Five by Five—Telling the overlooked stories in debut historical fiction novel

By Max Bowen

One woman is willing to risk it all for the sake of all young women in Nancy Bernhard’s debut historical fiction novel set during the infamous reign of the Tammany Hall crime syndicate. The Double Standard Sporting House (Jan 20, 2026, She Writes Press) follows Nell “Doc” Hastings, a brothel owner who also runs a small free clinic for women. When a young woman enters her clinic bleeding and bruised, Nell discovers a sex ring selling virgin girls to the most prominent men in the city–and risks her entire business to bring them to justice.

In this interview, Nancy talks about what inspired the book and her interest in the story behind it. She shares the family story that led to her interest in what is referred to as a “fallen woman” and the truth behind it. Nancy also talks about the parallels between the setting of the book and today.

Given that this is your debut novel, I’d like to ask what got you into writing?
I trained as an historian and have written for decades, but I was always frustrated by the narrow conventions of academic writing. Plus, women’s stories are often hidden from recorded history, or seen through sexist lenses. I moved into historical fiction so I could tell the overlooked stories, to imagine how women would have told their own lives, and to shift those patriarchal lenses.

How did you come to know this topic and how did it become the setting for your book?
My very flamboyant grandmother once told me that her Aunt Beatrice was a madam. I wondered how a middle-class girl from a large, supportive family would have ended up in the sex trade. It turns out it wasn’t true. Beadie lived with a married man, and anyone living outside the boundaries of sexual convention was deemed a “fallen” woman. But I got interested in the question, and the answer turned out to be epidemic rape and seduction. I began to imagine a smart and capable girl who suffers an assault, and makes the most of her life on the far side of respectability. She finds greater power and independence in the demimonde than she would ever have been allowed in mainstream society.

What kind of research did you do and did it wind up changing the book?
I read about 100 books on the history of the sex trade, the Tammany Hall political machine and 19th century reproductive medicine. I decided to set the book in 1868 based on one half-sentence in Marilyn Wood Hill’s book “Their Sisters’ Keepers: Prostitution in New York City, 1830-1870,” which said that in the 1870s, the Tammany Hall political machine gained control of the trade, “thus ending a brief but unique era when prostitution was managed predominantly by females.” I tried to find out more about that takeover but never found very much. So I imagined how the syndicate would have brutalized these women, and how they might have fought back.

Did you find any parallels between the events of the book and today?
A breathtakingly corrupt political machine that traffics young girls? That’s timely, and in fact a perennial tragedy. Women coming together to tell their stories and to heal in community certainly has more traction now than in 1868, but I believe they have helped one another heal in similar ways throughout history, even if we have no records of it.

How did you wind up working with She Writes Press and how would you describe the experience?
The gatekeepers of traditional publishing treat aspiring authors like dirt, and I finally decided to stop begging. One day I did a web search for something like “feminist critique of publishing industry” and the first five hits were for She Writes publisher Brooke Warner. The press is very professional, and the community of authors is invaluable. We trade information and support, which you won’t find at a Big Five publisher. Not everyone can afford a hybrid, but I’m very grateful for the respect and control She Writes gives its authors.

Five by Five—New mystery thriller incorporates a wealth of research

By Max Bowen

Michael G. Colburn’s Lady Black Mystery series has returned with the second book, “Asylum Murders” (Dec. 16). Set in the streets of 1890s Melbourne, Lady Edith “Edie” Black has reinvented herself. Once a notorious London thief, she now poses as a widowed aristocrat while secretly establishing herself as a private investigator.

In this Five by Five, Colburn dives into the lengthy research he did, particularly on the setting and time period and how he worked to get everything right. He talks about Lady Edith and how she came to be and what we can expect in future books.

How does the setting (both time and location) influence the story?
The details of the setting have to be as authentic as possible when writing a historical mystery in order to be believable. Building details and styling, street names, tram stops, the weather — all have to be researched to mesh with the story and action. Writing about the 19th century, I always use a period accurate map of the location I am writing about. Character names need to reflect the time and location as well. For example, I wanted to use the name Neil. I got conflicting information, so I had to dig further; I found Neil used as a first name in Tasmania, but I didn’t find it used in Australia. I was writing about the Torres Strait in eastern Australia; my Neil became a blackbirding pirate from Tasmania. In writing about a variety of locations, I rely on research as much as creativity.

What kind of research did you do when writing?
I did extensive research on daily activity and news in the locations where my books take place. Local newspaper archives are an important source. There is a wealth of information available in the daily news. During writing, a lot of the research is to make sure the words, actions, names and events fit with the 19th century and where the characters are located. I don’t try to convey accents or dialects; the reader can impose those if the wording works. As an example, in writing Lady Black Book Two, “Asylum Murders,” I found several events that became part of my story in the daily news of Melbourne. One example: there were reports of severed human limbs showing up in the Yarra River flowing through Melbourne. Some were dragged ashore by dogs. I never found where they identified a source of these limbs, and they became an important detail in my narrative.

How did you develop the character of Lady Edith?
I wanted a strong-willed lady lead. Many of the mysteries I read and enjoy have female lead characters. When researching the theft of the steamship Ferret for the beginning of “Stolen Brilliance,” the first Lady Black novel, I read an article in the Cardiff Wales newspaper that reported on ship activity in the port. It stated that James Henderson, the new “owner” of the Ferret, boarded the ship, refurbished and ready for departure, with a tall, elegant lady listed as his wife. I found no further reference to Henderson’s wife, and of all the many articles on the missing ship and subsequent activities of the thief, none mentioned his wife until a brief reference in Melbourne before and during his trial. There is no record that I could find that he had a wife, and that suited my needs perfectly. I built the lady into a story and a heroine.

What’s your process for creating a mystery?
I can’t always do this, but I try to find a time and place, involving genuine occurrences and actual crimes, preferably unsolved, to build into a narrative of investigation and sometimes resolution. I also want to build conflict and mystery between the characters along the way. In the first two books, I had multiple unsolved crimes that I could incorporate (and resolve in a fashion) using my characters and story. I try to write so that the multiple events that are real come together and are resolved by the end of the narrative, but leave room for surprises.

Was it always the plan to make this a series? How will things develop further in future books?
Yes, it was. While each book has a resolution, some details are left open to continue the story and relationship of the characters. For the forthcoming third book in the series, I’ll revisit another true event (the sinking of the R.M.S. Quetta) and build the book around it.

Ink and Riffs: Epic adventures and honest explorations

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com.

Not Your Type (Music)
Having heard her recent single, “Villain 2.0,” I wanted to check out the rest of the music from singer-songwriter Leanne Galatti, and her latest EP is a great listen. “Not Your Type” brings a seasoned sound, a blend of folk, rock and a bit of pop sounds, with Galatti’s powehouse vocals a solid accompaniment.

The aforementioned single is among the four track in the EP, a realistic look at relationships and being honest about your role and what you did. I really liked this take on the love song and feel it as something different to offer.

One cool aspect is the varied instrumentation, with “Villain 2.0” featuring a great piano track and the opening song “Standoff” giving a kickass saxophone player. Definitely something cool to hear.

Outer Lands (Comic)
What begins as a historical epic unexpectedly turns into a post-apocalyptic thriller. When a young prince living in a seemingly Ancient Grecian world is exiled to a prison isle to keep him from assuming the throne, he unintentionally discovers a massive global conspiracy in this science-fiction fantasy mash-up.

This has been such a great comic, and I can safely say I’ll be reading it again. The story by writer Matthew Arnold kept me hooked and I read the whole thing in a couple of hours. It takes a twist that I did not see coming, and the worldbuilding shows a lot of work and research. The art by Davide Gianfelice is incredibly detailed, and adapts well to both daylight and evening scenes, really bringing the tale to life.

Witness Titanic (Podcast)
I’m a huge fan of the history of the Titanic, having read books and visited museums. Following my visit to the Titanic museum in Cobh, Ireland, I knew I wanted to learn more, and this podcast, hosted by Titanic researcher James Penca, has a lot to offer.

