The Apprentices: FAULT LINES

Beneath the towns of central Alabama, the ground remembers.

Old coal seams stretch from Lovick through Leeds, Markeeta, Acmar, and Margaret—carrying more than water and stone. They carry the weight of everything that’s been taken, built, and forgotten.

When subtle shifts begin to ripple along that hidden line, Makaley Broward and her friends find themselves drawn into work they barely understand. What starts as quiet observation quickly becomes something more: decisions that must be made without certainty, risks that can’t be undone, and a growing realization that not every problem can be fixed—only guided.

With the help of a steady but watchful police chief and the quiet wisdom of those who came before, the apprentices learn that the land doesn’t need saving.

It needs listening.

As curiosity leads others into places long left alone—and danger begins to follow—Makaley must step into a role she never asked for, carrying a responsibility that offers no recognition and no clear answers.

Only consequences.

Set against the rivers, rail lines, and forgotten works of the South, The Apprentices: Fault Lines is a coming-of-age story shaped by place, memory, and the unseen balance between what lies above and what runs below.

Because some lines aren’t meant to be crossed.

They’re meant to be understood.

Available now in paperback and for Kindle

The Watchers

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I’m excited to share that THE WATCHERS, a new chronicle in The Handyman’s Guild world, is now complete. This one sits a little quieter on the shelf, but it carries weight. It’s about the people who notice what others pass by, who keep an eye on things that don’t quite sit right, and who step in gently—often without credit—before small problems become lasting damage.

Like the other Guild stories, The Watchers is rooted in familiar places and ordinary lives, the kind where front porches matter, tools are handed down, and wisdom often comes without a spotlight. It fits alongside The Handyman’s Guild, The Quarry Keeper, and The Apprentices, but it also stands on its own as a reminder that much of what keeps us safe and steady is done quietly, by folks you may never notice at all.

As always, these stories grow out of reflection—about where we live, who we depend on, and the unseen work that holds things together. Thank you for continuing to read along here at Simple Contemplations. Sometimes the most meaningful work doesn’t announce itself—it just gets done.

Get THE WATCHERS on Amazon

And now we're a book!

 

I've finally made the leap into publishing. I've gathered stories from the blog, thrown in some original artwork and photographs, and put them all into a paperback book. It can be found on Amazon and there is also a Kindle version. 

Ron Howard's Simple Musings 

Life's little adventures, in plainspoken words

Homespun stories of growing up in a small city in Alabama during the 60's and 70's. Exploring my world, stretching my boundaries, and pushing the limits. Heartfelt stories of life as a feral child, a rebellious teenager, and a grateful and repentant senior citizen.