"A Passel of Trouble" is a fact-based historical novel about one of the most unique characters on either side of the American Revolutionary War. David Fanning, a 19-year old Loyalist sergeant, fought in the first battle of the revolution n the South in November 1775, and before then the war ends seven years later, he is commissioned a colonel by the British and considered the most feared man in North Carolina. Told from the Loyalist's perspective, this meticulously researched saga describes how two young men, Fanning and his Quaker friend, Josh, find themselves at philosophical odds, yet allies to preserve the king's rule in the Carolinas. Over the first three years of the war, Fanning was captured fourteen times. With gutsy ingenuity, he escapes his captors, including bodacious breakouts from the brick jail at Ninety-Six, South Carolina. Between captures, he survives by his wits, subsisting on grubs and plants in the Carolina wilderness backcountry, constantly on the move while evading a determined enemy. In 1780, Josh's uncle is killed in a senseless act of mayhem by drunken Whigs, causing Josh to abandon his Quaker faith of non-violence. He joins with David to seek vengeance. Fanning and his friend move to central North Carolina where they organize Tory guerrillas and lead them in three dozen firefights. Fanning exploits inspire admiration in his followers and dread in his enemies. A master in raids and ambushes, he moves great distances by horseback and striking without warning, often with brutal effectiveness. British Army commanders marveled at his ability to capture political and military leaders and make him a militia colonel. Fanning's boldest action comes in a spectacular raid on Hillsborough, the acting capital of the state where he captures the governor, several senior officers, and more than one hundred Continental soldiers. While marching the captives 200 miles to Wilmington and British prison ships, he is wounded as his Loyalists militia successfully fight off determined Patriot forces trying to rescue the governor. In addition to demonstrating how Fanning grows from a naive backwoods militia sergeant to a highly skilled partisan leader, A Passel of Trouble provides insight into the significant role a prominent Quaker played during the war and influenced Fanning's career. The Lindley brothers fought each other as they resisted the admonitions of a pious father and sibling to adhere to the strict non-violence tenets of their faith. After the British Army abandon him in late 1781, Fanning's aggressiveness, vindictiveness, and brutal actions increase. In the meantime, Josh regains his faith and tests his loyalty to Fanning as they search for ways to extricate from a war now lost.. Fanning continues as a thorn in the side of the newly independent nation for a year after Cornwallis surrendered his British Army. His goal is to get fair treatment for the Tories who fought for him as he seeks ways for him and his young bride to slip through enemy lines and escape on one of the last ships leaving British occupied Chares Town.
About the Author: Joe Epley is a guy who has worn many hats over his adult life -- Green Beret, television journalist, public relations executive, change agent and now, novelist. He also has canoed Arctic wilderness rivers, hiked the Australian outback and helped restore homes destroyed by hurricanes. His first historical novel won an award from the Military Writers Society of America and was named "Editor's Choice" by the Historical Novel Society. For nearly 40 years, he led Epley Associates, a successful public relations firm in Charlotte, N.C., and achieved international recognition for his leadership in the field. He was president of the Public Relations Society of America and at various times headed its prestigious College of Fellows, Counselors Academy, and the PRSA Foundation. He was a co-founder and global chair of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world's largest consortium of independent public relations firms. In addition to lecturing at universities and before professional groups throughout the world, he helped introduce the PR profession to Russia in the waning days of the Soviet Union. During his career, he also held leadership roles in a number of organizations. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Marketing Alliance, a public traded life insurance brokerage firm that serves independent agents nationwide, and the Military Writers Society of America. Among Joe's honors is the Gold Anvil, the highest award in the public relations profession for lifetime achievement. In addition to his election to the University of North Carolina's Journalism School Public Relations Hall of Fame and the alumni hall of fame for the Defense Information School, he has been awarded of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest award for noteworthy citizens. After selling his business in Charlotte in 2005, Joe retired with his wife to the wooded hills near Tryon, N.C. where he continues public service work in addition to research and writing about the American Revolutionary War. He remains active as public relations consultant and as an advisor for international public relations studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.