J.D.R. Hawkins

Author: jdrhawkins

  • My Feature in Park Magazine NY

    I was recently featured in an article published by Park Magazine NY. This is very flattering and I can’t express enough how much I appreciate it. Thank you so much, Brian Meyer, for your feature!

    Inside the Fiction of J.D.R. Hawkins

    Brian Meyer

    Tracing lives, loyalties, and legacies through immersive Civil War storytelling

    In the evolving world of literature, historical fiction has undergone a quiet transformation. No longer confined to retelling well-known events, modern writers approach history as something fluid, layered, and deeply personal. These authors reconstruct the past not just through dates and documents, but through voices that feel intimate and immediate. Their stories breathe life into forgotten corners of history, offering perspectives that challenge, expand, and sometimes complicate traditional narratives.

    This new wave of storytelling has inspired both readers and writers alike, encouraging a deeper emotional connection to history. It has also opened the door for voices willing to explore viewpoints that are less commonly represented. Among these voices is J.D.R. Hawkins, a writer whose work stands out for its immersive detail and its focus on the human experience during the American Civil War. Through her novels, Hawkins contributes to a broader literary movement that seeks not only to remember history, but to understand it.

    J.D.R. Hawkins’ path to becoming a novelist was shaped by a gradual and deliberate journey through the written word. Like many writers, she began modestly, crafting short stories, articles, and children’s books. These early works served as a training ground, allowing her to develop a narrative voice that would later define her longer fiction.

    Her early writing reflects a curiosity about people and their experiences, a trait that would become central to her later work. Over time, Hawkins moved toward more expansive storytelling, drawn by a desire to explore history through the lens of individual lives. This transition marked the beginning of her evolution into a historical fiction author.

    Hawkins found her creative focus in one of the most defining periods in American history, the Civil War. Rather than approaching the era from a distant or purely analytical perspective, she chose to center her stories on the lived experiences of individuals navigating its upheaval. Her work often reflects a Southern viewpoint, and she has become recognized as one of the relatively few female authors writing from a Confederate perspective.

    This choice distinguishes her within the genre. By exploring narratives that are less frequently told, Hawkins adds depth to the literary conversation surrounding the Civil War. Her stories do not attempt to simplify history, but instead present it as complex and multifaceted, shaped by personal choices, loyalties, and circumstances.

    The Renegade Series and Literary Breakthrough

    At the heart of Hawkins’ literary career lies the Renegade Series, a collection of novels that follows a Confederate cavalryman and his family through the trials of war and its aftermath. The series serves as both a sweeping historical narrative and an intimate family saga, capturing the emotional and physical toll of conflict.

    The series begins with A Beautiful Glittering Lie, a novel that introduces readers to a world on the brink of transformation. The story reflects the optimism and uncertainty that characterized the early days of the war, gradually revealing the harsh realities that follow. Its success marked a turning point in Hawkins’ career, establishing her as a significant voice in historical fiction.

    Subsequent installments, including A Beckoning Hellfire, A Rebel Among Us, and Double-Edged Sword, expand the narrative, exploring not only the progression of the war but also the challenges of Reconstruction. Together, these works create a layered and continuous story that traces the enduring impact of the conflict on individuals and families.

    Critical Recognition and Awards

    Hawkins’ work has received consistent recognition within the historical fiction community. Her novels have earned multiple honors, reflecting both their literary merit and their resonance with readers.

    A Beautiful Glittering Lie received the John Esten Cooke Fiction Award as well as the B.R.A.G Medallion. A Rebel Among Us also earned the John Esten Cooke Fiction Award and a B.R.A.G Medallion, while A Beckoning Hellfire and Double-Edged Sword were similarly recognized with B.R.A.G Medallions. The latter also received the John Esten Cooke Fiction Award, reinforcing Hawkins’ reputation for producing consistently acclaimed work.

    In addition to these honors, her books have achieved bestseller status on major platforms, including Amazon, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal, further demonstrating their broad appeal.

    While the Renegade Series remains central to her body of work, Hawkins has demonstrated versatility through a range of other projects. Her nonfiction book, Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses, explores a lesser-known aspect of the Civil War, focusing on the crucial role horses played in military strategy and daily operations.

    She has also written A Becharmed Callie Christmas, a short story connected to the Renegade Series. This work offers a more intimate and seasonal perspective, blending the hardships of war with moments of warmth and reflection.

