Mrs R. Pacheco by Rose Ann Woolpert

 

Mrs. R. Pacheco is a sweeping story of love, ambition, and colliding cultures in the American West, inspired by the actual life of playwright, novelist, and California first lady Mary McIntyre Pacheco.

Publication Date: May 26th, 2026
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 252
Genre: Historical Fiction / Literary Fiction

It is 1859, and the glittering promise of the California Gold Rush has faded into dust, leaving behind a land suspended between ambition and uncertainty.

Into this shifting world steps Mary Catherine "Molly" McIntyre, a young woman newly unmoored by loss, carrying both the weight of family duty and the quiet, persistent call of her own dreams.

Based on the remarkable life of Mary McIntyre Pacheco, Mrs. R. Pacheco unfolds as an intimate portrait of a woman caught between cultures, expectations, and the fragile hope of self-determination. When Molly marries Romualdo Pacheco, a Californio statesman destined to become California's first Hispanic governor, her life is swept into a world both foreign and exhilarating, where love must contend with tradition, and identity is shaped by forces beyond her control.

As Molly navigates the complexities of marriage, society, and a rapidly changing California, she discovers within herself a fierce creative spirit that refuses to be silenced. Her journey from grieving daughter to pioneering novelist and playwright becomes a testament to resilience, illuminating the quiet strength required to carve a voice in a world not yet ready to hear it.

Rich in historical detail and alive with emotional depth, this novel evokes the textures of nineteenth-century California, from its sunlit landscapes to its deeply rooted cultural divides. Through Molly's eyes, readers are drawn into a story of longing, reinvention, and the delicate balance between belonging and becoming.

Both sweeping and deeply personal, Mrs. R. Pacheco is a story of love shaped by circumstance, ambition tempered by sacrifice, and the enduring courage it takes to stand between worlds and claim a life as one's own.

Praise for Mrs. R. Pacheco:

"Based on a real story in the mid 1850’s during the California Gold Rush. Well researched and very enjoyable to read. Highly recommend."
~ Amazon Review, 5*

"The detail of the descriptions of all makes the reader part of the story: fellow travelers, the boats and trains, the food, the clothing, the housing. And then Mary meets Romualdo Pacheco and the story takes off again, drawing the reader into Romualdo's courting of Mary. the wedding, birth of their children and premature passing of one while Romualdo takes on offices from State Senator, State Treasurer, Lt. Governor, Governor and member of congress. All the while, from the beginning, we see Mary's nascent desire to write being nurtured by many people in many ways. This book catches the readers interest and keeps it. Highly recommended."
~ Amazon Review, 5*

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Rose Ann Woolpert

Rose Ann Woolpert is drawn to questions history leaves unanswered. As an author whose work is grounded in fact and shaped by imagination, she writes stories that explore how individuals navigate change, loss, ambition, and identity.

Her writing is often inspired by California history, particularly the lives of women whose stories risk being lost to memory. Family recollections, historical records, and careful research inform her work, while fiction allows space to imagine motives, choices, and inner lives beyond the historical record.

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The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland

 

Publication Date: July 28th, 2026
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Pages: 264
Genre: Historical Fiction

From a land of milk,

And a Road of Silk,

To a ring of roses,

And a dance of posies,

Comes the tale of the spirit of the times!

In fourteenth-century Central Asia, Karia is a young woman living under the yoke of Mongol occupation. But she’s different. She’s a fighter with supernatural powers. She could use them to keep the Black Plague at bay and solve the mystery of the purple skies at dawn – if only she could overcome her self-doubt.

Travelling in caravans on the Silk Road, she faces dangers seen and unseen – from sandstorms and slave traders to the desert djinn and folk who believe she’s a witch. She fears losing Abi, her little cousin, who’s fascinated by roses and the dance of the Whirling Dervishes of Bukhara.

When Karia falls in love with an English sailor fleeing the Knights Hospitaller, they sail to England with Abi to unravel the meaning of the purple skies, a dance, a posy tree, and a ring of roses.

The Spirit of the Times is part history, part fiction and part speculation: on the origin of disease; the power of innocence; the unfortunate aspects of custom and dogma; and humanity’s ability to respond to the governing influence or spirit of the times.

Excerpt

CHAPTER 2

Two Anniversaries

Balasagun

The morning of the 21st of July 1338 in the Year of the Tiger

 

When Karia awoke, the light and early warmth of the day intruded through the crown of her ger. Poking her nose outside, she breathed in the fresh air of the steppes, and her eyes were drawn to the unusual sight of purple skies at dawn. They had appeared for the first time a few days ago. Even Ayana had never seen them before. 

