Books
Synopsis: The Fall of Bellwether
In mid-1800’s, Beaumont villagers try hanging Ada and Elinor Williams knowing they’re innocent. Sacrificing the Reverend’s family is easier than admitting their beloved man-of-the-cloth skipped town with the tithing. Then, Ada’s rope snaps. Her survival reckons main players in the historical fiction novel The Fall of Bellwether to seek redemption.
Four others suffer Beaumont’s wrath. Eva Murray is lured into harlotry. Uriah Lovett enlists, returning an amputee. Basil Brandt watches a thresher hack open his wife. And Hiram Bell, a miner who loves Sarah, the reticent slave girl, breaks his back when the cage-wire gives, dropping him thirty feet. Hiram devotes himself to God, replacing the disgraced Reverend Williams. Meanwhile, Sarah, a fugitive, eventually finds Hiram, discovering solace in fellow exile, Ada.
Characters escaping Beaumont’s clutches see the bigger world, atone for vilifying “devilish” Ada, recognizing her lion-heart. Remaining villagers must choose––repent, or hold steadfast to their rigid creed.
Praise for The Fall of Bellwether
“The Fall of Bellweather is a belter of a novel, weaving several stories of the inhabitants of a mid 19th century American town, full of hate, love and redemption. The prose is beautiful and the dialogue authentic - an easy 5* from me, I can’t wait to read more from this brilliant writer.”
“I was really impressed by the level of research and detail that went into the craftsmanship of every scene. There’s a keen sense of attitude behind the descriptions too, and I enjoyed the way that Chad V Broughman’s modern sensibilities marry the ideas of the past with relatable elements from here and now so that we can connect as modern readers. From the gripping opening scene of impending execution to the intricate web of relationships that bind the characters together, every page resonates with authenticity and emotional depth that transcends eras and generations. The emotive, on-the-shoulder narrative lets us into Ada and Sarah’s world with a powerful exploration of the unwavering determination to support one’s family in the face of overwhelming odds. The themes of love, forgiveness, and communal bonds are expertly woven into the narrative, leaving a lasting impact. Overall, I’d certainly recommend The Fall of Bellwether as a literary gem that historical fiction readers are sure to adore.”
“This story has some really fascinating portrayals of time and place, especially as readers follow along with this anxiousness and tension early on that only continues to spiral and grow, allowing… an extreme sense of build-up that is due in part to the pacing, which is structured so well. I found myself developing intensely personal connections to characters…”
Praise for Chad’s writing
“Chad Broughman writes about what lies beneath. He tells stories of simple people with complicated secrets, brutality masked by beauty. He reels you in with mesmerizing prose and lyrical pacing, then hacks down to the bare bone.”
“[Chad] is one of the most talented fiction writers we have the honor of knowing.”
Stories and Poems
"Into the Light of Things" in Wild Violet Literary Magazine
"Our Sugar Maple" in Bound off Short Story Podcast: Issue 103
“a tree, a rabbit, and naiveté” in Burningword Literary Journal Issue 71
"undelivered" in River Poet's Journal Spring/Summer 2014
"Forgive me Mackinac, for I have sinned" in "Beneath the Lilac Canopy", June 2015
" a bicycle for Madeline" winner of the 2016 Scythe Prize for short fiction by Rusty Scythe
"Unfolded" in Flash 405, June 2016
"hanged" in Carrier Pigeon 16
"the yellow sash" in Carrier Pigeon 16
"creed in the afterlight" in Carrier Pigeon 16
“Homecoming, and Going” in Faith, Hope & Fiction, November 2018
“Mother of a Hanged Girl” in Arch Street Press, November 2018
“From Under a Porch” in Sky Island Journal, Issue 7, Winter 2019
“The Kill” in 101 Words, February 2019
“Tiny Little Mirrors” in An Axe to Grind: The Darling Axe, March 2019
“Check Mate” in On Loss, an anthology, July 2019
“in one fell swoop” in From Whispers to Roars, Volume 2, Issue 2, October 2019
“Featherweight” in Pulp Literature, Issue 25, Winter 2020
“Teeth” in Sky Island Journal, Issue 14, Fall 2020.
“The Seventh Scar” in Story Harvest, Scribes Valley Publishing April 2021
“A Little Less Blue” in Sky Island Journal, Issue 17, Summer 2021
“One potato, two potato…” in Of Rust and Glass, Scars, Issue 11, January 2023
“Ice” in Etched Onyx Magazine, Winter 2023