Sunday, 22 February 2026

A Sword Among Ravens by Cynthia Ripley Miller




A Sword Among Ravens by Cynthia Ripley Miller
is perfect for readers of historical fiction, ancient legends, and perilous journeys driven by faith and fate.


✔️ An ancient sword unearthed on a Roman battlefield, bound to legend and curse
✔️ A relic said to belong to King David of Israel
✔️ A deadly prophecy: all who wield the sword will die—except the chosen
✔️ AD 455: a perilous journey from Constantinople to Jerusalem
✔️ A sacred mission entrusted by the Emperor himself
✔️ A fierce heroine honoring her murdered father’s memory
✔️ A brutal killer stalking the road to the Holy Land
✔️ Thieves, betrayal, and shifting loyalties
✔️ Faith, duty, and friendship tested under relentless danger

Check out the blurb:

In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an
ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen.   

AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory.

As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. A brutal killer stalks their path. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.


Begin the journey today. This novel is available in ebook and paperback, and you can pick up your copy HERE.


Cynthia Ripley Miller
 is a first-generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages, and books. She has lived, worked, and traveled in Europe, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. As a girl, she often wondered what it would be like to journey through time (she still does), yet she knew it could only be through the imagination and words of writers and their stories. Today, she writes to bring the past to life. 

Cynthia holds two degrees and has taught history and teaches English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry and The Scriptor. A Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist for her novel On the Edge of Sunrise, she has reviewed for UNRV Roman History and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and on her website. 

Cynthia has four children and lives with her husband, twin cats, Romulus and Remus, and Jessie, a German Shepherd, in a suburb of Chicago. On the Edge of Sunrise is the first in the Long-Hair Sagas; a series set in late ancient Rome and France and published by Booklocker.

Dark desires, forbidden knowledge, and the dangerous cost of obsession sit at the heart of The Magician, newly revised by G.G. MacLeod.



Dark desires, forbidden knowledge, and the dangerous cost of obsession sit at the heart of The Magician, newly revised by G.G. MacLeod. This haunting reimagining of W. Somerset Maugham’s classic novel pulls readers into a shadowed world where love becomes captivity, power corrupts absolutely, and magic is never without consequence.


✔️ Edwardian Paris setting steeped in decadence, science, and occult obsession

✔️ A brilliant surgeon, an innocent fiancĂ©e, and a charismatic occult predator

✔️ A sinister magician inspired by Aleister Crowley and forbidden alchemical lore

✔️ Descent into corruption, addiction, and psychological domination

✔️ Dark occult rituals, blasphemous experiments, and body-horror imagery

✔️ A ruthless female protagonist who rejects weakness and embraces power

✔️ Blood magic, forbidden texts, and transgressive ritual practices

✔️ A bold, modern revision of Maugham’s The Magician

✔️ Hardcore, extreme, and intentionally confrontational horror


Check out the blurb:

In Edwardian Paris, brilliant surgeon Arthur Burdon
is engaged to beautiful Margaret Dauncey, accompanied by her loyal friend, artist Susie Boyd. They encounter enigmatic Oliver Haddo—a wealthy, obese occultist claiming alchemical mastery. Haddo, inspired by Aleister Crowley, seduces and marries Margaret, drawing her into depravity.

While Arthur remains blind, Susie spies Haddo’s true nature: tentacled astral projections, ritual abuse, and experiments creating daemonic homunculi fed on virgin blood. Margaret descends into addiction and submission. Susie, contemptuous of weakness, murders to steal Haddo’s forbidden texts, performs blood rituals, and binds young Oswald Pendleton as lover and disciple through explicit sex magick.

This modern revision of this classic pot-boiler is a more hardcore, horrifying, and twisted take on this tale.


Dare to descend into obsession, corruption, and forbidden magic. Buy The Magician now on ebook or in paperback, HERE.



I'm a Canadian indie author who also has a straight job. I'm 54 years old and "Augusta" is my first major foray into the world of publishing my work. Otherwise, there's nothing particularly interesting to say about me. I'm a pretty boring person, really who enjoys living a quiet life of reading/writing and thinking up story ideas that no one has actually pursued. 


