends

Not since William Least Heat-Moon's "Blue Highways" has a travel documentary been so dear to America's heart. The writer travels the country on two long journeys thirty-seven years apart. Maintaining journals on both trips, he provides amazing detail about the heart and soul of America.

On the first trip in 1962, he and three friends hitchhiked to the World's Fair in Seattle from San Diego. On the way there and then afterward, the hitchhikers pushed east to Calgary, Alberta, and then south through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada. Still traveling by thumb, they experienced the excitement of rugged mountains, the astounding beauty of Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks and the caring and kindness of people who blessed them with food and lodging as their journey progressed to fulfillment.

Years later, on the trail of memories, our writer begins his month-long journey in Denver, Colorado, and traveled 5600 miles by car in a figure-eight trip through twelve Western states and three Canadian Provinces. He traveled alone, camping or sleeping in his car. His love of travel, food and scenic beauty shows as he meets and befriends people of all walks-of-life. Both journeys are geographically accurate for those who love to travel or love to read about travel.

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All Who Served Are Heroes

All Who Served Are Heroes

Stories of and About Enlisted Men and Women in the Service of US Armed Forces

At the age of 18, author Roy Owenby joined the Navy to see the world but spent his four-year enlistment in the United States as an Aviation Radar Technician, mostly with All Weather Fighter Squadron Three flying F4D Skyrays. He served his country with pride

This book is about and for enlisted men and women who have also served their country with pride and honor. It's for those parents, siblings and friends who watched their loved ones leave the comforts of home and family to join one of the military services. In addition to battles fought or medals won, it's about how the enlisted work, live and love. It's how they manage on meager salaries, give their time to their country and survive the loneliness of being away from home and family. Its how they hide their loneliness with camaraderie, practical jokes and funny stories. It's about how they make friends with each other until one of them gets shipped out to another duty station, often forcing them to make new friends. This book is for everyday American heroes.

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Blue Ridge Mountain Bandits

Blue Ridge Mountain Bandits

Five Little Orphans and How They Grew

Blue Ridge Mountain Bandits provides a realistic view of animals in the wild and weaves fact and fiction into an intriguing blend of adventure and romance. It is written for readers, ages thirteen to ninety-nine. The narrative shows more than it tells and provides rich visual images that delight imaginations. Readers will be amused at the family antics, distressed by their misfortunes and enthralled with their adventures.

The story opens during a violent rainstorm and moves quickly into dramatic episodes of survival. The reader follows Mother and her kits, learning the fascinating trials animals in the wild go through on a daily basis … and how much they truly love one another as they forage in the forest, rivers, fields and farms in their adventures.

Orphaned at four months, the lovable youngsters experience many dangers and struggles while mourning their mother's death; and then move on to fight hunger, predators and disease. Befriended by the widow of a veterinarian and hounded by hunters and their dogs, the young raccoons learn humans can be both malicious and loving.

A touching, beautifully written story!

The Wilderness of Ren — Book One

The Wilderness of Ren — Book One

A Fantasy Adventure Novel

The Wilderness of Ren is one of the most original fantasy adventures you will ever read. It bears no resemblance to current popular genre. In this first novel of the Ren trilogy, two teenagers, Yani and Estra, fight for their lives as they attempt to traverse a wilderness replete with exotic animals and lurking dangers.

Gogian law requires all pre-growns must attempt to cross the wilderness before their first adult year. They are given a waterproof backpack containing one extra set of clothing, a cleeping cloth, and enough meal bars to last for a short time. When their supply of meal bars is depleted, they must live off the land. For survival, they are issued a weapon called a "burner", a directional device called a "magma", and a knife called a "cutter".

So, dear reader, you are invited to travel with Yani and Estra as they embark on the journey of their lives. Their adventures are sure to absorb and fascinate you as they preserve courageously against the challenges of the Wilderness of Ren.

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