Viking is pleased to announce that Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., will be publishing a memoir entitled ON CALL: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service, on June 18, 2024. Wendy Wolf at Viking acquired world rights, as well as audio and first serial. Brian Tart, Publisher of Viking, says, “Dr. Fauci has given his professional life to maintaining public safety during extraordinary health crises. His memoir is unique, invaluable, and essential reading for anyone looking to understand what it took to keep Americans and people around the world safe from catastrophe.”
Dr. Fauci is arguably the most famous—and most revered—doctor in the world today. His role guiding America sanely and calmly through COVID (and through the torrents of Trump’s response to the pandemic) earned him the trust of millions in the United States and around the world during one of the most terrifying periods of modern global history; however, this was only the most recent of the global epidemics through which Dr. Fauci navigated in his five decades in public health. He played a crucial role in leading the scientific effort to develop effective drugs for HIV, resulting in the saving of millions of lives in the United States and world-wide. His efforts in bringing AIDS into sympathetic public view, together with his leadership in navigating the pandemic influenza (2009), Ebola, SARS, West Nile, and anthrax crises, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic, make him truly an American hero.
Dr. Fauci’s memoir will reach back to his boyhood in Brooklyn, New York, his decades of dedication to caring for critically ill patients, and his many scientific accomplishments, and carry through close relationships with seven presidents. It will be an inspiration for readers who are grateful to him, and ones who want to emulate him in public service. He is the embodiment of “speaking truth to power,” with dignity and results.
About Dr. Anthony S. Fauci
Dr. Fauci says, “I hope that this memoir will serve as a personalized document for the reader to understand better the daunting challenges that we have faced in public health over the past forty years. I would also like to inspire younger individuals in particular to consider careers in public health and public service.”
Dr. Anthony Fauciserved as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health from 1984 to 2022. Dr. Fauci was a key advisor to seven Presidents on global HIV/AIDS issues, and on preparedness against emerging infectious disease threats. He also served as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden. Dr. Fauci was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped save more than 25 million lives throughout the developing world.
He is currently a Distinguished University Professor at Georgetown University with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy.
Dr. Fauci is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and many other professional societies. He has received numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service. He has been awarded 62 honorary doctoral degrees from universities in the United States and throughout the world, and is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than 1,400 scientific publications.
The second book in New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s humorous and heartwarming series The Gambler’s Daughters, in which three aristocratic Irish sisters are determined to make their ways in Regency London…only to learn the path to making a brilliant society marriage isn’t easy—especially when Love gets in the way. Here, a disaster in a storm throws headstrong sister Elise into the company, and arms, of a rake on the run.
Elise Lanscarr is furious—her very own sister has married the man Elise had marked for herself. Feeling betrayed, she flees London, determined to return to the one place where everything was once as it should be: her family home in Ireland. But when her stagecoach crashes in a storm, she finds herself cast adrift in the wilds with no one to help but a rough-looking, albeit handsome, stranger—one who has obviously never been informed of the “proper” rules of society.
Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton, has fled all responsibility, preferring the persona of the devil-may-care rake “Kit.” He proudly lives hand-to-mouth, rubbing shoulders with commoners and thieves alike. But while he values his freedom, he’s never been one to leave a lady in trouble—even one as opinionated, albeit intriguing, as Elise.
But this night of booming thunder and flashing lightning is just the beginning of an unexpected, often dangerous, adventure. And two disillusioned souls who have been caught up in their own webs of expectations and disappointments are about to learn that life always holds surprises, and gifts. And all it asks in return is that they risk everything for Love . . .
If you’re lucky, at least once in your lifetime you will find yourself someplace where you feel free, where the detritus of everyday life falls away and you can finally breathe. The kind of place where the sights, the smells, the sounds, and the people all conspire to elevate it from a single point on a map to a living, breathing place with a soul. That place, for me, is Puerto Rico—La Isla de Encanto—the Island of Enchantment.