Set in medieval Oxford and rich with mystery, history, and intrigue, this book draws readers into a world of convent secrets, hidden dangers, and courageous women.

 


Set in medieval Oxford and rich with mystery, history, and intrigue, this book draws readers into a world of convent secrets, hidden dangers, and courageous women.



✓ Set in medieval Oxford in 1299

✓ A richly atmospheric historical mystery

✓ Convent secrets, hidden dangers, and courageous women









Check out the blurb:

A widowed academic investigating the strange historical practices gets drawn back in time and into the year 1299 in Oxford. Join a cast of compelling characters—nuns, novices and outsiders—as they battle the forces of darkness. Enter their struggle against evil, clandestine organizations. Join their life-threatening fight to protect each other, be willing to die for each other, and occasionally fall in love.

Will heroic love and righteous pursuit of justice triumph? Will the horror-inducing villain be found out and overthrown? Or will the courageous troop of those fighting for what is good be overpowered and taken captive?

Set in Oxford, England, in the year 1299, a struggle takes place between the sisters of the local convent and a strange, terrifying local evil society. They discover a secret organization of men who perform unspeakable deeds. The lives of several sisters are in danger. 

Join Mother Alice, Sister Agnes and Isabel, along with Lady Beatrix and Lady Harriet, as they confront and do battle with an evil, secret society intent on attacking them, taking over the convent and sacrificing a young woman.

If you love stories that keep you turning pages while imparting fascinating accounts of the past, this latest mystery in the"Murders in the Abbey" series will tingle your spine.


Whether you prefer to turn pages, listen on the go, or collect beautiful editions for your shelves, there’s a perfect way to experience this atmospheric medieval mystery. Pick up your copy HERE.


Harriet Elizabeth Taggart, writing under the pen name Lady Harriet, holds the legal title “Lady of the Manor,” as defined under English law, and traces her ancestry to Charlemagne’s royal line.

A lifelong reader and devoted genealogist of nearly 50 years, Harriet has always had a passion for stories, whether buried in the past or found in the pages of a good book. She is the co-author of We Are Manx, a self-published family saga that explores her Manx heritage and the history of the Isle of Man in rich detail.

She’s also a photographer who prefers being behind the lens, a word-lover addicted to word games, and a wooden jigsaw puzzle fanatic. She has traveled extensively, with a deep appreciation for history, other cultures, and the unexpected joys found away from home. Her career spanned volunteerism, real estate and systems administration, but now she happily devotes her time to creative pursuits—supported and inspired by a large and loving family.

As she puts it: “I’m old enough for Medicare, but not quite old enough to get a birthday card from King Charles—were I a Brit.”

The Witch of Godstow Abbey, written in collaboration with Dr. Peter Stephenson, marks her first (but hopefully not last) foray into historical fiction. With photography she creates books of images; with storytelling, she creates images made of words.

Publisher's Website


Dr. Peter “Doc” Stephenson is entering the realm of historical fiction after a 50-year career in technology during which he authored or contributed to over 20 books on computing, computer investigation, and computer security topics.

In addition to writing, Dr. Stephenson has been playing blues music for 70 years and it is through performing, and after earning a PhD, that he was given the appellation, “Doc” by the owner of one of his performance venues.

Having visited Oxford several times, it was only natural that he would set his tales in Oxfordshire. His academic experience in Oxford Town sealed the deal and resulted in his first novel, The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey. 

“Whispering Dead” is the first in a series of murder mysteries, called “Murders in the Abbey”, that follow the carryings-on in Rewley Abbey (monks) and Godstow Abbey (nuns) from the end of the 13th century to the dissolution of convents and monasteries by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. 

Dr. Stephenson lives with a 15-year-old dog and two Savannah cats on a pond in Auburn Hills, Michigan.


Saturday, 21 February 2026

A gripping, thought-provoking read from the first page to last




Inspired by the real events of Cold War–era Ping-Pong Diplomacy, the novel explores how political tensions ripple through generations, shaping identity, loyalty, and belonging. Rich in emotional insight and grounded in thoughtful historical research, Ping connects the personal with the political in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.


