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 explores mid-century Southern life against a backdrop of national turmoil. Published in 2025, the book traces the life of 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.
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 writes under a pseudonym and is based in rural Georgia, describes the book as semi-autobiographical, with the character of Chance Brogdon grounded in his own life experiences. 'This 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,' Essex said. 'I wanted to show that healing is real and that no one is bound by their wounds.'
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 does not shy away from difficult subjects, including grief, trauma, addiction, racism, and violence, balanced by humor and the Southern storytelling tradition. '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 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.
For business and technology leaders, the success of 'Chance: Beginning' highlights the enduring power of narrative in an era dominated by digital disruption. The book's reach on Amazon's eBook list underscores how self-published or small-press works can gain significant visibility through online platforms, a trend that continues to reshape the publishing industry. Essex's story, rooted in historical events that shaped modern America, offers readers a lens into the personal and societal impacts of major geopolitical shifts, from the Cold War to the space race. As AI and technology accelerate change, such narratives remind audiences of the human element behind historical and technological progress.
Essex, now in his late 60s, has spent over six decades in rural Georgia. He and his wife of more than 30 years have four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The planned trilogy chronicles over six decades of events and decisions that shaped his life and those around him, exploring the intersection of faith, family, loss, and redemption in the American South.