While I was born on Long Island in New York, I have a strong connection to Puerto Rico. Very strong, in fact! Through my grandmother, Crucita, my ancestors go back sixty-nine generations to 245 A.D.! Crucita was born in Ceiba around 1930. The town would eventually become home to the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. It was there that her mother—my great-grandmother, saw an opportunity to improve the family finances. Soon she set up shop making home-cooked meals for the servicemen stationed there, eventually squirrelling away enough to take her young daughters to New York in hopes of securing better futures for them.
The plan worked out well for my grandmother, who met the dashing Mike who had emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba along with his father. When he and Crucita met they began an epic love story that’s still unfolding today as they celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary. And while Mike never returned to Cuba, he fell in love with his wife’s birthplace, which bore a striking resemblance to his own.
Over the course of their lives (and ours!) my grandparents would live in Puerto Rico on and off, mainly after they retired in the 90’s. This gave each of us ten grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren, easy access to paradise. I wish I could say that I connected with my roots and my heritage on these trips…but that wasn’t really the case.
As a child, going to Puerto Rico was all about seeing my grandparents—the location was a novelty for sure, but purely incidental. Then later on it was more about visiting there with a friend or boyfriend in tow. We’d hit all the usual spots—the casino, the rainforest, the beach, the Bacardi factory. Fun for sure, but hardly a deep dive into my roots. It wasn’t until recently, in my forties and fifties, that everything changed. I can’t explain what happened exactly or what it was that triggered it, but one day I just woke to the realization that, while I had been to the island many times, I’d always viewed it with the eyes of a tourist.
With a growing sense of shame, I had to admit to myself that I’d never taken much of an interest in my grandparents’ lifestyle, nor had a I ever bothered to learn enough Spanish to be fluent. The truth was that I saw Puerto Rico as a part of their culture. I was just a visitor stopping through from time to time, not someone who was part of a sixty-nine generation legacy on the island. Once this epiphany knocked me off my feet, I got back up again and made the decision to stop being a tourist in my own history.
And that is how I came to choose Puerto Rico as the backdrop for my novel, Familia. I wanted to explore the island’s beauty, its culture, its flavors, and colors, and sounds. And I determined this book would be the vehicle with which I did that. With that in mind, I created the character of Gabby—a very loose proxy for myself. Through her character I’m able to explore the island and its people with fresh, curious eyes.
Deciding where to set this story took a little time. For an island that’s only 3,500-square-miles, it’s got an incredibly diverse landscape—rainforests and dry forests; mountains and valleys; bustling cities and tiny fishing villages. In the end I opted only to include places I’ve had a personal history with—starting with Old San Juan. Anyone who has ever been on a cruise with Puerto Rico as a stop on its itinerary is familiar with this one. Viejo San Juan—or Old San Juan is located on the tip of the Islet of San Juan on the north coast, about 35 miles from the east coast.
It’s the oldest settlement in Puerto Rico and it looks it—with steep, cobblestoned streets that run alongside and in between centuries old buildings and structures. Among the city’s most prominent landmarks are the ones built by the Spanish as defensive fortifications going back as early as the 16th century. History buffs are sure to enjoy the two citadels—ElMorro and San Cristobál, as well as La Fortelaza—a fortress that has also served as the governor’s residence since the sixteenth century. They make for a striking juxtaposition against the tourists, traffic, and commerce of today.
Located just outside of the city wall is what might have been considered a “shantytown” in years passed. La Perla (The Pearl) sits at the base of part of the two-and-a-half-mile defensive wall system—so far below the streets above that you might not even realize it exists until you’re standing directly over it. These days there’s a steep set of stairs alongside a large sign proudly designating Comunidad La Perla. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of people outside of Puerto Rico had never even heard of the place until 2019 when popular Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and rapper Daddy Yankee chose the location for the video of their smash his Despacito. The settlement became an overnight sensation. Tourists came from all over to see for themselves the craggy shoreline, intimate bars, and vibrant music and arts scene.
As with many urban locations, La Perla has had, at times, a reputation for criminal activity. It also suffered heavy damages during Hurricane Maria, but in recent years the community has worked hard to rebuild and make the tourists feel safe and welcome.
