Blog Archives
On A Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland
When I first closed the final page of On a Sundown Sea, I sat with the feeling that I had been walking alongside Katherine Tingley, a woman caught between the raw struggles of the 19th century and her own restless visions of something more. The novel takes us through New York’s crowded tenements, the snowbound Great Blizzard of 1888, and finally into the swirl of spiritualism, social reform, and theosophy that defined her life. It is a story of Katherine’s yearning for justice, for connection, and for the dream of a golden city by the sea where harmony might prevail.
What struck me first about this book was how alive the writing felt. The historical detail pulled me in, yet it never read like a lecture. The voices of the poor at the mission, the creak of an empty bread cart, even the sound of a baby crying outside in the cold stayed with me. I admired the way author Jill G. Hall let Katherine be complicated, fierce and brave, but also vulnerable, flawed, and often unsure. The visions Katherine experiences could have been written as distant or mystical, but instead they felt immediate and human, even tender. I could sense her exhaustion, her longing to believe they meant something.
There were moments when the pacing slowed, especially when the story lingered on Philo’s inventions or the details of household frustrations. I found myself wanting to move back to Katherine’s work at the mission or her encounters with William Q. Judge, which carried a spark. Yet in a strange way, even these slower stretches made me feel more connected to Katherine, because life itself rarely moves in clean arcs of drama. It’s messy, filled with distractions, petty disappointments, and small betrayals, and the novel captured that truth.
I came away deeply moved by Katherine’s journey. Her search for meaning felt familiar to me, and I imagine it will resonate with many others who’ve ever wondered if they were meant for more than the roles life handed them. I would recommend On a Sundown Sea to readers who enjoy historical fiction rooted in real social movements, but also to anyone who loves a story about resilience and the desire to build a better world. It is a thoughtful, heartfelt novel, and though it is set in the past, it left me thinking about the present in fresh ways.
Pages: 384 | ASIN : B0DV6T8P8M
19th-Century Politics
The Cauldron: A Struggle for Survival follows brothers deep in the throes of the Civil War, political turmoil, and personal struggles. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came from the regimental history of the unit my great-grandfather, Thomas J. Donal, served in – 128th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, the “Goldstream Regiment.”
What research did you do for this novel to get it right?
I read all or part of 30 books on battles in the Civil War, 19th-century politics, and other social issues. I also read numerous online articles.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The condition for all of us is that we are limited. Our talent – no matter how great – is limited. All of our resources are limited. But we strive and we learn through failure. Great fiction celebrates the struggles and achievements of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
Can readers look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
The Cauldron has been a four-year marathon. I have a few books waiting in the wings, but no schedule for getting them published.
Amazing Archer and Warrior
The Secret Rise follows a woman, her family, and allies as they face betrayal, curses, prophecy, and the unrelenting pressure of survival, all while a mysterious guiding presence known as the Lady shadows her path. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our inspiration has been ongoing … often starting with a “What if …” as the two of us starting a writing session together. The original story that began in The Secret Journey (published in 2023 was the seeding. Did we know that Nichol would become a Lady Baron or have three children, and become the amazing archer and warrior? No. It all germinated as we worked forward.
How has character development for the main characters changed for you through the series?
Nichol’s kindness and caring for others were always there. Once she escaped the ruthlessness of her mother in book 1, The Secret Journey, all our “what ifs …” were all over the place. We always remained open for something else to drop in—but with the promise that her wisdom would be shared; the justice was important; and that protecting her family and friends would be upfront.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically while writing?
Great question. We know some of the twists and turns … but also know as we write, variables will drop in. Now, we are working on book 4 The Secret Awakening. We storyboarded the major conflicts we saw coming … a huge variable is that the kids become young adults and take the lead. We knew how we would end the series … and we are marching forward to it.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Nichol and the direction of The Secret Awakening?
Ahhh …A huge twist is coming for Lucette and Aiden. As well as the quest for knowledge that Athena seeks with words. Lucette is truly her mother Nichol in many ways … the other two … oh my!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Will Others Seek to Destroy Her?
Nichol’s story was introduced in Book 1, The Secret Journey when her beloved papa is murdered by her mother in the year 1000 AD. The darkening cloud spiraling around her made her the next target.
Fleeing Marseilles, she develops new powers, a vision of the future, and trusts the Lady’s voice. For those around her, a new world unfolds and carries them forward.
Overflowing with scandal, tragedy, and triumph, Book 3, The Secret Rise carries Nichol’s strengths to a higher level. Again, she must outsmart and out maneuver those connected with the church. Now the mother of three, her children begin to display powers she doesn’t possess and Shadow brings wolf pups to the mix.Will Nichol continue to be hunted by Fredrik, her evil half-brother?
Does Duke Richard have hidden motives in seeking Nichol’s advice?
Can the village of Harmonie become the model for hamlets within the Kingdom of Normandy?
Do Nichol’s children have the skills that she has, or do they have new ones?
Will the Kingdom of Normandy accept her family and their rising status?
Authors Judith Briles and Brian Barnes weave book series for readers to open and fall into. It’s historical fiction that unravels the 11th century. Out of the darkness comes the empowerment of Nichol, creating a sanctuary and a revelation of what women with vision can achieve with their knowledge and skills.
