CHILDHOOD
GALLERY
CHILDHOOD
GALLERY
CHILDHOOD
GALLERY
THE STOPOVER
Beginning in1930 the dust started blowing in Kansas and the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. Unable to grow crops on their land any longer the tens of thousands of families affected by the dust storms would eventually migrate to California and various other states.
In Tensas Parish, Louisiana, Jeb Woods didn’t have the dust storms to contend with. However, he did have to worry about putting food on the table for his family. And working as a sharecropper for the Winter Quarters Plantation wasn’t providing Jeb and his family with an over abundance of food during this same time period when thousands of folks were leaving their homes due to the dust storms.
When Jeb decided to leave Louisiana and join the thousands of other folks making their way to California it was expected there would be many delays due to stopping and working anytime work would present itself. The delays that were not welcome were the times their old car was broken down, sitting on the side of the road, motor not running and tires not turning.
“THE STOPOVER” tells the story about one of the delays that Jeb and family encountered when their car broke down as they were driving through New Mexico.
CROSSROADS
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Working in various farm crops throughout the year and living in labor camps were a way of life for Robby and his family. It was the only life that Robby had even known. Moving from one camp to another was always an exciting time for Robby. It would be a time to make new friends. And hopefully, he would be meeting up with old friends from previous camps he had lived in? What new adventures or trouble would be awaiting him at this new location?
The little bar at the crossroads was a meeting spot for some of the locals that just wanted to stop by for a cold beer. However, some of the bar crowd spent more time in the back parking lot than they did inside the bar.
GRANDPA'S FRIEND
A bearded stranger, the death of a Mexican boy, Summer adventures at the farm labor camp. Three unwinding stories woven into one epic journey of mystery and intrigue. Set in Louisiana and California.
The bearded stranger just showed up one day. Where did he come from? Why did everyone treat him as if he were part of the family? Was it just a coincident that FBI agent Charlie Marvin just happened to be in California the same time the stranger showed up? Agent Marvin's home base was Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Why was he now in California?
REVIEW:
"After reading the first two books by Robb Martin, I wanted to read what happened next to the characters. The book was definitely suspenseful and kept me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened next. One of the aspects I liked most about the book though was the down-to-earth description of the life of kids growing up in labor camps of California. I liked that the kids were similar to real kids growing up anywhere. Although the book showed the problems, it did not dwell on the hardships as much as the resilience of families and the abilities of kids to develop friendships and have fun."
THE INCIDENT, lost in the Woods
Follow E.Robb as he takes you on a journey from the swamplands in Louisiana to the better life in California as three brothers take different paths in life only to have those paths crisscross throughout the years...
The story of three brothers and how one brother's tragic mistake affected the other two. One was on the run from the law. The other two wanted to protect him, however, they had to take care of their families first. It was a journey from the swamplands of Louisiana to the "better life" in California.
REVIEW:
"When I started reading this book, I felt like I was at a campfire... in the woods... listening to a tale... by someone with a gravely soft voice... I had to lean close to the fire in order to catch every word. The somber tone and this "by the campfire" feeling lasted the entire book. I appreciated the feel of the poverty, isolation, determination of the characters. This story could be easily adapted for a movie and I would go see it. There was only one thing in the story that turned it from a 5 to a 4, but to mention it would be a spoiler alert. Despite this, the story is a page turner and well done."
MYSTERY AT DEVIL'S DEN
E.Robb goes back in time to the days of traveling the "fruit tramp circuit". Working in the farm crops and living in the farm labor camps... ​
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Was it an accident or was it murder? Did it matter all that much anyhow? The people living in the camp had their own problems, they didn't want to get involved in someone else's. Living in a labor camp and working in the fields was not all that exciting, however there were always a few ways one could find to get into trouble. Follow 11 year old Robby and some of his adventures while living in Devil's Den.
REVIEW:
"Mystery at Devil's Den is written in a very straight forward, down-to-earth manner that made we fell that I was truly listening to a first hand account. It was a very interesting story and also account of life in the labor camps."
SHORT STORIES AND POEMS TO MATCH
E.Robb writes about family. How much he loved them, and how much it hurt when they are called away. These stories and poems will have you thinking "you know, that could be my family"...
REVIEW:
"Enjoyed this thoroughly. E. Robb Martin is truly a good story teller. One really feels the connection and the warmhearted feelings of family."
Three brothers taking different paths in life only to have those paths crisscross each other throughout the years. The story of one brother’s tragic mistake, and how it affected the other two.
Jim. The hot headed one. Never looking for trouble, but trouble found him.
Jess. The quiet one. The farmer. If the weather cooperated and his crops grew, he was happy. The last thing he needed was his brother’s problems falling on his front porch.
Jeb was happy when the fishing and hunting was good, but his family needed more. ‘That better life in California’ was calling, so Jeb decided to ‘make the trip.’ However, before that trip could take place, his brother needed help. The love for his brother could destroy him and his family.
BOOKS
THE BEGINNING
Jeb sure liked living in the backwoods of Louisiana in 1935. However, about the only work available for Jeb and so many others living along the Tensas River was to do a little share-cropping for the Winter Quarters Plantation. But year after year when settling up with Winter Quarters after the crops were in ,Jeb found himself deeper in debt than the year before. And so, Jeb decided to make a change for him and his family.
California was calling.