In Familia, you see La Perla in two different incarnations—as it was in the 1990’s and as it is today. I wasn’t familiar with the community thirty years ago but I did some research and read about this turbulent period of the area’s history. The gang activity and higher crime rate of that time served as the perfect backdrop for the kidnapping of Marianna. For the contemporary storyline, I wanted to give a glimpse into what it’s like today with its complex mix of hurricane rubble, stunning street art, and community hangouts like the seaside basketball court and the “bowl”—a pool that doubles as a place for skateboarding when empty.
Over the last decade, the city of Ponce has become a popular spot for tourists to visit. Located on the southern coast of the island, it has been christened “Museum City.” One museum I’ve mentioned in Familiais Parque de Bombas—the island’s first fire station. This iconic black and red building, one of the most recognizable structures in the whole of Puerto Rico, is located in Ponce’s town center, Plaza las Delicias. Dating back to 1600s, the square is split into two plazas with a cathedral in between. It is home to statues of several prominent Puerto Ricans as well as several fountains including the famous Fuente de los Leones or “Lions Fountain,” purchased at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.
Located about twenty miles west of Ponce is Guanica. Mentioned only briefly in Familia, it doesn’t play any central role in the plot. The truth is that this is a place that’s near and dear to me. My grandparents had many happy years living in the quaint fishing village. Mike would walk to the bakery for fresh bread every day and play dominoes at the Knights of Columbus Hall while Crucita enjoyed tending to her yard and chatting with the neighbors who always seemed to be out and about. In the evenings after dinner they would walk a few blocks to the water and the boardwalk area known as el malecón.
It sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Unfortunately that version of Guanica only lives on in the memories of those who had the pleasure of experiencing it in the years “before.” Before Hurricane Maria damaged or destroyed nearly a thousand homes in 2017. Before not one, but two earthquakes struck less than three years later, making several areas uninhabitable. I visited the village last year and was heartbroken to see so many houses and businesses abandoned and the once-thriving malecón bedraggled and empty.
As you read Familia, I think you’ll find Puerto Rico is more of a character than a setting. The story is suffused with the island’s personality and sparks something magic in the story’s heroines, as well as its readers. I hope you’ll come along with me on this adventure around La Isla de Encanto!
“An irresistible blend of family drama and mystery, ideal for fans of Julia Alvarez and Diane Chamberlain.” –Booklist “A masterfully woven tale of mystery, reconciliation, and familial love.” –Abby Jimenez, New York Times Bestselling Author
“A compulsive story with engaging characters that hooked me from the start. This is a must read!” –Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post & Bestselling Author
What if your most basic beliefs about your life were suddenly revealed to be a lie?
As the fact checker for a popular magazine, Gabby DiMarco believes in absolute, verifiable Truths—until they throw the facts of her own life into question. The genealogy test she took as research for an article has yielded a baffling result: Gabby has a sister—one who’s been desperately trying to find her. Except, as Gabby’s beloved parents would confirm if they were still alive, that’s impossible.
Isabella Ruiz can still picture the face of her baby sister, who disappeared from the streets of San Juan twenty-five years ago. Isabella, an artist, has fought hard for the stable home and loving marriage she has today—yet the longing to find Marianna has never left. At last, she’s found a match, and Gabby has agreed to come to Puerto Rico.
But Gabby, as defensive and cautious as Isabella is impulsive, offers no happy reunion. She insists there’s been a mistake. And Isabella realizes that even if this woman is her sister, she may not want to be.
With nothing—or perhaps so much—in common, Gabby and Isabella set out to find the truth, though it means risking everything they’ve known for an uncertain future—and a past that harbors yet more surprises . . .
Penn and Kim Holderness are on a mission to reboot how we think about ADHD with their upcoming new book, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD. The book will be released on April 30, 2024, with Harper Horizon.
Penn and Kim are beloved for their hilarious videos online. Now they bring their trademark uplifting humor, along with a wealth of research and personal insights, to share their experience with a condition that affects millions of people around the world: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Penn was in college when he was diagnosed with ADHD, although the signs of having a brain that worked just a little bit differently had been there since he was a kid. Rather than view the diagnosis as a curse or give into feelings of inadequacy or failure, Penn took a different approach, one that he wants to share with fellow ADHDers and the people who care about them.
