Exploring Family Legacy, Courage, and Craft with Chris Skates
In a powerful new episode of The Life Unscripted Podcast with Rosabel, I sat down with the talented Chris Skates — novelist, chemist, former gubernatorial speechwriter, and master storyteller.
Chris’s latest novel, Moonshine Over Georgia, vividly recounts the untold stories of America’s Prohibition Era. Inspired by the real-life experiences of his grandfather, a courageous revenue agent in 1940s Georgia, Chris weaves historical truth, family legacy, and masterful fiction into an unforgettable tale of danger, resilience, and justice.
The Journey from Chemist to Storyteller
Chris’s path to becoming a full-time writer is a story in itself. Though encouraged by his teachers early on, he chose a pragmatic route, pursuing a career in chemistry for financial security. But storytelling has always remained close to his heart. After sharing a short story honoring his grandfather at a family reunion, the overwhelming response inspired him to pursue publishing. This led to magazine features, award-winning novels, and eventually, government speechwriting at the state and national levels, even crafting messages for President Trump and Vice President Pence.
The Heart Behind Moonshine Over Georgia
In our conversation, Chris shared how he deeply connected with his grandfather, who instilled in him storytelling traditions and a profound sense of honor and resilience. Moonshine Over Georgia captures the harsh realities of the illegal liquor trade and the devastating toll it took on families — a side rarely depicted in romanticized portrayals of moonshiners.
Chris revealed that writing this novel was like assembling a massive jigsaw puzzle: part real stories, part living witness interviews, and part creative weaving to fill the gaps. The result is a rich, authentic narrative that transports readers straight into the gritty streets and fields of 1940s Georgia, balancing brutal realities with the enduring humanity of the time.
From the Page to the Microphone
One of the most moving parts of our talk was hearing about Chris’s experience creating the audiobook for Moonshine Over Georgia. Although he initially attempted to narrate the story himself, he ultimately teamed up with a professional voice actor who vividly brought the characters—and the deep emotional heart of the story—to life. For Chris, hearing his grandfather’s story spoken aloud revealed even more layers of personal connection and healing.
Facing Life's Biggest Battles
Beyond his writing, Chris shared a deeply personal story of resilience: a harrowing battle with a rare and deadly form of leukemia, which he survived against overwhelming odds. His upcoming collection of short stories, Showdown at the Beanstalk, will blend humor and inspiration from his life, encouraging readers that survival and triumph are possible no matter the odds.
A Message to Fellow Creators and Dreamers
Our conversation resonated with a shared truth: storytelling is an act of courage. Whether it's overcoming self-doubt, revising until the work feels truly finished, or finding new ways to connect with readers in an increasingly noisy world, Chris and I believe in the transformative power of stories—not just for others but also for ourselves.
As Chris beautifully put it, "If I don’t write, I don't know how I would function."
Connect with Chris Skates and Rosabel
👉 Grab your copy of my book The Courage to Succeed: A True American Dream — available now on Amazon!
Thank you for being part of our growing Life Unscripted community, where every life story is unscripted and every conversation matters.
No comments:
Post a Comment