At Trails End: Homecoming

By John Strother

Welcome to the tiny Texas town of Trails End. A quaint, folksy place where new arrivals are warmly welcomed - provided they look like everyone else. And were born here.

When four new high school boys descend like a horde of locusts upon the football-loving folk of this quiet hamlet, they carve a grim path of destruction and devastation. No sacred institute or beloved tradition is left unmolested by these sport-adverse foreigners. At least according to the good people of Trails End. But then again, they strongly suspect the South won the war.

Fortunately, they have Paul Matthew on their side. Mentor, guide, confidant, and high school history teacher. Although only the last is true. And barely that. Paul approaches each day as an opportunity to express his disdain for teaching, students, football, Trails End, and Texas. So they'll always have that.

And what to do if the entire school and town are against you? Start a garage rock band, of course. Born is The OutlawX, driven to cover the biggest hits of one of the greatest rock bands to spring forth from Texas, ZZ-Top. First order of business: find out who ZZ-Top is, second, learn to play. Everything else is cake.

"Strother's prose is sharp and snarky, particularly the dialogue." Kirkus Reviews

"A combination of thought-provoking inspections and engrossing insights that are at once hilarious and semi-serious..." D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"...the writing is authentic, witty, and heartfelt." Self-Publishing Review,

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FXN6GJYB
• ISBN13: 9798271393259
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"