Friday, March 28, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: The Midnight of Eights by Justin Newland #HistoricalFiction #ElizabethanFiction #AgeOfDiscovery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub




The Midnight of Eights
By Justin Newland


1580.

Nelan Michaels docks at Plymouth after sailing around the world aboard the Golden Hind. He seeks only to master his mystical powers – the mark of the salamander, that mysterious spirit of fire – and reunite with his beloved Eleanor. 

After delivering a message to Francis Walsingham, he’s recruited into the service of the Queen’s spymaster, where his astral abilities help him to predict and thwart future plots against the realm.

But in 1588, the Spanish Armada threatens England’s shores.

So how could the fledgling navy of a small, misty isle on the edge of mainland Europe repulse the greatest fleet in the world?

Was the Queen right when she claimed it was divine intervention, saying, ‘He blew with His winds, and they were scattered!’?

Or was it an entirely different intervention – the extraordinary conjunction of coincidences that Nelan’s astral powers brought to bear on that fateful Midnight of Eights?

Book Title: The Midnight of Eights
Series: The Island of Angels (This is book 2 of 2. The first book is called The Mark of the Salamander. Book 2 is written as a stand-alone, or can be read after reading book 1.)
Author: Justin Newland
Publication Date: 28th October 2024
Publisher: The Book Guild 
Page Length: 288
Genre: Historical Fiction 

A poem inspired by writing The Midnight of Eights…

Something passed, a sound, a leaf falling. A glimpse, a deer passing. 

We were there at the birth, when, long ago, the land was pristine, latent, swathed in forests of silver birch, and golden oak. We looked around with the eyes of youth, and were alone. 

But without people, we couldn’t grow, and the land was empty.

Together, we sought out those of kin to abide with us, to join our combined destiny. We called out to them and so the Mighty crossed the land bridge and settled amongst our rolling hills and gentle dales. 

Then, when the waters encroached, and made our land an Island, the first ones, the Mighty, dwelt with us amidst the meadows and the combes. 

They built altars where their white-robed priests laid the dead in burrows and tombs. 
We needed more people, and sent out another call, a subtle whisper summoning them to attend us. 

From across the waters came the warriors dressed in red, brandishing their eagles, to plant their terrible seed in our womb. They built roads that followed our sacred lines of power. Then they departed, leaving the awful trace of their crimson ways.

More heard our siren call, and came to join the other rough-hewn folk already here, creating a family of blue and green eyed, red and golden haired.  Hearing our summons, they left their homes and sailed across the northern seas in their long boats and their short swords. They were the true people, the Angles to our Angels.

Like any child, we wanted to grow, to imagine our possibility, and discover and realise our divinely-given destiny. Alas, the family of peoples who had settled on our Island was unable to meet our vision of the future.

As we grew into maturity, we changed, developed, and reformed ourselves again.

The prominent families fought for the right to be the rulers of our land, to represent our new, emerging will, our supreme purpose. It was war. As the petals of their red and white dog roses fell to the ground and withered, there came to the throne a queen of a thousand days, who gave birth to a chosen one. Wearing pearls, she abided with us, and together sought the souls of the people. During her reign, we made ourselves anew, and moulded our peoples to face and join the mystery of the onsetting future. 

The reforming had begun. 

But from across the seas, a great threat cast a giant shadow across the Island.

Its gold constriction could and would never set foot on our silver land. 

Make beacons.
Send fireships.
Pray deacons.
Purse lips.  

We will be known to the world. 

Every one of you knows of us. 

For we are you, and you are us and 

We are the Angels of the Island of England. 

Justin Newland 
18th March 2025 

Buy this Book
Author Website (where buyer can enter a dedication) 
Wordery (for free UK delivery)   
Kobo (International) 
Saxo (DK) 



Justin Newland


JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. 

Undeterred by the award of a Maths Doctorate, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (ISBN 9781789014860, Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies. 
His second book, The Old Dragon’s Head (ISBN 9781789015829, Matador, 2018), and is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall. 

Set during the Great Enlightenment, The Coronation (ISBN 9781838591885, Matador, 2019) speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution. 

The Abdication (ISBN 9781800463950, Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.
The Mark of the Salamander (ISBN 9781915853271, Book Guild, 2023), is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age. 

