Atmore native has passion for writing

Atmore native Ron McGhee will release his third book, "Valley of the Hawks," April 16.  McGhee has been writing books since the early 1970s. "Valley of the Hawks" is his first novel, but third book.  McGhee wrote his first book, "Jesus and the Multitudes," in 1975 and his second book, "Revival America Now!," in 1989.

McGhee is very eager about "Valley of the Hawks" being released in April and said that he will be the guest at book signings throughout the area.

"I'm excited about my novel being published," he said. "I've been through this before. I really enjoy writing. The library wants to have a book signing for me."

"Valley of the Hawks" is a fictional novel that begins at a maximum-security prison that is near the town of Victory Valley. In the novel, Randall Moses accepts his first tax-paying job as the chaplain at the prison. Instantly conflict breaks loose between Moses and the warden.

Moses is surrounded by stressful circumstances as he is trying to adjust to being a minister. He falls in love with a Methodist woman and the two have many setbacks but continue to discuss the idea of marriage. Moses discovers that the inmates are planning a prison break. When the break happens, one of the prisoners stays loose for the majority of a year.

Although "Valley of the Hawks" is a fictional novel, McGhee did use some personal experiences as inspiration.

"There are some things that I used from past experiences," he said. "For about 10 years I worked in the prison ministry setting. I worked in Huxford with chaplains and mental health. I worked in prison ministry at Holman and Fountain. It was very interesting. I did the death row Bible class back in 1985 and 1986."

PublishAmerica is the publishing company McGhee used for "Valley of the Hawks." This company's main goal is to promote new and previously undiscovered writers.

"I read about PublishAmerica in the 'Mobile Press-Register'," he said. "They really liked my book. I had about five or six editors that I worked with from the company. I am glad PublishAmerica came along because they are helping a lot of people get their books out. I really enjoyed working with them, they were very easy to work with."

McGhee has been the pastor at several different churches in the area, including, Booneville Baptist Church, Bratt First Baptist Church, Huxford Baptist Church and Perdido Baptist Church. May marks his 50th year in the ministry.

McGhee recently became the pastor at NEW PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH, I am thrilled to serve them.

"They are really sweet people," he said. "I am looking forward to serving them."

McGhee graduated from Escambia County High School in 1951 and from college in 1967. He is married to Grace Narvell Dean McGhee and has five children.