The series takes the form of a formal inquiry, with interviews with Titanic researchers and experts, to reading statements made by the survivors of the sinking. It covers a lot, from what it means to see the ship today, to uncovering the truth about what caused this maritime tragedy in 1912.

Five by Five: Sharing the life of Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor

By Max Bowen

The story of Marshall “Major” Taylor is well-known in cycling circles, but what else can be told? As it turns out, quire a bit, in John Kennedy Howard and Rene Maurer’s biography, “The Black Cyclone, Major Taylor: A Hero the World Forgot.”

“Fifty years before Jackie Robinson, a decade before the ascendance of heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, there was one young man who was the highest paid athlete in the world. His name was Marshall Taylor and he was a worldwide bicycle racing superstar, a sensation in America, Europe and Australia, setting world record after record. He was also Black…and now long lost to history.”

In this Five by Five, John shares his own knowledge of Major and what inspired him to write thisbook. He shares the research, which included interviews with Major’s daughter and friends, what he learned a lot from other biographies, and the new facts gleaned in the writing process.


How did you become aware of Marshall’s story and why did you want to make them the subject of your book?
Major Taylor was my boyhood hero, it was not hard to find him. But, I knew I had to finish what I started writing soon after I read his original autobiography. Ironically, I also had a stellar career in cycling and it happened that we were both inducted into the USA Cycling Hall of Fame in `89. I had met his daughter, Sydney Taylor Brown, in about 1986 when she was in her mid-80’s, still a quick-witted women with a very good memory. We became friends and I interviewed her in her Pittsburgh home several times to better understand her memories and her relationship with her father.

What did you know about Marshal and how much research was needed for the book?
Cycling history is well documented and mainstream in the day. Today, cycling could best be described as almost subculture compared to the ball sports. My research was ongoing and lasted an embarrassingly long time, 40 years when I do the math!

Because of my patience, I had the benefit of reading all five of the excellent Major Taylor biographies, all of which revealed new information about the man, his family and his associates. I traveled to Europe and mined the microfiche labs in libraries from Paris to Sydney, Australia. The information was vast and allowed me to get a better view of Taylor, both his well-documented strengths and also his never discussed vulnerabilities.

Any particularly interesting facts uncovered through the research?
The facts of Major’s life are well written about, most—cycling enthusiasts-- who know of him can recite his life story fairly well, but it was the information gleaned from Sydney and a few of his contemporaries, some of who I caught in the closing months of life that revealed to me how complicated and conflicted this man was, and that is the lifeblood of my story.

The depth of my research gives substance to the choice of a different genre—biographical novel—whereby we give Major and his contemporaries voices. My book tells the story from the perspective of his childhood friend, Josh, who became a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and actually traveled with Taylor to quite a few of his races. They grew up together in Indy and received a tutored education, courtesy of the Southard family, a wealthy railroad executive.

How did you know when the book was “done”?
Unlike the speculation loosely described in the biographies, I wrote of his little-known failures after retirement, his difficult relationship with his wife and daughter and her memories of his disappointments, his heroics, his humor and then shifted the story back to Josh who describes his treatment of his former trainer and how that played out. Josh and Major had a disagreement about who should ultimately tell his story. Josh very much wanted to document Major’s life in his own biography which he called “Requiem For a Wheelman.” My coauthor and I gave the ending a twist, so ultimately it was Major’s slightly ponderous “world of I” version that you can read today.

What’s your takeaway from Taylor’s story?
In spite of the intense racism that defined his life, he believed in humanity and held no grudges. The man was a staunch Christian and while that cost him dearly after retirement when revenue was shirking during the Depression years, his work as a civil rights advocate — before the term existed — his exemplary.

His relationships with Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois and heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson are all discussed and elaborated. Although he ultimately ended up in a pauper’s grave with no family at his internment, he was later recognized by Frank Schwinn, who had his body placed in a prominent location in a Chicago cemetery. Today his legacy lives on with hundreds of clubs and a social network of perhaps millions of followers.

Five by Five—New book offers a deep dive into the story of Mary Magdalene

By Max Bowen 

Just how much is known about the story behind Mary Magdalene?

It’s a question that inspired Ursula Werner to find out for herself, which led to her new book, “Magda Revealed” (She Writes Press).

In this book, “Magda leads readers through tales of miracles and murder, jealousy and acceptance, misogyny, and female empowerment. She uncovers her relationship with Jesus, clarifying centuries of speculation about whether or not they were in love.” In this interview, Werner talks about the research done and what was available, how it sheds new light on the story of Mary Magdalene and ‘sets the record straight.’

What research was done for your book and did this change the direction of the story?
I started my research by reading everything I could find – which was woefully little – on the historical Mary Magdalene. I was surprised at how sparse the historical record was, though maybe I shouldn’t have been, given that she was a woman from the first century. By contrast, there were many books written on Mary Magdalene as an icon or mythological figure, but I wanted, as much as possible, to stick to history, not myth.

I was much more successful in finding books about the historical Jesus, by which I mean Jesus of Nazareth, the man who lived on Earth from about 4-6 B.C. to 31-33 A.D. (The exact dates of his birth and death are not known.) Interestingly, all my biographies of Jesus sit on a bookshelf in my living room, right above the shelf that contains my biographies of Hitler (because my first novel was a World War II saga that featured a Führer-like character).

I also did research, mostly in academic publications, to get a better understanding of life in first century Judea. Topics included everything from Jewish marriage law to women in the synagogues to common vegetation around the Sea of Galilee.

The biggest change in direction of the story came not from my research, but from an insight I had while running in Rock Creek Park one day. (I like to mull my writing issues around in my brain while I’m running.) Out of the blue, I had the idea that provides a plot twist at the end of the novel. That plot twist definitely changed the focus of the story.

How did this change your perception of Magda?
I wouldn’t say that my perception of Magda changed much due to my research, because I knew she wasn’t a prostitute – a slander invented and perpetuated by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century. What did come across from my research was that Mary Magdalene must have been a strong woman, to leave her home and family in order to follow a penniless itinerant preacher, with a group of unknown men and women. I channeled that strength and conviction into my Magda character, and also gave her a spiritual dimension that I’m sure the real Mary Magdalene had.

My Magda’s skill in anointment came from a book I read by Professor Bruce Chilton, who wrote one of the few biographies of Mary Magdalene that exist. Professor Chilton pointed out that anointment was a common female skill in the first century, practiced by the women of every household on a daily basis. It wasn’t just a rite practiced by priests during the coronation of kings and princes. That particular insight helped me direct the focus of the story from Jesus’s healing skills to Magda’s own spiritual gifts.

What light does this shed on the story of Mary Magdalene?
My research on Mary Magdalene and Jesus made clear to me how much more important Mary Magdalene was to Jesus’s ministry than the Catholic Church has acknowledged. Not only was she not a prostitute, she was perhaps the closest disciple to Jesus among his followers. And because of that intimacy, according to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of Philip, he gave her special knowledge that he did not give his other disciples. Thus, she truly was the “disciple of the disciples,” as the Catholic Church has recently, albeit very belatedly, acknowledged.

What I also found, in comparing the history of Jesus’s life with that of the Roman empire, was a fascinating possible connection between what happened in Rome in October of AD 31 and the Passover holiday in Jerusalem five months later (most likely the occasion of Jesus’ crucifixion). This nexus is fleshed out fully in the novel, but it centers on Lucius Aelius Sejanus, head of the palace guard for the Roman Emperor Tiberius. In October of 31 AD, Sejanus was executed for sedition in Rome. Enraged at Sejanus’ betrayal, Tiberius killed everyone who was perceived to be the traitor’s friend or ally. Because Sejanus had appointed Pontius Pilate to his position in Judea years earlier, it’s unlikely that Pilate, upon hearing the news five months later, would have done anything to antagonize the Emperor. (Tiberius had a standing decree that religions in occupied provinces should be given the greatest deference.) This history made me believe that Pilate would not willingly have ordered the execution of Jesus, a beloved and popular rabbi, during the most holy week in the Jewish calendar.