The latest is The Midnight of Eights (ISBN 9781835740 330, Book Guild, 2024), the second in The Island of Angels series, which charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada. 

His work in progress is The Spirit of the Times which explores the events of the 14th Century featuring an unlikely cast of the Silk Road, Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, and a nursery rhyme that begins ‘Ring a-ring a-roses’. 

Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin gives talks to historical associations and libraries, appears on LitFest panels, and enjoys giving radio interviews. He lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

Connect with Justine:










at 1 comment:

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: Viva Violetta & Verdi by Howard Jay Smith #HistoricalFiction #BiographicalHistoricalFiction #Verdi #ClassicalMusic #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBook Club

 


Viva Violetta & Verdi
By Howard Jay Smith

A Love Affair Inspiring the World's Most Unforgettable Operas:

Experience the intense, lifelong love affair between Giuseppe Verdi and Giuseppina Strepponi, the brilliant and seductive soprano who shaped his legacy. As his muse, lover, and wife, Strepponi was the inspiration behind Verdi's most iconic works, including La Traviata and Aida. Her influence was pivotal, as she became the architect of his creative triumphs and the heart of his operatic genius.

Set against the backdrop of Italy's Risorgimento, this sweeping novel intertwines their turbulent relationship with the nation's fierce struggle for independence. Through the heartbreak of three brutal wars, Verdi and Strepponi's passion, betrayal, and artistic ambition come alive, mirroring the era's fiery spirit.

Rich with themes of love, power, food, wine, and unrelenting passion, Viva Violetta & Verdi is an unforgettable exploration of art, resilience, and the enduring bond that transformed both an artist and a nation.

Praise for Violetta & Verdi:

"A stunning, significant book...that is rich, lush and drenched in knowledge. It is nothing less than a gift." - Sheila Weller

"Smith's historic drama embraces universal themes of class and religious persecution, and weaves gorgeous language with an intimate knowledge of Italian food, music, and political hypocrisy that contemporary readers will find irresistible." - Jessica Keener

"Viva Violetta & Verdi is a well-researched love letter to Verdi; fans are sure to love." - Leslie Zemeckis

"Perfection. You are right there, inhaling and breathing in the words, the smell, and each piece of music. Bravo. It is both a love song and a love letter to the irrefutable power of Verdi's muse, Violetta." - Amy Ferris


Book Title: Viva Violetta & Verdi
Series:  N/A
Author: Howard Jay Smith
Publication Date: January 28th, 2025
Publisher:  Historium Press
Pages: 256 
Genre: Historical Fiction

Excerpt

Sacchetti al Tartufo

Tre reassured me that everything would be perfect. “We will have enough food and drink to last us until dawn. It will be a night worthy of the Maestro Verdi himself.”

It was after all a menu that Verdi had not only suggested, it was one he had insisted upon when we last dined together only days before he had passed away. In addition to endless salumi platters heaped high with miles of sliced meats and exotic cheeses, Tre had specialty ordered barrels of wine from across the breadth and depth of our still new nation that Verdi loved: Nero D’Avola from Sicily, Brunello from Montalcino, Sangiovese from Tuscany, Barolo and Barbera from the Piemonte, Taurasi from Naples, Prosecco from the Veneto, and Cagnulari from Sardinia. But the centerpiece of the evening, the specialty dish Verdi had specifically asked for was one he had enjoyed at Ca’ Dario for nearly seventy years, our Sacchetti al Tartufo, a satchel shaped dumpling filled with ricotta cheese and black truffles that was served in a delicate parmigiano white sauce. In Verdi’s own words, not only was it the most delicious dish that ever graced his palate, it was the one he most associated with the Risorgimento. To be Italian is to be passionate about food, opera and l'amore stesso - love itself. Verdi, the quintessential Italian, had his first taste of our Sacchetti al Tartufo on the night the revolution to birth a free and democratic Republic of Italy began. And his honor, for tonight only, we added a garnish of fresh basil and finely chopped bits sweet red peppers to the Sacchetti’s white sauce to echo the tricolors of our national flag.

Buy this Book

Howard Jay Smith


VIVA VIOLETTA & VERDI, is his third novel in his series on great composers, including BEETHOVEN IN LOVE; OPUS 139 and MEETING MOZART: FROM THE SECRET DIARIES OF LORENZO DA PONTE. 

