The Real Americana: A Novel Inspired by True Events

Chase Mercer grows up in an Appalachian holler where poverty is inherited, violence is ordinary, and escape feels nearly impossible.Raised beneath the shadow of an alcoholic father and forced to grow up too soon, Chase makes himself a promise: one day, he will build a different life. But leaving Kentucky does not mean leaving its wounds behind.In Florida, Chase finds honest work and begins climbing out of poverty. He also falls deeper into addiction, dangerous choices, and incarceration. When fatherhood finally gives him something greater than himself to protect, Chase must confront the damage he has caused-and discover whether a man raised around destruction can learn to build more than houses.Spanning decades of family, addiction, loss, recovery, and hard-earned redemption, The Real Americana reveals an America rarely shown in postcards: forgotten towns, working hands, broken families, and the stubborn endurance of hope.Based on a true story, this deeply human novel explores inherited pain, personal responsibility, and the long journey from escaping home to choosing one.