Posts Tagged ‘historical fiction’

For some reason, the people of the Pacific Northwest considered rotten fish – salmon in particular – a delicacy, much preferring it to fresh fish. As a result, the odor of putrid fish filled the lodges at Nootka village, including the slaves’ quarters as it did on this occasion.

Toothie wandered over to the white slaves, holding two calabashes of food he’d prepared over the cooking fire. John Jewitt and Thompson accepted the offerings gratefully.

A quick inspection showed it consisted of fish grilled in seal oil. It looked appetizing enough, but the whites guessed the fish Toothie had used came from the small stockpile of putrid salmon the slaves kept in the lodge when supplies permitted.

So hungry were John and Thompson they crammed hand-fulls of the fish into their mouths as soon as it had cooled sufficiently.

It took all their self-control not to gag as they digested the putrid salmon, but they managed to keep it down. If nothing else, they found it was filling and would help them survive another day at least. They weren’t to know it was also very nutritious, and would sustain them until their next meal.

You have been reading an excerpt from INTO THE AMERICAS (A novel based on a true story) – available via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Americas-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B00YJKM51E/

Into the Americas (A novel based on a true story) by [Morcan, Lance, Morcan, James]

Nineteen year-old blacksmith John Jewitt is one of only two survivors after his crewmates clash with the fierce Mowachaht tribe in the Pacific Northwest. A life of slavery awaits John and his fellow survivor, a belligerent American sailmaker, in a village ruled by the iron fist of Maquinna, the all-powerful chief. Desperate to taste freedom again, they make several doomed escape attempts over mountains and sea. Only their value to the tribe and John’s relationship with Maquinna prevents their captors from killing them.

 

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The man the Fijians knew as the Shark Caller stood chest deep in water out in the bay. Amongst the villagers on the sandy shore, Nathan and Susannah watched intrigued as the old man began chanting. They gasped as a huge fin sliced through the water toward the Shark Caller. 

 

 

Turning to Nathan, Susannah whispered, “That will be the Great White.”

Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off the drama unfolding.

The fin veered away only yards short of the Shark Caller who continued chanting as the shark began circling him.

More fins appeared, smaller than the Great White’s. They, too, circled the Shark Caller, who appeared oblivious to the danger. Wild cheering broke out among the onlookers. Nathan could hardly believe his eyes.

Susannah, shouting to be heard, said, “The Great White answers the call of the Shark Caller. It brings other sharks with it.”

Men waiting aboard canoes in the shallows began paddling furiously out from the beach to intercept the sharks.

In the lead canoe, Joeli and Waisale reached down and hauled the still-chanting Shark Caller from the water. The crews of the other canoes set about killing as many sharks as they could.

You have been reading an excerpt from Fiji: A Novel, an adventure-romance set in 19th Century Fiji.

Fiji: A Novel (The World Duology Book 2) by [Morcan, Lance, James Morcan]

To see what the critics are saying about this novel go to: http://amazon.com/Fiji-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B0057YCZM0/  

 

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In White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)  escaped convict John Graham learns the Aboriginal First Nations people of Australia believe their loved-ones sometimes return from the Dreaming as a white spirit.

Excerpt from novel follows:

The villagers were shouting encouragement to the pair tasked with ridding the white spirit from their midst. If the Irishman had been in any doubt about what his captors had planned for him, he was in no doubt now. As he was lifted over the fire, he began screaming. “Please! Put me down!”

At the sound of John speaking in a foreign tongue, the Kabi fell silent. The pair holding him dropped him to the ground, startled.

Only now did Mamba have a clear view. Like the others of her clan, she’d been mesmerised by her first sighting of a white man. However, for no apparent reason, when she looked at John she thought of her beloved Moilow. Mamba stood up and led her two boys by the hand over to join the others. She wanted a closer look at the stranger.

 

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) by [Morcan, Lance, Morcan,James]

 

White Spirit is available as a paperback and Kindle ebook via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

 

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The First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest didn’t scalp their enemies. They decapitated them – as young English seaman John Jewitt discovered when his crewmates were slaughtered by Mowachaht warriors of the tribe of Maquinna in Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, in 1803.

We describe this terrible incident in the following exerpt from our bestselling historical adventure Into the Americas (A novel based on a true story).

The chief pushed his captive ahead of him until they reached the quarter deck. Here, John was met by a sight that would remain with him for the rest of his days.

The heads of twenty-five of his crewmates were lined up in neat rows that extended all the way across the bloody deck from the starboard rail to the port-side rail. Most were recognizable, some barely recognizable and a few not remotely recognizable.

It took a moment for the ghoulish sight to register in John’s brain. When it did, he tried to scream. Something stuck in his throat before he could let the scream out. It was his own vomit. He sank to his knees, retching, before finally disgorging the contents of his stomach on the deck.

 

Into the Americas (A novel based on a true story) by [Morcan, Lance, Morcan, James]

 

Into the Americas  is available as a paperback and Kindle ebook via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Americas-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B00YJKM51E/

 

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By the mid-1800’s, Fiji has become a melting pot of cannibals, warring native tribes, sailors, traders, prostitutes, escaped convicts and all manner of foreign undesirables. It’s in this hostile environment an innocent young Englishwoman and a worldly American adventurer find themselves.

Susannah Drake, a missionary, questions her calling to spread God’s Word as she’s torn between her spiritual and sexual selves. As her forbidden desires intensify, she turns to the scriptures and prayer to quash the sinful thoughts – without success.

