RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — Award-winning author Randy O'Brien of Murfreesboro is set to release a new historical coming-of-age novel, Ribbon of Dreams, in March 2026, offering readers a deeply personal story framed by the social and political turbulence of 1970s America.

Published by Histria Fiction, Ribbon of Dreams will be available in Kindle and paperback editions beginning March 10, 2026. The novel is set in rural Tennessee during the spring of 1975 and centers on a young man known as Skid, who is approaching high school graduation while grappling with expectations placed on him by his widowed stepfather. Skid is expected to take over the family’s vintage car restoration business, a future he is increasingly unsure he wants.

As Skid searches for his own identity, he becomes unexpectedly involved in a protest led by African American students, drawing him into the racial and political tensions dividing his community. Against the backdrop of soldiers returning from the Vietnam War and a nation struggling with social change, the story explores themes of identity, family obligation, and the pursuit of hope in uncertain times.

The writer weaves Skid’s personal journey with broader historical realities, highlighting the character’s growing passion for screenwriting as a means of understanding and documenting the beauty and complexity of rural America. When tragedy strikes the town, Skid is forced to confront a defining choice: remain at home to help rebuild his community or continue his pursuit of a college education and a different future.

Randy O’Brien is an award-winning radio journalist and book reviewer who holds a B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University in English, with minors in History and Secondary Education. He spent three decades as News Director at WMOT-FM, covering hard news and feature reporting while mentoring many students who went on to successful careers, and also served as an adjunct writing instructor at MTSU and the Watkins School of Art and Design, in addition to serving as President of the Tennessee Screenwriting Association.

Ribbon of Dreams marks O’Brien’s third novel, following his critically acclaimed historical works Gettysburg by Morning and The Farm. The paperback edition carries ISBN 9781592116775, with the ebook edition listed as ISBN 9781592117017. Histria Fiction titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster.

Additional information about the author and the novel is available at randyobrienwriter.com.