Featured in the Cambridge University
Alumni Reading List 2024
Three Generations,
One American Dream.
The Boloney Trail Trilogy follows the Hornbeck family from the Dust Bowl through the rise of the Sinaloa cartel, tracing how dreams, desperation, and resilience shape identity across borders and decades.
Stories in Motion
Unforgettable Voices
Some voices refuse to fade. They rise through dust and heat until I can hear them clearly, and once they do, the story is already in motion.
History With A Heartbeat
History feels alive to me — pulsing under the dirt, shifting in small, human moments that change everything. That’s where I begin.
Truth in the Tangle
Between right and wrong lies the place I return to most. Survival has its own vocabulary there, and forgiveness is rarely straightforward.
Screen to Page
Scenes often come as movement — a breath held too long, a shadow crossing a doorway, a stretch of road humming with possibility. I follow what flickers.
Written in Dust and Desire
From Oklahoma’s cracked earth to Sinaloa’s fevered streets — every frame carries heat, hunger, and history. Raw, wide open, and unfiltered.
The Writer Behind The Trail
I chase what can’t be faked — light, silence, and truth between breaths. Every story wants to be seen as much as told.
Meet the Books
The Boloney Trail FAQ
What is The Boloney Trail Trilogy about?
It’s a sweeping historical-fiction saga spanning three generations of the Hornbeck family, from the Great Depression through the rise of the Sinaloa Cartel. The trilogy explores how ordinary people get caught in extraordinary moral and social upheaval—where survival becomes rebellion and every choice echoes across generations.
What time period does it cover?
Roughly 1930 to 1975. Each book captures a distinct era—Perpetual Gloom through the Dust Bowl migration, Imaginary Gravity through post-war ambition and disillusionment, and Shattering Light as the family’s path collides with the origins of Mexico’s modern drug trade.
Is it based on real people?
Yes—many events and characters draw from real accounts and family stories. Names and details have been changed, but the moral conflicts, settings, and historical context remain true to life.
Did you personally know any of the characters?
Some are based on people I grew up hearing about or briefly knew. Others are composites drawn from letters, interviews, and extensive historical research. Every one of them is emotionally real.
What inspired you to write The Boloney Trail?
The stories began as family history but evolved into a way to explore the human cost of ambition, faith, and survival. I wanted to illuminate how systemic forces—poverty, prejudice, and power—shape generations, and how personal choices can both wound and redeem us.
REVIEWS
What Readers and Reviewers are Saying
Johnson’s writing is unflinching, painting vivid images and conversations so real, I could almost hear them. Each character, each scene, brought to life with clarity and depth. The way she captured the dialects, all the little details, undercurrents and emotions of the Hornbeck family made me feel like I was right there with them. It’s rare to find a story that wraps around you so completely.
Sheri Hoyte
Author, Journalist, and Language Educator
The Boloney Trail is a story filled with memorable characters, indelible scenes, authentic dialogue, and unforgettable details that pulls readers into the scenes and helps them empathize with the human condition in a manner reminiscent of Steinbeck.
William Mike Kielkopf
This book isn't just a story; it's a heart-pounding adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat. What I loved most about this book is how it pulls you into the gritty reality of the era. You'll feel every hardship, every uncertain moment, and every ounce of determination that Monroe and his fellow travelers possess.
Sue
The author’s meticulous research and attention to detail breathe life into this historical period, making it feel vivid and authentic. It is a captivating and thought-provoking tale that explores themes of courage, faith, and the enduring human spirit.
Abigail L
This is a modern-day Steinbeck that touches a feeling and emotion of Americana that really should be examined, given the kind of future that we seem to be moving in today.
Daniel Forea
A literary masterpiece that beckons readers with its magnetic storytelling. The characters are finely crafted, each with their unique struggles and triumphs. The book’s exploration of human nature, societal expectations, and the pursuit of redemption makes it a compelling read.