Decision At Fletcher's Mill
GENRE
HISTORICAL FICTION ROMANCE ACTION ADVENTURE RELIGIOUS WAR
Core Theme
COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE
TIME PERIOD
18th Century
COMPARABLE TITLES
THE PATRIOT
CHARACTER LIST
• BILLY MORGAN: 20. PROTAGONIST. UNSURE BUT HAS POTENTIAL
• IRA FLETCHER: 60+. OWNER OF FLETCHER'S MILL. WISDOM
• ELIZABETH: 17. GRANDDAUGHTER & LOVE INTEREST
• ZEKE: 60+. TRUSTED FAMILY FRIEND
• MAJOR WILLOUGHBY: 30-40. BRITISH COMMANDER
• MAJOR THROCKMORTON: 30-40.
Logline
It is 1781, and the American Revolution has no end in sight. Wealthy Ira Fletcher must decide what is truly valuable as he struggles to protect his home and his granddaughter in the chaos of war. Billy Morgan must overcome a foolish lie, and his own weakness, to become a heroic leader.
Target Audiences
Age: 13-17,55+,35-54
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
The Colony of South Carolina
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: Harper Collins Christian Publishing; Elm Hill Division
Year Published: 2019
Starting Description
It starts with militiaman Billy Morgan facing the Battle of Cowpens, and wealthy Ira Fletcher struggling to recover from the loss of his family. Billy recovers from a lie to become a hero. Ira must decide what is truly valuable to deal with losing his family and rebuild in chaotic times.
Ending Description
Billy, Ira, and others are drawn together at Fletcher's Mill where Billy falls in love with Ira's granddaughter. Ira comes to the end of himself and accepts the love of God and his longtime friend, Mona. Fletcher's Mill is destroyed as Ira decides to sacrifice it to save the people he holds dear.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
9781595558008
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending,Philosophical Questions
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth,Quest,Tragedy
Main Character Details
Name: Ira Fletcher
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Masculine,Complex,Decisive,Faithful,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Strong Moral Code,Religious,Aggressive,Patriotic,Confident,Blunt,Outspoken
Additional Character Details
Name: Billy Morgan
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Aggressive,Decisive,Engaging,Faithful,Flexible,Heroic,Leader,Masculine,Uneducated,Patriotic,Outspoken,Unapologetic,Skillful,Underdog,Honorable
Additional Character Details
Name: Ezekiel Miller
Age: 75
Gender: Male
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Underdog,Masculine,Obedient,Uneducated,Patriotic,Religious,Selfless,Outspoken,Secretive,Strong Moral Code,Leader,Honorable,Heroic,Gracious,Faithful,Empathetic,Engaging,Charming
Additional Character Details
Name: Elizabeth Fletcher
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Charming,Aspiring,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Honorable,Naive,Obedient,Uneducated,Religious,Selfless,Outspoken,Romantic,Strong Moral Code
Development Pitch
This is a story about deciding what is truly valuable when the world is in chaos and the possibilities are blurred. It is about love and loyalty facing greed and treachery. The characters are drawn together at an obscure place in the waning years of the American revolution. Their journeys are as different as the characters themselves. The "good guys" are complicated. The "bad guys" are desperate. In one way or another, they all deal with the old question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?" Heroes, villains, scoundrels, and victims are all brought to a place of decision in the chaotic Colony of South Carolina. Decisions must be made at Fletcher's Mill. This patriotic God honoring story will entertain the audience while encouraging them to appreciate the valuable treasure in their own worlds. This would be an excellent family adventure film.
Genre
ACTION, SUSPENSE, ROMANCE, MATURE AUDIENCE, RELIGION, WAR
Brief
A young Lieutenant in the Continental Army must deliver a caravan of supplies to local militia fighters to ensure victory over the British Royal Army. The lieutenant must discover the leader within himself to earn the respect of his men and complete his mission.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: FAIR
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
Yes, the book profile is an accurate reflection, however the "foolish lie" mentioned in the logline is hardly relevant to the story.
