James Morrow Walton

My Friends Call Me Moon James Morrow Walton

In 1958 Jack E. Ward, news reporter for the New Orleans States-Item takes leave from the paper to edit the history of the prominently wealthy MacMorogh family, their empire and those responsible for its being. Ironically, his first interview is with Will MacMorogh a boyhood acquaintance. In subsequent interviews, Jack realizes that within the history is a magnificent story. He expands the history across four generations beginning shortly after the Civil War until the life and times of Will. With each interview comes a new character to join the others to face the challenge of their generation...reconstruction, WWI, The Great Depression, WWII, the terrible years of social injustice, and finally the Korean War. As the history progresses , Will MacMorogh comes to the forefront as heir apparent to the throne of leadership at MacMoCorp. However, he has his own challenges to overcome. At age six, after the death of his parents in a mysterious plane crash, he becomes the ward of bachelor uncle Jonathan, a blacksmith. Aunt Tilda Jackson, a woman of color, appoints herself surrogate mother. Will soon meets Tish Mullens, daughter of a bootlegger who sells moonshine out of the back of the blacksmith shop on Saturdays. Their youthful adventures are epic as they experience life and the people of New Cotswold, Mississippi, an unlikely town to be headquarters for the largest industry in the state much less the wealthiest family. Will and Tish are inseparable until their senior college year when Will's life takes a drastic turn. A vicious rumor severs their relationship and they go their separate ways. Seven years later they are rejoined by circumstance and the story draws to conclusion with two heartwarming revelations. Within the depths of the book is a poignant story of two families of different color and means but with common respect who live and love in harmony in a world often out of tune.