In a conversation with historical fantasy author B. Roman.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with author B. Roman, the creative mind behind The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning, the captivating fourth instalment in The Moon Singer series.

The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning works both as a continuation of the series and as a starting point for new readers. How did you approach making the story accessible without losing depth for long-time fans?

In the original Moon Singer trilogy (which takes place in the “present”), the characters are compelled to live a life of purpose; to serve, to sacrifice, to save a life that means more to them than their own. This mission is carried through in the story of Rose Wyndham and her mother Grace Moreau as they traverse previous generations and centuries. They both wear the magical Rose Crystal pendant, which is featured prominently in the trilogy, and has the power for healing and immortality in its music codes. But where did the gem come from? How long ago? What was its promise as well as its penance? That’s what I explored and developed in the book. It stands alone as a novel yet segues enchantingly toward future adventures.

Rose Wyndham is an immortal character who exists across different eras and identities. What ideas or emotional questions about immortality felt most important for you to explore?

Living forever can be a blessing - especially if you remain youthful - or a curse if you feel unworthy or unfulfilled, or have no profound mission to aspire to. Grace was tasked with keeping the crystal’s powers secret and could attain immortality if she promised to use it only for beneficent purposes. The wrinkle was that she must never fall in love or she and her lover would die. Grace bore this heavy responsibility and made many sacrifices but also realized her own self-empowerment. There came a point when she felt she could realize her immortality through her daughter, so she bequeathed the pendant to Rose, who would make her own mark in remarkably different and significant ways. This is a highly emotional and passionate story. The idea that romantic desire could strip the Rose Crystal of its power and lead to death gives the story a poignant nuance and transforms love into an act of peril rather than comfort. 

Themes of power, memory and consequence run strongly through the story. How did you decide which moments from Rose’s past were essential in shaping who she is at the beginning of this arc?

The shocking circumstances of Rose’s birth, her relationship with her stoic father, and the secrets her mother held close, are of major significance in what kind of woman Rose would become, what choices she would make. Her love for both her parents was cemented by the joy she had in her early years, how her mother’s love of music and accomplishment as a musician helped decide which profession she would pursue (Rose would become a storied singer in dance halls and on riverboats). And though her father was dispassionate early on Rose drew her business sense and determination from his example.

The novel combines an intimate, character-driven focus with a broader, epic scope. What writing choices helped you strike that balance?

It had to become a sweeping epic spanning 250 years to give the “immortality” element its timeless quality. To accomplish this I had to pour through mountains of research, from 18th Century France with its high society traditions and trends, to 20th Century San Francisco, with its burgeoning development and uncouth atmosphere, to give the story and the characters credibility. While both Grace and Rose experienced enormous social, political and financial challenges, tragedies and triumphs of their time, they had to have enough of a contrast to make the book compelling as well as entertaining. 

When you begin a new project, what usually comes first for you: the character, the world, or a central idea you want to explore?

Without exception - in all of my 11 books - the title always comes first. It appears in my mind like a flash of inspiration that cannot be ignored. I may only have a title for months or even years, but when I’m ready to develop the story the title gives me the path to take. It suggests the theme, then come the characters, their situations, personalities, conflicts and desires. I have never changed the title of a book that was “given” to me. 

How has writing a long-running series influenced your approach to storytelling compared with writing a standalone novel?

In writing a series everything and everyone connects and some questions can go unanswered. Some of the characters have a prominent role and will carry over to the next book;  others might be subordinate but they have potential to be developed in a future book.  In a standalone novel no questions can go unanswered and I don’t worry about or hint at what/who came before or after.

Were there any books, myths, or creative influences that subtly informed The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning, even if they’re not immediately obvious to readers?

I had to create this story completely separate from the trilogy and the prequel, but it still had to have a connecting element. It was inspired by a short scene in the Epilogue of Book 3 (The Wind Rose) when teenagers David Nickerson and his sister find some old memorabilia about their Great Aunt Rose Wyndham who had been a famous entertainer. The Rose Crystal is prominent in the trilogy but the guardian of the crystal is a supernatural one. In this new book Grace and Rose are the mortals who are its protectors.  Every book in the series has its roots in music theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism. 

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about exploring next in the Moon Singer universe — or in your writing more generally?