How does this story “set the record straight” on Magda?
First and foremost, I hope the story convinces people that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. That remains a wide-held misconception to this day, and it makes me angry on her behalf whenever there’s any reference to the falsehood. I’m constantly tempted to write letters to the editor of offending journals or newspapers saying, “You know, of course, that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute.”

I tried to make my character Magda breathe some life into a figure that has become largely mythological in our culture. I don’t think you have to turn Mary Magdalene into a whore, as Pope Gregory I did, to make her accessible as a human being with real flaws and real strengths. To the degree my characterization of her does bring Mary Magdalene to life, I hope that people might relate to her spiritual journey and her calling – the establishment of true connection with another human being.

What do you hope readers take from the book?
At best, the book will plant a seed in readers’ minds, a seed of hope and connection for the human race. We are now living in such a divisive time, I would love the message of the book to challenge our discord and help us see our similarities instead of our differences. Jesus’s message in the first century – that everyone is equal, that no one should consider themselves above anyone else – is as compelling and necessary today as it was back then. I believe that message and our understanding of it to be critical to our survival as a species, both in terms of our interactions with each other, and our interactions with the planet that holds us.

Five by Five: Robert Steven Goldstein explores hidden lives in new book

By Max Bowen 

Author and past guest Robert Steven Goldstein tackles the theme of what we hide in his new book, “Golda’s Hutch.” In the book, were introduced to Craig Schumacher and his wife Shoshana and the secret life they would do anything to keep hidden.

In this interview, Robert talks about the creation of Schumacher and how he incorporates a bit of himself into his characters. He shares how psychologist Carl Jung’s concept of the “shadow” and how this shaped the story.


I like the theme of ‘what we hide from the world versus what we reveal.’ How do you explore it in your book?
“Golda’s Hutch” is an emphatically psychological novel. How the characters interact with each other vs. what they agonize over in their own private thoughts is how the book splits its time. Although Craig Schumacher is ostensibly the protagonist, there’s really an ensemble cast of seven characters at play (three couples and a single woman) all of whom are professionally accomplished but also flawed, and in various ways dysfunctional. Readers will come to know each of these people well. They’ll also come to know an intriguing rabbit named Golda, who practices yoga with Craig, and joins him in his spiritual journey.

How did you create the character of Craig Schumacher?
There are bits of me in Craig, as well as bits of other people I came to know during my 35-year corporate career. When I first started out, in 1974, as a mail-boy earning $500 a month (yes, a month!) I naively believed that as I moved up the corporate ladder, at each new rung I’d encounter people with greater intelligence and more integrity. I was sorely mistaken.

With each promotion I mostly met people who were more scheming, cunning and Machiavellian. But there were exceptions—and the leaders I encountered who modeled values of honesty, integrity, and compassion were not just better people to be around—they also tended to build the most hardworking, loyal. and successful teams. And most of these leaders had a solid spiritual core—and for a select few of them, that spiritual core was shaped more by experiential Eastern mysticism than by faith-based Western traditions. Craig Schumacher is one of these fascinating folks.

Can we get some insight into the secret he’s hiding?
Here’s where the novel gets controversial, and where some readers will really latch on, whereas a few others may shy away. Craig and his wife Shoshana are members of the San Francisco Bay Area’s clandestine BDSM community. Shoshana, in fact, makes her living as a professional dominatrix, although both she and Craig go to great lengths to hide all this from Craig’s work associates.

There have certainly been novels that explore BDSM—some have even been bestsellers—but those novels tended to eroticize BDSM and employ it as a vehicle for titillation. “Golda’s Hutch” is very different. “Golda’s Hutch” gets deep inside the minds of people who are otherwise ordinary, but whose innate sexual orientation demands power exchange and dominant/submissive play. The novel reveals the furtive machinations these people are forced to engage in to keep their propensities secret. And it questions why, despite societal acceptance of many other sexual orientations, this one remains taboo.

Byron Dorn sounds like Craig’s opposite, but how do the two interact?
Byron, an ambitious, and bitterly envious man, reports to Craig in the corporate hierarchy. Quite by chance, he stumbles upon the secret Craig and Shoshana have worked so hard to keep hidden. After his initial discovery, Byron proceeds to uncover still more evidence through purposeful and meticulous spying. Byron and his wife Adelle ostensibly remain friends with Shoshana and Craig, even as they secretly plot to use the potentially damaging information for self-gain.

When I develop characters for a story, I always like to put a little bit of myself into each one, whether that character is male or female, likeable or unlikeable, old or young. When creating Byron Dorn, I was reminded of the famous psychologist Carl Jung, and his concept of the “shadow”—the part of us we’re not particularly fond of, and which we keep hidden away in the deep subconscious recesses of our psyche. The aspects of me that went into Byron were mined from my shadow.

Reading about your past works, you really span different ideas and genres. How do you develop your stories?
I start with characters. I try to recall people I’ve known, combine the interesting traits of two or three of them, toss in a sliver of myself and a huge chunk of imagination, and after a bit of cerebral kneading and manipulating, I have a character. That character often suggests to me what sorts of other characters would make for intriguing compatriots. And a week or so later, when what feels like the right number of characters have materialized, they as a group pretty much take over—they make it quite clear where the novel needs to be set—and then the plot starts oozing slowly from their collective fictional pores.

This process doesn’t lend itself to producing works of a consistent and predictable genre or brand. Some of my novels are light and humorous—some are probing and philosophical—whereas my latest, “Golda’s Hutch,” is a bit of both while also being gritty, and suspenseful. And that, I guess, is a reflection of me as a person. Sometimes I’m serious, sometimes I’m silly, and all sorts of places in between. My novels reflect this sort of variety. And as a novelist, it’s really the only way I feel comfortable working.

Five by Five: Tim Piper reflects on the growing world of Jubilee Walker

By Max Bowen 

When Tim Piper wrote “The Powell Expeditions,” a series wasn’t quite on his mind. But as he progressed through the book that introduced us to Jubilee Walker, things took off, and now we’re seeing the third book in the series, “The Northern Pacific Railroad.”

In this interview, Tim talks about how the series grew from his first novel, plotting out the stories and where we’re going from here.

Was it always your plan to write a series?
When I began writing my first novel, “The Powell Expeditions,” I had given no thought to writing a series. It was my first attempt at writing a novel, so it was enough of a challenge just to complete the book. But as I neared the end of writing it, I was enjoying the process so much that I wanted to keep writing. I thought my Jubilee Walker character could be woven into other historical explorations and adventures, so I researched America’s western expansion during the post-civil war years. I found events that I could envision getting Jubil involved in—and the series was born.

The second book, “The Yellowstone Campaign,” revolves around the expeditions and events leading up to the creation of America’s first national park. Book three, just released, “The Northern Pacific Railroad,” is based on Jay Cooke’s efforts to build a second transcontinental railroad. I am currently working on a fourth and final book in this era of the series. I have some other literary ideas that I would like to pursue next, but I’m not ruling out the possibility that I may someday return to the Jubilee Walker series.

Now that we are three books in, do you need to re-read the other two in order to keep the details straight?
Yes, I re-read the earlier books. It helps to refresh my memory of the timeline, and review the arc and portrayal of characters. However, my memory is not up to the job of recalling the finer details, so I rely on another source for that. I create a summary document for each book that lists every scene and the pages it begins and ends on.

As I’m writing a book, the scene summary is very useful for referring back to find some detail, and invaluable for finding details that occurred in previous books. Keeping this scene summary updated during the revision stage is a bit tedious, but I find it worth the effort. I make one final review of the scene summary before freezing a book for publishing. Another method of keeping details straight is to find a good editor. Mine seems to be able to remember everything that anyone ever said or did at any point in any of my novels. I don’t know how she does that. I use my scene summaries in an effort to avoid over-reliance on her to point out my inconsistencies.

