Liz Carson Keith is a storyteller, like many other Southerners. and this book is about her Scottish family-multiple branches that came to the southern American colonies to escape war, poverty, and religious persecution, weaving into their stories threads of those they married and those they enslaved. Liz begins and ends the book as a travel memoir, but along the journey, her story mirrors that of many Southern Americans who share the same journey. Liz finds, as she examines different ancestors, these tales blend gruesome horror, levity, and romance-all of which constitute her heritage. And along the way, there were famous folks, common kin, worthy men and women, and cursed souls that hid their sins. If you are a Southern American, you may even find lost members of your clan in her book.

Liz is a retired educator and award-winning writer. She earned a BS Ed in English Education and a MS Ed in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Georgia. Liz grew up hearing family stories told by her uncles while porch sitting at her grandmother's house. Documenting these stories was the impetus of this book. But the old folks did not want to quit talking. They had more to tell than porch tales.