Former Vicksburg resident, George Ramphrey will sign his first book today at 5:30 p.m. at Lorelei Books.

Ramphrey, who lived in Vicksburg from 1960 to 1969 said “Song on a Hill: Traces of Black and Blue,” is a fictional story based on events that happened in his life during the summer of 1962.

“When you write a book like this, you call it fiction, but there is a lot of nonfiction included. You change the names to protect the guilty,” Ramphrey said.

“Song on a Hill: Traces of Black and Blue” is about David Lee, a 13-year-old boy, who enjoys the things that most boys like to do in Vicksburg including exploring the military park, he said.

It is also the story of the escalating abuse David Lee endured from his stepfather.

David Lee refuses to tell his mother he is suffering at the hand of her husband, Ramphrey said, and to get through his mistreatment, he relies on prayer and the power of positive thinking.

Eventually, David Lee’s mother divorces her abusive spouse, Ramphrey said, after the beatings began including the rest of the family.

“The main thing I want people to get from the story is that even though you may suffer from abuse, you don’t have to pattern the behavior,” he said.

Secondly, Ramphrey is hoping his readers will see the power of positive thinking. Don’t let an abuser define you as a person.

“Third there is power in prayer,” he said.

Ramphrey earned a doctoral degree from the University of Mississippi in 1984, and before becoming a published writer, he worked as a teacher, coach and administrator for 42 years.

“When I retired I had to do something and I started to write,” he said.

Lorelei Books is at 1103 Washington St. For more information, call 601-634-8624 or visit www.loreleibooks.com.