To clarify for your readers, the first 3 books of the series (The Crystal Clipper, The War Chamber, The Wind Rose) comprise the Trilogy, which is a young adult time travel adventure. However, adults enjoy the trilogy because there are major adult characters as well. I thought I was finished after I wrote the trilogy so I focused on other genres. Then the Prequel (Before the Boy) nagged at me to be written. A couple more books of other genres were written. Then came The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning; it was an exhausting undertaking that begged to be the final episode. I thought I was completely done with the Moon Singer books, but there is one more character whose story I might look into. We shall see. If I have the energy.....

Thank you, B. Roman, for taking the time to speak with us today and for sharing such thoughtful insight into The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning. It has been a real pleasure learning more about the inspiration behind the story and the creative journey that brought this fascinating world to life.

Check out the blurb:

From 18th Century France to 20th Century San Francisco, the Promise of the Rose Crystal both empowered and mystified Grace Moreau and her daughter Rose Wyndham.

They fought for women’s rights, suffered prejudice and conspiracy theorists, and blazed their way through a male-dominated world to define their own roles in society. Through it all they poignantly resisted romantic desire, for if they fell in love the power of the Rose Crystal would be impotent and they - and their lovers - would die.

A romantic adventure spanning 250 years, B. Roman's 'The Immortal Rose Wyndham' is a story where the power of music, and the belief in a purpose greater than oneself, provide the mystery and magic that creates miracles.

The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning is available in ebook, paperback and hardback. Start your reading adventure HERE.

Author B. Roman (aka Barbara Roman) has been in the creative arts since childhood, when she began singing as well as writing. Her music has always informed her writing subject matter in both fiction and non-fiction works.

She is the author of the five-book Moon Singer series, two suspense novels, and three children’s books.

“It's difficult to serve two masters, as they say, but I was compelled to do so. When I was not singing, I was writing; when I was not writing, I was singing. I've learned, for me, that one creative expression nurtures the other. It is natural, therefore, that The Moon Singer series has its roots in musical theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism. Most of all, I hope my books inspire readers to know that, whatever their circumstances in life their greatest challenges are opportunities for growth and strength.“

B. Roman’s mantra as an author is “Your book can change someone’s life. Even for that one person, never give up - success is always just around the corner.”

BOOKS BY B. ROMAN

Books by B. Roman

The Moon Singer Series:

Book I: The Crystal Clipper

Book II: The War Chamber

Book III: The Wind Rose

Book IV: The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning

 Prequel: Before the Boy

The Moon Singer Collection: The Complete Series

A Man’s Face (suspense)

Whatever Became of Sin? (suspense)

Children’s Books by Barbara Roman

The Land Where Money Was Nothing

Horace Won’t Sing (unless he doesn’t have to)

The Prince Who Was A Piccolo

Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13

Hubert in Heaven - a hi-tech angel gets his wings

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Red Anemones by Natalie Barlow

Today, I welcome author Natalie Barlow to the spotlight to share her novel Red Anemones, a moving story that explores family history, identity, and the enduring legacy of the past.

✓ A multi-generational family saga

✓ Secrets buried in letters and diaries

✓ A journey into Jewish identity

✓ The German immigrant experience in America

✓ Inspired by a true story

✓ A story of resilience and new beginnings

Check out the blurb:

Moving among generations of a German-Jewish-
American family, "Red Anemones" is a poignant exploration of the intricate bonds, untold secrets, and unspoken legacies our ancestors bestow upon us.

Natalie Barlow's journey of self-discovery begins when her estranged mother's sudden death releases a storm of unrevealed family secrets reaching back to pre-WWI Germany.

As Natalie navigates the complexities of her newly discovered Jewish identity and her ancestral heritage, she comes face-to-face with the early 20th-century German immigrant experience, which included strong anti-German sentiment and deep antisemitism that prevailed across America.

Through diaries and letters her mother saved, Natalie learns of the personal costs this ugly reality extracted from generations of her own family. Ultimately, she must confront the question of her own identity.

Like Israel's red anemones carpeting the western Negev and Dvira Forest of the Judean foothills year after year, Natalie is determined, no matter the personal costs, to find the courage, resiliency, and passion to embrace the changes that bring new beginnings. Inspired by a true story.

