Tag: American Historical Fiction

I’m delighted to welcome Mike Weedall and his new book, Escape to the Maroons, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

I’m delighted to welcome Mike Weedall and his new book, Escape to the Maroons, to the blog with an excerpt.

Excerpt

Nathanial On Arriving At Maroons Camp

Besides the people waiting here, more are coming. I’m the center of attention. People whisper and point at me. I don’t like what’s going on. No one looks friendly. They must think I’m a white man. Should I say something? Better leave that to Lincoln.

This place looks sizable. The ground is dry. Trees and thick brush are on all sides. We crossed smaller islands like this getting here. Moses called them hummocks. This appears to be much bigger. There must be different ways in and out of here. I’m exhausted and need to sit. Better stand until Lincoln says that’s okay.

How did this day lead me here? This morning, I planned to stand up in court and explain why they should grant me freedom. My stepfather said I’d be a fool to do that and better run if I got the chance. I wasn’t expecting that advice from a minister who preached we should always obey the law. When that lazy deputy got distracted, I took off. What choice did I have other than to flee? I pray they don’t punish my family for raising me as a freeman.

What’s next? Lincoln is waving for me to follow him.

Here’s the Blurb

In 1792, an escaped slave, raised and living as white, is discovered and forced to flee into the Great Dismal Swamp.

Barely escaping a bounty hunter, a Maroons community of fugitive slaves rescues him. Over time, Nathanial comes to accept his true identity while fighting to overcome the suspicions of his new community. Because of his pale skin, he becomes a conductor on the underground railroad, slipping runners onto ships going north. On one of his missions, fate intervenes and places Nathanial’s community at risk.

This little-known chapter in American history tells how escaped enslaved people gave their all to live free while creating a community and economy in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments.

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Meet the Author

As the author of three books, Mike’s passion is finding the little-known stories of history and bringing them to life. History in school is too often events and dates. Mike seeks to discover the people who lived those events and reveal why those individuals made the decisions they did. Ultimately, there are stories to be mined, and who doesn’t love a good story?

In his historical novel “Escape To The Maroons,” Mike tells the little-known story of 1791 self-liberated slaves who chose to struggle for survival in The Great Dismal Swamp in their determination to live free. The term Maroons delineates areas where escaped slaves fled and could not be recaptured. It’s estimated that over 2,000 survived deep in the swamp around the turn of that century.

His first book “Iva: The True Story of Tokyo Rose” describes the tragic life of Iva Toguri. Trapped in Japan during World War II, this Japanese American woman was forced to work for Radio Tokyo. Although she never participated in propaganda, the racial animus of post-war America led to her being falsely labelled as Tokyo Rose and prosecuted for treason. Through her incarceration and the ongoing discrimination heaped upon her, Iva never lost her courage and determination.

“War Angel: Korea 1950” was his second book that followed a reservist nurse thrust into the carnage of The Korean War. Serving as an operating room nurse in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, the real MASH and strength of a woman is revealed. 

Mike resides with his family in the Pacific Northwest where they enjoy experiencing the outdoors.

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Follow the Escape to the Maroons blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

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I’m delighted to welcome T.F. Troy and his new book, The Absolution of Mars, to the blog #TheAbsolutionOfMars #HistoricalFiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

I’m delighted to welcome T.F. Troy and his new book, The Absolution of Mars, to the blog, with an excerpt.

Excerpt

Lafayette Baker steps behind Stanton at his desk, between him and the cipher room. Stanton looks up at Baker, his visage now blurred and out of focus over the top of his glasses.

“You keep that boy of yours off my ass this time,” Baker says, almost as if giving an order. But he knows that he has the Secretary over a barrel, especially if he wants his help. “I heard he was

already out to the 10th VRC talking with Cobb. That boy is a natural born hound dog.

“Come to think of it, I just may need him,” Baker adds. “Do I have authorization?”

“Sure, but he’ll be off on Tuesday chasing Captain Boyd from Gautier’s up to Canada,” Stanton says. “I sent the newly commissioned Lieutenant Henry with him to keep him in line. That should keep them both busy, and it might even give us more information on what’s going on up in Canada.”

“They are way too smart,” Baker says. “Besides, these two may both wind up dead. Especially, if they run into Burley.”

“He’s incarcerated,” Stanton says.

“Where?!” Lafayette asks disbelieving, as he steps from behind the desk.

Stanton looks down and picks through some papers, before he reads from the proper document, just to be sure he has the city right.

“Civilian Jail in Port Clinton, Ohio,” Stanton says, looking up and talking off his spectacles. “Ashley the master from the passenger ferry swore out a complaint, and Canada threw him back to us.”

“What?” Baker says again in disbelief, trying not to laugh out loud. “Sent him back for a petty robbery?”

“I know, I know,” the Secretary says chuckling along with him. He starts cleaning his glasses, which were perpetually dirty, even when immaculate.

“Do they even know who they have?!”

“I doubt it,” Stanton says.

“He’ll be escaping soon,” Baker says.

“And when he does, I’ll instruct Jemm and the good Lt. Henry to follow him back to Montreal, keeping their distance…”

“And what if they find out too…”

“Relax Lafayette, I’ll simply instruct them to track a fugitive.” Baker smiles. He likes the sublime nature of the plan.

“So who will you want?” Stanton askes, finally.

“I want my cousin Luther and his team to be a part of the party, with maybe Lt. Dougherty in charge of the actual military detail,” says Lafayette.

“And I want Sergeant Corbett to be a part of the detail as well,” says Stanton.

“But he espouses bizarre ideologies…his poor bedeviled mind is poisoned and lacks critical thinking skills,” says the Colonel. “He scares me because he’s unbalanced, a religious fanatic.”

“But do you doubt his devotion?”

“No…no I don’t. Who can?” Baker asks rhetorically. “But I want to be able to call Jemm back here—his work with the coloreds and the Secret Line could be very helpful if we run into a jam.”

“You know they’ll be headed for Cox, and then…

“Yeah, but they’ll need a good guide through the swamps down there, and Jemm has contacts that know them roads and paths better than anybody.”

“Call him back only if you have to then.”

Here’s the Blurb

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.

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Meet the Author

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.

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Follow The Absolution of Mars blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club