BUILDING BRIDGES

THE EPIC STORY OF
THE ASHFORDS OF BOONE COUNTY

COMING SUMMER 2027

A multi-generational historical novel about
family, sacrifice, coal country, and the people who built Appalachia.

WHY THIS STORY MATTERS

A letter from Ryan

66 My parents grew up in West Virginia.
The people in these hills shaped who I became. Building Bridges is my attempt to honor a way of life, a culture, and a generation that deserves to be remembered. 

It’s more than a story. It’s my way of saying thank you to the mountains and the people who built a life from hard work, hope, and heart. 

- Ryan Hale

THE ASHFORD FAMILY TIMELINE

1880

The Ashford family settles near Big Coal River.

1910

Coal boom brings opportunity, hard work, and new challenges.

1945

The war generation returns home, forever changed.

1970

Industry declines. Communities change.

2027

Building Bridges The next chapter begins.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE STORY

Railroads opened the mountains.
Coal camps were cities of their own
Bridges connected more than towns.
Company towns built communities.
Historical maps tell their story.
Families like the Ashfords built it all.

PROJECT PROGRESS

100%

Ongoing

Future

Summer 2027

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW

Read the First Chapter

Get a glimpse into the world of the Ashfords and the mountains they call home

66 Some stories entertain. Some stories remember. Building Bridges hopes to do both.99
- Ryan Hale

FOLLOW THE ROAD TO BOONE COUNTY

Receive progress updates, research discoveries, cover reveals, and exclusive previews as Building Bridges moves toward publication.

Building Bridges

COMING SUMMER 2027

THE ASHFORDS OF BOONE COUNTY