Praise

"Red Anemones by Paula Dáil weaves a powerful narrative inspired by a gripping true story, infusing the text with authenticity and emotional resonance. This book is an absolute must-read for fans of the genre, as it expertly blends enthralling storytelling with fully realised characters and a rich plot.:

Yarde Book Promotions

Available in eBook and paperback formats, you can get your copy HERE and start reading today.

Paula's first publication was a Letter to the Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper written when she was seven years old. In it she pleaded to spend the newspaper's annual Christmas fund donations to purchase shoes for the impoverished children of Hispanic migrant workers in California's Central Valley.  On the Sunday before Christmas, the letter appeared on the newspaper's front page.

   Later,  after earning a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and entering into a career as an academic research professor of social welfare and public policy, she became widely published in the social sciences.  She has received several awards for her feminist-oriented research, graduate teaching, and non-fiction writing. Her books have won two international book awards, an Independent Publishers Book Award, a  Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, a coveted Booklist Starred Review, and twice been named the Non-fiction  Book of the  Year by the Council for Wisconsin Writers.  Her Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds on contemporary social and political issues are published in various outlets and newspapers around the country. All of these are social justice-driven efforts inspired by Tikkun Olam  -  repairing the broken world we find ourselves living in.

     A native Californian, she spent several years in a Catholic girls'  boarding school but has not been an observant Catholic for most of her adult life.  Ultimately, she abandoned Catholicism in favor of a  spiritual and actual journey leading her closer to her deeper Jewish roots, which she reverently embraces.  She  belongs to B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in New York City and  currently resides in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest with her award-winning writer husband,  their dog, and various other wildlife.  Across her career, she has authored ten books, so far.

Awards

Council for Wisconsin Writers 2012 August Derleth - Kenneth Kingery Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award
Council for Wisconsin Writers 2016 August Derleth - Norbert Bly Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award
Independent Publisher’s First Place Non-Fiction Award
Literary Titan First Place Award for fiction
Reader’s Choice Second Place Award for fiction
Pinnacle Book Achievement First Place Award
International Book Festival First Place Award
International Book Festival Honorable Mention
Bookfest Second Place Award

Booklist starred review for non-fiction

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The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke

If you enjoy historical thrillers, gothic fiction, and novels about witch trials, then The Last Witch by C. J. Cooke is a book you won’t want to miss.

Set in Innsbruck in 1485, this chilling historical novel takes readers into a dangerous world where accusations of witchcraft could lead to imprisonment, torture, and death. Blending supernatural suspense with rich historical detail, The Last Witch is a gripping story about fear, power, and survival in an age of superstition.

Perfect for readers who love dark historical fiction and atmospheric thrillers, this novel delivers tension, mystery, and unforgettable characters.

✓ A chilling historical setting in 15th-century Innsbruck
✓ Dark gothic and supernatural elements
✓ Strong female characters fighting for survival
✓ A gripping story filled with tension, mystery, and danger
✓ A haunting exploration of fear, accusation, and justice

Check out the blurb:

Will she be damned by flame… or cursed by
magic?

Innsbruck 1485

Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband’s house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.

Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to escape only to unleash a malevolent spirit which places all their lives in danger.

Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to the terrifying witchfinder and risk death at the stake if found guilty? Or is the real threat the world beyond this one…?

If you love historical fiction with dark supernatural twists, The Last Witch by C. J. Cooke is a compelling read that explores the terrifying reality of witch accusations in medieval Europe. With its atmospheric setting and gripping storyline, it is a novel that will keep readers turning the pages. You can pick up your copy of this fabulous book HERE.

C J Cooke (Carolyn Jess-Cooke) lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children. C J Cooke's works have been published in 23 languages and have won many awards. She holds a PhD in Literature from the Queen's University of Belfast and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. Two of her books are currently optioned for film.

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Editorial Book Review: The Twisted Road: A Barrister Perris Novel by A. B. Michaels

 

"The Twisted Road" by A. B. Michaels draws its power from the charged atmosphere of early twentieth-century San Francisco, where labour unrest, political tension, and the lingering shadows of catastrophe combine to create a world in which truth is rarely straightforward, and justice must navigate a path as uncertain as the road itself.

Some novels recount history. Others rise from its turbulence, carrying within them the echoes of a society struggling to redefine itself. "The Twisted Road: A Barrister Perris Novel" by A. B. Michaels belongs firmly to the latter. From the opening pages, the reader is drawn into a city already simmering with conflict, where the pursuit of justice is complicated by the shifting forces of labour, power, and ideology.

