Author Description

One of nine children, author Clara Smithson was born during World War II in 1943 on her grandfather's farm in Tennessee. In The Whippoorwill Calls, she narrates the story of her life as she grew up in the 1940s and 1950s. This memoir narrates how Smithson experienced a poor and somewhat turbulent childhood that took her and her family to Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. She describes her parents, grandparents, her siblings, her daily experiences, the characters who played a role in her upbringing, and the memories of growing up in a different time. This nostalgic look back follows Smithson through her marriage at a young age in 1960 and offers a recap of her family. With photos included, The Whippoorwill Calls offers a glimpse into one woman's past guided by her faith in God, and the history that formed who she is today.