Roberts Essex's debut novel 'Chance: Beginning' has reached the Best Sellers eBook List on Amazon, marking a significant milestone for the first volume of a planned trilogy that traces one man's life through some of the most turbulent decades in American history. Published in 2025, the book follows Chance Brogdon, a boy born in rural Georgia and raised in the Savannah suburbs, as he navigates the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and Watergate against the backdrop of mid-century Georgia.
The narrative spans the era from Presidents Kennedy to Carter, from the Mercury 7 space program through the introduction of the space shuttle, and from the Cuban Missile Crisis through the escalation of the Cold War. Essex, who is based in rural Georgia, said the story was written for the lonely child, for the man who carries his pain in silence, and for anyone who fears that the past defines the future. 'I wanted to show that healing is real and that no one is bound by their wounds,' he said.
The novel draws on the textures of mid-century Southern life, from drive-in diners and jukeboxes to the cultural shifts brought by rock 'n' roll and the British Invasion. It also confronts more difficult subjects including grief, trauma, addiction, racism, and violence, balanced by humor and the Southern storytelling tradition. Essex has said the book is semi-autobiographical, written under a pseudonym, and that the character of Chance Brogdon is based on his own life. 'Writing Chance became a way of confronting long-hidden ghosts,' Essex said. 'I hope the book inspires others through the trials and tribulations of one man's life, showing that anything is possible with enough optimism and belief.'
'Chance: Beginning' is the first of three planned volumes. Future installments, titled 'Chance: The Search' and 'Chance: A New Life,' will continue to follow Brogdon's story into later decades, exploring themes of survival, redemption, and faith. Essex has indicated that subsequent volumes will address his son's abduction and the aftermath that followed. The book is available through major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Walmart.
The importance of this news lies in the novel's resonance with contemporary readers, as it layers personal and historical trauma with a message of healing and redemption. By reaching Amazon's Best Sellers list, the book signals a public appetite for stories that confront difficult chapters of American history through intimate, individual perspectives. The semi-autobiographical nature of the work adds authenticity, potentially inspiring readers to grapple with their own pasts. For the publishing industry, the success of a debut indie author underscores the power of e-book platforms to elevate voices that might otherwise be overlooked. The planned trilogy promises to continue this exploration, addressing themes of loss and survival that are universally relevant.