✔️ Inspired by real Cold War–era Ping-Pong Diplomacy

✔️ A powerful blend of history, politics and family drama

✔️ Explores legacy, identity and generational pressure

✔️ Meticulously researched yet highly accessible

✔️ A gripping, thought-provoking read from first page to last






Check out the blurb:


Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping-Pong
Diplomacy - where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War - and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is a compelling tale of history, politics, and personal conflict.

Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam's larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam's secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths. Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring impact of the past on the present.

"Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny's modern-day struggles and Miriam's Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies . . . Ping effectively combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary fiction and historical drama."


Ready to dive into a story where sport changes history?


Ping is available now in ebook, audiobook, paperback and hardback. Choose your preferred format and get your copy HERE.


Lisa started writing for magazines and newspapers. Later, she wrote extensively on issues related to literacy and health that were featured in publications by the Canadian Public Health Association, several literacy organizations, and hospitals across Canada. She is the recipient of the CIBC Children’s Miracle Maker Award for advancing literacy among people with special needs. Several years ago, Lisa partnered with Laurie Stein and began writing for children covering subjects from climate change to refugees. Her belief that “storytellers often sugarcoat real issues and present subjects to kids that are too far from reality in order to protect them. Just tell it the way it is. Kids appreciate authentic stories that are honest and real.” More recently, Lisa has turned her attention to poetry and historical fiction. Ping is her first novel. Lisa’s work has been recognized by The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews (starred), Publishers Weekly, Indigo and more.  Her books have been translated into several languages and are widely recognized throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.


Steve Landsberg, an accomplished, award-winning advertising 
executive and entrepreneur, is currently Co-Founder and Chief CreativeOfficer of Human Intelligence (H.I.), a New York City-based creating marketing studio. Prior to H.I., he co-founded Grok, an Inc. 500 “Fastest GrowingCompany.” Steve has held executive creative roles at many top global ad agencies leading the work on iconic global brands. A copywriter by trade, Steve has published numerous ad industry articles. Ping is his first published book.


Friday, 20 February 2026

A Theory in Vienna by Heidi Gallacher







A Theory in Vienna
By Heidi Gallacher



Publication Date: October 28th, 2025
Publisher: The Book Guild
Pages: 305
Genre: Historical Fiction


‘I bring to light a truth, which was unknown for many centuries with direful results for the human race.’ – Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis. 

 

Imagine you’d discovered something. Something that could save hundreds of thousands of lives. But they wouldn’t let you tell anyone. Wouldn’t it drive you mad?

 

Young Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis uncovers the real reason thousands of young women are dying after childbirth. Yet, in mid-19th century Europe, his simple methods are ridiculed. Semmelweis faces the battle of his life to convince others that the cause is simple…

 

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, A Theory in Vienna brings the remarkable story of this man to life.



Praise for A Theory in Vienna:

'A booked based on truth, and this novel didn't disappoint.'

Andrew, 5* Amazon Review



Buy Link:




Heidi was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in South Wales, UK and moved to Paris as a young adult where she taught English for two years. She currently lives in Switzerland and recently completed an MA in Creative Writing.

    Her first short story was published in Prima magazine (UK) in 2018. Heidi now writes historical fiction. Her first novel, Rebecca’s Choice, is set in Tredelerch - an old house in Wales that belonged to her family generations ago. This novel won an award from the Coffee Pot Book Club in 2020, Debut Novel Bronze Medal.

Her second novel, A Theory in Vienna, is set in 19th century Vienna and Budapest. It tells the incredible story of unsung hero Ignaz Semmelweis, whose life-saving discovery was ridiculed at the time.

Heidi enjoys travelling (the further North the better!), singing and writing songs, and spending time reading and writing at her Swiss chalet where the views are amazing.






VIA MALORUM II by G. G. MacLeod plunges readers deeper into a world where betrayal is survival—and even a child can learn to master fate.

 


VIA MALORUM II by G. G. MacLeod plunges readers deeper into a world where betrayal is survival—and even a child can learn to master fate.

