TIFTON — Holand Press, UK, recently announced availability of its newest imprint, “The Virginia Governess” by Tifton author Liz Carson Keith.  The book has already hit number 2 on Amazon’s US Civil War Women in History list.

The novel revolves around the ancestors of Columbus native Carson McCullars. Keith, who is a collateral descendant of McCullars, is a retired educator and journalist who previously published a history of the Carson-Keith-Gordon clans, tracking the families from Scotland to America to the 20th Century.

Keith will present a reading and program at Columbus Public Library, 300 Columbus Rd., Macon, Ga. at 5:30 p.m. March 18, in the Synovus B meeting room.

“The Virginia Governess” tells the story of Charlotte “Lottie” Briggs Carson, a Virginia lady hired to teach the Carson children on a plantation near Reynolds, Georgia. Lottie is Keith’s great- grandmother, the publisher said in a press release. The author incorporates into the novel letters her great-grandfather, Capt. Joseph Perryman Carson, wrote to Lottie while he served under Gen. Phil Cook in Virginia.

“Though many books have been set during the Civil War, this book is unique as it revolves around Lottie’s relationship with her students and the expanded family, as they coped with deprivations, deaths, and loneliness,” Holand Press, UK, said in its press release. “In addition, weaving into the story the actual letters by Capt. Carson lends authenticity to the narrative. The compelling storyline from the beginning to the end keeps the reader turning the page from one chapter to the next. The Historical Fiction Company rated the book 4 out of 4 stars. ‘All in all, it is a solid historical fiction read that fans of this genre will appreciate,’ wrote HFC reviewer DK Marley.”

Kindle edition and paperback are available on Amazon. Check with your local bookstores for special orders. A reading in Tifton is in the works, the publisher said. You can stay up-to-date on when events will take place by following Keith on Facebook or on Instagram at Lizkeith.author.

For more information, contact the author Liz Carson Keith at lizcarsonkeith@hotmail.com.