His other books include OPENING THE DOORS TO HOLLYWOOD (Random House) and JOHN GARDNER: AN INTERVIEW (New London Press). He was recently awarded a Profant Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Excellence in Writing. 

Smith is a former two-time Bread Loaf Scholar and three-time Washington, D.C. Commission for the Arts Fellow, who taught for many years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program and has lectured nationally. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, American Heritage Magazine, the Beethoven Journal, Horizon Magazine, Fig Tree Press, the Journal of the Writers Guild of America, the Ojai Quarterly, and numerous trade publications. While an executive at the ABC Television, Embassy TV, and Academy Home Entertainment he worked on numerous film, television, radio and commercial projects.

He serves on the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Symphony and is a member of the American Beethoven Society.

Social Media Links:




at 1 comment:

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalAdventure #medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn


Sword Brethren 
By Jon Byrne


1242.
 
After being wounded in the Battle on the Ice, Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Alexander, intrigued by his captive’s story, instructs his scholar to assist Richard in writing about his life.

Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when his training to be a knight is disrupted by treachery. He is forced to flee England for Lübeck, where he begins work for a greedy salt merchant. After an illicit love affair, his new life is thrown into turmoil, and he joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword as they embark on imposing the will of God on the pagans of the eastern Baltic. Here, he must reconcile with his new life of prayer, danger and duty – despite his own religious doubts, with as many enemies within the fortified commandery as the wilderness outside. However, when their small outpost in Riga is threatened by a large pagan army, Richard is compelled to make a crucial decision and fight like never before.

Book Title: Sword Brethren
Series: The Northern Crusader Chronicles
Author: Jon Byrne
Publication Date: 28th November 2024
Publisher: The Book Guild
Pages: 416
Genre: Historical Fiction (Action/Adventure)

Excerpt

We moved slowly into the village, following Sighard, pushing through the cluster of wooden huts and outhouses. The Lett auxiliaries were in the village as well, and I saw one pulling a cow by a rope while another herded two terrified sheep away. A building was burning to our left and the flames were vivid in the grey half-light of the morning. On the ground lay the corpse of a man. I paused for a moment looking at him, strangely both repulsed and attracted by the scene. My view was interrupted as three Letts stalked past, heading towards a thatched hut behind another house. They had drawn swords and at least one had blood on his blade, arousing my curiosity, and I watched them kick in the door of the hut and disappear inside. 

The rest of my comrades had passed further into the village, apart from Otto who waited with a quizzical look on his face. ‘Why are you so slow, Richard?’ he called to me. Behind him, I saw that Gerhard had stopped as well.

A moment later, I heard a scream coming from the same hut and I dashed towards the sound, drawing my sword. I burst through the doorway and saw the three Letts standing over a woman who was sprawled on the earthen floor, whilst a small boy stood crying in the corner. It was obvious what the three men intended. I shouted and shoved the nearest man away, knocking him to the ground, before swinging my sword in an arc to drive the other two back. The man I had knocked to the ground came to his feet brandishing his own sword and he snarled something in his language before pausing as Otto appeared in the hut’s doorway with Gerhard just behind. 

‘Get out!’ I screamed at the men pointing to the door. Whether they understood my words I don’t know, but they understood my gesture. They pushed past Otto and Gerhard and disappeared back outside. 

‘Are you hurt?’ I said to the woman, but of course she couldn’t understand. She looked at me with eyes filled with terror. The small boy, probably no more than five or six, ran to her and she swept him up in her arms, clutching him tightly to her chest. What more could I say? I shrugged and headed for the door, followed by my two comrades. I would like to have stayed longer to guarantee her protection, but there was no chance of that. We would be missed.
‘What happened?’ Gerhard asked. ‘Who were those men?’

‘Bad men.’ I strode down the road to return to the other sergeants. Thoughts of watching Henkel rape the shepherd girl on the way back from Lüneburg came into my mind and when I looked at Otto, I could see he was thinking the same.

In the open space in the middle of the village, our forces were gathering. Wenno was directing groups of brothers and he dispatched Rudolf with a dozen other mounted knights to finish securing the village. This time we had caught the enemy unawares and there were prisoners; a group of approximately twenty, mainly old men, women and children, knelt in a huddle guarded by several sergeants. 

