Photo credit: Michael Mauney
Jennifer’s memoir, Flat Broke with Two Goats, blends stories of homesteading with the journey of two people rediscovering the true meaning of home. When her family experienced a financial crisis of epic proportions, her world changed. Desperate to save money, she and her husband foreclosed on their modest home in the country and moved to a one-hundred-year old cabin in a North Carolina holler. There, what began as a last-ditch effort to settle their debts soon became a journey that revealed both the joys and the challenges of living close to the land. Told with bold wit, unflinching honesty, and a firm foot in the culture and traditions of Appalachia, Flat Broke with Two Goats is a story of loss, reckoning, and healing.
“This sweet miracle of a memoir tells the story of a struggling couple who have to lose their house, and just about everything else, to find home.” – Tommy Hays, author of The Pleasure Was Mine
“An easy read with a warm tone, like hearing from an old friend, McGaha’s memoir is touching, funny, and hard to put down.” – Booklist
“An enjoyable, back-to-the-land memoir.” – Library Journal
Now available from
I just finished your book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Your writing style is so comfortable…I felt like I was sitting next to you as you told me your story. It will be a favorite to sell in my store! If you ever want to visit the beach, come to Topsail and we’ll do an event!
Hi, Lori,
Thanks so very much for your kind comments about Flat Broke! I would love to come to Topsail some time!
Best,
Jennifer
Jennifer, your book just popped up as a recommended read and I ordered immediately for my kindle. Then I got to thinking…is she from the McGaha family in Transylvania. I googled you…saw your Muddy Sneakers story in Smoky Mtn Living and concluded you must be! What a wonderful family, love the Chapel, the “Sons of Mercy and Justice” We are south for the winter but so good to have a bit of “God’s Place” in my living room this morning.
Getting ready to start a fun afternoon with a good read.
Best wishes,
Carol Vickery
Thanks so much for reading, Carol!
Jennifer,
I am home in Chicago home with the flu. I just read your book in one sitting and oh my gosh, what a great wonderful story! So glad you had the courage to tell your story and share with the world. Congratulations and thank you!
Thanks so much, Kim! I hope you feel better soon!
I met you at Malprops and heard you read from your book. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading Flat Broke with Two Goats! It delighted my heart. I love how you write so honestly about your situation but also how you reflected and grew throughout the story. I feel as though I know you. Thank you for a warm-hearted read – I wish you the very best in your literary future.
Thanks so very much, Barbara! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Started your book yesterday and finished it today. Loved it: your story, the animals’ stories, the back to basics story. I live in the Asheville area so know many of the areas you mentioned. I feel better and wiser after reading your story. Thanks.
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words!
I live in Mobile, Al. but have family in and about Blue Ridge Ga. as well as Andrews Nc. Having spent quite a bit of time in your corner of the world, I could envision all of the mountains, falls the back roads and critters that you bring to life in your book. Being a bit world weary and ragged at the moment myself, I found inspiration and tremendous hope as I turned each page. Thank you so much for sharing your ordeals and triumphs, the telling of which has lifted my spirits.
Thanks so much, Jeremy! I hope things get better for you soon!
Great writing Jennifer, There have only been three books I have read in one sitting. Flat Broke with Two Goats is #3. Thanks. I live in Asheville and Jackie Kuhn gave me her signed copy. Maybe we will cross paths someday. You are a woman of strong character.
Thanks so much, Charles! I am so glad you enjoyed the book.
Hi Jennifer,
Reading your book now, and while I cannot put it down and I am sad to be almost finished. I also right before your book the current best-seller the Woman in the Window and I have to say yours is better….hands down! Thank you from Bainbridge, OH a suburb of Cleveland.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked Flat Broke!
Is your book “flat broke with 2 goats” available anywhere other than Amazon? I don’t like to order online. Would love to read it, but the only bookstore near me is Books-a-Million. Also buy books at Walmart or Sams Club.
Hi, Shirley. Thanks so much for asking about my book. It is available at Sam’s Club – at least at the ones in my area. It’s also available at Target, Barnes and Noble, and many independent bookstores. Where do you live?
Reading your book was a harrowing experience – not in the good way.
I loved everything about your book. Superb writing, and your experience captured my heart. I hated to finish it today. I will be looking for anything else you have written and hope you do a talk in Brevard soon!
Thanks so much, Peggy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Just finished your book. Wonderful story and I love your writing style. I can relate to many of your stories. After my father in law passed away 5 years ago, I inherited the responsibility of taking care of his 78 acre farm an hour north of Houston. It has become my oasis to escape the monotony of my “regular” life. I plan to retire there and spend my days as a gentleman farmer. I plan on getting goats.
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words. Your farm sounds amazing. I hope you get the goats!
Jennifer I saw the photo of your goat milk soaps. I love the shape and colors, do you sell them?
Thank you! Unfortunately, we don’t really have enough milk to make soap to sell right now, but I would love to do that one day.
Oh,! Love your book too. You got some grit,girl!