✓ Set in ancient Rome, 19 CE, amid winter’s frozen shadows
✓ A chilling prequel exploring the origins of Agrippina’s ruthless ambition
✓ A child prodigy navigating power, deception, and survival
✓ Political intrigue, betrayal, and poisoned alliances at every turn
✓ Features historical figures including Sejanus and Messalina
✓ Explores the psychological genesis of a psychopath
✓ A dark, visceral blend of historical fiction and thriller

Check out the blurb:

VIA MALORUM II: INITIUM ENIM EST FINIS


In the frozen shadows of Rome’s Appian Way, December 25th, 19 CE, a four-year-old prodigy walks among the mourners, her heart untouched by grief. Julia Agrippina, born with a mind sharper than any gladius and a soul devoid of fear, sees her father’s funeral not as an end, but a beginning. In a world of snarling mobs and scheming kin, she learns the first lessons of power: to deceive, to kill, to outmaneuver.

Guided by the cunning Sejanus and shadowed by the wild-eyed Messalina, Agrippinilla navigates a labyrinth of betrayal where every ally hides a dagger. As winter’s chill cloaks The Eternal City, whispers of poison and treachery swirl around her family’s throne. The Prophet’s warnings echo faintly, but for a child who embraces, fate is merely a game to be won.

Via Malorum II plunges deeper into Rome’s heart of vice, where ambition is a blade that cuts both ways. A chilling prequel to the visceral saga, this tale of a psychopath’s genesis blends Stoic wisdom with blood-soaked intrigue. In the war of all against all, who will rise when the snow falls red?

VIA MALORUM II by G. G. MacLeod is available now in ebook and paperback. Step into the shadowed streets of ancient Rome and discover a story where power bleeds red—pick up your copy HERE.



I'm a Canadian indie author who also has a straight job. I'm 54 years old and "Augusta" is my first major foray into the world of publishing my work. Otherwise, there's nothing particularly interesting to say about me. I'm a pretty boring person, really who enjoys living a quiet life of reading/writing and thinking up story ideas that no one has actually pursued. 


On October 8, 1871, fire turned night into a living hell.





Secrets in the Woods

By Susan D. Levitte


Publication Date: October 17th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 269
Genre: Historical Fiction


On October 8, 1871, fire turned night into a living hell.


While Chicago's blaze claimed the headlines, a fiercer and more devastating inferno swept across Wisconsin's Green Bay peninsula-obliterating farms, forests, and families in its path.


Here, among immigrant settlers carving new lives from the wilderness, survival came down to split-second choices: to run, to hide, to fight the flames. Mothers shielded children with their bodies, fathers vanished into smoke, and neighbors faced the firestorm with nothing but faith and will.


Inspired by forgotten accounts and newspaper fragments, Secrets in the Woods brings to life the untold human drama of one of America's most harrowing nights-a story of resilience, loss, and the fragile hope that rises from the ashes.


Praise for Secrets in the Woods:

'This book will stay in your thoughts long after you finish it!'
~ Patricia Cords, 5* Amazon Review

Excerpt

We hadn’t had a normal day for so long. Every day was now filled with all available hands batting back flames, watching for flames, or preparing for the flames. Normal fall chores were neglected so we could find more water, scratch together food that could be eaten on the hoof, treat wounds and burns, and rotate chores in the hopes of being able to step back into normal when this was over. 

That Sunday was the same. Small fires were popping up in the woods, and the trees continued to burst into flames, sending the firefighters to protect the nearest property. Even the little girls who had cared for Atlan were put to work fighting the flames at their homes.




Buy Link:

Susan D. Levitte


Susan was born and raised as the fifth generation to live on the family land in Northeast North Dakota (nearly Canada). She moved to Wisconsin in 1997, living in Door and Manitowoc County and now resides in the pastoral Kewaunee County. Married to Quentin, they share their home with Olive and Penny, their silly Labrador retrievers, and Gil, their ever-lazy cat.

As a devoted reader of historical fiction and nonfiction, she brings her passion for history and desire to educate readers into her work. With twenty-five years of experience in global advertising and marketing, she holds a master’s degree in communications and currently contributes her expertise to the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.