One of Theodoric’s priests berated them for their sins, but I doubted any of them understood a word. Most of the other sergeants in our group were listening to the Master’s instructions.

‘When we attack the fort, I want the sergeants with crossbows to sweep their ramparts with bolts. It is not necessary to kill everyone, but keep their heads down so we can assault the walls. The Letts have ladders to get over the stockade. Kill only those that put up any resistance. Remember we want souls to convert to God’s will.’ 

We pushed through the rest of the village towards the river, through a stand of linden to the open ground that had been cleared of trees around the enemy’s fort. The stockade was on a shallow hill. Though it wasn’t much higher than a man, it would still be a challenge to assault, with arrows, spears and rocks raining down. It was also surrounded by a flooded ditch, with a rickety-looking wooden bridge leading to the entrance overlooked by a timber gatehouse with a fighting platform above. We lined up, unshouldering our crossbows, but I could already see the Livs in disarray and the gates to the fort were not even closed yet. Streams of people were still fleeing the village for the dubious security of the fort, but there were armed men behind the parapet and a few arrows whistled past our ears.

Leading the majority of the mounted knights, Wenno saw his opportunity in the chaos and charged forward. We loaded our crossbows and began firing bolts at the defenders on the walls. In front of the gates everything was in pandemonium as the knights rode across the bridge through the people still seeking safety. Three Livs were desperately trying to push the gate shut, but they weren’t quick enough and the first knights, Wenno among them, were already in the entrance, slashing at the defenders in their path.

‘Stop watching the gate and keep firing!’ Sighard shouted.

A Liv defender leaned out from the top of the fighting platform above the gatehouse and threw a spear that hit one of the knight-brothers in the back, toppling him from his saddle. I pointed my crossbow at him and pulled the trigger, but the bolt missed, hitting the wood-shingle roof that protected the defenders. The gateway was narrow and the fighting was intense and, although I couldn’t see from where I stood, I assumed the defenders were rushing men to repel our incursion. More knights were stuck on the wooden bridge, unable to get past and join the battle and making easy targets for the Livs in the gatehouse and on the walls. Wenno and the men with him were in trouble. Their momentum had been checked. The Master blocked an axe with his shield, stabbing his sword into the chest of his attacker, but there were too many people in the gateway and the knights couldn’t punch through. Another knight-brother was struck by a spear and fell from his horse.

Reconstruction of a small Livonian fort.

We carried on firing our crossbows but there were only a couple of Livs still behind the parapet. A group of Letts ran forward with two ladders, and Sighard drew his sword, shouting at us to follow him. I dropped my crossbow and picked up my shield, drawing my own sword and charging after Sighard, who was already running towards the ditch and the ladders that were being thrust against the palisade.

By the time I had crossed the flooded ditch and clambered up the hill to the base of the stockade, I was breathing heavily, my lungs burning. Behind me, the other sergeants were splashing through the water, but Sighard had already reached the bottom of one ladder. He said something to the Letts, elbowing them out of the way as he began climbing, closely followed by me and Uli, the sly boy who shared my tent in Riga. No missiles were aimed at us and a few seconds later we were over the top.

To my surprise, the walkway was empty of any enemy, only one corpse with a crossbow bolt protruding from his forehead. The interior of the fort was a jumble of wooden buildings around a yard and I looked down at the melee in the gateway, where most of the Livs were fighting. I heard a shout from the gatehouse and an arrow thudded into the wood crenellation next to me.


Buy this Book

Jon Byrne


Jon Byrne, originally from London, now lives with his German family by a lake in Bavaria with stunning views of the Alps. As well as writing, he works as a translator for a local IT company and occasionally as a lumberjack. 

He has always been fascinated by history and has studied the Medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive library of books. In his research, he has travelled to all of the locations mentioned in the book (East Anglia, Bremen, Lübeck, Latvia, etc). 

Sword Brethren (formerly Brothers of the Sword) made it to the shortlist of the Yeovil Literary Prize 2022 and the longlist of the prestigious Grindstone International Novel Prize 2022. It is the first book in The Northern Crusader Chronicles.

