J.L. Miles and Cold Rock River

Cold Rock River is the parallel journey of two women born a century apart. In 1963 rural Georgia with the Vietnam War cranking up, seventeen-year-old and pregnant Adie Jenkins discovers the diary of seventeen-year-old and pregnant Tempe Jordan—a slave girl—circa 1863, with the Civil War winding down.

This book began as Adie’s journey. It wasn’t until I went to the library to do some research—and stumbled upon the slave narratives—that Tempe’s portion came to life. The complete collection includes over two thousand first-person accounts. They are housed at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Commissioned by President Roosevelt, they are as fascinating as they are poignant.

After seven months of carefully sifting through the vast material, Adie and Tempe’s parallel journey emerged. Henceforth, I came to think of Cold Rock River as Fried Green Tomatoes meets Cold Mountain.

Placing the story in the midst of the Vietnam War was central to the story because of Buck’s (Adie’s husband and the father of her baby), maturation during that war. Having discovered the slave narratives, it seemed natural to place Tempe’s journey during the Civil War.

It’s been said that life is like a patch-work quilt. It’s not over until the last stitch is put in place. Here are selected pieces of fabric that blanket Adie and Tempe’s lives, two young women who learned to treasure their joy in spite of their sorrow. May you discover what they did, that the joy of our journey is not in the destination; it’s in each and every moment at hand.

—Jackie Lee Miles, author of
Cold Rock River
Roseflower Creek
Divorcing Dwayne

Dear Dwayne (April 1st, 2009)


The COLD ROCK RIVER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on October 1 and end on October 30. You can visit J.L.'s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in October to find out more about her latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on October 30!