Draw of Story
The characters are dynamic and genuine. As a reader we want Billy to succeed.
Possible Drawbacks
The pacing is quite slow in the middle. Too much repetitive description slows the pace down. Probably could have edited down or cut out a lot of this story and it still would have worked.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is the unexperienced lieutenant's journey to complete his mission. Will he make it? Although left with an open ending, diving more into the treasure aspect would have been entertaining.
Fanbase Potential
Possibly, as it stands there would need to be more story added to the narrative. Currently, it reads okay as a book but is fairly surface level. This happens and then that happens. More plot points needed, more obstacles, more twists and turns.
Awards Potential
Perhaps not, it is a good story but doesn't dig deep enough into character and what is developed already is slightly cliched. A fresh perspective would be nice. Feel like we've seen this all before.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
ANY CIVIL WAR FILM. PLENTY OUT THERE.
What’s New About the Story
I believe if more emphasis was put on the treasure aspect this would have been a unique story. Everything else, although well done, has been seen/read before. Tones of National Treasure mixed with The Patriot.
Lead Characters
Billy doesn't really stand out. We "hear" that he is brave and courageous but it is barely seen. If he is supposed to be a hero to his men, it takes more then the glimpse we were provided. They seem to just instantly switch and begin/continue to fawn over him throughout the story. Show us why.
Uniqueness of Story
Not a rare gem. Characters can be improved and the story is fairly simple. The protagonist seems to barely have to overcome any obstacles before achieving his goals. The ones he does encounter are simple.
Possible Formats
Film - Studio, Film - Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
The characters need development and the overall narrative is shallow.
Tips for Improvement
Characters; Quicker flow; Less inconsequential filler chapters. More story, more happening, less “they go here and then go there.
Brief
It is 1781, and the American Revolution has no end in sight. Wealthy Ira Fletcher must decide what is truly valuable as he struggles to protect his home and his granddaughter in the chaos of war. Billy Morgan must overcome a foolish lie, and his own weakness, to become a heroic leader.
What We Liked
- This is a good journey story and discovery of one's self. Characters are put into positions where they must challenge their own way of thinking. There is also the potential for a love story here but would need to be fleshed out further.
- Key points: Decent story laid out but needs more depth; Plenty of room for character discovery; Multiple characters falling in love; Battle scenes throughout; Engaging parallel storylines occurring.
Synopsis
The year is 1781 and the battle between the Royal Army on behalf of the British Crown versus the Continental Army fighting under General Washington is in full swing. Private Billy Morgan, 20, sits on the front lines of what will become an intense bloody battle that will change the young man’s life forever.
When the battle ensues, Billy knows he is on his own. Billy gathers himself and leads a charge on the enemy, immediately garnering the respect of his peers. This is not lost on the commander in charge, General Daniel Morgan who hand delivers a fresh assignment for the young man in addition to a battlefield promotion to Lieutenant. His new mission is to deliver supplies gathered from the dead forty miles away to Fletcher’s Mill. Billy knows this will be a difficult journey as danger lies around every corner.
Ira Fletcher, who inherited the family business owns Fletcher’s Mill. Ira leaves much of the operations to his trusted and controversially freed slave Zeke. But Zeke has been secretly providing aid to the continental forces by storing and shipping supplies from the property. Unannounced, a small Royal Army contingent arrives at the mill demanding all provisions be surrendered over. This causes a disturbance and Ira is certain there will be repercussions to pay.
On the way to Fletcher’s Mill, Billy and his men encounter several life-threatening skirmishes. After overcoming multiple obstacles they arrive at the destination and immediately prepare for the battle, as the British are right on the trail. When the heavily reinforced British troops arrive at Fletcher’s Mill there is a deadly battle. Ira and Billy team up and have to rescue Elizabeth, Ira’s granddaughter. When they are close to being overrun by the British, Ira has no choice but to blow the entire mill. The Fletchers and Billy barely escape with their lives. With his mission complete, Billy wants nothing more than to stay hand-in-hand with Elizabeth.