What are some of the real-life events that you incorporate into the book?
In 1864 a company was chartered to build a second American transcontinental railroad, the Northern Pacific, to connect the Great Lakes at Duluth, Minnesota, with the Pacific Ocean at Puget Sound. The project got off to a weak start due to difficulties in obtaining funding, but that changed in 1870 when famed financier Jay Cooke took control. Public bond sales soared, largely on the strength of Cooke’s reputation, and the project was finally underway. But many people questioned the need for the railroad and also doubted it could ever be made safe.

By 1872, six hundred miles between Bismarck and Bozeman remained to be surveyed, but the route would pass through the traditional hunting grounds of the Sioux. Sitting Bull was gathering strength to resist this incursion into their hunting grounds. My novel, The Northern Pacific Railroad, portrays the events of the railroad surveys that took place in 1872 and 1873 to determine the route the railroad would follow through this territory. Two surveys set off in 1872, one starting in Bismarck going west, the other from Bozeman heading east to meet the westbound crew. The westbound survey made it to the planned meeting point, but the eastbound survey failed to reach the goal. In 1873, another survey set out to complete the job. The events of these surveys are portrayed accurately in the novel, with my protagonist, Jubilee Walker, participating in them as Jay Cooke’s representative. The impact that these events had on Cooke’s financial empire are also portrayed true to the historical record.

When it comes to picking these historical settings, do you look at different options?
I wasn’t really a writer looking for a historical setting when I got the idea for my first novel. I was a hiker who dreamed of writing. During one of my early trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, I hiked the Longs Peak Trail. After the hike, I purchased a book on the history of the mountain and learned the first person to summit it was Major John Wesley Powell.

Researching Powell, I was surprised to learn he had close connections to my hometown, Bloomington, Illinois. Much of Powell’s life struck me as something out of an adventure novel, but I did not find any fiction that had dramatized it. I carried the idea with me for years until I finally wrote my novel. With its completion, I had established my protagonist, Jubilee Walker, as a young man with dreams of becoming an adventurer and explorer in the post-civil war west. So, I only looked at historical settings that fit my characters. Fortunately, that era of American history had some dramatic events that gave Jubil more opportunities for adventure.

I’ve read that the series has won a number of awards. As a writer, does this make you want to “up your game?”
I would not know how to do that. I don’t believe anyone writes in an effort to win awards, or if they do, they must very often be disappointed. Awards are a wonderful affirmation that you are doing something right, but I don’t think they should be a goal. All you can do is make your best effort, and hope that it resonates with people.

Five by Five: ‘Unruly Human Hearts’ explores the unheard voice in the Beecher-Tilton scandal

By Max Bowen 

In her new book, “Unruly Human Hearts,” [She Writes Press, Jan. 28] Barbara Southard explores the Beecher-Tilton scandal, but through a new perspective—that of Elizabeth Tilton.

In this Five by Five interview, Barbara talks about how this historical tale caught her interest and how she came to choose this viewpoint, as well as the lengthy research done for the book. She also shares how this scandal resonates with the current times.


How did you become aware of Elizabeth Tilton and what inspired you to write a book about her?
A question raised by a student in a graduate seminar on US history that I taught at the University of Puerto Rico challenged me to focus on Elizabeth. We were discussing the 1875 trial of Henry Ward Beecher, the most famous preacher of his time, for adultery with Elizabeth Tilton, wife of the journalist Theodore Tilton. I pointed out that public fascination with the Beecher-Tilton scandal was comparable to the reaction to Bill Clinton’s impeachment for the alleged cover-up of sexual intimacies with Monica Lewinsky. A young man said that both President Clinton and Reverend Beecher survived the scandal. Yeah, said a young woman, but what about Monica and Elizabeth? Her question reverberated in my mind. If Monica had a rough time with cyberbullying, what did a woman named as correspondent in a famous adultery trial in the 19th century have to endure?

I began to dig into historical sources and found that Elizabeth’s beliefs, feelings and motivations were more difficult to fathom than those of her two lovers, who both had public platforms and testified at the trial. I felt challenged to unravel the mystery of this deeply religious and seemingly conventional woman who was accused of holding beliefs and engaging in conduct that challenged the core values of Victorian society.

You refer to Elizabeth as the “unheard voice” in this story. What does her voice add?
Many historical studies of the Beecher-Tilton scandal picture Elizabeth as a weak personality, a woman who gave in to both her husband and her lover and couldn’t keep her story straight. As I read more about the Victorian code of conduct for women, I suspected that this interpretation was simplistic. Women of her time were truly the “second sex,” excluded from the circles of power and decision-making. Looking at the scandal from Elizabeth’s perspective meant being sensitive to her efforts to influence the decisions of the key men in her life that could ruin them all. Was she a passive victim, or a heroine who courageously tried to protect the careers of both her husband and her lover as well as defend herself against public condemnation and possible loss of everything meaningful in her life, including her children?

Elizabeth’s perspective made me sensitive not only to the complexity of her own emotions but also those of her two lovers. The role of Henry in the scandal can be dismissed as a minister seducing a parishioner. Theodore can be labeled a hypocrite who championed women’s rights in public, but not in private. Elizabeth had a more nuanced view of the motivations of her two lovers, which comes through in her letters, sources that would never have surfaced if her husband hadn’t given them to newspapers to print against her will. Her appreciation for the good in both men adds new dimensions to the story, making it a tale of love and loyalty as well as betrayal.

Tell me about the research you did and what was learned in the process.
After the interesting discussion with my students of the Beecher-Tilton scandal, I began to explore historical studies of the scandal as well as primary sources. The most helpful primary sources were personal letters and the records of the church investigation and the public trial. The sources revealed that there was deep affection among all three participants in the love triangle. Personal ties were strengthened by their involvement, in varying degrees, with reform movements to promote suffrage for women and freed slaves as well as the reinterpretation of the Calvinist heritage.

Elizabeth was inspired by the gospel of love preached by Henry, whose sermons spoke of God’s love and mercy rather than the Calvinist emphasis on punishing sins. The reverend’s comparison of God’s love with the tender care of a mother inspired Elizabeth and helped her see the feminine role as crucial not only with the family unit but in building a better society. Both Henry and Elizabeth saw the concept of free love as an extension of the gospel of love.

In addition to their beliefs, I also strove to understand practical issues that affected the main characters. Did Elizabeth’s financial dependency make it difficult for her to insist that her husband keep his promises to protect her? Did concerns about male honor and reputation, as well as jeopardizing their careers, influenced the decisions of Henry and Theodore to either maintain or abandon a united front in denying scandalous rumors?

What was the concept of “free love” in the 19th century and how does it compare to modern polyamory?
The basic idea of free love in the Reconstruction era was the freedom to choose whom to love and to express true love in a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Those who espoused free love believed that government should not interfere in matters of the heart, because the question of who loves whom cannot be legislated. Some radical feminist leaders supported free love because they believed that marriage and divorce laws were unfavorable to women and often imprisoned them in injurious relationships. Supporters of free love did not express support for promiscuity; they couched their beliefs in terms of individual freedom to express true love outside of marriage.

Polyamory has similarities with free love doctrines of the 19th century and the concept of open marriage put forward in the second half of the 20th century, but it is a more inclusive philosophy, a more open-ended version of free love. Polyamorous individuals may have multiple romantic relationships with the consent of all involved without necessarily viewing one person as primary partner. Elizabeth viewed her husband Theodore as her primary partner, and Reverend Beecher as another love that enriched her life and deepened her love for her husband.

