BOY AT THE
CROSSROADS
From teenage runaway to class president
A novel inspired by a true story
Boy at the Crossroads, by Mary Ford
Inspired by the true story of a courageous teen runaway
At only thirteen years old—arrested for being part of the Mercury Gang because the boys only stole Mercury sedans—Conley Ford, on a whim, decides to run out on probation, skip school, and put his thumb out instead.
The fifteenth of sixteen children, Conley discovered early on what it takes to survive. Having learned how to peddle products door-to-door–from tomatoes to soap to hot tamales and more– he’ll take his ingenuity and survival-savvy on the road to find where he belongs away from his overbearing father and tumultuous household.
With only fifty cents in his pocket in the fall of 1955, Conley hitchhikes from his home in Halls Crossroads, Tennessee on a journey through Atlanta, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, only to end up in New Orleans selling hotdogs as a street vendor.
Publication Date
February 10, 2021
Available in Hardcover, Paperback and Kindle e-book formats
But home isn’t always where you make it. Soon, Conley satisfies his need to escape again––and again after that–in hopes that his best life will be waiting just around the corner.
When he finds his way back home, he attempts to settle into high school. But his adventures have given him different life experiences than his peers. To his surprise, they are in awe of his exploits and vote him class president.
Fictionalized by Conley’s wife Mary, Boy at the Crossroads is an adventurous coming-of-age novel about making it on your own and overcoming a hardscrabble childhood.
Review Quotes
My favorite type of book draws me in from the first chapter, keeps me engaged throughout the narrative, and makes me wish the story wouldn’t end! Boy At The Crossroads meets all 3 of these criteria. More >>
Great story!
Happy I read this book. A couple of parts made me laugh out loud and a couple touched me deeply. It brought back memories of my own childhood, growing up, and my siblings. More >>
This is a coming-of-age tale about Conley Ford, who is a likable, friendly kid. Running away from a home of poverty, 16 kids and an hard father, “Connie” ends up, among other things, selling hot dogs on the streets of New Orleans, which was my favorite part of the book.
Loved this book!
This was truly a story I couldn’t put down! Mary Ford captures the essence of her husband so well as she tells his own personal tale of growing up as a runaway at 13. More >>
Inspiration behind Boy at the Crossroads
This coming of age novel is based on a true story
When I first met Conley in 1971, and found out he was one of 16 children, ran away at 13, and sold hotdogs in New Orleans, I was hooked! Over the years, he shared more about his amazing coming-of-age journey with me. How did a boy so young have the wherewithal to survive? At my request, he recorded his experiences on his annual drives from Massachusetts to Tennessee. Those recordings helped form the framework for my novel, “Boy at the Crossroads.”
Left, top: Conley Ford, as a junior in high school; The Ford family as winners of the largest family contest in 1939 – three years before Conley was born; Conley and sister Annie on piano bench; Conley in Harvey, Illinois, 1956
Right: Conley on the High School football team; Conley Ford at LAFB, Texas; Conley and Mary Ford on their wedding day
About Mary Ford
Author, Editor & Writing Coach
Mary Ford is a retired, award-winning journalist who spent twenty-eight years as the editor of two successful, small-town newspapers in Massachusetts. She met Conley in 1971 and has always been fascinated by his story. They live in Scituate, Mass. with their dog, George. This is Mary’s first novel.
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Boy at the Crossroads
Now available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle ebook