Ed Protzel's Blog

Take advantage of my publisher’s #BlackHistoryMonth flash sale - Something in Madness ebook edition only $2.99 today only from Open Road Media! Paperback also available.

In Something in Madness…The Civil War comes to an end as the South—and the hopes of freedpeople—buckle under Reconstruction in this “powerful saga of ongoing strife” (Midwest Book Review).

Find Something in Madness at numerous outlets.

I’m thrilled to announce that New York prestige publisher Open Road Media has acquired my four novels — The Lies That Bind, Honor Among Outcasts and Something in Madness (DarkHorse Trilogy), as well as the first in my David Greenberg mystery/thriller series, The Antiquities Dealer.

All are available in new ebook and print editions, and can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo.

You can find book summaries and links on Open Road’s website — as well as on my site.

As a reminder...

·  The Lies That Bind, the first book in my Southern historical DarkHorse Trilogy, begins in antebellum Mississippi, where a swindler and a group of runaway slaves fight against an evil plantation owner’s legacy.

·  In Book 2, Honor Among Outcasts, the Civil War rages as the group risks their lives for freedom in war-torn Missouri.

·  The trilogy ends with Something in Madness, as the South — and the hopes of freedpeople — buckle under an oppressive Reconstruction.

·  The Antiquities Dealer thriller, set in St. Louis and Israel, is filled with religious fanaticism, deception, manipulation, blackmail and coercion.

I’m honored to be among Open Road’s a long list of fiction and non-fiction authors. I highly recommend signing up for Open Road’s Early Bird Books Newsletter. You’ll receive announcements of special deals, including free and discounted books from some of your favorite authors.

Happy reading!

I’m thrilled to announce that Something in Madness, depicting the harsh realities of Southern life for freedmen during early Reconstruction, was just named a finalist in the 2021 American Fiction Awards Adventure-Historical category. The contest was sponsored by American Book Fest.

My sincere thanks go to American Book Fest for recognizing this Reconstruction-era, socially relevant work of fiction.

“The 2021 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States,” notes Jeffrey Keen, president and CEO of American Book Fest. “Our success begins with the enthusiastic participation of authors and publishers and continues with our distinguished panel of industry judges who bring to the table their extensive editorial, PR, marketing, and design expertise.”

American Book Fest is an online publication providing coverage for books from mainstream and independent publishers to the world online community. A complete list of the winners and finalists of the 2021 American Fiction Awards are available online at American Book Fest.

                                               

Ed Protzel is the author of the Southern historical DarkHorse Trilogy (The Lies That Bind, Honor Among Outcasts, Something in Madness), and sci-fi thriller The Antiquities Dealer. A graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in English, Ed lives in St. Louis.

Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or order from your local bookstore.

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Contact:
Ed Protzel, ed.protzel@att.net
TouchPoint Press, (662) 595-4192; media@touchpointpress.com

I just got word that SOMETHING IN MADNESS was named an American Fiction Awards finalist in the Adventure-Historical category!

Thanks to American Book Fest for recognizing this Reconstruction-era, socially relevant work of Southern historical Fiction.

http://americanbookfest.com/americanf...

Something in Madness

Newest review calls THE ANTIQUITIES DEALER an "incredibly well-researched page-turner filled with intense action, puzzles and humor, all leading up to an intense climax." Read the full review here -

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Antiquities Dealer

Literary Titan just published my author interview, “In Fiction, Context is Everything," revealing the (too timely) theme of my "DarkHorse Trilogy" (The Lies That Bind, Honor Among Outcasts, Something in Madness): that humanity can — and must learn to — get along. Affirms the power of historical fiction to educate and possibly change hearts and minds.

Read the interview here:
https://literarytitan.com/2020/11/21/...

Ed Protzel

My publisher is running a giveaway on Goodreads, offering a chance to win one of 10 Kindle copies of SOMETHING IN MADNESS (DarkHorse Trilogy, Book 3), my new heart-pounding historical thriller exposing injustice in the post-Civil War South!