Penn and Kim lay out what it’s like to have ADHD—or love someone who does—and how to (mostly) thrive with it. In this innovative resource specially designed to appeal to the ADHD brain, you’ll find an entertaining yet informative look at how ADHD works and tools to help you harness its unique gifts. You’ll learn how to tackle the challenges of ADHD head on and how to find humor in the hard times. And you’ll discover strategies and techniques that will improve your relationships and your outlook on the condition—not to mention quizzes, ADHD Bingo, top-ten lists, and an ode to cargo pants.
“If you have ADHD, I want you to know that you are not alone. You are not broken. You have no reason to be ashamed. We are energetic, creative, and fun to be around. We just live in a world that wasn’t designed for people like us,” said Penn. “My hope is that this book can help us better navigate that world without having to change who we are, because what we are is awesome.”
Along with the expertise of their network of doctors, researchers, and specialists, Penn and Kim draw from their often-hilarious, from-the-trenches insights and break down the reality of having ADHD into fun, easy-to-digest sections. ADHD Is Awesome highlights the challenges ADHD presents while also sharing how to tackle them with targeted tools and techniques that play to your unique strengths.
Take it from Penn: Having ADHD can be scary, but it comes with incredible upsides, including creativity, hyperfocus, and energy. You might even say it’s kind of awesome. Whether you have ADHD or want to support someone else in their journey, this is the guide you need to make the life you want.
ADHD is Awesome will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook with Penn and Kim narrating. You can pre-order today at https://www.adhdisawesomebook.com.
About the Authors:
Penn and Kim Holderness have been married for nineteen years and are authors of the bestselling book Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better at It? For the past ten years, they have been online content creators known for their award-winning videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over two billion views and over eight million followers across all The Holderness Family social media platforms. Penn and Kim were also winners on season 33 of The Amazing Race on CBS.
Penn and Kim live in Raleigh, North Carolina, with their children, Lola and Penn Charles, and their dog, Sunny. For more on The Holderness Family, visit theholdernessfamily.com.
Haunted by depression and self-doubt for most of her life, Dutch life coach Maggie Maris embarked on a self-discovery journey that led her to discover a powerful secret: our thoughts shape our reality. Now, she shares her inspiration and practical tools in MY JOURNAL: By Finding Yourself, You Find Your Happiness, arriving in the U.S. on February 27. This isn’t just a book; it’s a personalized roadmap to self-awareness, growth, and lasting happiness, available for pre-order now.
Years of struggle fueled by undiagnosed learning challenges, a demanding home life, and the loss of her father led Maggie to a breaking point. But amidst the darkness, she embarked on a self-discovery quest, shedding labels and seeking the root of her pain. This introspective journey not only healed her but also empowered her to advocate for herself and share her wisdom through her methodology she coined as Maggie’s Way, culminating in MY JOURNAL.
This proven and unique guide offers a step-by-step framework through four key areas:
Believe in Change: Cultivate the mindset shift that unlocks your potential.
Discover Your True Self: Delve into self-reflection to uncover your authentic self.
Take Care of Yourself: Prioritize self-care practices for physical and mental wellbeing.
Start Planning Your Dream Life: Set clear goals and create a roadmap to your fulfilling future.
With meaningful writing prompts, inspirational exercises, and Maggie’s personal touch, MY JOURNAL becomes your personal coach, guiding you to connect with yourself, develop healthy habits, and unleash your full potential. The book will lead you to discover your talents, create healthy habits and develop clear life goals. By dedicating time to self-care, embracing a positive mindset and reflection, they will be one step closer to being truly happy and feel in control of their life.
“Maggie sees through it all: Your thoughts shape your sense of happiness,” says Roger van Kralingen, author of Restart.