The novel begins with violence during what history would come to remember as “Bloody Tuesday.” A man is shot amid the chaos of a protest erupting outside the United Railroads car barns in San Francisco, where tensions surrounding the powerful streetcar company have reached a breaking point. With union workers on strike and replacement labour brought in to keep the cars running, the depot becomes a flashpoint of competing loyalties and rising anger. Protesters gather in defiance of what they see as the ruthless consolidation of corporate power, while the authorities struggle to contain a crowd whose frustrations run deeper than a single dispute. What unfolds is not merely an industrial disagreement but the visible eruption of a wider struggle between labour and capital, sharpened by the growing influence of radical political ideas circulating among working-class movements of the period.

In Michaels’ telling, the tension is immediate and visceral. The clang of streetcars on their rails, the surge of voices rising in protest, and the sudden crack of gunfire combine to create a moment that feels less like an isolated tragedy and more like the spark of something far larger. It is within this volatile atmosphere that the narrative begins to unfold, drawing the reader into a city where order feels increasingly fragile and every confrontation seems capable of tipping the balance further toward unrest.

Into this charged environment steps Jonathan Perris. A British-trained barrister navigating the complexities of American law, Perris finds himself drawn into a case that reflects the wider turmoil of the city itself. The investigation that follows is not confined to courtrooms or private offices; it moves through a San Francisco alive with agitation, where the boundaries between justice, politics, and public anger are constantly shifting. Perris soon discovers that uncovering the truth in such an environment is rarely straightforward. Every witness carries their own loyalties, every accusation echoes with the broader conflicts of the streets, and every step toward clarity seems to lead further into the tangled intersections of power and influence.

What makes Perris particularly compelling is the quiet persistence with which he approaches the task before him. He understands that truth rarely presents itself in neat, convenient forms. Instead, it must be uncovered patiently — through observation, careful questioning, and the gradual recognition of patterns that others might overlook. Michaels allows the investigation to unfold with a deliberate rhythm, giving the reader space to appreciate the careful reasoning that guides Perris’s work. This measured pace lends the narrative a sense of authenticity, reflecting the methodical discipline of a barrister preparing a case in a world where appearances are often deceptive.

Surrounding Perris is a cast of characters whose presence enriches the story rather than merely propelling it forward. Cordelia Hammersmith stands as both an ally and intellectual counterpart, her perceptive mind and steady resolve offering balance to Perris’s analytical approach. Their partnership is marked not by spectacle but by mutual respect, a collaboration grounded in curiosity and an unspoken determination to seek the truth wherever it may lead.

Equally memorable is Dove, whose work as an investigator draws the narrative beyond the respectable circles of the courtroom and into the city’s more unconventional spaces. Through him, Michaels reveals another San Francisco — one that exists alongside the official world of law and order, yet operates by its own quieter rules. Information travels not through documents or testimony, but through observation, instinct, and the careful reading of people and places. His enquiries lead him into the city’s Bohemian quarters, where artists and political thinkers gather in studios alive with debate. In one such space, conversation turns openly toward labour struggle and the possibility of social upheaval. Yet there is also a quiet suggestion that some who speak most fervently of revolution observe the workers’ struggle from a position of relative comfort. These scenes remind the reader that the unrest in the streets is not born of anger alone, but of ideas — ideas debated in studios and meeting rooms, where the future of the city is imagined in terms as radical as those shouted in the protests outside.

The novel’s historical setting deepens the narrative with remarkable effectiveness. The San Francisco that emerges from these pages is not merely a backdrop but a living, breathing presence — a city rebuilding itself in the uneasy aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Ambition and uncertainty coexist in equal measure, and the struggle to establish order in the wake of disaster mirrors the larger questions of justice and authority that Perris must confront. The labour unrest surrounding the streetcar lines serves as a powerful symbol of this wider instability, revealing a society grappling with competing visions of progress, power, and fairness.

