Growing Up Lucky by Billy M Copeland

Growing Up Lucky by Billy M Copeland

When nine-year-old James Michael J.J. Willard finds himself bumping along
in a covered wagon, with his father, mother, two sisters and all their worldly
possessions, he has no idea of the adventures that lie ahead.
His folks had immigrated from Ireland a few years earlier and now the whole
family is on the move again, leaving their home in Brooklyn, New York,
making their way south to New Orleans, lured by the promise of work. They
stop in townships along the way to sell Willard's Magic Elixir - an old family
recipe - in order to buy food for their journey.
The year is 1861 and the war between the states is just beginning.
Arriving in New Orleans they are confronted with the full horrors of the civil
war, and to avoid being caught up in the brutal conflict the family decides
to lie low on a small farm outside the city where they brew their potion and
work on their sales patter. They decide to incorporate a few simple conjuring
tricks to entertain the crowd and quickly discover that J.J. has a natural gift for
performing magic. By the time the war is over the Willards are putting on weekly magic shows in
New Orleans and J.J. is the star of the show. Offers start pouring in and before
long the talented young magician is performing on Mississippi riverboats and
famous clubs all over the United States. Then Europe beckons.
These are the adventures of a young man who grew up lucky at a time of great
conflict and against all odds.