Billy Dee of the Ozarks

by J. Lee Bagan

Billy Dee of the Ozarks is as American as apple pie, vintage comic books, a love of neighbor, and of the Blues. A character driven narrative of Literary Fiction—Southern style. This means of course a dash of magical realism.

Against the backdrop of the Ozarks, a young boy named Billy Dee struggles to man up to life. His mother is an addict, his father in prison. It was never going to be easy. When a tragic incident brings Billy Dee under his neighbor Ella May's gentle guardianship, her house of comic books and Blues anchor forces which begin to shape his destiny.

His destiny is further defined when adopted by a nearby relative, a Celtic Druidess, Madighan, and her 200-year-old companion, a bloodhound named Beaudreau, Boo to his friends.

Fans of Southern fiction will appreciate the semi-rural locale and the blend of cultural and racial components that define what friends and family can be when allowed a touch of magic. A coming of age, family, love, friendship, and heartache. All the trappings which make us human, and for some, a bit more.

In the words of Ella May, "May you never live in a world where good does not triumph over evil, and they is no Blues."

This is not a story of whimsy, but of life. Man up and live it.

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

About the author

I am an avid reader of all genres and lover of vintage comics. I will enjoy re-reading David Copperfield as much as the latest Ben MacIntyre or BB Griffith. As a writer, though, I am prone to narrative storytelling in the vein of magical realism.
I am also an award-winning quilt artist and was pleased to win ribbons for the companion quilt to the book, Billy Dee of the Ozarks, The quilt is titled 'Highway 61', showcasing a brief history of the Blues. I am the only person I know who makes art quilts to complement their stories.

Reviews

[M.K. McCollom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Story

Amazing story of a boy with childhood hardships but found the love of friends and family to see him through it all.
Billy Dee will take you on an adventure you will not forget and turning the pages to read were his journey takes him.
I can't wait for book 2.

[Alinar Den · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being on a road trip, enjoying the stunning scenery through the window, listening to blues music, being absorbed into conversations with other passengers... And here comes a road bump... and for a split second, your life turns upside down, and your heart skips a beat or two... That's exactly how this book made me feel... on multiple occasions. 😅

[Henry Cosgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasure to experience

I live among the foothills of the Ozarks. My kin live in the area the author chose. Stories about "The Little People " coming to visit folks are still told. Sadly not as much in this modern day. Read and engage your whimsy.

[Matt McAvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like a book of two halves, this one, and really it’s carried by the huge creative talent of the author J. Lee Bagan. I have to be honest and say I enjoyed it immensely up to a point, probably midway, when I genuinely thought this was simply a book about a bereaved young boy and his immense strength of character, as he grows up surrounded by people who care for him, in spite of his severely dysfunctional home life. With a father in prison and a drug-addicted mother, I honestly thought the talking dog and other mystical happenings were manifestations of a lonely young, creative mind. I was enjoying its easy-going, hugely positive cerebral tone, as Billy Dee faces each devastating challenge with a childlike innocence yet uncommon resilience. It turned out, however, the voice wasn’t in his imagination at all, and in the book’s second half it goes full-on high fantasy, with demons, fae and spirits going to battle. To tell the truth, I was deflated by this; I rarely read blurbs before picking up a book for a more authentic experience, and I actually had no idea what to expect. Fantasy isn’t my favourite genre at the best of times, and it was something of a gut punch after I was so invested in the intriguing, sometimes desperate characters in this book and their own individual stories, such as Billy Dee, Bear and Luther.

That isn’t to say the book isn’t very good; it is, and if you’re a fan of gritty, melancholy high fantasy with a contemporary feel, with some low-living realism thrown in, this will be right up your street. The Ozarks are portrayed as beautiful, warm, yet a little desolate at the same time, its residents warm and kind, yet flawed. But in this book even the most wretched are given positivity and silver linings. J. Lee is a wonderful writer, the prose absolutely engaging; Midwest warmth shines through on every page, the emotions and defence mechanisms vividly imparted; you really feel that you’re there with Billy Dee and his growing group of friends for life.

The most prominent theme to take from this narrative is one of love; the book is overflowing and Billy Dee surrounded by it, whether to his knowledge or not. It is, quite simply, a nice book to read. My own personal tastes in the genre shouldn’t put you off, but I feel it was important to mention the sharp transition midway, for if you are not expecting high fantasy, you’ll probably feel as blindsided as I did; then again, read the blurb. Now you know what to expect, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this book immensely.