- The Giveaway starts on: Nov. 15, 2020
- The Giveaway ends on: Dec. 15, 2020

Check out the link below to enter!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

Something in Madness

Reviews note social relevance of Something in Madness

I’m thrilled that Something in Madness has garnered such wonderful early reviews (below), consistently noting its social relevance. The novel, recently released in paperback and eBook editions by TouchPoint Press, brings to a close my Southern historical DarkHorse Trilogy. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or can be ordered from your local bookstore (refer to ISBN is 978-1-952816-10-9). It was written as a stand-alone, as well as the gripping conclusion to the DarkHorse Trilogy.

If you don’t already know the story, here’s a brief description:

Abolitionist Durksen Hurst and three black friends return home to a devastated Mississippi, the sole survivors of a Union colored cavalry regiment. But instead of peace, they find unregenerate Confederates who reject emancipation still in charge. Undeterred, Durk opens a law practice to help disenfranchised freedmen — only to be threatened by powerful planters and nightriders. A black school is burned; a petition march to Jackson is terrorized. And when one of his friends goes missing, Durk is horrified to discover Black Codes being used to force freedmen into brutal servitude. Clever Durk schemes to liberate them, but must contend with armed ruffians — and a rigged court system. Will fire and bullets prevail?

Preview Something in Madness here.
Find all three books in the DarkHorse Trilogy here.

Early reviews:

“Despite the dark forces at work in Something in Madness, it is ultimately a tale of hope and determination against seemingly insurmountable odds. It is also a timely tale for these troubled times in our divided nation.”
- Terry Baker Mulligan, award-winning author of Sugar Hill and Afterlife in Harlem

“Something in Madness offers invaluable lessons on the real roots of modern racial strife....The result is an engrossing story not just for historical fiction readers, but for anyone who would better understand the roots of modern racism and the choices and impact it brings to all sides of the equation.”
- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer at Midwest Book Review

“...a tense and gripping venture into the post-civil war South,” noting it “...has a wonderfully unique voice and chromatic characterization for all of its characters which really brings the story off the page.”
- Thomas Anderson, Literary Titan, 5-Stars

Giveaways, Interviews & Guest BlogsPublisher’s Kindle Giveaway in the Works

My publisher, TouchPoint Press, will be running a giveaway on Goodreads soon, offering 10 Kindle copies of Something in Madness. Watch for details.

Suspense Zone  Giveaway in December

In December, I’ll be interviewed on The Suspense Zone website and giving away a signed paperback copy of Something in Madness. Although the novel is packed with suspense, revelations, mysteries and plot twists — and some serious, socially relevant social issues — I’ll try not to spoil the surprises during the interview! Info here.

American Historical Novels Facebook & Goodreads Discussions

I spent a week in October discussing my research of the Reconstruction period (time frame of Something in Madness) with these two groups. One participant from each won a drawing for a paperback copy of the novel. If you’re a fan of American history, I encourage you to join these group(s). You’ll discover some great novels and learn more about American history:

·      American Historical Novels Facebook Group.

·      American Historical Novels Goodreads Group.

Guest Blog Posts

In “Bestowing Justice Through Fiction” for Southern Writers Magazine’s Suite T blog, I talk about my DarkHorse Trilogy and why I find the South such a fertile landscape for fiction writers. Find it here.

In “My Approach to Moving Readers’ Hearts and Minds Through Historical Fiction,” my contribution to Kathy L. Brown’s Historical Fiction  Storytelling blog, I reflect on Something in Madness’s relevance to the social upheaval being shown daily on the news — and, more importantly, its universal themes. Find it here.

I’ll announce further details on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

 

 

I talk about “My Approach to Moving Readers’ Hearts and Minds Through Historical Fiction” with respect to my DarkHorse Trilogy @ Kathy L. Brown's storytelling blog. Find it here: https://kathylbrown.com/historical-fi...

Ed Protzel

Read my guest blog, “Bestowing Justice Through Fiction,” in Southern Writers Magazine's Suite T. I discuss the what, why and how of my DarkHorse Trilogy (The Lies That Bind, Honor Among Outcasts, Something in Madness - NEW RELEASE) and how it touches the alienation inside each of us.
#socialjustice #HistoricalFiction

Find it at: https://southernwritersmagazine.blogs...

The Lies That Bind
Honor Among Outcasts
Something in Madness