By the time the narrative draws toward its conclusion, the significance of the title feels quietly realised. The twisted road is not merely the path of Perris’s investigation, but the uncertain journey toward justice in a city shaped by ambition, unrest, and competing visions of the future. In a San Francisco still rebuilding itself after a catastrophe, Michaels reminds us that truth rarely travels in straight lines. It bends beneath pressure, is obscured by power, and must often be pursued with patience rather than certainty. Yet it is precisely through these winding passages that integrity reveals itself. In "The Twisted Road: A Barrister Perris Novel, A. B. Michaels offers more than a compelling historical mystery; she offers a portrait of a society in transition, where the search for justice unfolds amid the clamour of protest and the rumble of streetcars in a city struggling to define its future. Some stories resolve neatly. Others leave us reflecting on the paths that brought us there. This is a road that lingers long after the final page — a reminder that the forces set in motion on those restless streets rarely travel in straight lines.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Promotions

Check out the blurb:

Jonathan Perris Can’t Save His Clients

…Until He Saves Himself

1907

Rising from the devastation of a massive earthquake and fire, San Francisco is once again on the move. But a strike by streetcar drivers threatens to halt the Golden City in its tracks. Protests turn to violence and violence leads to death. Soon a young guard is convicted of willfully killing a protester and the public is out for blood.

Jonathan Perris, an immigrant attorney from England, has opened a law firm with an eye toward righting wrongs, and the guard’s conviction may fall into that category. But the talented barrister soon finds his newfound career shaken by a tragic event: the gruesome murder of the beautiful and mysterious Lena Mendelssohn—a woman he’s been squiring around town. It’s difficult to run a law firm when you’ve been arrested for murder.

Only 0.99 on #Kindle for a limited time - read with #KindleUnlimited. Pick up your copy HERE.

A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she's ever done besides raising two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by playing darts and bocce, learning pinochle, and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Reading and travel figure into the mix, leading her to hope that sometime soon, someone invents a 25+ hour day. Her historical fiction series, “The Golden City,” explores America’s Gilded Age and its effect on characters, both actual and fictional, while her contemporary series, “Sinner’s Grove,” follows descendants of The Golden City as they navigate today’s equally treacherous waters. She is currently expanding both series.

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The Rabbit's Foot (Hartford Manor, Book 3) by Marcia Clayton

 

Today, in the spotlight is Marcia Clayton's fabulous novel, The Rabbit's Foot (Hartford Manor, Book 3). 

With richly developed characters and a beautifully woven narrative, Marcia Clayton masterfully explores themes of love, betrayal, loss, and redemption, making it a compelling read for anyone who appreciates sweeping family sagas. 

✔ 1885 North Devon setting

✔ A mysterious inheritance

✔ A long-lost heir returns

✔ Secrets at Hartford Manor

✔ Riches beyond dreams

✔ A father searching for his son

✔ Twists and hidden truths

✔ A story of redemption

Check out the blurb:

1885 North Devon, England

Mr Edward Snell was more than a little curious when Robert Fellwood, the heir to Hartford Manor, and his elderly aunt, the Lady Margery, begged an audience on a Saturday morning. However, being such valued clients, the solicitor was happy to oblige. As his clerk showed the visitors in, he was intrigued to see them followed by an old man who, though respectably dressed, had something of a vagrant about him. The crisp suit in which he was attired could not disguise his weather-beaten face or his missing teeth.

Robert introduced his Uncle Sam and explained he had come to claim his inheritance. The solicitor was old enough to remember the extensive search for Thomas Fellwood when his father, Ephraim, died in 1840. However, that was some forty-five years ago, and the young man had never been found. Yet here was Sam, who claimed to be Thomas Fellwood’s son and even more surprising, was the fact that the Fellwood family appeared to have accepted him as such.

“The Rabbit’s Foot” is an intriguing and compelling novel with many unexpected twists and turns. Set in the small seaside village of Hartford, it tells the tale of how an old man, who has spent his life with barely a penny to his name, suddenly finds himself rich beyond his wildest dreams. However, there is only one thing that Sam Fellwood truly wants, and that is to be reunited with his son, Marrok, whom he abandoned at the age of five. Will Sam find the happiness that has eluded him for so many lonely years?

This novel is available on #Kindle, paperback, hardback, and also on #KindleUnlimited. Find your copy HERE.

A farmer’s daughter, Marcia Clayton, was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left school, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David. 

As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill and later for the local authority managing school transport. Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is a keen researcher of family history, and this hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. Marcia and Bryan are keen gardeners and grow many of their own vegetables. 

