Fortunate Son: The Story of Baby Boy Francis
On the eve of the birth of his first grandchild, Mississippi lawyer Brooks Eason learned the truth about a mystery he’d lived with for nearly fifty years: the story of his birth and his birth mother’s identity. Perhaps even more surprising was how the story was finally revealed: It turned out that Eason was a potential heir to an enormous fortune from his birth mother’s family. His original identity finally saw the light of day only as result of litigation in four courts in two states, initiated in an effort to identify and find the heir. Eason, who was raised in Tupelo by loving parents, found out on the day his granddaughter was born that he began his life as Scott Francis, which remained his legal name for the first year of his life. Fortunate Son - The Story of Baby Boy Francis is the story of how he learned the story.
And what a story it is.
A truth-is-stranger-than-fiction memoir that unfolds in the Deep South, Fortunate Son is a deeply personal and deeply moving story about families, secrets, and choices. Resplendent with intrigue, drama, and mystery—all the hallmarks of a blockbuster novel—Fortunate Son is a true story, unembellished, unpretentious, and at times almost unbelievable. Eason, a gifted storyteller with an incredible story to tell, delivers a gripping, satisfying, meaningful memoir. Told with candor, wit, and honesty, Fortunate Son is a thoughtful and thought-provoking first person narrative that will have readers turning pages.
Though Eason was ultimately not the beneficiary of the fortune, he is quick to point out that he received a different kind of wealth: knowing the truth and finally being able to dive headfirst into the story of his origin, uncovering fascinating blood relatives and stories along the way.
Much more than a memoir about birth and adoption, Fortunate Son is a long love letter from the author to the parents who raised him, a heartfelt thank you to the birth mother who gave him the whole world when she gave him away, and a moving tribute to his beloved daughter who faced circumstances similar to those his birth mother faced and bravely chose to keep her baby. A tale of two stories that unfolded in different times, Fortunate Son is an extraordinary story extraordinarily well-told.
Fortunate Son, which was nominated in 2020 for best nonfiction book by a Mississippi author, is now available for sale online by clicking here.
Praise for Fortunate Son:
“This is more than a great story about adoption, family and fate. It's a series of stories strung together by a natural storyteller that draws you along from one to the next. It is a memoir of a ‘fortunate son’ and a meditation on how society has treated and continues to treat its children and their mothers. It is by turns thought-provoking, humorous, poignant and joy-filled. It is as much a story of discernment as discovery -- and of ultimately finding grace in each person, occurrence and encounter.”
“This is a gift to be unwrapped in the reading and enjoyed. Give it to yourself and you'll find that you'll want to share it with others.”
“I was unable to put this book down. I read it in two days. Incredible story.”
“What a wonderful story. The story is so much more than a story of adoption; it is a tribute to the author’s wonderful parents. The author is a natural storyteller, and readers will not be able to put the book down until finished.”
“An amazing story of a life journey that will warm your heart and also raise awareness of the raw emotions on all sides of the adoption process. This is real life, but it reads like fiction. Really enjoyed it!”