Maggie Maris is a writer, life coach, and founder of Maggie’s Way, a methodology in the field of mental well-being, with a focus on people who are under significant pressure in our current society. Her first book, MY JOURNAL, is set for release in February 2024. In the book, Maggie outlines the tools and inspiration to create a personal roadmap to self-awareness and happiness. Maggie is also the ultimate expert by experience who, through numerous paths, diagnoses, and experts, found the key to happiness: our thoughts dictate our emotions. Visit www.maggiesway.nl or follow @maggiesway on Instagram for more information.
For sisters and business partners Bernie and Libby Simmons, catering a quilting showcase is about as tame as it gets—until murder put them in a bind!
Quilts, quiet, and delicious food. That’s exactly what Bernie and Libby expect as they build the menu for the Longely Sip and Sew Quilting Circle’s first-ever exhibition hosted at the local library. The eclectic ladies of the group couldn’t appear more harmlessly wholesome if they tried, especially mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Cecilia Larson, who hired A Little of Taste of Heaven to cater the event. So it’s a complete shock when disturbing news drops about member Ellen Fisher, found hanging from a plant hook in her otherwise pristine sewing room . . .
All are very quick to deem the tragic death a suicide. All except for Cecilia. She believes something else happened to her best friend—who was busy adding the finishing stitches on her greatest work yet in hopes of displaying it at the exhibition—and looks to Bernie and Libby to expose the truth . . . and the killer. As Ellen’s patchy past comes into focus along with a mysterious connection to a missing seven-hundred-year-old quilt fragment, can the sisters unravel the victim’s final thread before another turns up dead?
“A fantastic book that will make an impact on the field.” – George Knapp.
A newly published nonfiction book is the only first-person account to date of multiple UFO close encounters and alien abductions authored by a mainstream American scientist.
In Dominion Lost: A Scientist’s Own Alien Abduction Encounters, recently discussed by the author with George Knapp on Coast to Coast AM, Dr. Bruce E. Rapuanogoes on the record. Dr. Rapuano, who has multiple degrees in neuroscience, describes his UFO close encounters, including one in which he was abducted from a group of eight other witnesses, as well as experiences with advanced non-human beings and an unexplained nasal implant of specific structure all of which were recalled without regressive hypnosis. Also described are the author’s interactions with short humanoid beings that reveal all the ways that that the aliens appear to control human behavior during the abduction process.
The book further explains:
How the implants that are frequently reported by abductees work to analyze and influence the activity of the human brain.
Exactly how the “grey aliens” were genetically reengineered from our early hominin ancestors.
Precisely how the UFO propulsion system creates gravitational wave energy.
At the same time, relying on his professional background, insight from his personal abduction experiences and hundreds of cited scientific articles from peer-reviewed journals, the author demonstrates that the ultrasophisticated technical capabilities exhibited by the visitors to our planet are more than plausible. They represent a logical extrapolation of current human theoretical and applied science.
Moreover, according to Rapuano, “The powerful evidence of such technology which has existed for more than 60 years, especially with respect to incredibly advanced propulsion systems for interstellar space travel and implanted devices that are likely instruments of mind control, proves that the aliens are here. Potentially breakthrough scientific innovations underlying these highly advanced alien capabilities are revealed that make the book a de facto whistleblower report on the subject of UFO’s and alien abduction. “More importantly, this book,” says Rapuano, “is a wake-up call to our species to finally accept the reality that we are now sharing our world with technologically superior non-human beings. This new reality must be addressed immediately.”
Bruce E. Rapuano has a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Neurobiology and minored in Psychology, a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from the University of Connecticut and a J.D. from New York Law School. He has conducted independent biomedical research as a cell biologist at internationally recognized medical institutions.
Debut picture book from mental-health advocate Henson speaks to kids’ anxieties about finding their place and how to be a good friend by being yourself
Zonderkidz is pleased to announce that actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson, will release her debut picture book, titled You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!)on June 18, 2024, illustrated by Paul Kellam. Pre-orders can be made now anywhere books are sold.
Henson, who established a foundation supporting mental health programming in under-resourced areas around the U.S., is an unwavering advocate for speaking up about good mental health practices – and this book ties into her commitment.
