TROY – The third time was the charm for a Troy University professor’s children’s novel.

Dr. Jefferson Spurlock, an assistant professor of journalism, said two previous publishing rejections led to revisions and the resubmitting of  “Clemente’s Dream,” a novel targeting readers from second to sixth grade.

“I thought, ‘this is as good as it’s going to get,’” he said. Within a week of sending out a synopsis of the novel, Frederick, Md.-based Publish America requested a full manuscript and, two months later, had accepted the book for publication.

Spurlock said he had been writing and editing the book for the past six to seven years, and expects the novel to be on bookstore shelves in the next six to nine months.

The novel is a story of the struggles a nine year-old Hispanic boy goes through to clear his name in a small Alabama town when he is accused of stealing the town’s “prized possession.”

“This is a dream come true for me,” Spurlock said. “I’m just ecstatic.”

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Dr. Jeff Spurlock.

Dr. Michael Woods