    In a departure from historical fiction, Hawkins authored a chapter in the anthology Success Mindsets: How Top Entrepreneurs Succeed in Business and Life, a book that reflects her interest in personal development and contemporary themes. This shift highlights her ability to engage with different genres while maintaining a clear and accessible writing style.

    In 2025, Hawkins expanded her storytelling beyond the American South with the publication of Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience. Released on March 17, the novel explores themes of endurance, identity, and cultural heritage within an Irish context.

    This work represents a significant step in her career, demonstrating her willingness to explore new historical settings while retaining her focus on character-driven narratives. It also signals a broader creative direction, suggesting that her interest in history extends beyond a single era or region.

    Hawkins’ contributions to literature are complemented by her active involvement in the writing community. She is a member of several organizations that support writers and promote literary engagement, including the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the International Women’s Writing Guild, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers. She is also associated with the Historical Novel Society.

    These affiliations reflect her commitment not only to her own work but also to the broader literary community. Through these networks, she engages with other writers, contributes to discussions about the craft, and remains connected to ongoing developments within the genre.

    Style, Themes, and Historical Perspective

    Hawkins’ writing is distinguished by its combination of detailed research and emotional depth. Her narratives are grounded in historical accuracy, yet they remain accessible and engaging, driven by strong character development and a clear sense of place.

    A defining feature of her work is its focus on personal experience within larger historical events. Rather than emphasizing grand strategy or political discourse, she centers her stories on individuals and families, allowing readers to connect with history on a human level. Her exploration of Southern perspectives during the Civil War adds another layer of complexity, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the period.

    As historical fiction continues to evolve, J.D.R. Hawkins occupies a distinct place within the genre. Her work reflects a broader shift toward storytelling that values perspective, empathy, and narrative depth. By focusing on the human dimensions of history, she invites readers to engage with the past in a meaningful and reflective way.

    Brian Meyer

    brianmeyer.com@gmail.com An SEO expert & outreach specialist having vast experience of three years in the search engine optimization industry. He Assisted various agencies and businesses by enhancing their online visibility. He works on niches i.e. Marketing, business, finance, fashion, news, technology, lifestyle etc. He is eager to collaborate with businesses and agencies; by utilizing his knowledge and skills to make them appear online & make them profitable.

    Inside the Fiction of J.D.R. Hawkins

  • New Review for Horses in Gray

    I have recently been receiving numerous offers from people who would like to create cinematic book trailers for me. I think it’s a lot of fun to see what they come up with. Although my son, Jesse, is my primary creator, some of these folks might be giving him a run for his money! Here is a book trailer I just received for Horses in Gray, my nonfiction book about Confederate warhorses in the Civil War. Thank you so much, Elizabeth Kate, for your creative input!

    I also received another five-star review for the book. Here is that review, posted on Goodreads. Thank you, Bolally, for your five-star review!

    Bolally

    May 26, 2026

    Horses in Gray is a well-researched and engaging history book that shines a light on the important role of horses during the Civil War. J.D.R. Hawkins brings famous Confederate warhorses to life through detailed stories, historical facts, and fascinating background information.

    The book does an excellent job exploring the bond between soldiers and their horses, while also explaining the hardships these animals faced during wartime. Readers will especially enjoy learning about famous horses connected to figures like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

    Easy to read and full of interesting details, this book is perfect for Civil War enthusiasts and animal lovers alike.

    Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses by J.D.R. Hawkins | Goodreads

    Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses: Hawkins, J. D. R.: 9781455623273: Amazon.com: Books

  • Guest Post – The Author’s Business Guide

    Occasionally, I like to share posts from other writers when I think the content relates to my site. This article was written by Derek Cannon. Thank you very much, Derek, for your contribution.

    The Author’s Business Guide: Simple Systems for a Sustainable Creative Career


    Writing a book is one thing. Building a sustainable business around being an author is something else entirely. Most authors figure out the creative side naturally—the writing, the research, the revision—but the business side tends to get pieced together on the fly. Pricing speaking engagements, tracking royalties and income, protecting your work with the right agreements, marketing without feeling like a salesperson; none of it comes with an instruction manual. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple systems, built once and maintained consistently, can keep the business side running smoothly so your energy stays where it belongs.


    Quick Takes
    ● Set pricing for books, talks, workshops, and services with a clear strategy that reflects your value and keeps your work sustainable.
    ● Protect your work and your time with simple agreements that define what’s included, what isn’t, and what happens if plans change.
    ● Build a repeatable workflow for launches, speaking engagements, and client projects that reduces friction every time.
    ● Track income and expenses with a lightweight system that keeps your finances organized and tax season manageable.
    ● Market authentically with a strong platform, consistent branding, and outreach that builds real relationships.


