Eric Walker
As an amateur genealogist and family historian, Eric Walker was impelled to write his debut novel Lost Souls Recovered when he discovered the richness of family stories through research of historical documents and those stories told to him by relatives. As he read historical documents and talked to relatives, he envisioned a way to bring to life in fiction form many of his ancestors who lived a hardscrabble life and who worked to overcome hardship. He believes the written word can unlock doors as well as the imagination and unite our spirits through our visions. He is working on a second novel involving land loss in the early post-Reconstruction era. He is a lawyer and lives in Ohio.
Lost Souls Recovered
"An expertly told tale of loss, love, and second chances." —Kirkus Reviews
One man's journey toward a better life.
When the wife of a plantation owner dies on a fateful night in 1887, John Billingsly makes the gut-wrenching decision to leave his mother and everything he knows to flee their slave cabin in Richmond, Virginia. Instructed by his mother to find a cousin in Mt. Hope, Alabama, John wends his way south in hope of a better life.
With the plantation owner shadowing him every step of the way, his journey is perilous. One misstep could cost him his freedom—and his life.
Inspired by a true story, Lost Souls Recovered is a mesmerizing historical family saga of loss and gain, survival and self-reinvention, and one family's fight for freedom in the midst of the post-Civil War American South.
Awards, Reviews, and Coverage
Featured Article by City Scene Columbus
"A profound meditation on family and friendship. In a genre that has its ups and downs, Lost Souls Recovered proves an outstanding read and is recommended without reservation." –Book Viral Reviews
"A fast-paced adventure that in many ways reminded me of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn." –Leigh Kimberly Zoby for Reader Views
"A story which still resonates in today's society of continued injustice and inequality." –The Historical Fiction Company
"A fast-paced novel embedded with thrilling scenes" —Online Book Club 4/4 Star Review
"One of my historical fiction favorites of the year!" —Goodreads Reviewer
"A compelling, colorful read" —Goodreads Reviewer
"I was hooked within the first few chapters, and I couldn’t put it down." —Goodreads Reviewer
