Heart of Gold

About the Book

This story is about a young man from Alabama, a sharecropper’s son. Farming was all he had ever done, and it was all he knew. After his parent’s death, he decides to go for a ride and sort out his life. He has heard about some places in the west called Texas and Colorado, and he thinks maybe those are where he should start. Somehow and someway, he falls into other people’s problems. The story follows him as he helps people on their own journey. He meets people and goes places he could not have never imagined. Rusty Jones is a likeable character but will not be pushed. No one dares to harm a friend. You are going to meet some downright bad people, and you are going to meet people you will like a lot. In my way of thinking, it’s all about the story, but Jackie says it’s all about the characters. The characters are special. I enjoyed writing every word. I hope you enjoy it.

About the Author

Cliff was born on December 5, 1941, two days before Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was born in a small town of Columbia, Louisiana on the Ouachita River. His family moved to Woodsboro, Texas in 1949. Cliff’s dad worked for Standard Oil and Gas Co. and they moved all over Texas. While in Brownsville, Texas Cliff met the love of his life, Jacqueline Vickrey. They were married in 1960. Cliff hired on with E. I. Du Pont in June of 1961 and worked for them 38 ½ years. He worked mostly on the dock loading ships and barges. Cliff and Jackie have lived in Nederland, Texas 55 years, they are active in Wesley United Methodist Church. Cliff says, “You can always get a good cup of coffee at the church.” Cliff has always liked to tell stories and his favorite saying is “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” He was fortunate to meet one of his favorite authors, Elmer Kelton and his wife Anna, in Fredericksburg, Texas. He talked about the trip so much, everyone around him was reading Kelton. Elmer Kelton was a seven-time Spur award winner and a member of the Western Writers Hall of Fame.