An avid reader, Marcia can often be found with her nose in a book when she should be doing something else! Her favourite genres are historical fiction, romance, and crime books. Marcia has written five books in the historical family saga, “The Hartford Manor Series”, and is working on the sixth. Besides writing books, Marcia produces blogs to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter. 

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Rogues & Kings by Charlene Newcomb

 

Blending rich historical detail with adventure, intrigue, and the enduring legend of England’s most famous outlaw, this novel brings new depth to the familiar tale of loyalty, justice, and rebellion. I am delighted to be hosting Rogues & Kings on the blog today and to share more about this exciting reimagining of the Robin Hood legend.

✓ Set in 1216 during England’s brutal civil war under King John

✓ A gripping Robin Hood retelling filled with secrets and hidden identities

✓ Robin Hood lives in exile while his son serves as a squire inside the
royal court

✓ A dangerous game of loyalty, espionage, and survival

✓ Outlaws of the Hood return to help when treachery threatens everything

✓ A powerful coming-of-age story set against war and rebellion

✓ Perfect for readers who love historical adventure, legend, and intrigue

✓ A sweeping tale of courage, betrayal, and the making of legends

Check out the blurb:

Deadly secrets. Hidden identities. A true enemy. 

Silence is the only shield.

The year is 1216 and civil war rages in England. King John ravages the countryside against rebellious barons and a French invasion. Unbeknownst to him, his newest squire, Richard, is in fact the son of a man the king would hang without a second thought. A man the common folk call Robin Hood.

For years, Robin has lived as a knight in exile. But when his son is ensnared in the treachery of the royal court, Robin is forced out of the shadows, aided by his outlaw friends in the Hood.

There is no question for Richard where his loyalties lie but it’s more than his own life at risk. He has the trust of a dangerous king. Can he serve the Hood better from within John’s inner circle, or will schemes against the crown unravel? 

Rob from the rich, give to the poor takes on a whole new meaning.

Rogues & Kings is a sweeping tale of courage and betrayal in a kingdom on the edge of ruin, of a boy coming of age in the midst of war, and of legends being born.

Excerpt

Allan gave Robin a crooked smile. “Would serve John right if we stole the treasury from right under his nose.”

Robin butted him with a clenched fist.

“Which of course you said don’t even think,” Allan added, rubbing his arm.

“Too dangerous,” Little John agreed as he cracked the first of five eggs into water boiling in the pot over the fire.

A gleam lit Allan’s eyes. “They’ll be putting more coin in the coffers on the morrow.” He tapped the coin pouch hanging from his belt. There was not a clink to be heard. “All those vassals paying their due at the feast.”

Little John smiled mischievously. “Guess he’ll get no coin from you.”

Allan lifted his flagon to that truth.

“Let me make sure you’re nowhere near my son,” Robin teased. He finished his bread in one bite.

“I hate to tell you, but Richard doesn’t need me at hand to nudge him on. Hood’s in his blood,” Allan said.

Robin grabbed the flagon from him and took a long slow draw of the watered wine. How would he ever tell Marian both his sons were Hood?

“Marian…” Henry lowered his head as if he’d heard Robin’s thoughts. He scrubbed his hands over his eyes, and then turned to Robin. “She’s in Lincoln.”

Robin choked, spewing his drink and dampening his friends. “What?” He could feel blood rushing from his face.

“Marian’s come to attend Little John’s daughter,” Henry said. “I told her about Richard. She knows our ruse, and helped me convince Lady Nichola to ask the king about retaining Richard’s service.” He chuckled. “She isn’t ready to draw and quarter you yet.”

Robin threw up his hands. “I won’t deny she has every reason to do that.” He shared a laugh with his friends but then furrowed his brow. “If there is a god he’s testing me. Richard and Marian beneath the king’s eye. I’d rather face a dozen Saracens than have them there.”

For readers who hunger for richly imagined worlds, shadowed ambitions, and the kind of historical fiction that steals hours from the night, then this book is for you. It is available on AMAZON in Kindle and paperback. You can also read this book with #KindleUnlimited subscription. 

 

Charlene Newcomb, aka Char, is a retired librarian, a U.S. Navy veteran, mom to three amazing humans, and grandma to three. She writes historical fiction and science fiction.