Ha! Thank you!!
Reading the book now. I came to your website hoping to see a photo of the waterfall! I guess I will continue to use my imagination.
Enjoying the book, by the way.
Thanks for reading! I will try to add a photo of the waterfall.
I also came looking for pics of the waterfall
Waterfall photo added!
I just finished reading your book. I loved every second of it and could not wait to get back. I read it in less than 2 days. Looking forward to another one at some point by you!
Thank you, Leslie!
Hi, Jennifer! I’m listening to your book now. I would have loved to hear YOU read it. I heard your interview on the ProfessionalBookNerds podcast and loved it. Hubby and I are facing financial difficulties (he hasn’t been able to find a job in almost a year) and I filled him in on how you and David dealt with it. He shook his head no. He’s not the farmer type! LOL. But now I want chickens and goats!!! Are you on Instagram??
Hi, Angel,
Thanks so much for listening to my book! I so hope your financial struggles resolve soon. I am on Instagram – @liberalgoats. Hope to connect with you there!
Best,
Jennifer
Bless the writer who invites the reader along for the ride, the bumpy, wobbly, and glorious ride. From the abusive first husband, the financial awakenings, the job strains, the commitment to the second husband, goat mothering, to awareness of your heritage—-you were someone I cried over, laughed over and finally said, “Ya done good.”
Thanks so very much for these kind words!
I so enjoyed reading Flat Broke with Two Goats. This so parallels my own life. We are also native North Carolinians that went through foreclosure during the recession, death in our family during that time and then, getting back to nature and falling in love with our chicken friends and goat babies.
The book touched so close to all we have endured and came out better people for having been through the difficulties.
Beautifully written
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you liked the book but so sorry to hear about your losses. I am glad you are now enjoying those chickens and goats!
I just finished the book and loved it! I am inspired by your life. Best of luck on your journey.
Couldn’t wait to get home to read it- couldn’t wait to read it when life took me away from it. The novel Flat Brook and 2 Goats was a story that contained all of my worst fears. It sometimes read like a horror story: financial ruin, untamed and tamed animals and critters, living in the bush and I thoroughly enjoyed living
vicariously . Laughed out loud in a few places, shook my head at some of the antics, but there was such a feeling of liberation and courage in the story. When is the sequel?
Thanks so much for writing! I’m so glad to hear that you liked the book and that it made you laugh!
Your book was fascinating and very educational. I too often wish I had more practical skills. Regret I didn’t get to tKe shop or auto mechanic classes in high school. You have done an amazing job coping with such great life changes. I look forward to reading about your further adventures. Do you have a blog? Thank you.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Michelle! I don’t blog regularly, but I do try to update the photos and event information here.
I just finished your book today for Big Library Read, and really enjoyed listening to it (I like to listen to books at work). I live in Appalachian Ohio, and found so much of what you said relate-able to myself and the people of this area. I found myself thinking about raising sheep for 4-H while growing up and comparing their temperaments to your goats. Our sheep always birthed during blizzards too. Something about if they can’t leave then the predators can’t get to them either.
Oh, and I’m also a Jennifer, so that made your book that much better. Anyway. Rooting for you guys!
I never thought of the benefit of goats and sheep giving birth during blizzards, but that makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much for listening to my book!
Loved your book! My 28 yr old daughter is floundering and considering giving it all up and homesteading in Tennessee. We live in Raleigh, NC. Will most definitely send her a copy of Flat Broke! Mother lived through your experience when she married my Kentucky Bad Boy father. Although he left the mountains to become “civilized”, of course, the mountains never left him. As we drove to Kentucky, his accent would slowly turn pure mountain. He wrote a few books trying to capture the experience-I wish he could have taken a few writing lessons with you! Thanks again for sharing your wonderful story.
Thanks so much. I bet your dad had plenty of good stories to tell!
Your story is my perfect blend of good writing and recipes! Thank you for sharing . I wish the very best to you and your family.
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Just finished the audio version. Loved it! It was so true to how life really happens. I hope that you-and the goats-continue to do well.
Thanks so much, Linda!
Absolutely loved it! Resilience, perseverance, loyalty, creativity all just shone through your tale. Would make a great movie!
Thank you!
Hi Jennifer,
I’m a busy professional living in bustling, overcrowded (yet beautiful in so many respects) Marin County and couldn’t wait to get home from work every day last week to read your book. It’s a weekly craving I have rid my business attire and live off the land. You satisfied that craving so splendidly with your gifted writing/storytelling/thinking. Can’t wait to read your next memoir!
Katheryn
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words!
Hi Jennifer, I’m glad I decided to attend your reading at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. I enjoyed listening to your voice in the words instead of my own. As I said Taco Soup is now on the rotation. I expected you to come across as sorta “tough”but you are a very gracious lady.
Thanks so much for coming, Cynthia! It was great meeting you.
I loved Flat Broke and have been recommending it to everyone. I hope another book is in the works!
Thanks so much, Joy!