Hollis Whitaker writes stories about the roads that shape us, the people who change us, and the places we come to call home. His books explore family, first love, music, and the courage it takes to chase a dream while holding on to what matters most.
Country Down Under is his debut novel—a coming-of-age story set in a small Texas town where a teenager with a guitar, a girl with a secret, and a honky-tonk called Country Down Under change each other’s lives forever.
What begins as a return to a place Jake doesn’t even remember becomes a journey toward belonging, first love, and a home he never expected to find.
Country Down Under
Eighteen-year-old Jake Tyler leaves California behind, following the untimely death of his mother and returns to a small Texas town—and to the care of the grandmother he barely knows. Music is his only way through the change, until he meets Emma, a spirited hostess with dreams of her own.
In the glow of neon nights at Country Down Under, Jake’s songs find a home, and Emma’s poem becomes the ballad that changes everything. But when a secret from the past comes to light, it threatens the future they’ve built together.
A story of love and loss, second chances, and the journey back to the place—and the people—that make you whole.