    Build a Simple System That Protects Your Time
    These steps help you price your work confidently, get agreements in writing, bill cleanly, and run projects and engagements the same way every time. Once they become a habit, the admin fades into the background.
    ● Set rates you can stand behind: Whether you’re pricing a speaking engagement, a workshop, a consulting call, or a book signing appearance, start with what you need to earn and work outward from there. Research what other authors at your level charge for
    similar work, factor in your prep time, travel, and follow-up, and settle on a number you can quote without hesitation. A one-sentence rationale like, “This rate reflects my preparation time, the length of the engagement, and the value I bring to your audience,” helps you hold the line when asked to discount.

    ● Define what’s included before you say yes: Scope creep happens for authors just as much as anywhere else. Before agreeing to any paid engagement or project, write down what you will deliver, what you won’t, and what happens if the scope expands. A clear one-page outline protects your time and sets the other party’s expectations before any
    work begins.
    ● Use a simple agreement for every paid engagement: You don’t need a lawyer for
    every speaking gig, but you do need something in writing. A basic agreement should
    cover: the event or deliverable, the date and format, your fee, payment terms, cancellation policy, and any usage rights (recording, livestreaming, excerpting). Send it before you start preparing, and don’t confirm until it’s signed.
    ● Invoice consistently and follow up without apology: Pick one invoice platform or template, add your payment terms once, and use it every time. Include the engagement details, your fee, the due date, and your preferred payment method. Send the invoice promptly, save a copy, and follow up on overdue payments without hesitation; getting
    paid on time is a normal part of running a business.
    ● Run every project through the same four stages: Whether it’s a book launch, a speaking tour, a workshop series, or a licensing deal, use a simple four-stage workflow:
    Planning →Execution →Review →Wrap-up
    This gives every project a consistent shape. Use the same folder structure each time so contracts, correspondence, and deliverables are easy to find. After each project, note one thing to do differently next time.


    Use One Hub to Simplify Setup, Compliance, and Admin
    Once your workflow is in place, the next step is consolidating the administrative pieces that tend to scatter. Your creative business involves more moving parts than most people expect, such as
    entity formation, contracts, website, finances, and compliance, and managing them across a dozen different tools quietly drains the energy you need for writing and showing up for your audience.
    A comprehensive business platform can bring these pieces together in one place, giving you reliable systems that run in the background while your focus stays on your work. Whether you’re forming an LLC to protect your brand, managing compliance, building your website, or keeping your finances organized, this kind of platform offers both the tools and the expert support to help you feel confident that the basics are covered. ZenBusiness is one option authors can use to handle setup and ongoing admin without the overwhelm, so the business side of your career gets the same steady attention as the creative side.

    Keep Finances Organized and Marketing Consistent
    A simple weekly rhythm keeps your business steady: you always know what you earned, what you spent, and how to talk about your work when the right opportunity appears.
    ● Set a 15-minute weekly money check-in: Pick the same day each week and record three things: income received, expenses paid, and what each expense was for. One spreadsheet and a folder for receipts is enough. This habit keeps your numbers current and makes tax time far less stressful.
    ● Separate your income streams: Track royalties, speaking fees, workshop income, and licensing revenue separately so you can see what’s growing and what needs attention. Knowing which parts of your business are generating income helps you make smarter decisions about where to invest your time.
    ● Keep expenses organized by category: Tag every expense as either work-related (research materials, travel to events, book production costs) or platform-building (website hosting, newsletter tools, professional development). This distinction matters at tax time and helps you see whether you’re consistently investing in your long-term
    presence.
    ● Make it tax-ready by default: Use a dedicated account for your business income and expenses so your records stay clean. Save receipts as you go, set aside a percentage of income for taxes each month, and write three sentences once a month: total income,
    total expenses, and any high upcoming costs. That’s your financial picture.
    ● Build a platform that reflects your work: Your website, newsletter, and social profiles should all tell the same story. Use the same bio, the same tone, and consistent visuals across every channel. A reader who finds you on Instagram should recognize you immediately when they land on your website.
    ● Let your readers and audiences do some of the talking: Collect testimonials and endorsements that speak to specific experiences, such as what a reader felt after finishing your book, what an event organizer noticed about your presentation, what a workshop participant took away. Specific, attributable praise is far more useful than general compliments.
    ● Show up consistently and reach out with intention: Regular, genuine engagement with your readers, fellow authors, podcast hosts, book clubs, and event organizers builds the kind of relationships that lead to opportunities. When you do reach out, lead with something specific — a relevant angle, a timely topic, a connection to their audience — rather than a general pitch.

