Murder and music is the focus of award-winning author Randall Franks', best known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” new book “A Badge or an Old Guitar,” available Nov. 1.
“Sharing entertaining stories for television through scripts became one of the areas that mentors such as Carroll O’Connor and Alan Autry inspired me to create,” Mr. Franks said. “Coming from the background of television drama, the twists and turns of a murder is often the backdrop upon which characters' lives are thrust forward to places they never saw coming.”
Mr. Franks, of Ringgold, Ga., won the W.G. Sutlive Award for his first book “Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor,” and after authoring eight non-fiction books since 2003, he polished his latest effort with his long time editor/contributor Rachel Brown Kirkland of Dalton.
“My first foray in fiction for some of my readers who watched me on television will feel as comfortable as slipping on a well-worn glove,” Mr. Franks said. ““I love watching and reading the classics in murder mystery, I hope this book reflects my enthusiasm into the lives I create. Set in the small Southern town of McKinney, Ga., we meet a cast of unique characters that circle around the life of main character McKinney police officer James Randall.
“While he attempts to hold on to his normal routine, his friends and all he has known in his life as an officer are shaken by circumstance, especially after Nashville comes calling to make him a music star,” he said.
Thrown into a world he does not know and really does not think he desires to know, Mr. Franks said his main character lands in the midst of a classic murder mystery on the streets of Music City.
Mr. Franks starred in three TV series and 15 films, with his latest film “Broken” starring with Soren Fulton and Joe Stevens. He became a country music personality as a youth beginning appearances at major country, folk, bluegrass and gospel events such as Country Music Association Fan Fair, National Folk Festival, National Quartet Convention, National Black Arts Festival, and for the Grand Ole Opry.
"Music City is such a wonderful part of my life, it was fun to create a bit of intrigue winding the musical strings of this murder mystery between the fictional characters that drive our adventure," he said.
With 24 career albums in four genres, he has performed to over 145 million fans around the world. Musically, he is recognized as an International Bluegrass Music Museum Legend and Independent Country Music Hall of Fame member. His latest CD is “Keep ‘Em Smilin’” featuring Christian music and comedy. He is a syndicated columnist featured in newspapers across the Southeast and Midwestern U.S.
His earlier books include “Encouragers III: A Guiding Hand,”“Encouragers II: Walking with the Masters,” “Encouragers I: Finding the Light,” “Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way” with Violet Hensley, “A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes,” “Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor” and “Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor” with Shirley Smith, and “Snake Oil, Superstars and Me” with “Doc” Tommy Scott and Shirley Swiesz.
“This is the first of my books to also become available as an e-book for digital readers,” Mr. Franks said. “I hope folks will enjoy putting on ‘A Badge or an Old Guitar’ and riding along in an old pickup truck for the adventure to see if James Randall’s life spins beyond his control or if the song in his heart reaches out to touch us all.”
“A Badge or an Old Guitar” releases Nov. 1, from Peach Picked Publishing through book sellers worldwide and autographed copies may be ordered from Mr. Frank's website.
The book is available in Ringgold at Cottage Treasures, Uniktings, Stuff 4 Less, and in Fort Oglethorpe at Sonshine Christian Bookstore.