Runaway Haley

In this award winning debut novel by William Thomas, protagonist Michael Haley came to America from Ireland in 1847. He married above his station, had a life of adventure, hard work, and tragedy, but died young—leaving his children orphaned. Based on actual documents and including supporting characters pulled from the census reports, Runaway Haley imagines what might have happened in the lives of two generations of the Haley family in the deep South in centuries past. Filled with heartache and struggle; set against the backdrop of the Civil War, reconstruction, plagues of disease, and incredible challenges; the Haleys persevered. Strengthened by the desire to keep their family together, they never abandoned their dreams.

Winner of the 2021 Military Order of the Stars and Bars’ John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction and the Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review prize.