    Build a Business That Supports Your Creative Life
    The authors who sustain long careers aren’t the ones who work the hardest; they’re the ones who build systems that work for them. A pricing structure you believe in, agreements that protect your time, finances you can read at a glance, and a platform that sounds like you. None of it has to be perfect. It just has to be consistent. Pick one thing today and build from there.

  • Amazon A+ Content

    We have been working diligently to get more visibility for my books on various platforms. One project we’ve been working on is creating A+ content for Amazon with the Renegade Series. Here is what we have so far. Please don’t hesitate to let me know what you think. Thanks so much!

    A+ CONTENT PREVIEW

    The Renegade Series

    J.D.R. Hawkins
    Civil War Historical Fiction

    “A story about a family, a war, and the unbearable cost of both.”

    Amazon Bestseller · USA Today Bestseller · WSJ Bestseller · B.R.A.G. Medallion

    The Renegade Series
    The war stories you’ve read told one side. This one tells the other.
    J.D.R. Hawkins is one of the very few female authors to write the Civil War from the Confederate front lines — bringing that world to life with unflinching honesty and extraordinary emotional depth.
    At the heart of the series is David Summers — eighteen years old, from a quiet farm in north Alabama. He owns no slaves. He has no political convictions. He only dreams of going out West. But when war reaches his family’s doorstep, he is forced to grow up in the most brutal way imaginable.


    ■ Amazon · USA Today · Wall Street Journal Bestseller
    ■ Multiple John Esten Cooke Fiction Award Winners
    ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion — All Four Books

    FOUR REASONS WHY READERS CHOOSE THIS SERIES

    A Rarely Told Perspective
    Most Civil War novels tell the Union story. J.D.R. Hawkins
    goes to the other side — not to glorify, but to humanise. David
    Summers is not a symbol. He is a boy. That distinction changes
    everything.

    A Family Saga at Its Core
    The Renegade Series is, above all, a story about what war does
    to a family. The waiting. The letters. The losses. The silences.
    Readers who love character-driven historical fiction will be
    completely absorbed.

    Award-Winning Historical Accuracy
    Multiple John Esten Cooke Fiction Award winners. B.R.A.G.
    Medallion across all four books. Amazon, USA Today, and
    Wall Street Journal bestseller. The accolades reflect what
    readers already know.

    Four Complete Novels
    From enlistment to Reconstruction — the full arc of the Civil
    War era across four richly layered novels. Start with Book 1
    and you will not stop. This is the series that gets under your
    skin.

    MEET THE HEART OF THE STORY
    David Summers & Jake Kimball
    North Alabama · April 1863 · Confederate Volunteers
    They didn’t want a war. They got one anyway.
    David Summers is tall with shoulder length brown hair. His best friend
    Jake Kimball stands beside him with collar length dark brown hair.
    Together they are just two Southern boys from Alabama with dreams
    bigger than their small town.
    They enlist together in April 1863. They march into a war that will demand everything — their innocence, their friendship, and the futures they had barely begun to imagine.
    Two boys. One war. A bond that nothing — not even history — could break.

    THE COMPLETE SERIES — READING ORDER

    1
    A Beautiful Glittering Lie
    A boy enlists. A family fractures. The war begins.
    ■ John Esten Cooke Award ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion

    2
    A Beckoning Hellfire
    His father dies at Fredericksburg. David marches — this time for revenge.
    ■ Amazon Bestseller ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion

    3
    A Rebel Among Us
    Survival demands impossible choices. No one walks away unchanged.
    ■ John Esten Cooke Award ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion

    4
    Double-Edged Sword
    The war ends. The wounds don’t. David comes home to a world he no longer recognizes.
    ■ John Esten Cooke Award ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion

    THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE SERIES

    About J.D.R. Hawkins
    J.D.R. Hawkins is one of a rare few female authors writing the American Civil War from the Confederate perspective — bringing the front lines to life with a depth of research, empathy, and storytelling craft that has earned her some of the genre’s highest honors.
    An Amazon, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, her
    Renegade Series has won multiple John Esten Cooke Fiction Award winners and B.R.A.G. Medallions across all four books.
    Her inspiration came from a visit to the Gettysburg battlefield — and a burning question: what would drive an ordinary young man, with no stake in politics, to pick up a rifle and march into one of history’s most devastating wars?
    ■ Amazon · USA Today · WSJ Bestseller
    ■ John Esten Cooke Fiction Award Winners × 3
    ■ B.R.A.G. Medallion × 4

