Seeing Faith

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Seeing Faith is Randall’s Summer 2024 book release.

Seeing Faith is a 30-day devotional study in which Randall shares 31 of his messages.

To these have been added pastoral studies with scriptures and questions. Seven pastors join Randall on this project.

The book will be a great study for any Sunday School class or special prayer group.

The price will be $16 plus $5 shipping.



Seeing Faith

Autograph? Please Provide Name?


Group orders will be available at a discount, so please e-mail for cost orders of 3 or more with special shipping rates.

A portion of funds raised from the book will benefit the Share America Foundation, Inc. and its Appalachian musical scholarships.

Order in advance above or reserve your copy or a number of these expected for release June 1, 2024, send an e-mail asking to be notified when it becomes available to rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com .

Joe Barger

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Award-winning author Randall Franks joins long-time Ringgold Georgia Mayor Joe Barger in writing his autobiography

Testing the Metal of Life (The Joe Barger Story) by Joe Barger with Randall Franks is released in October 2023.

Randall Franks and Joe Barger

“Former Mayor Joe Barger called me several months ago and asked me to come over to his home,” Franks said. “He asked me to help him write his autobiography. This began months of Joe and his wife Barbara spending hours with me completing interviews, going over notes and photographs spanning his 93 years. From his early years in North Carolina to American military service in the Philippines; then from Ringgold to China and around the world, as he also led a small Appalachian town through 48 years of amazing growth.

“Writing this book with Joe is an amazing experience. It is a fascinating American story that I think anyone might enjoy and I  am so honored that Joe and Barbara place such trust in me.”

See Joe Barger and I share a program about the book at the Catoosa County Historical Society in February 2024:

Joe Barger died on April 10, 2024, we mourn his passing and ask for prayers for his family in the coming weeks.

Copies may be ordered either via mail (see address below) or by PayPal button below. In addition to cost and shipping, the button includes additional cost to cover PayPal fees. The book is also available via Amazon.com



Autograph Request by Co-Author Randall Franks? Please Provide Name Desired To


Order by mail by sending $25 check or

money order to

Barbara Barger

Peach Picked Publishing,

P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755

 

A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes

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A Mountain Pearl : Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes




A Mountain Pearl“A Mountain Pearl” follows the adventures of a young, Appalachian girl as she grows up in the secluded valley below the Gravelly Spur Mountain during the Great Depression. She and her family and friends experience the ups and downs of pioneer life in a beautiful valley almost forgotten by time. The stories were inspired by Pearl Franks — late mother of Hall of Fame music legend and actor Randall Franks, who played “Officer Randy Goode” on the television series “In the Heat of the Night.” Illustrated by award-winning artist Cathy Cooksey, the collection includes 39 authentic mountain recipes and 55 country funnies sure to bring a laugh.

In the valley below the Gravelly Spur Mountain, author Randall Franks spins the tales and adventures inspired for “A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes,” by his late mother – Pearl Franks.

“My mother was a wonderful storyteller,” Randall said. “From my earliest bedtime stories, she mesmerized me with mountain legends, struggles for survival, leaving me often hanging waiting for what the next installment would hold.”

Franks, who played “Officer Randy Goode” on the television series “In the Heat of the Night,” shares stories spanning over a century of Appalachian reflections and experience much of it intertwined hopes and dreams in the almost fabled valley where the tales were spun from the people that called it home.

“In this book, I play tribute to my folks who came before and endured the hardships that came from carving a living out hills and hollers of the mountains,” he said. “It reflects on my mother’s life and the lessons she shared with me that she learned in that valley and applied to life when she left it.”

The 202-page softbound book is illustrated by award-winning Catoosa County artist Cathy Cooksey featuring a variety of full color paintings and black and white drawings.

The collection also includes 39 authentic mountain recipes, most from his mother and grandmother’s favorites.

“Whether it’s a snack like Honey Tastes, Pearl’s Fried Chicken or Oatmeal Pie, there is a recipe here that cooks will sure want to try,” he said. “The featured recipes often reflect something interwoven within the stories.”

Randall also features over 50 lighthearted country funnies depicted through some of his best-known comedy characters such as Uncle Elige Doolittle and his twin boys Will Doolittle and Won’t Do-a-Lot, he said.

“These reflect the spirit and whimsy of Appalachian humor that have made generations crack a smile,” he said.

Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way by Violet Hensley with Randall Franks

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243b2f156cbb02b5520e5fda9858df7c_plf5Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way by Violet Hensley with Randall Franks

$25

READ ABOUT THE 107-Year-Old Folk Music LEGEND

“Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way: The Violet Hensley Story” reflects nearly a century of experiences through the eyes of Silver Dollar City personality Violet Hensley.

“I never thought I would be writing about my life, my music and my fiddle makin’,” she said. “I could have never dreamed coming from a farm in the backwoods of Arkansas that the things I learned on that farm would make me a TV personality and gain me fame around the world.”

The Arkansas Living Treasure Award winner from Yellville, Arkansas learned to fiddle in 1928 and make fiddles watching her father George W. Brumley in the community of Alamo, Arkansas in 1932.

Hensley joined in a three-year effort with award-winning journalist and author Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode,” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” to complete her memoir.

“It was an amazing experience to work with Violet weekly to refine the experiences from her life and compile a book which not only reflects what many rural families endured in America in the 20th century but what was most unique about Violet as she grew artistically, to find folk music stardom at nearly 50.”

He said Hensley raised a family of nine with her late husband Adren while he moved the family from town to town and state to state.

“With the advent of the folk music revival, Violet’s blossoming musical and fiddle-making talents, caught the attention of Grammy ® winner Jimmy Driftwood and the owners of Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri,” he said. “She joined the crafter’s cast at Silver Dollar City in 1967, becoming part of the City’s celebrities who used radio, television, and newspapers to invite visitors to the amusement park.”

Peter Herschend, Herschend Family Entertainment co-founder and owner, said Violet is one of the City’s most unique citizens.

“In the early years of Silver Dollar City, Violet, Don Richardson and I, along with an interesting assortment of the City’s colorful characters, would spend weeks on the road together…all devoted to promoting SDC,” he said. “I came to know Violet for the amazing wonderful woman that she is. She would amaze us with stories of field plowing with her mules. Then a new Violet would seem to appear when she would sit for an interview with some grizzled reporter (reporters who probably didn’t believe she was real), and she would proceed to win them over with her charm, her skills as an artist, and her talent as a musician.’

Sharing her talents in front of millions, Hensley became one of the first woman fiddlers to reach a large international audience appearing at the Smithsonian’s Festival of American Folklife, festivals, colleges, and on countless local, regional and national television and radio shows such as “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Captain Kangaroo,” and “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee.” according to Franks.

“I hope folks will enjoy getting a glimpse at what my near century on this world has been,” she said. “It’s been a hoot so far and what’s even better is while the book is written – the story continues. I hope folks will join me for what is yet to come, they can start by reading the book.”

The 258-page soft cover book from Peach Picked Publishing includes 145 photos.

Silver Dollar City Folk Music Legend Violet Hensley shares 98 years of experiences from a backwoods farm to international folk music fame.

Snake Oil, Superstars and Me by “Doc” Tommy Scott, Randall Franks and Shirley Noe Sweisz

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9781425991890_cover.inddSnake Oil, Superstars and Me 

$35




“Doc” Tommy Scott, Shirley Noe Sweisz and Randall Franks
A 700- page autobiography with more than 500 photos highlighting Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott’s 90 years in Film, Television, Stage and Radio and all the superstars that were part of his life, show and career. We will pay postage and handling.

 

Tommy Scott (1917-2013) liked to tell the story of the time he met David Letterman, when the famous TV show host stormed off the stage because his own guest overshadowed him with his musical ramblings. Known for his rambling and roaming, this Hillbilly, western, country and bluegrass artist could never plant his roots in one place, so for a while he traveled and played the guitar, and later, he traveled and sold a cure-all remedy known as snake oil. The  entrepreneur, artist, and actor tells about his lifetime of personal discovery in his memoir, “Snake Oil, Superstars, and Me”

Different segments of his life can be labeled and described by his various nicknames. When he was just Tommy, the son of a farmer in northern Georgia, he decided he needed to make a name for himself in the music world. He escaped to join the Medicine Show, a musical and acting caravan that traveled across the U.S. There, he answered to the name “Peanut,” taking on the role of a guitar-playing clown. Next he was “Texas Slim” on a radio show, where he infused comedy and music with his ventriloquist doll-partner, Luke McLuke making his way to star on the Grand Ole Opry in the 194os. And then he was “Rambling Tommy,” a guitar player and music composer. Later in life, he became “Doc Tommy Scott,” selling snake oil as a medicine man in traveling exhibits.