The Secret Rise is Book 3 of the Harmonie Books series. Get Book 1, The Secret Journey and Book 2 The Secret Hamlet. Book 4, The Secret Awakening will be published in 2026.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
The Cauldron: A Struggle for Survival by Joe Clark
A Jericho’s Cobble Miscellany by Tom Shachtman
Childhood’s Hour: The Lost Desert by E.E. Glass
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Witness in the Dust by Lorrie Reed
The Glass Pyramid by Vesela Patton
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Corsair and the Sky Pirates
From the first page, Corsair and the Sky Pirates drops you straight into a swirl of history, imagination, and high-flying adventure. It starts with Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla in a café in France, dreaming up impossible machines and strange new power sources. That meeting sparks a chain of events that explodes into a world of airships, sky pirates, secret plots, and the dangerous lure of comet fragments with world-changing energy. At the center of it all is Corsair, a rogue pirate who’s as much a freedom fighter as he is a thief, and his diverse crew of outcasts who take on empires, corporations, and tyrants in an age where science blurs into fantasy.
I found myself grinning at how much fun the writing is. The prose is quick, like a stage play mixed with pulp adventure, and it leans hard into spectacle. The characters are bold and colorful, each with their quirks, backstories, and weapons that are almost as wild as their personalities. There were moments where I rolled my eyes at how dramatic some scenes were, but I also loved it. It felt like the book knew it was larger than life and leaned all the way into that spirit. I kept turning pages because I wanted to see what trick or twist would come next.
At the same time, the ideas underneath the adventure stuck with me. There’s a real push and pull between invention for progress and invention for profit. The way the story frames Edison, Tesla, and ERP as forces shaping the world gave me something to chew on between the swashbuckling fights. I felt frustrated at the greed and cruelty shown by the corporate powers, and I rooted for Corsair even when his choices were brutal. The story isn’t subtle, but sometimes that’s the point. It makes its villains nasty, its heroes daring, and its stakes almost absurdly high, and that gave me the freedom to just sink into the ride.
When I closed the book, I thought about who would enjoy it most. If you like steampunk worlds, if you enjoy a good pirate tale with a twist of history and a lot of flair, or if you just want to escape into something that’s fun, fast, and fearless, this book will be right up your alley. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants adventure with heart and a lot of imagination.
Pages: 303 | ASIN : B0BRX8SBVM
The Cauldron: A Struggle for Survival
The Cauldron tells the story of ordinary people caught in the chaos of the American Civil War. It follows Tom Donal, his brother John, their regiment, and the circle of people around them. Through battles, camps, love affairs, spying, and survival, author Joe Clark blends fact with fiction to paint a vivid picture of how war stripped life to its bare bones. The narrative swings from large-scale strategy and politics to intimate personal struggles, giving both the sweeping sense of history and the raw, ground-level feel of living through it.
I found myself pulled in by how down-to-earth the writing feels. The dialogue often sounded plain and unpolished, but that’s part of its charm. It made me feel like I was sitting by a campfire with these characters, listening to them grumble about generals or joke about food. At times, the pacing slowed down when the focus shifted to explanations of battles and politics, but I also appreciated how those parts grounded the story in real history. The characters, especially Tom and Kat, were layered with flaws and longings, which made them stick in my mind. Their choices often carried a mix of youthful recklessness and heartbreaking necessity, which felt true to the times.
What really stayed with me was the sense of cost. Clark doesn’t glamorize the war. He shows men dying from bad food as often as from musket fire. He shows how suspicion could turn neighbors into enemies overnight. The love story between Tom and Kat was messy, tender, and sometimes uncomfortable, which made it feel all the more real. I liked how the book refused to tie things up neatly. It left me unsettled in the best way, like I’d been given a glimpse into lives that could have been lost in history.
I’d recommend The Cauldron to readers who enjoy historical fiction that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. If you want romance without polish, battles without glory, and characters who feel like people you might actually meet, this book is for you.
All Men Would Be Tyrants If They Could
All Men Would Be Tyrants If They Could, by Judie Mitchell, tells the story of two sisters, Abby and Connie, living in New England in the years leading up to the American Revolution. Abby is trapped in a marriage to John, a man who shifts between charm and cruelty, while Connie both supports her sister and struggles with her own feelings of powerlessness. Through their alternating voices, the book brings to life the injustice of coverture, the fragility of women’s independence, and the private rebellions of two women caught in a society that denies them a voice. It’s a work stitched together from historical truth, personal pain, and quiet defiance.
Reading it felt like stepping into a private diary. The language is simple but heavy with feeling. I found myself both frustrated and protective of Abby, who clings to hope that love might reform John even as his behavior worsens. Connie, meanwhile, became the heart of the story for me. Her quiet observations, her curiosity, her occasional small rebellions all carried an honesty that made me ache. At times, the writing made me uncomfortable in the best way. It didn’t let me slip into easy judgments; it forced me to feel the tangle of love, loyalty, and oppression that defined their lives.
I do feel that the repetition of John’s temper and Abby’s endurance sometimes dragged, though maybe that was the point. Abuse circles and grinds. The historical details were fascinating, but occasionally they crowded the page with information on trade goods or church sermons. Yet even in those slower sections, I sensed the author’s passion for uncovering the hidden lives of women, and that kept me turning pages.
Reading All Men Would Be Tyrants If They Could reminded me of The Handmaid’s Tale in how it exposes the quiet violence of patriarchy, though Mitchell roots her story in history rather than dystopia, making the injustice feel even more immediate. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction that leans close to lived experience, who want to feel the weight of the past pressing on the present, and who are willing to sit with discomfort in order to better understand the silenced women history tried to erase.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0FFR7BKXW
LITERARY TITAN 