The purple skies dusted the distant mountains in a brilliant hue. Today, the Tian Shen, the Heavenly Mountains, were as silent as the steps of a snow leopard. The gods of the wind had blown elsewhere to sweep the air clean, perhaps to the Gobi Desert or the Altai Mountains. In her mind’s eye, along the quietness of the Chuy Valley, she could see the waters of the seven rivers sparkling with a natural effervescence as they drained into Lake Issyk Kul. The raucous cries of an eagle circling over the slopes broke the silence. In Balasagun, the remnants of its towering minarets and elegant church spires reached into the purple-tinted skies.

Today was a day of anniversaries, not one, but two, and both were tinged with sadness and regret. Karia picked up the small leather pouch she kept by her bedside. Her grandmother Emee, with whom she shared the ger, asked her what was in it.

“Here, you’ll recognise them straight away,” Karia said, opening the pouch and showing her a silver engagement ring and a gold marriage band. 

“Yes, of course I do,” Emee said softly.

Remembering the occasion, Karia welled up with emotion and said through her tears, “Yes, Mother gave them to me before she died. It’s a treasured memory.”

“And a sad one too, because today is the first anniversary of her death,” Emee said, with a touch of rue. “You lost a mother, and I lost a daughter.” 

“Of all the ways to leave this world, to die of a bee sting,” Karia said, wiping away a tear. “How could God take her away from us like that? It’s just not fair.”  

“It was strange,” Emee said. “Because my mother died in the same way.” 

“It’s more than strange. It’s tragic,” Karia said, recalling the incident as if she watched it re-enacted in the Mirror of Fate. One year ago, the family had gathered to savour life’s joys in the beauty of the rose garden at Sanmaq and Bačaq’s dwelling in Balasagun. In the distance rose the mysterious Burana Tower that seemed to peer down on the family gathering. 

Sanmaq, then Bačaq’s husband of twenty-one months, strolled into their garden with his customary Danko swagger. On the spur of the moment, he plucked a red rose, got down on one knee, and offered it to Maryam. An insect flew out of it, landed on her hand and stung her. She’d scratched the sting, which quickly swelled into a nasty red boil. She coughed, then choked, and soon grasped her throat, gasping for God’s air. Helpless, the family watched her face contort in pain until Ayana, with Karia’s help, applied some healing herbs to their mother’s wound. All to no avail because, soon after, Maryam let out a long, weary sigh, and her spirit ascended to Heaven. Not only the manner, but the suddenness of her death still cast a dark shadow over the Turgut clan.

Her mother’s death had devastated Karia. After Karia’s father had given Karia the Burul nickname, Maryam was one of the few who rebuked him and tried to protect and comfort her. On that day one year ago, Karia lost more than a mother; she had lost her stability and her safety. Now that Maryam was gone, Karia escaped her grief and anger by spending long hours riding her mare across the vast open steppes and along the shores of Lake Issyk Kul.

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Justin Newland

Justin Newland's novels represent an innovative blend of genres, from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. 

Undeterred by the award of a doctorate in mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies. Next came The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) features the Great Enlightenment and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution. The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

At this point in his writing career, after four self-published books, Justin was offered a part-funded contract with the Book Guild.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book ‘The Island of Angels’ series. It tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era. The second in the series, The Midnight of Eights (Book Guild, 2024), charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada.

His latest novel, The Spirit of the Times (Matador, 2026), is to be published in July. It tells the story of a young Kyrgyz woman’s journey westwards along the Silk Road. With purple skies at dawn, and a supporting cast of Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, a perplexing rhyme, a ring of roses, it explores the greatest mystery of all – the spirit of the times. 

Justin’s enduring passion is to explore the origins of our current time. This prompted a broad research into what we’ve inherited from history – encompassing Egypt, China, Prussia and Tudor England.

He also writes entertaining talks which he gives to the WI, U3A, Probus, Rotary and local historical associations. Please visit his website for a current list of the talks.

Alongside the talks, Justin promotes his work with regular book signings at TG Jones (ex. WH Smith) high street stores, selling over 3,500 books since 2019. He has sponsored over 40 UK and US blog tours, given frequent radio interviews and penned many guest posts.

His current book signing motto is: Enjoy, Imagine, Discover.

As a member of the Society of Authors, he has Public and Products Liability Insurance.

Born in Essex, England, three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his lady in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

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Voices on the Wind (A Novel of Malta in WWII, Part I — Assault) by Helena P. Schrader

 

Voices on the Wind 
(A Novel of Malta in WWII, Part I — Assault) 
By Helena P. Schrader

Publication Date: 11th June 2026

Publisher: Cross Seas Press

Pages: 448

Genre: Historical Fiction

Early 1942: the fate of the Suez Canal and access to Middle East oil hangs on the fate of an island just 17 miles long by 9 miles wide: Malta.

