Walk Among the Ghosts

“I am fully prepared to send you straight to hell if it has to be that way, or you can come to terms with the fact that I ain’t here to fight.”

Always proving his mettle, Private Redd Toadvine was considered one of the craftiest scouts in the Union Army, serving with honor under the command of Sergeant Harper Hunt during the Civil War. Returning home to Floyd County following the bloody conflict, the seasoned veteran engages in managing a prosperous family moonshine venture. Long, hard days of cooking corn liquor pay lucrative dividends, but the monetary rewards may come at a heavy cost for this wily Kentucky mountain man. Will his perilous encounters with feuding bandits, crooked lawmen, river raiders, and a mysterious witch lead him to walk among the ghosts?

About the Author

C.W. “Cliff” Shumate was born in the late 1950s and grew up on a farm near Carlisle, Kentucky. Rural activities included daily chores and interaction with humans, animals, and nature. Evenings were regularly enjoyed at a nearby country store, with locals sharing cold sodas and a broad spectrum of tall tales. Shumate became hooked, and gained a strong and lifelong affection for Kentucky folklore.

“Farming allowed the opportunity to exercise both my back and mind, and I was blessed by Kentucky farm life, which often included association with fascinating folks who sure could spin a yarn,” he says.

Shumate is a graduate of Nicholas County Schools and earned an agriculture degree from Morehead State University. As fate dictated, he departed the farm to pursue a business career, and over three decades traveled the world while maintaining a steady pace of writing traditional requisitions, memoranda, and legal correspondence.

Following retirement from the corporate world, Shumate began writing about topics close to his heart. The excitement of composing stories is a dream come true for him, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

“Most of my literary work is based upon a deep appreciation of four primary elements: animals, adventure, food, and folklore,” he said. “I also find that adventures that parallel my personal journey just trickle to the surface when I write.”

Proud of his heritage, C.W. Shumate resides in a remote region of Kentucky, where he continues expansion of his writings, involvement in family textile operations, and production of award-winning C.W. SHUMATE^® gourmet culinary products for the retail food market.

To learn more, or to contact the author, visit cwshumate.com.

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