In an exclusive statement to People.com today about her passion for the book, Henson said:
“Mental health struggles can start even in childhood and oftentimes it begins with being bullied. This book isn’t just about bullying though—it’s about how children all have something different about them, and being different is what makes them oh so very special.” Henson added, “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) is for the kids who feel different. This book is for the parents who want their kids to accept differences. And this book is for the kids and families who’ve encountered hard times because of differences. I can’t wait to see the many conversations my book starts in homes and classrooms everywhere!”
The story opens with a young girl named Lil TJ getting ready for her first day of school and telling her Grandma Patsy about making new friends. “Don’t forget, friendships take time,” Grandma reminds her, but Lil TJ throws herself into school with gusto and immediately attracts the bullying attention of a boy who makes fun of her for her loud voice, colorful drawings, and larger-than-life personality. TJ ultimately learns how to conquer her worries, overcome her bully, make new and unexpected friendships, and still be true to her own unique and wonderful self.
“We are so proud of this book and feel that it’s not just a fun story, but an essential tool for teaching empathy, resilience, and self-love … all values that are very important to Taraji and her work in the mental health space,” said Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz. “Our hope is that this will become a conversation starter about mental wellness, an important lesson in friendship and handling tough social situations, and a testament to the importance of standing proud in one’s own uniqueness.”
This is a one-book deal, acquired by Katherine Jacobs, Senior Acquisitions Editor for Zonderkidz, with CAA representing Henson. The illustrator is Paul Kellam, an award-winning digital creator based in Florida, represented by Robbin Brosterman at The Bright Agency.
Henson will celebrate the upcoming publication of You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) at a TalkShopLive pre-sale virtual event LIVE at 6:00pm EST on Friday, February 16. She will share more about the book and her passion for this story. Attendees who purchase a copy of the book during the TalkShopLive event will receive a signed copy. For more information, visit https://talkshop.live/watch/UnZ8oNCkEsQt
Tour dates and appearances with Henson will be announced this spring. A full-scale marketing, digital, and publicity campaign for the book is in process. Advance reader copies will be available upon request; please contact Publicity Director Jessica Westra at jessica.westra@harpercollins.com.
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) – A Lil TJ Book
Written by Taraji P. Henson, illustrated by Paul Kellam
ABOUT TARAJI P. HENSON
Taraji P. Henson has performed in Academy Award-winning movies like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures as well as comedies like Tyler Perry films and Abbott Elementary. She starred in the Annie Live musical on NBC, in the series Empire on FOX, and most recently in the 2023 major motion picture The Color Purple.
Henson founded the Boris L. Henson Foundation, a foundation that exists to both normalize and improve access to mental health services for Black communities in hopes of eradicating the stigma around seeking help and support. https://borislhensonfoundation.org/
Zonderkidz is the children’s publishing division of Zondervan, a HarperCollins Company. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.
When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.
The forty-Niners by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone
From the acclaimed chroniclers of the Old West comes the epic saga of the great American Gold Rush—and the boldhearted dreamers who made it all happen. . .
THEY CALLED THEM THE FORTY-NINERS.
In January of 1848, the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill in California sparked a nationwide frenzy, fueling the dreams of Americans from coast to coast. By 1849, hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters from across the globe headed west to stake their claim. Armed with pan or pickaxe, driven by greed or glory, every last one of them was determined to strike it rich—or die trying. . . .
For Cord Bennett, it was more than a dream. California was his destiny—even if he didn’t know it yet. Forced to leave his family farm in the Ozarks, he reluctantly joins his two older brothers on the treacherous journey west. Together, they would endure harsh weather, fierce tribal attacks, and roving outlaws. But their biggest challenge comes when they reach the gold-rich canyon of Rio Oro. This small makeshift town is barely more than a campsite for prospectors—but the men who control it are as ruthless as any big-city criminals. And twice as deadly . . .
This is the story of the men and women who risked their lives to make their fortunes in a boundless land of opportunity. But sometimes, all that glitters is not gold. And where there’s gold, there’s gunfire . . .
Taraji P. Henson has performed in Academy Award-winning movies like The Curious Case of 
