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ECONOGAL > The Promise of Unbroken Straw

May 2025 Wrap-Up

Posted on by Econogal

New Additions

Both April and May 2025 were full of travel and events. Books were read and some were reviewed. Plenty of hours were logged in both the garden and the quilt room. The only thing lacking was regular writing.

Two new babies were born into the family twenty days apart. One of each gender, identical in length and only an ounce apart in weight. Since the cousins live but five miles apart it will be interesting to see if they are misidentified as twins. I look forward to holding them simultaneously.

Messages to Econogal

I try to keep up and acknowledge the emails that come into the blog. Unfortunately, the majority want me to let them publish what they write thereby skipping the cost of a website. Others want me to write on their topic of choice. The vast majority are literary agents doing the job of promoting a client’s book.

My favorite correspondence is from writers themselves. Some write in the comments, others reference my blog on their websites and still others send private notes. This month I learned Ken Steele was recognized by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries in May 2025 with an award for The Promise of Unbroken Straw. Kudos to Ken, I am still gifting his book to various individuals in my circle. I highly recommend it.

May 2025 In the Garden

Much time is spent in the garden at this time of year. I have a row of potatoes and a row of tomatoes in the Big Garden. Green onions are interplanted with the tomatoes and basil with the potatoes. I also have a row of leafy plants. Multiple types of lettuce and broccoli are in this row with more green onions and some rather anemic artichokes.

The final row includes hot peppers, beets, carrots and peas. My early starts of peanuts did not make it. However, I threw some peanut seeds into this fourth row as well and was quite pleased to see a couple of plants pop through this week. No doubt the inch of rain accompanied by warm, seasonal temperatures helped the garden along.

May 2025 In the Library

Two books, both set in Italy were reviewed this past month. Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a cozy murder mystery laced with romance. One Good Thing is superb historical fiction. In addition to the two outstanding books I reviewed this month, I reread books by Janet Evanovich and Diane Mott Davidson. I love both authors. Since I love re-reading certain series, I am thinking of having some throwback reviews in the future.

Personal News

But first, I need to attend to my health. Something is not quite right with my heart. Fortunately, I have an appointment with a specialist at UC Health in Denver next week. Those of us in small rural towns scattered throughout this country travel out of town when medical issues are complex. Hopefully the diagnoses will be quick and the remedy straightforward. In the meantime, I plan to live as stress-free as possible. And I do plan to keep all of you up to date. Happy June to all.

The Promise of Unbroken Straw

Posted on by Econogal

Debut Novel

The Promise of Unbroken Straw, a debut novel by Ken Steele blew me away much like the fictional tornado in the story. This book rivals Crow Talk for the best of 2024. Since this is the first book penned by Steele, it may get the edge to the top. The author offers depth, commentary and historical reflection. Furthermore, The Promise of Unbroken Straw reminds the readers death is final and the time to make amends is short.

The story opens in 1986 and then travels back in time a few decades. Thus, a tale of historical fiction. The setting is rural Oklahoma in an area probably not much changed to this day. Wheat fields provide income as well as hope. And small towns gather under Friday night lights. A star football player and his younger brother are raised by a father and grandfather. The tornado and accompanying hail destroyed a crop needed to keep the land from foreclosure during World War II. Only a small area of unbroken straw remains. Yet there is hope in those stalks. Just as there is biblical hope in rainbows.

Then oil comes to the rescue.

Coming of Age

Paul, the younger brother, is the protagonist. His brother Tim is a star athlete drawing notice while just a sophomore. Their mother died while they were still young. Paul only has vague memories. Jake Landrum presents as a father without emotion. Yet he provides a home with values, including strong ties to the church.

In contrast, is Paul’s best friend Teddy. Both parents are alive. The father, an alcoholic, beats both Teddy and Teddy’s mom on a regular basis. As the story unfolds, other women were victims too. The late 1930s and early 1940s offered little recourse for such behavior. This backstory is pivotal for the growth of the protagonist.

Paul is the opposite of his brother as he is without any athleticism. After the family’s fortune changes and they move to the big city of Tulsa, Paul has his own talents recognized but the move is not an easy one.

When tragedy strikes, Paul blames himself for an accidental death just as his father blamed himself for his wife’s deadly illness. The many parallels in the story provide complexity for the readers.

Depth of The Promise of Unbroken Straw

Familial relationships stand out. Steele offers comparisons throughout the story. First among farm families and then in the city. Parenting is critically examined as are bonds between brothers.

Of note is how wisdom is passed down through the generations. And how families sacrifice for one another. Most importantly the author creates division in the family in allowing  young Paul to reach maturity. Estrangement shows his weaknesses. However, the willingness to return to his hometown indicates the strength of his upbringing.

Conciliation

Most of the story takes place in the forties. The current time-period is the late 80s. Paul has not seen his father for 17 years nor Teddy for even longer. And his grandpa has passed on. The older, wiser Paul bridges the past and the present. His father is dying. And Paul discovers a father and common ground once again. Some secrets are revealed, and others continue. There is no escaping death, but the unbroken straw stands as a reminder of hope.

Recommendation

I highly recommend The Promise of Unbroken Straw. Ethics and reliance on faith through the church are a large part of the story. But familial love is even stronger. The importance of making amends and forgiveness is ever present without explicit statements. And forgiveness of oneself is key.

New authors reaching publication is one accomplishment. Then they face the arduous task of finding a spot amongst the already known. Ken Steele may find this even harder as his name is somewhat common with “other” successful Ken Steele’s including an author and a series character in the United States.

Yet, The Promise of Unbroken Straw is a great gift from the author. Top on my list for 2024. I wish him great success and hopefully other novels to follow. Buy a copy or find a copy at your local library. This story is tremendous and deserves acknowledgement. Kudos to the Ken Steele formerly of Oklahoma and now a resident of Colorado.