Social media Links:








at 1 comment:

Thursday, March 20, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: Strait Lace by Rosemary Hayward #StraitLace #HistoricalFiction #WomenInHistory #Suffragettes #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

 


Strait Lace 
By Rosemary Hayward


It is 1905. Edwardian England. Harriet Loxley, the daughter of a vicar and niece to a prominent Nottingham lace manufacturer, spends her days playing cricket with her brother, scouring the countryside for botanical specimens, and never missing an opportunity to argue the case for political power for women. Given the chance to visit the House of Commons, Harriet witnesses the failure of a historic bill for women’s voting rights. She also meets the formidable Pankhurst women.
 
When Harriet gets the chance to study biology at Bedford College, London, she finds her opportunity to be at the heart of the fight. From marching in the street, to speaking to hostile crowds, to hurling stones through windows, just how far will Harriet go?

Book Title: Strait Lace
Series: Loxley Hall Books
Author: Rosemary Hayward
Publication Date: March 8th, 2025
Publisher: Rosemary Hayward
Pages: 400
Genre: Historical Fiction


Excerpt

Harriet focussed on the window on the opposite side of the wide road. To her left she heard the roar of the crowd. To her right someone yelled, “Now!”

Her stones flew hard, one smashing through the glass. Then one of Inga’s stones arced in a perfect trajectory and destroyed another pane.

“Votes for Women!” someone called out. Mary-from-college yelled, “Run, before they come for us.”

Harriet stayed by the window. Two women were clinging to a chimney stack on the roof opposite. If this was part of the original plan they’d not been told. Perhaps their stones were also part of a diversion and this was the major event of the day. The women had axes. What were they planning?

Inga had not gone with the others. She was holding onto the edge of the window frame, as if to stop it flying upwards and shutting them away from the events unfolding in front of them.

Harriet lent out of the window. The fireman who had grinned at them earlier was arguing with a police officer. He shrugged his shoulders and strode away from the canvas fire-hose lying limply along the edge of the street. A group of policemen surged forward. Some lifted the nozzle of the hose. Two struggled to open the water valve.

“They’ve seen them. Inga. They’re going to turn the hose on them.”

They watched as the young fireman refused to come forward. His men stood unmoving behind him but the policemen must have succeeded with the valve because the flat hose swelled and bucked and a stream of water shot up into the air. The policemen hauled at it and trained it on the women on the roof, who were soaked in an instant. The smaller of the two prised up a slate with an axe and hurled it into the street.

Inga grabbed Harriet’s arm. “They will fall. The slates are very steep. They must fall.”

“That’s Mary Leigh,” Harriet said. “You know her, the Union’s drum-major. She’s a firebrand. The tall, fair woman is Charlotte Marsh. They’ve taken their shoes off, look.”

The firemen propped a ladder against the wall and policemen swarmed up it. They were met with flying slates and shouts of Votes for Women! Charlotte Marsh staggered and slid feet first to the edge of the roof, a policeman catching her by the arm as she fetched up against the coping. The street was thirty feet below.

Harriet breathed, “Oh my God. Oh my God.”

Inga screamed, “They will die! They must die. Mein Gott. The other one is coming down now.”

Mary Leigh had turned onto her stomach and was letting herself down the treacherous slates feet first. Inga’s screams were echoed by dozens from the street below. All eyes were on the roof. The firemen pushed a wheeled fire escape against the wall. Two officers started dragging Charlotte Marsh along on her back.

“You ladies need to come with us.”

Harriet turned. Three policemen were inside the small bedroom, another was blocking the doorway. One had the bag that had held her stones in his hand.

Stay calm, be polite.

She raised a hand to cover her mouth. “This is it. Good luck.”

Buy this Book

Rosemary Hayward


Rosemary Hayward is the author of Margaret Leaving, a historical mystery uncovering little known events that occurred in the immediate aftermath to World War II. She is also the creator of Your Next Book, a deeply nerdy monthly newsletter describing a book picked from her bookshelf, or Kindle. 

She is British by birth but now lives part of the year in California and part in southern Spain.

Connect with Rosemary:











at 1 comment:

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: The Rune Stone by Julia Ibbotson #TimeTravel #AngloSaxon #HistoricalMystery #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @JuliaIbbotson @cathiedunn




A haunting time-slip mystery of runes and romance

When Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, finds a mysterious runic inscription on a Rune Stone in the graveyard of her husband’s village church, she unwittingly sets off a chain of circumstances that disturb their quiet lives in ways she never expected.

