First installment of planned trilogy chronicles six decades of family, faith and survival in the American South
SAVANNAH, Ga., April 15, 2026 // “Chance: Beginning,” the debut novel by Roberts Essex, has reached the No. 1 position on the Amazon Best Sellers list. The book, which traces one man’s journey through the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and Watergate against the backdrop of mid-century Georgia, is the first volume of a planned trilogy.
Published in 2025, “Chance: Beginning” follows Chance Brogdon, a boy born in rural Georgia and raised in the Savannah suburbs, across several of the most turbulent decades in American history. 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.
“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,” said Essex, who is based in rural Georgia. “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 also confronts more difficult subjects. Grief, trauma, addiction, racism and violence are part of Brogdon’s story, balanced by humor and the Southern storytelling tradition. Essex has said the book is semi-autobiographical, written under a pseudonym, and that the character of Chance Brogdon is based on his own life.
“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 to follow 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.
About Roberts Essex
Roberts Essex is the pen name of a Georgia-based author whose debut novel is drawn from his own life experiences. Now in his late 60s, Essex 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 the lives of those around him. His work explores the intersection of faith, family, loss and redemption in the American South.
Media Contact
Website: www.authorrobertsessex.com
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For review copies, interviews or additional information, contact the author through the website above.