[Claire Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of the book is beautiful and pleasing to the eyes. It seems to evoke a
relationship of a boy with nature and a big ol’ dog.

The preface quote is profound and thought provoking.

Billy Dee is 8 years old, trying to find his way through the troubling turmoil and difficulties affecting his daily life. Our storyteller gives her many readers, tough scenarios of this boy’s trials and tribulations. The obvious results for Billy Dee, is how these difficulties effectively shape his personality, mental abilities, his overall maturation and his view of the world around him.

This continuously evolving tale of fantasy and mysticism brings forth a myriad of diverse, interesting and unique characters that assist in the telling of and contribute much to, the overall depth of the tale. The references to actual geographic locations make this tale even more genuine and significant to the reader. It seems as though our storyteller has actually been there.

I was on vacation and read this book in 3 days. I had difficulty putting it down.
I highly recommend this read and look very forward to her upcoming book.

[Bea Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tearjerker from the start. It is hard-hitting and, at times, difficult to read, but those heavier moments are balanced by tender ones throughout. At its core, it is a coming-of-age story with pagan and spiritual themes, and it takes an unexpected turn into fantasy.

I cannot speak on the Native American or African American aspects of the story, as those are not experiences I can comment on with any authority as someone from the UK. However, as a Celt and a Pagan, I appreciated seeing how J. Lee Bagan wove that kind of background into one of the main characters, Maddy. The book also explores wider religious and spiritual themes, particularly the connection between lived reality and the spiritual world, as well as ideas of destiny, free will, and the choices people make.

Content warnings around abuse and mental health may be worth noting for some readers, as parts of this story can be quite heavy. My main hesitation, as a pagan, is that some readers may come away with a distorted view of paganism and confuse darker fictional elements with real pagan beliefs and practices.

That said, I still think it is worth reading overall.

[Uma Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Dee of the Ozarks by J. Lee Bagan was so beautifully written that I started it again within hours of finishing the first read through.
I didn’t have any idea of the genre before I started reading this book. I chose it because the author is a member of my writing community, and I was attracted by the title and beautiful cover art.
Within pages I had fallen in love with the young main character, Billy Dee and felt enormously protective of him. I wasn’t expecting the twist that this tale took but it was so intriguing that I couldn’t put the book down and read way too fast.
The descriptions of people and places, their thoughts and actions were wonderful. I found myself reading conversations mentally with a Huckelberry Finn accent.
I wholeheartedly recommend Billy Dee of the Ozarks to readers wanting a compelling story of love and life, kindness and compassion, fantasy fiction and magical realism.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited. The second book in this series is to be released later this year. It can’t come soon enough for me.

[Soren Alaric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Dee Of The Ozarks is a raw and powerful coming of age story that blends hardship, heart, and a touch of the extraordinary.
Billy Dee’s journey is not an easy one, and that’s what makes it feel so real. From the very beginning, you’re pulled into a world shaped by struggle, resilience, and the search for identity. The mix of Southern grit, family legacy, and unexpected elements of mystery and magic gives the story a unique depth.
What stood out most was the emotional honesty. The challenges Billy faces aren’t softened they’re presented in a way that feels genuine and grounded. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of hope woven throughout, reminding you that even in the hardest circumstances, growth and purpose can emerge.
It’s a story about facing life head on, accepting where you come from, and finding strength in it.
A compelling and heartfelt read that leaves a lasting impression.

[Thom Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very enjoyable mix of folklores. The storytelling was rich and I especially enjoyed the implied soundtrack of the blues that is weaved into the story at appropriate points. I have spent some time around the Ozarks, including Mountain Home and I found the descriptions of the scenery evocative of those experiences.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway winner / free book review:

Good coming of age story of a boy and his dog.

Kindle e-book on IOS.

Used Spoken content accessibility tool with English Australian female voice Matilda Premium to listen to this book.

[Lisa N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining and had good, likeable characters, but something about the way it was written kept me at a distance so that I really wasn’t emotionally attached to the characters. Still it was worth the read and I’ll probably give book 2 a try when it comes out.

[ione donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

I was intrigued by this story. It held my interest even though I don't usually read this genre. It started out with a premise that reminded me of my early childhood wandering. Then introduced the magic.

[Linda Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was almost a DNF for me. It definitely went down a path I didn’t see coming; complete with fairies and demons and a “talking” dog. Not at all what I expected from the other reviews and intro.

[Ethan E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from start to finish. Has all the elements that make a good read. Outstanding writing. Looking forward to the next book in the series.