Sunday, October 26, 2025

Spotlight on The Montana Gold Mine by Tim Piper

Hotly-anticipated standalone in award-winning historical fiction series takes readers to Western Frontier

A thrilling adventure for fans of the show “1883”



BLOOMINGTON, IL – In Spring 1874, the American economy is descending into a depression, following the collapse of Jay Cooke’s financial empire. Amid the chain of bank and business failures set off by Cooke’s bankruptcy, Jubilee Walker struggles to keep Warner and Walker Outfitters solvent. 

 Jubil’s grand plans for developing Yellowstone National Park into a popular tourist destination were dashed when Cooke’s business plan failed, but he is still determined to fulfill the park’s potential—not to mention his promise to his friend White Dog to end the corruption affecting the well-being of the people living on the Crow reservation.

When Jubil solicits support from the highest levels of government, he sets off a chain of events that puts not only him but the ones he loves most in grave danger. What is the nature of the secret Jubil’s nemesis is hiding? And how far will he go to protect it?

Book four in the Jubilee Walker series is loosely based on historical events.

“The Montana Gold Mine”

Tim Piper | January 15, 2025 | Sunshine Parade Publishing | Historical Fiction | Coming of Age Hardcover | B0DKB9PZR4  | $19.99 | Paperback | 9798999308409 | $13.99

Ebook | B0CYVH4D7X| $4.99

 


TIM PIPER is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois.

 

Learn more at www.timpiper-author.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

An Interview with Tim Piper about

“The Jubilee Walker” series:

 

How did you incorporate the true-life adventures of Major Powell into your fictional story?

The story adheres closely to the historical record of Powell’s 1867, 1868, and 1869 exploring expeditions and the people who participated in them. The events of those expeditions serve as the context for the formative years of my protagonist, Jubilee Walker, as he makes his way into adulthood in post–Civil War America.

 

Describe the trip to the Rockies that inspired your novel.

During one of my early trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, I hiked the Longs Peak Trail. After the hike, I purchased a book on the history of the mountain and learned the first person to summit it was Major John Wesley Powell. Researching Powell, I was surprised to learn he had close connections to my hometown, Bloomington, Illinois. Much of Powell’s life struck me as something out of an adventure novel, but I did not find any fiction that had dramatized it. I carried the idea with me for years until finally deciding to make an effort to write the novel I wanted to read.

 

Why do you feel that Major Powell deserves more recognition?

Over Powell’s lifetime, his adventures, scientific expeditions, and geographic surveys of America’s developing western frontier led him to conclusions about land and water use that were far ahead of his time. Though he was very influential in scientific and academic circles, his recommendations were never fully adopted by politicians. The impact of failing to address his concerns was made evident by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and can still be felt today in terms of water use policy in the western states. He was one of the first to espouse conservation policy that still struggles to protect our natural resources against America’s drive to exploit them.

 

Where do you find your writing purpose and inspiration from?

Though I have always had an artistic nature and enjoyed music and writing as hobbies, I chose the more expedient path of making a living in the business world rather than the risky world of the arts. After I retired, my wife was taken ill and passed away, and I was lost for what to do with myself. I tried following my hobby of music but could no longer find joy in it. But writing provided me with a means to block out my internal dialogue and pass the days doing something constructive. These days, I follow my curiosity to research topics that appeal to me, and then weave those into fictional stories that I would like to read myself.

 

What kinds of research did you do for the story?

Major John Wesley Powell taught at Illinois Wesleyan University in my hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. I contacted the archive librarian at IWU’s Ames Library, and was allowed access to their John Wesley Powell Special Collection. These materials, along with other resources suggested by the librarian led me to a wealth of information about Powell. Other books and online newspaper articles provided insights into life during post–Civil War America.

 

What are some key takeaways you hope people will have from your book?

The protagonist, Jubilee Walker, is a young man who knows more about what he doesn’t want to do with his life than what he does want. He makes most of his decisions by following his passions and doing what his heart tells him is right. His good-natured personality, enthusiasm, reliability, and calm demeanor in the face of difficult circumstances win him the support and friendship of most people he meets. Jubil’s philosophy of following his passion and heart is a worthwhile message for anyone.

 

Could the books in the series be read as standalones, or does the reader benefit from reading the books in order?

Yes, the books can be read as standalone though the reader's experience is enhanced by reading them in sequence. Each episode is more meaningful as you watch the protagonist, Jubilee Walker, grow with each life experience.

 

How have you grown as a writer since beginning the series?

Though it might seem each book in the series would get easier to write, I've found the opposite to be true. The lives of the characters get more complex and their motivations change, making plotting more difficult. The risk of repeating yourself in some way grows, and your internal critic gets more demanding as your ability to see your own weaknesses as a writer grows.

 

 

What has surprised you most about this series and the process of writing and promoting it?

By far the most surprising aspect of the process has been the positive acceptance of my work. I will be forever grateful that the books have been received with far more approval than I ever imagined.


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

WILD INSTINCT by T. Jefferson Parker


Gale, the main protagonist, is suffering from PTSD and some physical impairments as well.  

Recollections of his time as a sniper in Afghanistan haunt him.  Now an LA County Sheriff’s deputy, he and his new partner, Daniela, are assigned a high-profile murder case.  Subtle resonances of mysticism stem from Gale’s Acjacheme ancestry.

Daniela has secrets too and is struggling to be a successful single Mom.  Together, the two deputies are believable characters.

I was completely unaware of the Acjacheme people and their lack of recognition by both California and Federal authorities.  Once again, the older you get the more you learn that there is so much more to learn.

Parker does a believable plot with some interesting characters.  The story flows smoothly and is unpredictable. 

I enjoyed the book and recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Sunday, October 5, 2025

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson

Perhaps confusing endings are normal in Icelandic novels, but I’m not thrilled with them. The plot has a mystery writer disappearing, and Helgi, a detective, trying to find her.

Helgi is a self-professed bookworm. That part I can identify with, while his lack of confidence and his indecisiveness in his relationships troubled me.

I didn’t feel that the book flowed smoothly. The bouncing back and forth between decades is not a technique I’m fond of.

The number of loose ends and open-ended questions remaining at the book’s conclusion was annoying.

Overall, I was not thrilled with the book. 



This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned