Critically acclaimed Writer Tackles Issues of Social Injustice, Self-Discovery and Hope in 1970s-Era Coming-of-Age Novel
Ribbon of Dreams
By Randy O’Brien
From the author of the critically acclaimed novels Gettysburg by Morning and The Farm, O’Brien’s latest novel transports readers to an America torn by years of political and social strife, family upheaval, and heartbreaking sorrow.
NASHVILLE – March 10, 2026 — It’s 1975 and Tennessee is revved up by social injustices, struggling Vietnam veterans, and blue-collar grit. It’s a place where the distance between a dead-end job and a dream feels as long as a highway at midnight. Against this vivid backdrop, critically acclaimed writer Randy O’Brien introduces us to Skid, a young man caught between the grease-stained reality of his family’s vintage car shop and the cinematic “ribbon of dreams” he hopes to capture as a screenwriter.
Now in pre-sale, Ribbon of Dreams (Histria Fiction, March 10, 2026) is the latest novel by the former News Director at WMOT-FM and an adjunct writing instructor, Randy O’Brien. In this coming-of-age story, Skid must confront the harsh realities of his life and community and the fragility of his own runaway dreams. Through a lens of reflective nostalgia, the narrative examines past racial strife and identity in a way that directly mirrors our own uncertain times.
Ribbon of Dreams transports readers to a small town in rural Tennessee in the spring of 1975, where a young man nicknamed Skid is on the cusp of high school graduation. As he prepares for the next chapter of his life, Skid struggles with the path his widowed stepfather has laid out for him, which requires him to take over the family’s vintage car restoration business, and begins to question forcing him to confront the social and political strife tearing at his community—and his own family history.
The novel is a powerful exploration of shifting adolescence, unaddressed trauma, and hope, interweaving Skid’s personal drama with the broader historical context of soldiers returning from the Vietnam War and the ongoing fight for social justice. Through an unexpected passion for screenwriting, Skid finds a new way to capture the beauty and complexity of rural America. However, tragedy strikes his community, forcing him to choose between rebuilding his life at home and continuing on to college.
Ribbon of Dreams stands as a tour de force of historical fiction as it masterfully weaves the vibrant threads of 1970s nostalgia with the gritty realities of Black social activism, the fractured homecomings of Vietnam veterans, and the awakening of teenage sexuality and adolescent identity.
Ribbon of Dreams, available in paperback (9781592116775) and ebook (9781592117017), is the third novel by Randy O’Brien, following his critically acclaimed historical works Gettysburg by Morning and The Farm.
About Histria Fiction: Histria Fiction is an imprint dedicated to publishing high-quality historical novels that bring compelling moments of the past to life. Distributed by Simon and Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Ribbon-of-Dreams/Randy-OBrien/9781592116775
About the Author
A retired award-winning radio journalist and book reviewer, Randy O’Brien has a B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, TN majoring in English and minoring in History and Secondary education. He was the News Director of WMOT-FM for three decades, reporting hard news and features, proudly mentoring dozens of now successful graduates. He was an adjunct writing instructor at MTSU and Watkins School of Art and Design and former President of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association. His interests include audiobooks, just about any genre fiction or non-fiction, movies, and walking.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.o.brien.269937
Instagram: @obrienrandy
TikTok: @randyobrien127
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-o-brien-498b347/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2792407.Randy_O_Brien
Website: https://www.randyobrienwriter.com/
Suggested Q & A and Show Prep Themes
- Where did you find your inspiration for Ribbon of Dreams?
- Grease vs. Glamour: The tension between manual labor and creative ambition stands out in this book. As the author, you seem to be asking: How does one honor their blue-collar roots while desperately trying to escape them? This resonates with anyone who has ever felt “stuck” in a family legacy of expectations. Can you talk about this?
- Race and Justice: The book uses a student protest as a catalyst. It’s a look at how social history shapes personal identity for the character. You are known for writing historical fiction. And there are many events that happened in the 1970s mentioned in the book. Can you talk about the book’s inciting incident and the sit-in that happened at the high school you attended?
- Soundtrack of the South: The musical acts named in the book are pure 1970s gold. The book mentions The Allman Brothers Band, Joe Walsh, and Bruce Springsteen among others. The Allman Brothers Band provides the “Southern heartbeat” of the book, while Bruce Springsteen provides the “escape hatch.” Where does this mesh with Skid’s Tennessee roots and his Hollywood dreams? And who are your favorite music artists?