Congratulations to author Jeff Billington and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Chicken Dinner News, a charming and humorous new work of contemporary fiction.
★★★★★ “A thoughtful glimpse into the angst of a dying and often bigoted Middle American town.” ~J.D. Painter, author of The Black March: A Novel of World War II
Chicken Dinner News by Jeff Billington
NEW RELEASE: June 20, 2023Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction, Humorous Literary Fiction, Southern United States Fiction
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $5.99
Ryan Shipley wouldn’t have recognized his grandfather if they were the only two people in a room. So when an unwanted inheritance lands in his lap, Ryan is overcome with obligation. Does he leave his life as a journalist in LA to run his grandfather’s weekly newspaper and revive a dying Ozark town, half of which he now owns?The overwhelming amount of casserole dishes brought to his door, along with being stopped by anyone and everyone to be regaled about the virtues of his grandfather, don’t sway him. But when he starts to fall in love with more than just a girl named Olivia, Ryan sees a future there.
Change is due for this small town, and Ryan is all in. But when there is talk of a chicken processing plant being built on the outskirts, he writes an editorial in its favor and stirs up trouble. An arsonist and a rigid bigot turn the uproar of the townspeople into mayhem. But it only makes Ryan more empowered to guide the town, and with Olivia by his side, they begin to turn the tide.
Charming and humorously thoughtful, Chicken Dinner News is contemporary fiction for open-minded soul searchers that enjoy books by such authors as Richard Russo, Robert James Waller, and Boo Walker.
More Praise for Chicken Dinner News
★★★★★ “Highlights the precious resources we have in small towns and the challenges of journalism in these days when we question the integrity of the truth. A fresh voice.” ~Kathryn Johnson, author of The Gentleman Poet
★★★★★ “A gripping tale with charming personalities and plenty of intrigue to keep the pages turning.” ~Chad Stebbins, executive director, International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors
About the Author
Raised on a small dairy and poultry farm in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Jeff Billington spent his childhood listening to family stories and hearing about the changes the twentieth century brought to that celebrated rural region. He has since spent two decades working in the nonprofit and political realms, most of it in Washington, DC, and currently resides in Rockville, Maryland. Learn more at JeffBillington.com.About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at vineleavespress.com.