Is there a message from this historical controversy that resonates today?
The story of Elizabeth is relevant to concerns about individual freedom and social ethics in more recent times. The emergence of creeds of sexual liberation and open marriage in the second half of the 20th century raised questions about whether free love is liberating for women. Many women were still economically dependent on men, which made it difficult for them to insist that men grant their partners the same sexual freedom that they claimed for themselves. The MeToo movement that emerged in the early 21st century points to the problems implicit in a sexual relationship in which one partner enjoys the advantage of power and position. Elizabeth insisted that her tie with Reverend Beecher was based on true love, but her husband saw it as a pastor taking advantage of a deeply loyal member of his flock. On the other hand, Theodore was oblivious of the power dynamic in his marriage to Elizabeth. If our society continues to make progress toward gender equality, we can hope that women involved in polyamorous relationships do not undergo the same heartbreak that Elizabeth experienced.

Five by Five: Lyn Squire goes for a unique take on the mystery genre

By Max Bowen

In his new book, “Fatally Inferior,” author Lyn Squire brings back his protagonist Dunston Burnett. A lot has changed with the character, and he’s feeling more like an investigator after the events in the first book. A good thing too, because in “Fatally Inferior,” he’s got a perplexing murder to solve.

In this interview, Lyn talks about Dunston’s growth, the mystery he’s tasked with solving and the setting of Victorian England.

How has Dunston changed from the last book?
Dunston Burnett, my protagonist, is a diffident, middle-aged, retired bookkeeper. In “Immortalised to Death,” the first book in The Dunston Burnett Trilogy, he comes out of his shell enough to engage in a mild flirtation. It does not end well. After that experience, his unease around women becomes even more pronounced in the second book, “Fatally Inferior,” and a bachelor he will remain for the rest of his days. He did however earn the respect of his policeman colleague in book one, and this bolsters his confidence as an investigator in book two.

What went into creating this mysterious disappearance?
I wanted to move away from the standard ‘locked-room’ mystery in which the corpse is found in an enclosed space without any feasible means of exit for the killer. In “Fatally Inferior,” the body vanishes, seemingly spirited out of a snowbound, locked-tight country house. The only tracks in the white surrounding the house lead from the backdoor, but that door was locked the entire night of the disappearance and all keys were safely secured. This apparent impossibility is the mystery confronting Dunston at the start of “Fatally Inferior.”

How does this particular case challenge Dunston?
As in all his cases, the mystery at the heart of “Fatally Inferior” pits Dunston’s limited sleuthing skills against the complexity of the crimes he confronts. Whether he succeeds or not is an open question. But this time he also faces a greater and more personal challenge. Initially, Dunston was intrigued by the case as an intellectual puzzle, but when he suffers a devastating loss, he becomes a man on a mission, driven and determined.

Where do you see this character going?
The third book in the trilogy, “The Séance of Murder,” is a story of greed. Dunston is invited to a distant relative’s house where he finds himself involved in a séance and a murder. After more deadly deeds, Dunston’s fate hangs in the balance. He is presented with the unexpected prospect of an affluent lifestyle, but only if he can expose the killer before he himself dies. Either outcome – wealth or death – brings Dunston Burnett’s life as an investigator to an end. “The Séance of Murder” will be released in 2026.

What’s the influence of setting this in Victorian England and involving the family of Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin’s life and times drive and shape “Fatally Inferior” in two ways. One stems from the uproar that greeted the publication of “The Origin of Species.” Darwin was immediately bombarded with scathing reviews, blistering editorials and crude cartoons. This avalanche of disgust and hatred from believers in God’s creation of man, led me to imagine a more malicious assault on the scientist, the abduction of a family member. The other arises from his marriage. Darwin and his wife were first cousins. In the 19th century, the offspring of such marriages were thought to suffer loss of vigor and infertility. This brought to mind an image of a couple desperate for a grandchild only to be cruelly robbed of this happy outcome by a vile act of revenge. Together, the invective and Darwin’s blood relationship with his wife, are the structural foundations of “Fatally Inferior.”

A steampunk adventure with Nikola Tesla

To wrap up our Halloween coverage, we’re talking historical fiction, steampunk and Tesla….no not that Tesla. Joining us is author Matthew Donald to talk about his new book, “Teslamancer.”

The book is Donald’s second in this alternate history steampunk series, following “Teslanauts” in 2022. In the new book, protagonist Raymond Calvert is an experienced Teslanaut, completing missions across many countries, thwarting numerous underground factions using Tesla's cutting-edge volt-tech. In 1924, the world braces for the emergence of the Teslamancer, the ultimate wielder of Tesla's breakthrough science.

In this interview, Matthew talks about what inspired the series and how he changed history for the books. We go into Raymond’s character and how he’s changed over the two books and what lies in store over the next three titles. And of course, the interview wouldn’t be complete without talking about the tech to be found in this series.

Ink and Riffs: Life is Strange comic, Titanic history, and Samantha Marie’s new EP

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com.


Life is Strange: Forget Me Not (comic)
I’m a big, big, BIG fan of the “Life is Strange” video games and eagerly read the comic series that was released through Titan Comics in 2020. In 2023, the company released a four-issue series that that follows “True Colors,” the most recent game in the series, which is what I’m writing about here. 

In the new series, “Forget Me Not,” Alex Chen and Steph Gingrich are on the road together, living their dream as a band, converting an old bus into their mobile home and playing gigs all over. But their plans change when they meet Lily, a girl with the ability to take people’s memories—and all she wants is to give them back and find her family.

Storytelling is definitely a core strength of the LiS series, and “Forget Me Not” carries this well, creating a world with depth, feeling and purpose. It was cool getting to see the artistic journey of Alex and Steph and the various challenges they encounter, such as dismal crowds and asshole label execs. The girl is more than a story element—we learn a lot about her and feel for her when we discover how her powers have devastated her life.

Art-wise, I really enjoyed the look of the comic. It has life to it, and the detail in the different scenes, such as Alex and Steph’s mobile home or the clubs they play at. The clothing designs are also well thought out and helps to show the personalities of the cast. In all, this series is a strong continuation to “True Colors” and definitely worth checking out.

A Night to Remember (book)

Regarded as a classic recounting of the final night of the Titanic and rightfully so, “A Night to Remember” combines exact details with powerful emotion to take readers to that fateful night in 1912.

Written by Walter Lord, the book opens the night of April 14, 1912, when the ship declared to be “Unsinkable,” struck an iceberg. Two hours later, the ship seen as the height of shipbuilding and luxury was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

I’ve long had a fascination with the story of Titanic and this book provides a wealth of information that I was before now unaware of. Reading this, I’m transported back to that fateful night, amongst the passengers as they try to save themselves from the doomed ship. The book follows passengers in third, second and first class as they respond to the unthinkable and eventually come to terms with the reality filling the decks and halls of the great ship.

One thing about the book is that it’s the result of a lot of research and interviews with survivors to help set the scenes. We’re given precise details and scenes that really paint a picture of what is happening, from the moment of the iceberg to the survivors trying to determine their fate. The result is an accounting of this historic milestone and a book not to be missed.


Shapeshifting (music)
The second studio album from singer-songwriter Samantha Marie is a really amazing collection of music. I had previously heard the single “aphrodite,” which caught my attention immediately with its beautiful instrumentation and beautiful vocals, and learning the album was out on Oct. 18 was a good day.

The seven tracks are soothing, but carry a message of navigating the world of mental health. One of my favorites is “shinjuku,” which opens with an elegant piano melody and quickly but smoothly moves through different elements.

“Aphrodite” creates an atmosphere of sound that draws you right in and wanders through a great assortment of music, with a blend of folk and pop sounds.

The album features some collaborations, with bectopia on “aphrodite” and Covey on “shinjuku,” and the chemistry is apparent on both. The integration between their different sounds is seamless and really enhances what each brings to the table.

“Shapeshifting” really shows Samantha Marie’s range as an artist and I’m eager to see what’s next.