No matter what name he went by, he always loved Frankie, a southern model and starlet from his hometown. When she took his last name, she became his “right hand man,” smoothing over rough business deals in her graceful way. The two wandered together when Tommy played and entertained many musicians in their home. As a young couple, they starred in a traveling show group and appeared in Tommy Scott shows that were later transformed into syndicated films and television.

Although he went by many names and lived many lives, one part of Tommy always remains the same. He loved igniting a crowd and hearing the roaring applause. He didn’t particularly love the praise, but he loved the response. He claimed snake oil is a cure-all remedy in his traveling shows, but even if it isn’t medically proven, Tommy cures the audience with gales of laughter.

“If you think it will help then it will,” Scott’s mentor advised him once. “If you have the faith for it, the liniment will stop the pain while the herbal treatment sets you to running! One thing for sure, though, if you visit a medicine show, for an hour and a half you will leave your burdens behind.”

Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor by Randall Franks and Shirley Smith

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Stirring_Up_Additional_SuccessStirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor by Randall Franks and Shirley Smith

$18 plus $5 S & H



The Catoosa Citizens for Literacy revamps its popular cookbook Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor offering a variety of choices from celebrities and Catoosa County residents.
ShirleySmith

Shirley Smith

Entertainer, actor, author and syndicated columnist Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” co-authored the project released 2009 with Shirley Smith welcoming celebrity friends from music, movies and television, to raise funds for Catoosa County’s Learning Center near Ringgold and its programs.
Franks previously served as Catoosa Citizens for Literacy chairman and co-chairman and is currently a taskforce member. The organization coordinates the Learning Center.

The collection features recipes from more than 100 of the south’s personalities, politicians, performers from television, movies, country, bluegrass and Southern gospel music, as well as members and supporters of the Catoosa Citizens for Literacy and students of the Catoosa County’s Shirley Smith Learning Center located just outside Ringgold.

Catoosa County artist Cathy Cooksey created a special paintings for the cover.

The Catoosa County Learning Center, on the Benton Place campus just off Battlefield Parkway, offers free day and evening GED classes The Catoosa Citizens for Literacy provide $160 towards the test fee to Catoosa County residents. Reading and math tutoring are available. Free childcare is available. Free transportation is available.

Smith, who is the Learning Center executive director, is excited to find a new worldwide avenue via the internet for the fundraisers.

“These books are wonderful collections which reflect the people and places in Catoosa County and recipes from not only the celebrities but from the students, teachers, volunteers, supporters and CCL taskforce members which helped uplift the lives of so many families in Catoosa County,” Smith said. “The books share stories of the Learning Center including numerous student successes. Anyone should want to make one of these  part of their family keepsakes.”

Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor by Randall Franks and Shirley Smith

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Stirring_Up_Success__Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor by Randall Franks and Shirley Smith

$18 plus $5 S&H


The Catoosa Citizens for Literacy releases its popular cookbook Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor offering a variety of choices from celebrities and Catoosa County residents.

ShirleySmith

Shirley Smith

Entertainer, actor, author and syndicated columnist Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” co-authored the two projects released initially in 2003 with Shirley Smith welcoming celebrity friends from music, movies and television, to raise funds for Catoosa County’s Learning Center near Ringgold and its programs.

“These make a nice Christmas gift especially if you have a family member included in the original books and didn’t get one the first time,” Franks said. “Friendship is a wonderful gift and I am thankful to all my media friends who graciously donated recipes, words of encouragement and photos to help us raise funds for the Learning Center. Now through the internet the gift can keep on giving to change lives.”
Franks previously served as Catoosa Citizens for Literacy chairman and co-chairman and is currently a taskforce member. The organization coordinates the Learning Center.

The collections feature hundreds of recipes from more than 100 of the south’s personalities, politicians, performers from television, movies, country, bluegrass and Southern gospel music, as well as members and supporters of the Catoosa Citizens for Literacy and students of the Catoosa County’s Shirley Smith Learning Center located just outside Ringgold.

Catoosa County artist Chuck Frye created special paintings for the cover.