What are your books about?
A: Excellent question! All information can be found on our Story Page. Check it out!
Are your books really "historical" fiction? Or is it loosely inspired by real events?
A: Excellent question! Yes, my books are as "historical" as you can achieve in respect of fiction and a historical gap of over 500 years. My books are founded on trusted academic source material from studied and vetted academic & history professionals and experts in the study of Late Medieval / Early Renaissance Europe. Instead of being loosely "inspired by real events", my fictional characters find themselves in historical events and interacting with historical people, both of which are done so with historical accuracy in mind.
I did research for over 2 1/2 years before writing, the whole process of research and writing taking 5 years in total for No Tears (Northern Company) alone (2016 to 2021). Even while writing, both for Northern Company and especially No Tears (Inheritance), I was doing research throughout the writing process. While I would have liked to stay with my original research foundation from 2016 through 2018, the fact of the matter is that as a historical fiction author, I feel that it is my duty to present my reading audience with the best possible source material I can locate. In that vein of discussion, when I located new source material from Geoffrey Parker (Emperor: A New Life of Charles V; 2019) and Leonie Frieda (Francis I: The Maker of Modern France; 2018) that substantially added value to Jane de Longh's (Margaret of Austria: Regent of the Netherlands; 1953) original research of Margaret and her relationship with William de Croy and Prince d'Espaigne (future Charles V), I took the entire month of June 2022 off of writing Inheritance and immediately did thorough research before I continued writing. The discoveries located in both Parker's and Frieda's books did require me to go back in earlier portions of Inheritance already written and revise several items of note; the biggest discovery was the revelation that Parker discovered that---at the time 66 years ago, Longh could only guess at with the lack of historical evidence---William de Croy was indeed a French agent planted in Charles' court, not just a spy---which was common place among most courts of Europe as Frieda points out. This revelation is pointed out on pg. 114, footnotes #119, #120, and #121 of No Tears (Inheritance).
You can find out more information by visiting our Academic References & Sources Page. Check it out!
I did research for over 2 1/2 years before writing, the whole process of research and writing taking 5 years in total for No Tears (Northern Company) alone (2016 to 2021). Even while writing, both for Northern Company and especially No Tears (Inheritance), I was doing research throughout the writing process. While I would have liked to stay with my original research foundation from 2016 through 2018, the fact of the matter is that as a historical fiction author, I feel that it is my duty to present my reading audience with the best possible source material I can locate. In that vein of discussion, when I located new source material from Geoffrey Parker (Emperor: A New Life of Charles V; 2019) and Leonie Frieda (Francis I: The Maker of Modern France; 2018) that substantially added value to Jane de Longh's (Margaret of Austria: Regent of the Netherlands; 1953) original research of Margaret and her relationship with William de Croy and Prince d'Espaigne (future Charles V), I took the entire month of June 2022 off of writing Inheritance and immediately did thorough research before I continued writing. The discoveries located in both Parker's and Frieda's books did require me to go back in earlier portions of Inheritance already written and revise several items of note; the biggest discovery was the revelation that Parker discovered that---at the time 66 years ago, Longh could only guess at with the lack of historical evidence---William de Croy was indeed a French agent planted in Charles' court, not just a spy---which was common place among most courts of Europe as Frieda points out. This revelation is pointed out on pg. 114, footnotes #119, #120, and #121 of No Tears (Inheritance).
You can find out more information by visiting our Academic References & Sources Page. Check it out!
How is my money processed? I want security with my credit card information!
A: All monetary transactions are done through Lulu's trusted and established processes & retail partners (Amazon, Kobo Books, etc.). This includes sales tax and shipping costs. No money passes through my hands before Lulu or one of their trusted retail partners, ensuring both your money and credit card information is private and secured between you and a vetted, trusted business.
You can find out more information here: Publisher.
You can find out more information here: Publisher.
Where do I buy the books?
A (1): Physical copies are printed, sold, and shipped through Lulu Press, Inc. ( www.lulu.com), while eBooks are sold and shipped through Lulu's various retail partners including Amazon (www.amazon.com), Gardners (www.gardners.com), and Kobo (www.kobo.com).
You can buy books on this website, by heading to the dropdown menu labeled "Shop Books". All sales links, including Buy Now buttons & seller's hyperlinks, immediately link to the outside selling platform. No monetary transactions are done on this website.
A (2): Starting in 2024, I am accepting all cash in-person sales (or Venmo / PayPal) at events, expos, and/or public meetings (i.e. coffee shops, etc.). No personal residences. All cash and digital sales are final (no refunds). The buyer must be 18 years-of-age or accompanied by a legal guardian/parent if under 18 years-of-age.
