This is a story spanning generations about a family’s fight to keep their land and way of life taken by the misuse and abuse of government’s power. The story begins at the Cumberland Gap in 1777. It ends at the land between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers where their ancestral land and homes were taken by TVA for a ‘demonstration’ recreation area. In this process 949 families, 2,738 people, 29 country churches, and many country stores and businesses were removed by condemnation or the threat of eminent domain. Governmental action in the area forced some families to move two or three times. The story is a mix of history, humor, youthful adventure, intrigue, tragedy, mortality, and spiritual faith. The following are comments from some of the readers:

“Mr. Shoffner has such a command of words and living presentation of details that I feel that the persons mentioned in The Authority are my own family and friends, so completely does he draw the reader into the story. If you are looking for interesting, informative and heart-warming reading, this book is one you will read several times just as I have done. My career requires me to do a great deal of reading. A book this good is a real rarity.”

“Your writing has a wonderful way of taking the reader through your story by weaving interesting anecdotes and actual facts through the piece. You were able to take me through a very long piece of history on a pleasant and easy to read journey.” “I have read your book and like it very much.”

“A powerful book regarding land that God has entrusted to the people between the rivers.”

“No one has written anything that tells the facts and truth as well as the author of the book, The Authority, by Allen Shoffner.”

“A wonderful book--you’re an excellent writer, know your story, and how to tell it.”

“Shoffner, a sixth generation Tennessean and an attorney, tells the story of pain and loss in some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read on this subject.”

About the Author:

Allen Shoffner is a lawyer in rural Middle Tennessee. He has been in active continuous trial and appellate practice for the past forty-eight years. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he was a member of, and authored legal articles for, the Vanderbilt Law Review. He was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee to the Tennessee Law Revision Commission on which he served for six years. He has written various articles for legal publication. Allen Shoffner is also a farmer. He is a sixth generation Tennessean. He and his wife, Edna, have been married for over forty-eight years and live on the family farm where he was raised and where they raised their family of three children. They have seven grandchildren.

This book is difficult to come by. I purchased mine at the Gift Shop at the Visitor Center in LBL. While they have stock you might call and have one mailed to you. The Gift Shop Number is: (270) 924 2237.

Also: Betty tells me that a copy can be purchased at Austin Peay University. Try their Toll Free Number: 1-877-861-APSU

This is a story spanning generations about a family’s fight to keep their land and way of life taken by the misuse and abuse of government’s power. The story begins at the Cumberland Gap in 1777. It ends at the land between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers where their ancestral land and homes were taken by TVA for a ‘demonstration’ recreation area. In this process 949 families, 2,738 people, 29 country churches, and many country stores and businesses were removed by condemnation or the threat of eminent domain. Governmental action in the area forced some families to move two or three times. The story is a mix of history, humor, youthful adventure, intrigue, tragedy, mortality, and spiritual faith. The following are comments from some of the readers:

“Mr. Shoffner has such a command of words and living presentation of details that I feel that the persons mentioned in The Authority are my own family and friends, so completely does he draw the reader into the story. If you are looking for interesting, informative and heart-warming reading, this book is one you will read several times just as I have done. My career requires me to do a great deal of reading. A book this good is a real rarity.”

“Your writing has a wonderful way of taking the reader through your story by weaving interesting anecdotes and actual facts through the piece. You were able to take me through a very long piece of history on a pleasant and easy to read journey.” “I have read your book and like it very much.”

“A powerful book regarding land that God has entrusted to the people between the rivers.”

“No one has written anything that tells the facts and truth as well as the author of the book, The Authority, by Allen Shoffner.”

“A wonderful book--you’re an excellent writer, know your story, and how to tell it.”

“Shoffner, a sixth generation Tennessean and an attorney, tells the story of pain and loss in some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read on this subject.”

About the Author:

            Born In Stewart County on the edge of The Land Between The Lakes, Betty Joe Wallace has earned two graduate degrees from Austin Peay State University and is completing work toward a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University.

            As a member of the faculty in the Department of History and Philosophy, she teaches courses in American, African American, and Womens history. She spends considerable time working with students seeking certification to teach social studies and

teaches a course in Methods of Teaching Social Studies.

            Ms. Wallace has won numerous honors including the Distinguished Professor Award. In addition to numerous community activities, she is curreritly 1hvolved In research and writing about women in Tennessee and female employees at Camp Campbell, Kentucky during WWII. In their spare time, Ms. Wallace and her husband, John Chapman, raise goats on their farm in Stewart County.