Coming Soon: The Quiet Ruin of Thomas Jenks
The Quiet Ruin of Thomas Jenks follows one man’s journey through decades of hardship in 20th-century America, from a Depression-era childhood to the scars of WWII and fresh tragedies in adulthood. This emotionally rich saga explores faith, resilience, and the bonds that unite people in times of struggle.
"They turned onto the muddy trail, and passed worn-down houses with smoke billowing from degraded chimneys with loose bricks and crumbling mortar, smoke seeping through the cracks. Overgrown weeds hid crumbling yard toys, glimmers of dewy rust the only hint of their presence. Dirty windows cloaked weather-beaten shades, and moss filled in the seams of the roof shingles. All the homes had clapboard siding, chipped and weathered—such maintenance unimportant when weighing the importance of eating."
"At the front of the center aisle was his father's redwood coffin, the top swung open, its lacquer like glass. Nannie sat in the first pew beside him, the rows of birch seats glimmering in the faint, diffused colors of stained glass. "I'm right here with you," Mary said, whispering into his ear from behind. Her breath tickled the hair on his neck. She put her hand on his back, and he melted inside, having fallen so hard for her."