Lamar's Rebellion

About the Book

They were the young neighbors of Graceland. Growing up in a world of opposing forces. Their Rock and Roll music was scandalous throughout the Bible-Belt South. Their youthful yearning for freedom, and for love, would be fraught with danger and peril.

  Their strategy? Damn the torpedoes—let’s have the time of our lives!

  Holly Jensen, who at fourteen had grown up too fast.

  Jeremy Grant, who was home for good from a seminary. And hiding a dirty secret.

  His best friend Willie, daring the devil at every turn.

  Lauralee Lange, rich, beautiful, bored and out for kicks. Willie’s new heartthrob—until Jeremy arrived back home.

  Lamar, Holly’s big strong, goofy brother, out for blood for what a newcomer named Jimmy Johanssen had allegedly done to Holly.

  It was the summer of 1960. Elvis was back from the Army. The Cold War with Russia was at a peak. Many claimed we would fall to communism, or be annihilated in a rain of nuclear bombs.

  But amidst the turmoil, there was magic in the air. And in the airwaves. While Doomsayers called it the Devil’s Music, Rock and Roll to the younger generation was an anthem of liberation, a new source of joy and identity.

  Elvis Presley, their famous neighbor, was their idol, their savior.

  They were about to meet him, one at a time, under different circumstances. With all their growing pains, as though his music had not been inspiration enough, he seemed to show up, personally, to rescue them. Time and again.

About the Author

James S. Gibons was born in Chicago, but grew up in Memphis, about a mile south of Graceland. He worked five years for the Memphis daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, until he was drafted in 1966 during the Vietnam Conflict. He has worked as a journalist, columnist, and in other areas of publishing. He holds a B.A. Degree in Fiction Writing (cum laude) from Sonoma State University. This is his third book. He lives with his wife Laura in the wine region of northern California.