“This book shows how a resilient spirit, undervalued, abandoned, and betrayed can be restored.”
Told through the eyes of a witty, outgoing, and curious little girl, Francie beautifully weaves together personal narratives and historical information about the ever present American Tragedy known as Appalachia. She peels back layers of her early life while walking us through the patches where coal miners and their families once lived, the impact of surviving in a contaminated environment, and the everyday threat of pollution, addiction, toothlessness, chronic depression, and abuse. An area where drugs and alcohol numb the pain of reality.
Francie portrays the mindset and brokenness of the people and the hopelessness that can come from living in isolation and poverty, as her mother would daily herald this mantra, “One day you kids will get out of here.”
A delightful story that brings the reader to laughter and tears. It showcases an irrepressible drive to escape the grip of Appalachia on its sons and daughters.
Purchase your copy of Escape from Appalachia TODAY —
Meet Francie Barron:
M. Frances Barron, a resident of Nevada for 38 years, is a highly accomplished professional with a 56-year career as a Registered Nurse and an extensive background in business administration. As the Founder, President, and CEO of the AscentrA Corporate System in Las Vegas, she oversaw up to 23 corporate entities. Her entrepreneurial journey includes successful ventures, acquisitions, and corporate harvestings. With degrees from Washington Hospital School of Nursing, West Virginia University, and Pepperdine University, she achieved notable recognition, including multiple appearances in the "Inc 500" list for fast-growing companies and rankings in Home Care Magazine's Top 60 Home Care Companies. Ms. Barron's impact extends to her community involvement, serving on boards such as the Nevada State Board of Health, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, and Boys Town, among others. In 1998, she began her tenure on the Board of Directors of various banks, currently serving as a Director of GenuBank. Married to Dr. Alistair O Barron, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Ms. Barron has been recognized as one of the Forty Most Influential Women in the Southern Nevada Business Community by In Business Las Vegas.
“At some point, along the way, there was a discovery. A realization that somewhere there is a light that beams down on me. In spite of my stupid decisions and tripping over calloused predeterminations of what I could be, I found a star shining on me through the others who inspired me to first understand and then gently encourage me to reach out of my cocoon of darkness.
I began to understand that I have been sent true angels who touched me throughout my life and gently led me beyond the beaten path. These honored everyday saints who touched my life, gave me their divine gift.
I was rescued.”
— Escape from Appalachia, Epilogue
“People of the mountains set the standard for paycheck to paycheck living. Just shuffling along. Walking on down the line. Surviving.”
Quotables from Escape from Appalachia