A (3): Starting in 2024, my books are at 2 Buck Books and Westside Stories in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More info at Find A Store or Legal. Paperback prices in store are LOWER than our Online Sales' price! Books are only $25.00 (a $10 discount).
A (4): Starting in 2025, No Tears (Northern Company) is being offered via Lulu Press Inc.'s Global Distribution network. This increased reach to over 40,000 retail partners include paperback copies to be available on Amazon (www.amazon.com) and other retail partners' digital & storefront shelves.
You can buy books on this website, by heading to the dropdown menu labeled "Shop Books". All sales links, including Buy Now buttons & seller's hyperlinks, immediately link to the outside selling platform. No monetary transactions are done on this website.
A (2): Starting in 2024, I am accepting all cash in-person sales (or Venmo / PayPal) at events, expos, and/or public meetings (i.e. coffee shops, etc.). No personal residences. All cash and digital sales are final (no refunds). The buyer must be 18 years-of-age or accompanied by a legal guardian/parent if under 18 years-of-age.
A (3): Starting in 2024, my books are at 2 Buck Books and Westside Stories in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More info at Find A Store or Legal. Paperback prices in store are LOWER than our Online Sales' price! Books are only $25.00 (a $10 discount).
A (4): Starting in 2025, No Tears (Northern Company) is being offered via Lulu Press Inc.'s Global Distribution network. This increased reach to over 40,000 retail partners include paperback copies to be available on Amazon (www.amazon.com) and other retail partners' digital & storefront shelves.
In-Person Sales
A: I do sell in person! I sell locally in Colorado in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Pueblo, and Denver at Events, public meetings, or meeting you at a local coffee shop. No personal residences. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only. All sales final (no refunds). Must be 18 years of age or with a legal guardian/parent if under 18 years of age.
Please reach out, via email, to schedule a meeting. [email protected]
You may also reach out to me via my Facebook Business Page, located here: The Traveling Mercenary Books | Facebook
Please reach out, via email, to schedule a meeting. [email protected]
You may also reach out to me via my Facebook Business Page, located here: The Traveling Mercenary Books | Facebook
Physical Sales vs. Online Sales
A: Due to extra vendor fees, which I am not associated with, books marked for Lulu Press Inc.'s Global Distribution network are priced $14.99 higher than Events & Find A Store books. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Why should I get eBooks on Lulu.com and not my Kindle or Nook?
A: The eBooks through Lulu Press, Inc. ( www.lulu.com) are a downloadable file through the industry eBook standard of EPUB format, allowing the book files to be downloaded to your computer and transferred anywhere else you need, from your Kindle and your laptop to your tablet, including your PC. Per Lulu customer support in regard to Kindle's native MOBI eBook format, "This is specific for the Kindle itself but customers can convert their EPUB files or with newer Kindles be able to add EPUB file(s) to their Kindle Library for reading on their Kindle."
For transparency, my eBooks are individually priced the same across all platforms: you will pay the same individual eBook price whether you pay for the eBook through Lulu, Amazon, or Kobo (etc.). Through Lulu, the added flexibility of download and further transport to other devices outside the Kindle brand is a plus for me personally. As an example, I have all of my eBooks through Lulu and I have copies of those eBook files on both my personal computer (PC) and on my Kindle, allowing the books to be read either at my office desk at home or on the move through the city and my workday.
Downloadable Lulu eBook files can be found here: [EPUB] Download Files
For transparency, my eBooks are individually priced the same across all platforms: you will pay the same individual eBook price whether you pay for the eBook through Lulu, Amazon, or Kobo (etc.). Through Lulu, the added flexibility of download and further transport to other devices outside the Kindle brand is a plus for me personally. As an example, I have all of my eBooks through Lulu and I have copies of those eBook files on both my personal computer (PC) and on my Kindle, allowing the books to be read either at my office desk at home or on the move through the city and my workday.
Downloadable Lulu eBook files can be found here: [EPUB] Download Files
Do you have a professional Editor or Artist?
A: Yes! As of 2024, I have used Michael Howe of Michael Howe Arts (website: www.michaelhowearts.com) for all of my book covers and my logo collectively since 2020. As for editing, I currently self-edit my books due to the financial investment into professional artwork.
Is your work Copyrighted?
A: Yes! All of my work is Copyrighted through the U.S. Copyright Office. You can find out more information with our Legal Page. Please respect all Copyright claims.
How do I contact you?
A: Direct communication is via [email protected]. Please no spam or sales emails and keep all emails professional.
BOOK QUOTE
“Because of an oath,” Marcus replied, “An oath to the coin after the Final Fall, an oath that my family upheld and has passed down to me.”
(Marcus Felix Brutus, AD 1514)
---Chapter 12; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition)---
(Marcus Felix Brutus, AD 1514)
---Chapter 12; A Story of the Beginning (Revised Edition)---