Book Launch for Author Rocky Yost
About the authors
Rocky Yost grew up as an every-sport athlete in Virginia, and he went to Virginia Military Institute on a football scholarship. For over 30 years, he’s had a day job in real estate while holding down a side job writing scripts and producing mini-budget indie films. His indie feature, Lilly’s Thorn, garnered a boatload of film festival awards along with a distribution deal. His script, Glory Days, a Little League feel-good film, is scheduled to go into production. His novel Southern Girls Always Survive co-written with his sister Kennedy will debut on February 29, 2024.
Mary Kennedy Yost is a Southern Girl all the way, growing up in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and getting her education at the University of South Carolina. Her strong suits are fine arts and English literature. Her mom rewarded her for graduating with a 10-day vacation out in Aspen, Colorado. She stayed for seven years. She’s probably read over 10,000 novels and is the perfect co-writer for Southern Girls.
About the Book
Set against the backdrop of the transformative 1970s, Southern Girls Always Survive is an empowering tale of a young woman's journey to reclaim her strength and define her own destiny. Hilly Garland's dream of leaving her small Virginia town for the promise of college life is overshadowed by a harrowing encounter with a privileged peer. Yet, this Southern Belle's indomitable spirit is not so easily broken. As she steps into the halls of the University of South Carolina, a sisterhood of enduring friendships awaits—the "12th Floor Girls." Together, they weave a safety net that allows Hilly to heal and grow, rediscovering her confidence and self-respect.
Amidst the tapestry of college life, Hilly finds love in the arms of Cole Harrison, a relationship that blossoms into a decade of joy before tragedy strikes once more. In the face of loss, Hilly's resilience is tested again, but the legacy of love endows her with an unexpected fortune, providing a shield against the high-profile dangers of Martha Mitchell, the treachery of Ted Bundy, and the allure of Jackie Kennedy.
Her journey comes full circle when she returns to her pastoral roots, only to confront a chilling reality—evil has ascended to power, cloaked in the guise of Rolle Gilchrest, a congressman with a dark past. Standing on the soil of her ancestors, just a stone's throw from the nation's capital, Hilly faces the ultimate test of courage: challenge the sinister force that has haunted her or remain silent. Southern Girls Always Survive is not only a story of survival; it's a testament to the unyielding strength of a woman's heart.
Featured here is the cover for Southern Girls Always Survive created by Self-Publishing Services.
Our protagonist and the Southern gal we’re all rooting for, Hilly, mulls over her next move in this cover art.
How SPS helped
The SPS team had the pleasure of working on everything from writing coaching services to cover design. We supplied comprehensive services that included everything from substantive edits for the big picture to combing through the finer details with line edits and proofreading. With the words out of the way (the easy part, right? HAH!), we leaped into cover design and a marketing plan that supported Southern Girls’ Leap Day launch.
We are so thrilled to be featuring this novel for y’all. Maybe Hilly Garland’s Southern charm will rub off on us after all. A gal can dream…
Preorder this novel
If you’re a crime fiction fan of resilient female leads, then you’re going to want to preorder your copy today: Southern Girls Always Survive is available on Amazon February 29, 2024.