The Dirt Road

The Dirt Road: A Story of Family, Forgiveness, and Finding Your Way Home

by Robert Hendry

"I grew up on a dirt road on the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia. To some, that might sound idyllic. But for me, it was the boundary line between chaos and calm."

In this deeply personal memoir, Robert Hendry explores the scars and strength forged in the shadow of addiction, mental illness, emotional abandonment, and generational trauma. Told with vivid honesty and quiet resilience, The Dirt Road traces the author's coming-of-age in rural Georgia during the 1980s and '90s-an upbringing shaped by the instability of a mother's mental illness, the weight of silence, and the ache of not feeling safe in your own home.

From squirrel-chasing childhood antics to surviving his mother's suicide attempts, Hendry offers more than a recounting of pain-he offers a portrait of perseverance. Through moments of unexpected friendship, the quiet mentorship of work ethic, and late-night conversations with God, Hendry reveals the transformative power of faith, community, and the will to heal.

The Dirt Road is a testament to the long road out of trauma-and a powerful reminder that where you come from doesn't have to define where you're going. For anyone who has ever felt unseen, unloved, or uncertain of their worth, this book is both a mirror and a map: honest about the struggle, but hopeful about what's possible.

This memoir lays the emotional groundwork for Hendry's next book, Pathways, which explores how to thrive after trauma-through discipline, purpose, and the daily work of healing.