Five by Five: “Sleeping in the Sun” offers a blend of perspectives on a tale set in India

By Max Bowen

In Joanne Howard’s family-inspired book, “Sleeping in the Sun,” (Oct. 22, She Writes Press) readers are introduced to Gene Hinton and his Indian servant, Arthur, in British-ruled India. The book takes on two very different perspectives—one of privilege and one without. In this Five by Five interview, Howard shares the family stories that helped create the book, introduces us to George and Arthur, and talks about the historical changes she made in writing the book.

How did your family’s missionary work inspire the story?
This novel started one Thanksgiving dinner where my family passed around photo albums and diaries. I had always known that my grandfather was born and raised in India, and he would often cook these elaborate Indian dinners and even made me toys with Bengali inscriptions painted on them. But that Thanksgiving was the first time I can remember delving into the family archives and seeing photographs of the life they had there. It just struck me as such a different life than my own; there were diary entries of eating dinner outside a fragrant blooming Kamini tree in the moonlight or shaking out the bedding every night to make sure no critters had climbed in. And when I realized I had never come across a novel about Americans in British India, I just thought, there must be a story here.

Their life as missionaries was somewhat unique for westerners in India in that not only did they immerse themselves in India’s lowest social classes, those that needed the help, but they also were quite poor themselves. I thought this was pretty different from all the novels I had read about the English in India, which often had characters of high society or power and lived very proper lives.

What kind of research was done to prepare for writing?
Of course I started with my family’s well-curated trove of firsthand accounts, from multiple family members’ autobiographies to school diaries to vintage photographs. While that helped me imagine this time period and these characters, I was conscious of not wanting to stick too closely to the facts; this was still, after all, my story to tell, so I didn’t want to tie myself down to the historical accuracy. As for Arthur’s character, who is an Indian man and therefore outside my own lived experience or personal connection, I just tried to absorb as many works of Indian literature that matched his background and the time period, and two books especially inspired his character: “The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian” by Nirad C. Chaudhuri and “Pather Panchali” by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay.

In 2018, I also took a trip to India and visited a few locations that appear in the novel, such as the neighborhood where my family lived, their mission’s church that is still there, and some places in Calcutta like Howrah Station and the Maidan.

This book actually began as my thesis during my MFA in Creative Writing at Pacific University, Oregon, so there was a high expectation for research not only from a historical perspective but also from a literary perspective; I read as many books as I could set during the British Raj.

Tell me about the time period this book takes place in and what is happening?
The book is set in the 1930s, just a decade before India gains independence in 1947. In 1911, the Raj moved its capital from Calcutta to New Delhi amidst a rising nationalist movement in Calcutta. So the story takes place in between these big historical events. Bengal was historically a more progressive part of India; for example, the Bengal Renaissance was an arts and culture movement that saw a rise in themes of individualism and independence. So the stage is set for the fall of colonial rule, even if it is still a few years off.

What historical changes does your book make and why?
The family’s Indian servant, Arthur, is urged by his friend, Neer, to try courting Neer’s cousin and to see if married life is right for Arthur. The concept of courting or dating is very western compared to India, where arranged matches are more common. However, I was inspired by “A Suitable Boy,” a novel that is set just 20 years later about a young Indian woman who dates in search of a husband. And again, Bengal is a very progressive part of India, and with Arthur’s unique personal situation of having no parents or extended family to help arrange a marriage, I wanted to explore what a marriage plot could look like for him. It’s highly unusual, but the plot reveals why this is such a special case.

Who are Gene and Arthur, and how would you describe their relationship?
Gene is the youngest of four rowdy American brothers, and Arthur is the family’s lone Indian servant. They can both relate to each other as being at the bottom of the hierarchy in their lives, albeit in different ways. They are also both outcasts on some level; the Hintons are American and don’t quite fit in with British society, and Arthur has spent almost his whole life serving this missionary family, which typically didn’t mesh well with native Indians. They are also the only two people who are skeptical when Uncle Ellis arrives; they question why this high-ranking British judge is deigning to visit this humble American missionary family.

Five by Five — Author’s historical series looks at the “why”

By Max Bowen

“Five By Five” is the name for our series of written Q&A interviews with writers and musicians. The name actually refers to audio signals, which ties in with our regular podcast. Five By Five is another way to say “good signal strength” or “loud and clear,” but can also mean “exceptional quality,” which certainly lines up with the artists we speak with.

J. Boyce Gleason has long been fascinated by French history, so it’s only natural that his trilogy, “The Carolingian Chronicles,” would be focused on this topic. His first novel, “Anvil of God,” comes from a history class that Gleason took in college on Charlemagne.

In this interview, Gleason goes into why he wanted to write about the children of Charles Martel as they vie for power, the different story arcs he follows and his desire to explore why people make their choices.

What would you say inspired you to write in the first place?
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and thought that maybe one day I’d have a book in me. When I got a chance (through a sabbatical) to try my hand, I found that I couldn’t stop once I started. As to why this story? In college, I studied the epic poem "The Song of Roland” and thought it was underrated and deserved a broader audience. I promised myself that if I ever sat down to write a novel, that would be my subject.

Your trilogy focused on Charles Martel. Who is he, and how did he and his family become the subject of your series?
Charles Martel is often remembered as a king (even on Jeopardy!) but he served as "Mayor of the Palace" to the last of the Merovingian Kings. He was a fierce warlord who conquered much of the European continent but is most remembered for stopping the invasion of the Muslim armies that had swept across most of Africa and into Spain. He fought them at the Battle of Poitiers in 732 and defeated an army of a much greater size. Many historians have credited him with saving Christianity. His victory earned him the title of Charles the Hammer.

Your books follow the lives of Martel’s children. What are some of the story arcs that the series follows?
Much of the story centers around the conflict of religions. Christianity (supported by the Merovingians and the descendants of Martel) was determined to replace paganism throughout the continent. The sons of Martel had a civil war following his death to preclude their younger stepbrother from inheriting power. As the boy’s mother came from Bavaria and the easter duchies were still pagan at the time (if unofficially), I chose to make the civil war about religion.

The second and perhaps more important storyline is that of Charles’s daughter, Hiltrude, who flees Martel’s court in the dead of the night to escape an arranged marriage for the love of one of his enemies. Historians have called it "the scandal of the eighth century." I was so taken with her tale that it became the centerpiece of the novel.

I read that you’re fascinated with why people make their choices. How is this explored in your books?
Many people look at history as a series of events—one thing follows another in an endless series of dates we have to remember. I look at it as a history of choices people make. We know what happened in history; I write historical fiction to discover why.

The people who make history are human beings just like you and me. Circumstances or perhaps their ambition put them in a place of power, but they—as people—still have to choose a course of action.

As a result, I refused to make any of the characters in my novel “good” or “evil,” as I don’t think most people are built that way. Their beliefs and circumstances push them to choose a course of action. The cumulative choices people make drive what we know as history.

For example, at the start of the first book, I knew that one of the characters was destined to do something terrible in the third book. I had to figure out what would drive him to make such a decision. What would lead him to choose to turn against his humanity? If I couldn’t figure that out, the story wouldn’t make sense to me.

Will there be more books on French history?

I hope so. I’ve taken a break to write about a different time period and just finished a new novel on a young Ben Franklin. But, my original intent was to write about “The Song of Roland,” which tells the ill-fated story of Charlemagne’s greatest knight. By the third book of my trilogy, Charlemagne is still only three years old. I can see Roland on the horizon, but still have a ways to go.

Five By Five-Author’s book helps keep family history alive

By Max Bowen

“Five By Five” is the name for our series of written Q&A interviews with writers and musicians. The name actually refers to audio signals, which ties in with our regular podcast. Five By Five is another way to say “good signal strength” or “loud and clear,” but can also mean “exceptional quality,” which certainly lines up with the artists we speak with. 

Debra Yates’ new book, “Woman of Many Names,” takes the history of Nancy Ward, Yates’ seventh-great-grandmother, and brings it to new life. The book is centered on Ward, who had ties to Daniel Boone and George Washington, including having saved the latter's life (and, it's believed, vice versa). Ward has been memorialized in Benton, Tennessee, by a federal historical marker. Also known as Nanyehi, she also foretold one of the great American tragedies, the Trail of Tears.

