Author Talks: Your Story. Your Voice. Your Purpose.

"The Royal Order of the Last Coin" by Joyce Crawford
The Royal Order of the Last Coin is a work of fiction based on historical facts and the Burton family genealogy. In 14th century England, on the William Wallace of Scotland’s execution, King Edward I knights Walter de Burton, one of his faithful warriors. Walter de Burton struggles with his duty to the King of England and obedience to God, while Milton de Burton, Walter’s son, and squire to the King, looks on with pride and longing. Later, Milton realizes his dream of riding in formation with his father, and on the campaign, father and son speak secretly of the Holy Scriptures. Sir de Burton warns his son that the Church frowns upon anyone other than clergy reading the Holy Scriptures. Today, because of the bravery of John Wycliff, sacred hymns of faith and scripture passages intersperse this story.
The Author:
Author, Joyce Crawford grew up in the little southern town of Hawthorne, Florida, in the 1950s. Mrs. Crawford considered it a blessing to have three generations of a loving family living nearby. One of her happiest memories was living next door to her Great Uncle Delbert in a sweet little white house with green trim located just across the overpass. She shared, "There I spent many happy hours singing, watching the sky, and talking to God's creations.
Mrs. Crawford’s personality is a combination of memories of watching cows, within arm's length, grazing in orange groves just across the back fence; Uncle Delbert’s bird dog, Major, who took every opportunity to jump in the back of the pick-up-truck for a road trip; and mockingbirds singing in ancient magnolia trees. The sweetest memory of all visited grandma and grandpa’s house in the middle of a pecan grove.
Ever since the first grade, Mrs. Crawford's dream was to be a teacher. However, because of a reading disability and the fear of failure, Mrs. Crawford realized her dream by teaching children in Sunday School.
Years later, when she agreed to author articles for her garden club newspaper, her writing blossomed. Her love of teaching children, and the new-found craft of writing, have helped her realize her dream in a way she never dreamed possible.