Nathan Johnson arrives to trade muskets to the Fijians and immediately finds himself at odds with Susannah. She despises him for introducing the white man’s weapons to the very people she is trying to convert and he pities her for her naivety. Despite their differences, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them.

When their lives are suddenly endangered by marauding cannibals, Susannah and Nathan are forced to rely on each other for their very survival.

Their tale unfolds in the historical novel Fiji — described by one reviewer as “a spellbinding novel of adventure, cultural misunderstandings, religious conflict and sexual tension set in one of the most exotic and isolated places on earth.”

 

Fiji: A Novel (The World Duology Book 2) by [Morcan, Lance, James Morcan]

See what the critics are saying about Fiji: A Novel  on Amazon: http://amazon.com/Fiji-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B0057YCZM0/

 

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White Spirit Feb Giveaway 2

 

Our historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) features as the February Giveaway on multi-genre author and blogger Marie Lavender’s popular book lovers’ blog at http://bit.ly/2BMt0ST — Three Kindle copies are on offer. Be in to win! Entries close Feb.12th.

 

White Spirit Feb Giveaway 1

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Our latest historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)  has been selected by Amazon for its 12 Days of Kindle holiday sale – underway now!

 

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)

Based on the remarkable true story of Irish convict John Graham, White Spirit  is an epic historical adventure set in 19th Century Australia. After escaping from the notorious Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, Graham finds refuge with the Kabi, a tribe of Aborigines who eventually accept him as one of their own. He is sustained by the love of two women – one black, one white.

 

The novel’s Kindle price has been discounted to US$1.15 on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

Australian customers can buy White Spirit  at the discounted price of AU$1.49 at    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

To view all the titles in Amazon’s 12 Days of Kindle holiday sale go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/ref=pe_3554110_266172020_pe_ecg/?node=11544834011

 

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One book reviewer described our historical adventure INTO THE AMERICAS (A novel based on a true story)  as being “like a motion picture in words.” Understandable given it’s set in the Pacific Northwest, which must surely be one of the most picturesque places on earth. 

Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island…where this true-life story is set.

 

Into the Americas is a tale of two vastly different cultures – indigenous North American and European civilization – colliding head on. It is also a Romeo and Juliet story set in the wilderness.

The storyline:

It’s 1802. Nineteen year-old English blacksmith John Jewitt is one of only two survivors after his crewmates clash with the fierce Mowachaht tribe in the Pacific Northwest.

John Jewitt…years later.

A life of slavery awaits John and his fellow survivor, a belligerent American sailmaker, in a village ruled by the iron fist of Maquina, the all-powerful chief. Desperate to taste freedom again, they make several doomed escape attempts over mountains and sea. Only their value to the tribe and John’s relationship with Maquina prevents their captors from killing them.

Mowachaht chief Maquina.

As the seasons pass, John ‘goes Indian’ after falling in love with Eu-stochee, a beautiful maiden. This further alienates him from his fellow captive whose defiance leads to violent consequences. In the bloodshed that follows, John discovers another side to himself – a side he never knew existed and a side he detests. His desire to be reunited with the family and friends he left behind returns even stronger than before.

Nootka village where Jewitt was held captive.

The stakes rise when John learns Eu-stochee is pregnant. When a final opportunity to escape arises, he must choose between returning to civilization or staying with Eu-stochee and their newborn son.

Nootka Sound…as it was in the days of the trading ships.

Nootka Sound…in more recent times.

Strait of Georgia, Vancouver Island….a potential escape route for Jewitt.

An older Jewitt…after his escape.

 

Into the Americas (A novel based on a true story)

Into the Americas  is available exclusively via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Americas-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B00YJKM51E/

 

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Entries are open now for Goodreads members to win a FREE copy of the (US$24.99) paperback edition of our epic historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story).

 

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)

By the authors of Into the Americas.

 

Based on the remarkable true story of Irish convict John Graham, White Spirit  is an epic historical adventure set in 19th Century Australia.

 

GIVEAWAY link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh…

AMAZON listing: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-n…

WHITE SPIRIT on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3… 

 

Other novels by Lance & James Morcan:

Product DetailsProduct DetailsProduct DetailsProduct Details

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Coming soon! SILENT FEAR (A novel inspired by true crimes)

Silent Fear

 

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Great Historicals

Author and Top 500 Amazon Canada reviewer Mirella Patzer, of Great Historicals’ Historical Fiction Book Reviews, has this to say about our new release novel WHITE SPIRIT:

Lance and James Morcan love to write books about aboriginal peoples of the world. Their novels always intrigue me with their blend of historical fact and fiction. White Spirit is my favorite of all their novels so far.

It is a brutal, no-holds-barred retelling of the true story of Australia’s notorious Moreton Bay Penal and the one prisoner who successfully escaped and eluded capture for decades – a man named Graham.
The story takes from the harsh conditions of the penal settlement to the brutality of the aboriginals and their daily lives. The book is very long – about the length of a trilogy – but I can see why it is important for the tale to be told in one book as opposed to three. The best way to describe this novel is disturbing, brutal, honest, and unputdownable. It is real, very, very real with fascinating characters at the helm. Very highly recommended! Both men and women will enjoy the story.
The entire review can be seen at the Great Historicals blog site at:  http://greathistoricals.blogspot.co.nz/

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story)

 

WHITE SPIRIT (A novel based on a true story)  is exclusive to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

 

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