In this interview, Yates talks about how she learned about her ancestor and what led to her writing the story, as well the research she did and family she spoke to. Yates also goes into what she learned during this time and the message she hopes to convey.

What about Nancy Ward’s story inspired you to write this book?
The novel “Woman of Many Names” was originally written down to assure me that my family would know the story of Nancy Ward from a descendant that heard her story through the Cherokee way of the oral tradition. When I had my writings transposed to a disk from a friend of mine, she encouraged me to share the story with the world by writing a novel.

Her story is worthy of being told, as she not only was a valuable member and leader of the ancient Cherokee, but she also made an impact on the white settlers that came to the lands where we lived for thousands of years. As I began to research writings that were previously written about Nancy, I became enamored by the way she ruled.

Nancy was trained as a child to become a ruler of the Cherokee. She garnered respect amongst the Cherokee as well as the colonialists and those that came to the Americas to live as well as visit.

How much of her story did you know?
The stories imparted on me from family members – written as well as unwritten – would encompass approximately one third of the writings. I spent a few years procuring all the books I could find on the life and times of Nancy Ward. These resources are actually how I got the title “Woman of Many Names.” As I read, I accumulated many names of many of my relatives, so as I got farther into writing and compiling the information I made a comment, “boy that woman had so many names.” Then I decided that the book would be called “Woman of Many Names.”

Did anything about Nancy’s story surprise you?
Yes, there were many things about Nancy that have inspired me as well as surprised me. The first being that she was three to four months pregnant when she went to war at Ballground, Georgia. It was also called the Battle of Taliwa. I also learned that her next husband was positioned to watch the battle ensue.

As I studied this battle, I came to know there were several tribes of Indians present as well as British soldiers. As to what they were all doing in this area can’t positively be known. I suspect they were there planning a surprise war on us as well. The Muskogee were constantly infringing on our hunting grounds as well as participating in many skirmishes with hunting and scouting parties of the Cherokee.

How did this change from initial idea to finished product?
I am not a writer by trade, so I had no idea how to disseminate the formula of putting pen to paper and telling such an important story.

It began as an outline of sorts for my family and turned into a whole project. Multiple times I would read my writings and have more questions than answers; through reading dozens of materials that had maybe only a few sentences about her or even just a few pages, to entire books from fiction to nonfiction. Then I re-read all my materials and added new information, changed some information, and a time or two deleted information.

What do you hope people take from reading this?
Striving to take the reader back in time to see, feel and live in the 18th century. To be an Indian woman in a time where women had little or no impact in a white man's eyes.

To remind the Cherokee what those days were like. To inform our conquerors’ descendants what we were thinking about, our ways, and how the ancient Indians thought. The Cherokee were and are a simple and complicated people. In our belief system the Creator places us and our ancestors here to take care of the land and all that dwelled within it. For thousands of years, we resided here with little to no interference. Our stories that have been told for many generations spoke of people from far-off lands long before the days of Christopher Columbus.

The stories tell of days that the people were stolen from their homes, some to never be seen again. These people from far away came to take our resources — furs, wood, copper, silver, gold and even our own people to be used in their bidding. Our society viewed a woman’s place as whatever she wanted to be. Whether that was a farmer, a hunter or even a leader of war. Women earned respect even among men for their prowess or all that we were capable of.

Nanyehi (Nancy Ward), exhibited so many of these qualities. From a curious child who wanted to learn all she could about the ways of war and peace. How to help and lead her people through such a contentious time in our early American history. Nanyehi loved her family and people so dearly she risked her life on countless occasions to assume the Cherokee and her family would survive long into the future.

Her memory lives on today.

Five By Five—Brian Morra’s second book inspired by 1980s history

By Max Bowen

“Five By Five” is the name for our series of written Q&A interviews with writers and musicians. The name actually refers to audio signals, which ties in with our regular podcast. Five By Five is another way to say “good signal strength” or “loud and clear,” but can also mean “exceptional quality,” which certainly lines up with the artists we speak with. Now with that out of the way, on to the book!

Following the success of his debut novel, “The Able Archers,” author Brian J. Morra returns with a sequel, “The Righteous Arrows” (Koehler Books, April 16).

In the sequel, readers reconnect with American Kevin Cattani and his older Soviet counterpart, Ivan Levchenko in the mid-1980s for a chilling Cold War saga of superpower confrontation. After Cattani barely escapes with his life from an East German bunker, he and Levchenko find themselves on opposite sides of the Soviet Union’s brutal war in Afghanistan, where Cattani supplies the Islamic resistance with advanced weapons to kill Russian troops. In facing new homegrown adversaries, both men question the roles they play in the deadly superpower duel.

In this interview, Brian goes into the history behind this story and how real-life events played a role. He talks about the lessons learned from “The Able Archers” and how his work as an intelligence officer came into play.

"The Able Archers" was your debut novel. What were some of the lessons you learned that you applied to "The Righteous Arrows"?
I learned a great deal about the writing process from my experience with “The Able Archers,” but I think I learned even more from writing the television treatment for that book. Writing for TV taught me a lot about brevity and story arcs and that influenced the final manuscript of “The Righteous Arrows.” I also applied lessons about dealing with conflict and character development–at least I hope I applied them! I think one becomes a better writer by composing in different forms.

What about this time period–the 1980s–inspired you?
Ah, the 1980s. I was an intelligence officer during the 80s and it was a formative time in my life. Also, I find that there is an interesting paradox in America’s collective memory of Cold War history. Despite the fact that the Cold War reached its second climax during the 1980s, most people in the US think of the 1960s and the Cuban Missile Crisis when they recall the Cold War. I find it ironic, because during the 1980s there was great consternation in the media and in academia about Ronald Reagan’s policies toward the Soviet Union as causing a new Cold War, which seems to be forgotten in large part.

I believe that the 1980s are better understood in Europe where the deployment of new NATO nuclear missile systems and fears of provoking the USSR reached a fever pitch in 1983 and 1984. To answer your question about “inspiration,” I think I am inspired to educate readers about the critical events of the 1980s Cold War and how those events reverberate in today’s geopolitics. These events ought to be as well known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

What kind of research was needed?
My research differed for “The Able Archers” and “The Righteous Arrows” in the following way. In regard to “The Able Archers,” I relied a great deal on my own memory of events and I conducted research with aim toward validating those memories. For events I had no personal connection with, I had to conduct research. One example from “The Able Archers” would be the “Petrov ICBM incident.” I had less personal involvement in many of the events in “The Righteous Arrows,” although I had some. For example, I did a great deal of research about how the Soviet military conducted operations in Afghanistan during the war in the 1980s. I wanted my depiction of the climactic Soviet raid into Pakistan to be based on the way that Soviet Spetsnaz forces really fought.

I read that you’ve worked as an intelligence officer. How did this inform your books?
As I have mentioned, my experience as an intelligence officer is central to my writing. It would never have occurred to me to write these historical novels had I not had that experience. I think my experience allows me to write realistically about how intelligence works and the challenges that one confronts as an intelligence officer. The feedback I have gotten from people in the intelligence field and from special operators has been very positive.

Any real-world stories that found their way into these books?
Oh my. My books are historical fiction, so they are based on real events. I also tap into my personal memory and write from that perspective. At times, I get a sensation of time travel. When composing a scene that is based on personal memory, I get into a zone where I travel back to the event. Sometimes I can hear the dialogue and see faces from those long ago times. At times like those, I feel I am transcribing rather than composing.

