BURLEY by
Timothy Gilliam
In 1917 Andrew Gwyn works equally as hard as the men he hires to work his vast Burley Tobacco fields. His weakness for women and liquor was even accepted due to his stature in the community. After surviving horrible battles in WWI with two of his best friends, Gwyn returns home, increases his farmland, and marries. Ever undeterred by hard work and always ready to increase his wealth, he takes a job at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. But wealth and stature aren't enough to protect his family and his lifelong friends when evil follows him to his door.
Burley
From the Trenches and Lost Love to Tobacco Fields and Family: A Journey of Perseverance
Debut Novel Out Now
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“A transcendent debut. Timothy Gilliam’s lyrical writing and world-building are unmatched.”
— Channing Lee, best-selling author
“Riveting. This book was impossible to put down, and impossible to forget.”
— Brandi Ortiz, award-winning writer
Fincastle, KY again is the setting. The year is 1969. Charlie Ashford is a small town ace mechanic who’s opened his own shop that is successful, so far. His days are filled with plenty of friends and good times and then comes plenty of trouble.
In the Narrows
Coming Soon!
Summer 2025
About Timothy
II can't remember a time when I wasn't writing or drawing. When I was playing music on the road there was more traveling windshield time than there was stage time, so writing songs or short stories filled the time and the passing scenery flooded my imagination and kept my pen moving. When you're a musician and hang out with songwriters, you follow suit. I worked on the craft of songwriting for a few years. One day the inspiration to do that left. I'm hopng it will return one day.
My debut novel had been talking to me to write it for a good while. Over 2020, while the world was at a standstill, all the creative forces seemed to align and I began to write Burley. Two other books are in the works also set in the Appalachian community of Fincastle, Kentucky.
Music is still a huge part of my life and I play a lot of small cafe's, restaurants, and clubs as a solo act. This is where I get to show off how many stringed instruments I can play. Mostly guitar, fiddle, resophonic guitar, mandolin, banjo as well as sing. Full disclosure - I can play a little on all of them but guitar and fiddle are my main instruments. My wife Amy is my biggest fan, and I'm hers. I've never met a more voracious reader and music lover. She kept me honest when it came to the vital elements of story development and grammer. Let's all keep being creative; reading, writing, performing, discussing art, and keeping all artistic expression alive!