  • A Beautiful Glittering Lie Featured

    My novel, A Beautiful Glittering Lie, is being featured this week on BookSignal Studio. This book is the first one in the Renegade Series, which tells the story of a family from north Alabama and how the Civil War impacts them. BookSignal Studio gives authors the opportunity to share their books with readers who might not otherwise see them.

    According to their website… “BookSignal Studio was built for one reason: to help good books get seen.

    “Too many strong books stay hidden, not because they lack quality, but because the right readers never come across them. In today’s market, visibility matters just as much as the writing itself.

    “That’s where we come in.

    “We work with independent authors to improve how their books are presented, positioned, and discovered. From better feature placement to stronger book visibility and reader reach, our focus is simple: helping your book get in front of the people most likely to read it.

    “We are not a publisher, and we do not take royalties or ownership of your work.

    “What we offer is direct book visibility support through strategic placements, stronger positioning, and promotion built around reader attention.

    “Since 2023, we’ve helped over 500 independent authors improve their book visibility, strengthen reader reach, and build better momentum around their books across multiple genres.


    “At BookSignal Studio, we believe a great book deserves more than being published. It deserves to be discovered.”

    Here is a link to the feature:

    BookSignal Studio — Get Your Book Noticed by Real Readers

    According to WORDSMITHS WRITERS…

    “We have chosen you as one of our best authors for 2025. This is based on the quality of your book collection. Out of thousands of writers on platforms, your work caught the attention of our editorial team.”

    Thank you so much for featuring my book on BookSignal Studio!

    Amazon.com: A Beautiful Glittering Lie: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): 9781643619941: Hawkins, J.D.R.: Books

  • Official Book Trailer for A Beckoning Hellfire

    My novel, A Beckoning Hellfire, has a brand-new book trailer! This trailer represents the second book in the Renegade Series, which tells the story of several families during the Civil War and how their lives intertwine. Once again, here’s a special shout out to my super talented son, Jesse, for constructing this trailer! Please drop me a line and let me know what you think of it! Thanks again for your continued support!

    Official Book Trailer for A Beckoning Hellfire

    Amazon.com: A Beckoning Hellfire: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): 9781648030772: Hawkins, J.D.R.: Books

  • New Book Teasers for Horses in Gray

    Over the weekend, I recruited my son to help me design some new book teasers for my nonfiction book, Horses in Gray. He is an amazing talent and has helped me create book teasers for nearly all of my books, as well as book trailers for Horses in Gray, A Becharmed Callie Christmas, A Beautiful Glittering Lie, and A Beckoning Hellfire (which I will share with you next week). Here are the teasers we came up with. Please let me know what you think! And don’t forget to share! (Thanks again, Jesse Hawkins!)

    Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses: Hawkins, J. D. R.: 9781455623273: Amazon.com: Books

  • More Five-Star Reviews for A Rebel Among Us

    I was checking out my Goodreads listings recently (which I need to do more often, I’ll admit) and saw that my novel, A Rebel Among Us, has several new five-star reviews, so I wanted to share them with you. The book is the third one in the Renegade Series, which tells the story of several families and how their lives become entwined during the Civil War. I’m proud to say that this book has received several awards and is an Amazon #1 bestseller. Here are the reviews. Thank you so much, Ella Alex, Freja, Vesper Hollings, David Scott, and Jamie Smith for your five-star ratings!

    Ella Alex

    A Rebel Among Us is a powerful and emotional continuation of the series. J.D.R. Hawkins does an incredible job bringing the characters to life, making their struggles, courage, and resilience feel very real.
    What stood out most to me was the depth of emotion woven into the story. The historical setting feels vivid, and the tension keeps you turning pages. There’s a strong sense of conflict, loyalty, and survival that makes the story both engaging and thought-provoking. Even as part of a series, this book holds its own and leaves a lasting impression. I’d definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong characters and meaningful storytelling.

    Freja

    An intense and captivating historical read! David’s struggles, tough choices, and unexpected romance kept me turning the pages. The characters feel real, the tension is high, and the story brilliantly captures the chaos and emotion of the era. Highly engaging.