She, once again, feels the echoes of the past resonate through time and into the present. Can she unlock the secrets of the runes in the life of the 6th century Lady Vivianne and in Viv’s own life?

Again, lives of the past and present intertwine alarmingly as Viv desperately tries to save them both, without changing the course of history.

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

Book Title: The Rune Stone
Series: Dr DuLac series, book #3
Author: Julia Ibbotson
Publication Date: December 8th, 2021
Publisher: Archbury Books 
Pages: 294 (ebook) / 376 (paperback)
Genre: historical romance (timeslip mystery)


Praise for Julia Ibbotson:

(for A Shape on the Air) “In the best Barbara Erskine tradition …I would highly recommend this novel” -Historical Novel Society

(for the series) “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense” – book tour reviewer

(for The Rune Stone) “beautifully written”, “absorbing and captivating”, “fully immersive”, “wonderfully written characters”, “a skilled story teller” – Amazon reviewers

“Dr Ibbotson has created living, breathing characters that will remain in the reader’s mind long after the book is read … The characters are brought to life beautifully with perfect economy of description … fabulous!” – Melissa Morgan 

“A rich and evocative time-slip novel that beautifully and satisfyingly concludes this superb trilogy. The story is woven seamlessly and skilfully between the past and the present and the reader is drawn deeply into both worlds.  Her portrayal of the 6th century and its way of life are authoritative, vivid and memorable.” – Kate Sullivan

Buy this Book
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Julia Ibbotson 


Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. 

Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/ literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. 

After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. 

She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her work in progress is a new series of Anglo-Saxon mystery romances, beginning with Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. 

Julia’s novels will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Social Media Links:







at 2 comments:

Friday, March 14, 2025

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: The Absolution of Mars by T.F. Troy #TheAbsolutionOfMars #HistoricalFiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

 



Politics, Friendship, or Greed? Which of these was the true author of the Confederate conspiracy to decapitate the Union? 

The Absolution of Mars by T.F. Troy is a masterful blend of historical fiction, human drama and moral exploration. Set against the backdrop of a racially fraught period in American history, the story does not back away from the harsh realities or racial biases of the day. 

The narrative introduces Jemm Pender, a former slave with a superior intellect, who rises to become a key agent in the National Detective Police Force. Jemm is tasked to trace the movements of J. W. Boyd, a Confederate spy working out of Canada.

From its intriguing opening scene, where playful dialogue among children hints at deeper mysteries, the story captivates with a blend of vivid detail and emotional depth. Jemm's quest intertwines with his wife Marnie and Aunt Cordelia, both blessed with remarkable capabilities that are being lost to the scientific thought of the day.

Troy tackles difficult topics with honesty and precision, creating moments that are as painful as they are profound. The prose is rich and evocative, with dialogue that breathes life into the characters and their struggles. The Absolution of Mars is a poignant, thought-provoking exploration of history, identity, and humanity, recommended for readers seeking depth and nuance.

Book Title: The Absolution of Mars
Series: n/a
Author: T.F. Troy
Publication Date: January 21st, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 302
Genre: Historical Fiction, American Civil War Spy Novel

Excerpt

“But it was a plot in September of 1864, a plot that also ultimately failed, that really put us on edge, but I had forgotten about it, because I wasn’t involved,” says Jemm. “This time, however, the conspirators and spies got away—as well as a very precious cargo that no one wanted to talk about. It may provide another powerful link between Booth and Boyd.” 

In September of 1864, Jemm says, Confederate spies working from Canada had attempted to capture the U.S.S. Michigan on Lake Erie, at 450 tons, the largest gunboat on the Great Lakes, to free more than 2,000 Confederate officers held at Johnson’s Island in Sandusky’s Bay. 

“The Michigan would easily give the Copperheads, the Sons of Liberty and Knights of the Golden Circle control of all the Great Lakes, opening up a supply chain through Canada while giving the Secesh a Northwest front complete with 2,000 Confederate officers,” adds Jemm. 

The plan was to commandeer a sidewheel steamer out of Sandwich Island on the Canadian side as she made her usual run to Sandusky. Then the pirates would take over the Michigan sitting in Sandusky Bay with the help of a Capt. Cole, a Confederate Captain posing as an oil baron who was on board the Michigan. 

“I suspect that whatever happened in February, was somehow related to the ill-fated attempt to take the Michigan.” 

