About The Bequest of Big Daddy
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Koehler Books (April 1, 2013)
From a Reconstruction-era turpentine and logging industry to the decaying ruins of a doomed plantation with its dying social system, THE BEQUEST OF BIG DADDY (Koehler Books; April 2013) is evocative of all that was wrong in the post-Civil War South. A generational saga that spans pre-Civil War days through the 20th century, THE BEQUEST OF BIG DADDY is a grand tale of betrayal, separations and reunions. The Big Daddy of the title—and the main character in this novel—is an archetype of the infamous Southern patriarch.
At its heart, this is a story of a man born to Southern Aristocracy then reduced to peasantry, who spawns an empire of outcasts, heroes and heroines—among them a great grand-daughter who is determined to learn the truth about her kin’s hushed, painful past.
The story is set in motion at the deathbed of Ratio Jansen, a crusty patriarch with an infamous background, a hair-trigger temper and a feisty great grand-daughter named Jo-Dee. From the shocking gossip she overhears at his funeral, Jo-Dee is determined to plumb the murky past as the protective skin of Ratio’s story falls away.
Will she betray her great-grandfather and disgrace the family name, or will she preserve his shameful secret? Will Ratio’s spirit claim her even from the grave? Sometimes a bit of violence in the family is a good thing.
“Jo-Ann Costa’s impressive debut novel is a grand story that spans generations, where dark secrets both divide and unite…wholly satisfying. ”—Claire Matturro, Award-winning author of Skinny-dipping, Wildcat Wine, Bone Valley and Sweetheart Deal.
“Jo-Ann Costa explores the impact of one family’s secret down through the decades and generations. The Bequest of Big Daddy marks the arrival of a fresh new voice in Southern literature.”—Will Allison, Author of What You Have Left and The New York Times bestseller Long Drive Home.
“Anyone who enjoys Southern fiction or picaresque novels will love this one!”
—Lisa Alther, Author of six novels, and four New York Times bestsellers,
including Washed in the Blood
Learn more about The Bequest of Big Daddy at Jo-Ann Costa’s website, www.jo-anncosta.com.
About Jo-Ann Costa
Jo-Ann Costa studied her craft at the knees of her clannish Alabama kin, who are among the most accomplished at fabricating outlandish tales. Thus trained as a storyteller, Ms. Costa honed her compelling voice while serving in executive roles for a mega-corporation founded by the late Howard Hughes. While there, and with higher stakes, she invented tales of a different sort. Since then, Ms. Costa has once again deployed her trademark spin with her debut novel, THE BEQUEST OF BIG DADDY.
Visit the author’s website at www.jo-anncosta.com.
.
Jo-Ann Costa’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Wednesday, April 3rd: WV Stitcher
Monday, April 8th: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, April 10th: Bibliophiliac
Wednesday, April 17th: Maureen’s Musings
Monday, April 22nd: Blooming with Books
Thursday, April 25th: Lavish Bookshelf
Friday, April 26th: Unabridged Chick
Monday, April 29th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Friday, May 3rd: Lisa’s Yarns
Monday, July 29: Chaos is a Friend of Mine