    Vesper Hollings

    Some chapters physically hurt to read. This isn’t a fluffy story it deals with death, war wounds, abandonment, and betrayal. But the emotional payoff is huge. I cried more than once.

    David Scott

    David starts the book as a soldier with pride and blind loyalty. As he heals, he becomes a young man grappling with identity, trauma, and love. His character arc is one of the strongest I’ve read in the genre. This isn’t just romance it’s evolution.

    Jamie Smith

    Maggie, Abigail, and Claudia aren’t just background characters – they shape the entire story. Maggie’s suspicion, Abigail’s practicality, Claudia’s innocence…they all add tension, humor, and warmth. It felt like stepping into a real household during wartime.

    A Rebel Among Us: A Novel of the Civil War (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, J.D.R.: 9781648030796: Amazon.com: Books

  • New Review for Horses in Gray

    I received a new editorial review for my nonfiction book, Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses. As the title gives away, the book is about famous horses that served for the Confederacy, including Traveller, Little Sorrel, King Philip, and more. This editorial is very flattering, and I appreciate it very much. Thank you, Elise Morgan, for your outstanding review!

    “A Cinematic and Heart-Wrenching Masterwork of Equine History.”

    In the vast sea of Civil War literature, rarely does a book emerge that fundamentally changes how we perceive the conflict’s most loyal participants. J.D.R. Hawkins, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, has achieved exactly that with Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses. This isn’t just a history book; it is a vivid, breathtaking resurrection of the silent spirits that galloped through the smoke of the 1860s.

    Hawkins, uniquely positioned as one of the few female voices expertly navigating the Confederate perspective, brings her award-winning narrative flair to this definitive non-fiction study. She moves beyond the cold statistics of war to explore the “second self” of the soldier—the horse. This long-awaited volume offers a staggering level of detail that will captivate historians and animal lovers alike.

    Inside this comprehensive legacy, Hawkins unveils:

    • The Legendary Portraits: Deeply researched biographical sketches of immortalized mounts such as Lee’s Traveller, Jackson’s Little Sorrel, and the thirty horses of Nathan Bedford Forrest, bringing their individual personalities and courage to light.
    • The Science of the Cavalry: A fascinating deep dive into the 19th-century equine husbandry and the strategic logic behind choosing specific breeds, temperaments, and colors for the rigors of the front lines.
    • The Grit of the Campaign: A sobering and necessary look at the harrowing realities of wartime veterinary care, the logistics of forage, and the heartbreaking life expectancy of these noble creatures under fire.
    • A Cultural Immortalization: An exploration of how these horses were acquired, how they were named, and the ways in which they have been etched into the American sociopolitical landscape.

    Documented with impeccable academic rigor and written with the emotional depth of a world-class novelist, Horses in Gray is a triumph of historical preservation. Hawkins has crafted a mind-blowing, eye-catching tribute that ensures these brave animals are never forgotten. This is, without question, the gold standard for equine military history.

    – Review by Elisa Morgan

    Horses in Gray: Famous Confederate Warhorses: Hawkins, J. D. R.: 9781455623273: Amazon.com: Books

  • Fool’s Gold Folly is Back!

    In February, I ran into a bit of trouble with my latest book, Fool’s Gold Folly. This novella is a side story to go with the Renegade Series, and centers around one of the minor characters in the series, Patrick Mulligan. Patrick is an Irish immigrant who travels from Pennsylvania to Colorado Territory after the Civil War ends. His search for gold winds up being more than what he bargained for when he meets an old miner in the town of Breckenridge. Silas Garvey has a dark secret and warns Patrick of the threat that lurks in the shadows.

    This book was removed from Amazon because it apparently went against their regulations. However, the issue has been resolved, and I’m happy to say that the book is available once again! Not only in paperback and eBook formats, but also as an audio book! Here is the official book trailer for Fool’s Gold Folly.

    The problem I have now is this: all of the previous reviews that were posted on Amazon have disappeared, so now I don’t have any reviews! Therefore, I am asking you for a favor. Could you please read the book and post a review? I would be eternally grateful! I will even send you a promo copy (eBook) if you so desire. Just shoot me your email address. The book is only six chapters long so it’s a quick read. Thank you so much in advance. I’m looking forward to hearing from you! And thanks again for your ongoing support.

    Fool’s Gold Folly: A Story of Irish Resilience (The Renegade Series): Hawkins, JDR: 9798249986124: Amazon.com: Books