Her award-winning Battle Scars trilogy is set in the 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Her writing roots are in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (aka Legends) where she published 10 short stories in the Star Wars Adventure Journal, and published the original novel Echoes of the Storm.

Char returned to medieval times with Rogue and her latest novel Rogues & Kings, both in her Tales of Robin Hood series.

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An American Slave in Barbary: The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones

 

Some chapters of history feel almost too extraordinary to be real — and yet they are rarely told.

An American Slave in Barbary: The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones shines a light on a largely forgotten moment in early American history, when newly independent Americans found themselves captured and enslaved along the Barbary Coast. Blending historical adventure with philosophical depth, the novel asks big questions about freedom, identity, and what it meant to be American at a time when the nation itself was still an experiment.

Drawing inspiration from the epic tradition of Homer, this sweeping historical novel follows one man’s long and harrowing journey through captivity, power, loss and survival. At once action-packed and reflective, it explores how endurance is shaped not only by physical hardship, but by ideas — about liberty, self-rule, and the cost of believing in them. In today’s spotlight, we take a closer look at a novel that brings an overlooked history vividly to life.

✔️ Inspired by forgotten American history
✔️ A sweeping, Homeric-style adventure
✔️ Explores freedom, identity and survival
✔️ Richly atmospheric and action-packed
✔️ A powerful journey of endurance and redemption

Check out the blurb:

A Homeric American Novel 

An American Slave in Barbary: The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones is the story of a first-generation American student whose commercial ship is captured in the summer of 1801 by Moslem pirates. He spends the next sixteen years as a captive in Algiers. He rises to become a confidant to the Dey of Algiers, who is desperate to know what made the American shopkeepers and farmers believe they could defeat the British war machine, and how they intended to rule themselves.

In the genre created by Homer, it is a tale of suffering, sin, and redemption, and a young man's epic journey to regain his freedom.

An American Slave in Barbary: The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones is available now in Kindle, paperback and hardback. If you’re drawn to immersive historical fiction, epic journeys, and forgotten chapters of history brought vividly to life, this is a book not to be missed. You can buy it HERE.

Larry Kelley is a writer and a contract negotiator in the construction industry and whimsically describes himself as an adventurer and an early developer of the modern skateboard. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and earned a B.A. in English Literature. In between readings of Keats and Wordsworth, he took up surfing and zealously adopted the resident neo-beat-generation surfing subculture of Isla Vista, the off-campus “youth ghetto” overlooking the Pacific. Reminiscent of the narrator in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, soon after graduation and with practically no money, Kelley embarked on several solo, madcap, endless-summer surfing explorations beginning with sojourns at the international surfing Mecca of Biarritz, France, and moved on to Lisbon, Tangiers, Casablanca as well as other unnamed, hang-outs and breaks in southern Morocco and the Spanish Sahara. After a surf trip to the Caribbean and Central America, Kelley moved to Vail, Colorado, to ski and write his first novel. From Vail, he moved to San Francisco and was an account manager in commercial security and a freelance writer. His articles appeared in many publications, including Human Events Magazine, Townhall Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. During this period, Kelley returned to the mountains with his good friend, Christian Lustic, and climbed the five tallest peaks in the lower 48 states, including the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.

While in San Francisco, he met his future wife, the alluring Deborah Dickson. “I snatched her from a group of suiters in a move worthy of James Dean,” says Kelley. Although she disputes Kelley’s version of their meeting, she recounts, “He proposed, and I accepted his proposal after a whirlwind eight weeks.”

Today, they have two loving and successful sons, Brendan, a world-class skier, and Austin, an international surfer, both inheriting their father’s love of adventure and learning. “If it weren’t for my wife, I would have failed in life, and my sons would not be where they are today. She has been our gift from God,” he says.

In 2012, Kelley’s epochal book, Lessons from Fallen Civilizations, appeared to great acclaim. It not only answers many questions raised by the attacks of 9/11 but chronicles the rise of and causes for the fall of five great civilizations. It is a saga that begins on the plain of Marathon in 490 BC and ends with the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. Its main character is Western Civilization.

Today Kelley’s new book is a historical fiction novel, "An American Slave in Barbery – The Confessions of Tyler Prescott Jones". It is an allegory for the present and, like his first book, an adventure story that makes us remember – Freedom is always under siege.

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