“But the plan failed?” Lt. Henry asks. 

“Turns out the redoubtable Captain Cole was also one of our men,” Jemm says. “So if they went through with it, we would have captured the whole lot.” 

“So they got spooked again?” 

“No, this time there was some sort of mutiny among the pirates,” Jemm explains. “The crew on the Michigan wrongly thought Cole had tipped off the pirates, and he was arrested. But according to eyewitness testimony, they found something of value on the sidewheel steamer and their plans abruptly changed. They also took possession of a ‘special cargo’ as near as I can tell from the report.” 

Nobody officially knew what it was, but it sure pissed off Secretary Stanton to no end. From that day forward, Stanton took a very special interest in the workings of Confederates running operations out of Montreal and Toronto, including a man named Jacob Thompson, who was rumored to have a bank account of at least $600,000 to fund operations, as well as access to other funds that could amount to 40 percent or more of the Confederacy’s treasury. 

Buy this Book

T F Troy


A student of the American Civil War, T.F. Troy has an award-winning journalism career spanning more than 40 years. He currently serves as Executive Editor of Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader as well as the Editor of Ohio Business Magazine. He also writes features for Northern Kentucky Magazine and Dayton Magazine, among other regional publications. His work with those publications has won him numerous awards, taking first, second and third place in Ohio for Magazine Feature Writing. Troy’s work has appeared in major metropolitan daily newspapers including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

In addition to the previously mentioned publications, Troy also held positions as a Senior Editor for both ABC/Capital Cities and ICD Publications in New York. His work has appeared in numerous national consumer and trade periodicals throughout his career. In his first book Cleveland Classics: Great Tales from the North Coast, Troy interviewed local and national Cleveland celebrities such as: Jim Brown, Bob Feller, Patricia Heaton and Arsenio Hall among others. The Absolution of Mars, set just after the Civil War, is his first novel, but third book. 

Author Links:
at No comments:

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: Muldoon’s Misfortunes by E.V. Sparrow #MuldoonsMisfortunes #ThoseResilientMuldoons #HistoricalFiction #FamilySaga #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @evSparrow @cathiedunn

 



A cursed widower forsakes his faith to ensure his hope. 

On a verdant island beset by poverty and death, Mick Muldoon dares to escape his misfortunes. Is working a farm and raising a family such an impossible thing to ask? Wasn’t God supposed to answer prayers—not turn a deaf ear?

After surviving the treacherous voyage to America, Mick discovers the rumors of ample opportunity aren't exactly true. His defective body hampers employment and keeps him dependent upon his peculiar sister. However, an unexpected invitation to move to the heartland guarantees his dreams.

Mick’s own dreadful choices hamper his hopes when he accepts work as a widow’s farmhand. Unbeknownst to him, there’s deception afoot. Mick’s inattention to love causes catastrophe as single fatherhood cruelly shatters his family. Will God miraculously hear his prayers this time?

In Book 1 of Those Resilient Muldoons series, this misguided, wayward widower encounters God’s unexpected presence.

Fall 2024, The BookFest Awards, First Place: Historical Fiction, General

Book Title: Muldoon’s Misfortunes
Series: Those Resilient Muldoons
Author: E.V. Sparrow
Publication Date: 7/16/24
Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing Group
Pages: 351
Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Historical Fiction

Buy this Book
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

E.V. Sparrow


A short story writer turned novelist Sparrow published a prequel Historical Fiction eBook novella, Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling in May 2023, and Muldoon’s Misfortunes, Historical Fiction Book 1 in Those Resilient Muldoons series in July 2024. Sparrow and enjoys leading readers to Encounter God’s Unexpected Presence through her broken characters.

Before writing, Sparrow travelled extensively overseas and worked in two countries. She married, had a family, and worked for a nonprofit program for older, homeless mentally ill in California. She also volunteered in many community services, including the Divorce Care program. After a divorce, she remarried, and together they have eleven grandchildren that enrich life immensely. 

Social Media Links:









at 2 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club: The Midnight of Eights by Justin Newland #HistoricalFiction #ElizabethanFiction #AgeOfDiscovery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

The Midnight of Eights By Justin Newland 1580. Nelan Michaels docks at Plymouth after sailing around the world aboard the Golden Hind. He se...