New book takes readers on an adventure through the American West

By Max Bowen

In Tim Piper’s new book, “The Powell Expeditions,” kicks off a historical adventure series set in the 1860s American West. Piper’s historical fiction is inspired by the Colorado River expeditions of real-life naturalist, college professor, and one-armed Civil War veteran Major John Wesley Powell, who was the first American explorer to hike the Longs Peak Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, and navigate the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

In this interview, Tim talks about how he learned of Wesley’s story and adapted it for his book, as well as what we can expect in future novels. He also goes into the research he did and building the character of Jubilee Walker.

“The Powell Expeditions” was released on Jan. 15 through Sunshine Parade Publishing. Learn more at www.timpiper-author.com.

Let’s begin with setting this in the 1860s. What about this time period appealed to you?
It was not the time period itself that appealed to me, but Major John Wesley Powell’s Colorado exploring expeditions during the summers of 1867, 1868 and 1869. I wanted to describe Powell’s adventures, but it seemed too daunting to tell the story from the point of view of a historical figure. I created Jubilee Walker, my fictional protagonist, and used his coming-of-age story as a vehicle to follow Powell’s adventures, and examine life during that era.

Who is Major John Wesley Powell and how did he inspire your book?
Powell was a geologist, soldier, explorer, professor and director of major scientific and cultural institutions. He is most famous for being the first to follow the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Several years ago, I hiked the Longs Peak Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Afterward, I purchased a book on the history of the mountain. I was surprised to learn that the first person to summit it was Major John Wesley Powell, a professor at Illinois Wesleyan University in my hometown, Bloomington, Illinois. As I read more about Powell’s expeditions in his early years, I felt as though I were reading an adventure novel. When I searched for novels based on his exploring trips, I didn’t find any, so I decided to write one myself.

What kind of research was done for this book?
I started at the library. The archive librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Ames Library allowed me access to their John Wesley Powell Special Collection. These materials, along with other resources suggested by the librarian, provided a wealth of information about Powell. As I started to develop my other characters, I found I needed to know what everyday life was like in Bloomington and in the wider United States during the post–Civil War years. I began reading through newspapers in online archives and seeking out books about that era to fill in these details.

It seems Jubilee Walker is a person who loves a good adventure. Why and how does this impact the story?
“The Powell Expeditions” is the story of Jubilee Walker, a young man whose mother dies when he is 17, leaving him to decide whether to continue farming or pursue a life of adventure, which he has often dreamed of. He turns to Major John Wesley Powell, a family friend, for advice, and learns Powell is leading a group of students on an exploring expedition in the West. Jubil sets his sights on joining Powell. But his plans for a life of adventure are complicated by his deepening feelings for his best friend, Nelly Boswell. She is very independent-minded and reluctant to spend her life with a man who insists on such a dangerous lifestyle. We join Jubil as he navigates the hardships and lawlessness of the American West and grapples with choosing between a life of adventure and the girl he loves.

What’s next for you?
The next book in the series is “The Yellowstone Campaign.” In this story, Jubil is drawn into the 1870 Washburn expedition that paved the way for the first formal geographic surveys of the Yellowstone Basin in 1871 by Dr. Ferdinand Hayden and Captain John Barlow. Jubil and his fellow adventurers find themselves in a wonderland of exotic geography that can be as deadly as it is awe inspiring.

“The Yellowstone Campaign” will be released in July 2024.

“Rain Dodging” blends history, travel, and inspiring women writers

By Max Bowen

In “Rain Dodging,” (She Writes Press) author Susan Goodwin took a historical journey to learn more of Mary of Modena, an inspirational person who founded a court of women writers, something unheard of in the 17th century. Susan talks about how she discovered Mary’s story and how it grew into this new book.


I read that the book is part memoir and part nonfiction. What is the memoir portion?
Think of “Rain Dodging” as a triple helix of royal history, travel, and memoir. Irreverently peppered throughout the book, I twist parallel spicy stories of my own resilient, sometimes messy, feminist path.


What was it about Mary of Modena’s story that inspired you to write a book about her?
14th-century French writer François Rabelais declared women were not fully human beings, not endowed with a soul, and not created in the image of God, who, after all, was male. In 17th-century Christian tradition, women were seen as temptresses who personified original sin and lured men to evil. Something about the resilience of women who wrote and published in an age that did not support them brought forth an emotional reaction. English majors are expected to come up with their own paper topics. When I stumbled onto the late 17th-century Stuart court of Queen Mary of Modena, consort to James II, who at only 14 years of age had been pressured into marriage with a man 25 years her senior and forced to leave her idyllic Italian home, I felt the click, the heartbeat, the stab I feel when I find a topic that intrigues.


I imagine this involved a lot of research. What did you have to do to learn what you needed?
Part of the joy of research—and for me it is joyful—is the ability to explore freely. While attending a summer tutorial at Oxford, I was fortunate to conduct literary research with Dr. Peter McCullough, esteemed professor and Fellow of Renaissance Literature. For six invigorating weeks, I studied Eighteenth-century literature and the arts with the brilliant and delightful Peter. His course energized, making constant connections between history, literature, and artistic movements. While researching my final paper for Peter about poet Anne Finch, Countess of Winchelsea and her poem “Nocturnal Reverie,” I first came upon Mary of Modena, whose court was filled with women writers. A court of women writers would be extraordinary in this time. How did this come to be? How might these women have interacted and inspired one another? What was Mary of Modena’s role in this? I was hooked. Peter was encouraging about my book idea. True to his MO, he dashed to his computer and gathered up a beginning bibliography for me to pursue. This is what got me started on my years-long search for answers.



Mary’s court of women writers—was such a thing unheard of in this time?
This was very unusual and what spoke to me initially.


Was there anything to Mary’s story that surprised you?
How powerless she was to control her own life. As well, the connection between Mary and the women who originated ‘the Salon’ was an unexpected surprise.


What did you learn about the world of early European feminism?
I found a fascinating connection to the history of salon culture. The salon, an important place for the exchange of ideas, developed in 16th-century Italy. Salons encouraged socializing between the sexes and brought nobles and the middle class together. Salons helped facilitate the breaking down of social barriers. Here, women could be powerful influences. Between 1540 and 1560, women writers were numerous enough to be considered a significant group for the first time in Italian literary history. Salon culture flourished in France throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, emigrating from Italy.

One such very important circle—and connected to Mary of Modena—was created on Ischia [Is’ kee ə], an island a mere 17 miles southwest of Naples, Italy. Ischia was a utopia for women receiving dispatches from husbands fighting in war zones while remaining safe from peril themselves. There, in 1509, mistress of Ischia Castle, Constanza d’Avalos, established a poetry salon. She was joined by her niece, poet Vittoria Colonna, a member of the House of Este, Mary of Modena’s noble family. Vittoria launched a “moveable salon” while visiting Duke Ercole II d’Este in Ferrara, just 45 miles from Modena. One such salon was hosted by Isabella d’Este, 1474–1539. Both Isabella and Vittoria were sixth-generation House of Este—Maria Beatrice of Modena was seventh-generation. By the 17th century, in Rome, Princess of Colonna, the daring Marie Mancini—also Mary of Modena’s cousin—was a major salon hostess and a published author of memoir.

Because the women of Ischia lived their adult lives virtually as single, they experienced complete artistic freedom unrestricted by male dominance. Many of the more important Italian salons of the day were led by the women from Ischia or were offshoots of one of their salons. Salon culture spread quickly through Europe. In fact, salon culture could be considered the precursor of modern publishing as a method of moving culture forward.

It is important to me that I pass on knowledge of the early vestiges of European feminism to teach younger generations of women our illustrious histories: Women’s studies go further back than Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem’s second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s or the suffragettes of the early twentieth century.


Did the writing impact you in any way?
The writing definitely reinforced my love of words, of stringing them together to make poetry. As well, I found a new identity through the historical context of the female struggle.


What do you hope readers take away from this book?
There are different themes in “Rain Dodging” but the one that keeps rising to the forefront at this stage in my life is the inner resilience to keep moving forward, to jump over obstacles. I also genuinely want my women readers to know that not only can one accept aging, but one can gracefully knock it on its ass.