 Determined to destroy the British forces threatening Rommel’s supply lines, the Axis powers drop more bombs on Malta than London endured throughout the Blitz. The population is forced underground, while the RAF struggles with inadequate resources to fend off defeat. Meanwhile, Britain’s Atlantic lifeline is fraying....

Voices on the Wind follows the fate of four of Malta’s defenders: Senior Intelligence Officer and former Battle of Britain ace, W/Cdr “Robin” Priestman; WAAF SigInt Officer Candice Weld, sent out from Bletchley Park to “man” the only X-machine outside the UK; F/O “Ned” Nettleton, a Beaufort torpedo bomber pilot engaged in suicidal attacks against enemy shipping; and Chief Officer Stevie Mackay of the British Merchant Navy, fighting to keep Britain’s own lines of supply open.

Praise

What emerges from these pages is more than a story of military operations. It is a portrait of service, endurance, and sacrifice viewed through multiple perspectives, each contributing to a richer understanding of a critical moment in history. 

Yarde Book Promotions

Through a collective of narrators working in different areas of the war effort, mainly in and around Malta, "Voices on the Wind" by Helena P. Schrader explores a frequently overlooked aspect of history, delving into the defence of Malta during the Second World War.

The Coffee Pot Book Club

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Helena P. Schrader

Helena P. Schrader is the author of 21 historical novels and six non-fiction history books. She earned a PhD in History from the University of Hamburg and served as a U.S. diplomat in Europe and Africa. She has won numerous literary awards, and two of her titles—Cold Peace, the first book in the Bridge to Tomorrow series on the Berlin Airlift, and her Battle of Britain novel, Where Eagles Never Flew—achieved Amazon #1 Bestseller status in aviation and military historical fiction.

Schrader masterfully blends meticulous historical research with compelling storytelling. Her success can best be measured not by the many awards or positive reviews, but by the fact that witnesses of the history she describes praise the authenticity of her works. Battle of Britain ace, W/Cdr Bob Doe enthusiastically declared that Where Eagles Never Flew got it “smack on the way it was for us fighter pilots.” Traitors for the Sake of Humanity: A Novel of the German Resistance won recognition for its extraordinary sensitivity to a complex topic from the survivors of the military conspiracy against Hitler and the widows of some of those executed.

The dramatic siege of Malta in WWII attracted Schrader’s attention years ago, and she has visited the island several times to conduct research, visit the important sites, and gain a greater understanding of the people. As she became drawn deeper into the material, the temptation to combine a novel about the siege of Malta with another of her lifelong loves, the British Merchant Navy, became irresistible. Schrader has been an avid sailor all her life and served as a petty officer in the British Merchant Navy on sail training ships in her youth.

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The Cleansing: A Novel of Ancient Rome. Based on a True Story. By Victoria Alvear

The Cleansing

A Novel of Ancient Rome. Based on a True Story.

By Victoria Alvear

Publication Date: January 20th, 2026
Publisher: Hypatia Press
Pages: 314
Genre: Historical Fiction

Based on a true story, this is not the enlightened Rome of myth. This is a city choking on fear, where blood flows on both the battlefield and altar, and where generals and politicians alike are desperate to appease rageful gods.

When 50,000 Romans fall in a single day at the Battle of Cannae, priests claim there can be only one reason the gods abandoned Rome: a Vestal Virgin has broken her vow of chastity. And they accuse Opimia (Mia), the strongest, most defiant of the six sacred Vestal priestesses.

Forced as a child into serving Vesta, the goddess of fire, Mia has always chafed against Rome’s control of her every move—especially after being separated from her childhood love, Attius. Now, accused of a crime she did not commit, she must defend herself in a hostile court to avoid being buried alive for her “crime.”

Betrayed by the high priestess, hunted by Rome’s political and religious elite, Mia must either accept her fate — or join with the Sybil of Cumae to expose the truth behind a world built on superstition, fear, and lies.

A story of personal awakening amid public catastrophe, The Cleansing is a haunting journey through a city at war with itself — and a woman who risks everything to survive it.

Praise for The Cleansing:

"Original, deftly crafted...[and a] historical thriller with an impressive level of literary excellence."

~ Midwest Book Review

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Victoria Alvear

Victoria Alvear has written multiple books and novels set in the ancient world, including A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, A Song of War: A Novel of Troy, Cleopatra’s Moon, and others.

She is known as Vicky Alvear Shecter for her children’s books, which include Warrior Queens, Anubis Speaks!, Hades Speaks!, and Thor Speaks!.

Victoria has served as a docent at the museum of antiquities at Emory University for nearly twenty years.

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