Book Spotlight and Excerpt: Bandy by Craig R. Hipkins

Isaac’s only friend is a passenger pigeon named Bandy. He deludes himself in believing the bird talks to him. Bullied, he is resigned to a life of being the misunderstood bookworm by neighboring boys until a disastrous fire kills his parents and little sisters, sparing only his younger brother, Thomas. He and Thomas are taken in by their Uncle Raymond, an abolitionist, who plans to send Isaac to Virginia to buy Joy, a young slave with debilitating health, from her slave owner, Wil Jericho. Shortly after arriving in Virginia, Isaac learns the ugly truth. The butler who accompanied him on the journey killed his uncle before leaving and plans to do the same to Isaac to steal Raymond’s estate.

Isaac, with Joy, escape into the backwoods of Virginia. Discovering passages of the Underground Railroad, stowing away in carriages, hiding in churches, and outwitting the mercenaries hired by Jericho, the two teens fight tooth and nail to make it to Boston before they’re caught. Will Joy be taken from this life by sickness before she’s found freedom? On their journey, they learn a lot about each other. Isaac promises to bring Joy to Bandy's pond, a heavenly place where peace and serenity reign.

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Excerpt

Isaac awoke with a start. For a few seconds, he lay there listening. Something had awakened him. He heard it again. A dull thumping sound from up above.

The first thing he noticed was that the lantern had gone out. He could hear Joy’s shallow breathing next to him and he decided not to wake her. It might be nothing but his imagination running wild. He felt for his belt and pistols. They were still next to him. He told himself to calm down, but when the thumping sound was heard again, his heart began to race. This time it was much louder, and it awakened Joy. She instinctively tapped Isaac on the shoulder, not being able to see him in the darkness.

“Isaac, what was that?” “I don’t know.”

She nudged closer to him and heard him cocking one of his pistols. “It might be Ada or one of the other conductors,” she said.

“I wish that lantern had not gone out,” Isaac whispered.

“Well, that might be for the best right now,” she said. “If someone does happen to find this room, they won’t think there would be anyone down here in the darkness.”

Isaac agreed but fumbled around in his duffel bag searching for his tin. He finally found it and struck a match, holding it over the lantern.

“There is still oil,” he said. He then looked at his pocket watch.

“It is half past six. We have been sleeping for hours,” he said, blowing out the match.

Another loud thump caused them to jump. Isaac clutched the Colt tighter. Suddenly, a grating noise and a soft light appeared at the curve of the stairway. They held their breath and waited.

Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018) He is an avid long distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.

  Author Links:

 Website: https://hipkinstwins.com

Twitter: https://x.com/CraigHipkins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HipkinsTwins

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hipkins-7a042357

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craighipkins3/

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Book Bub: https:// www.bookbub.com/profile/craig-r-hipkins

Amazon Author Page: https:// www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004RDJMNC

Goodreads: https:// www.goodreads.com/author/show/19975162.Craig_R_Hipkins

 

 

 

 

Book Spotlight: Clement: The Templar’s Treasure (Clement, Book 3) by Craig R. Hipkins

 

Clement & Dagena return for another action-packed adventure. From the cold and dreary shores of Greenland to the fabled land of Vinland. The legendary treasure of the Knights Templar awaits.

 

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Clement: The Templar’s Treasure is set in the middle of the 12^th century. It was the age of chivalry and the day of the troubadours. The history of Europe during this time is well known. There have been countless books written about the crusades and the jousting tournaments prevalent during this age. Every student of medieval history knows about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, and Geoffrey of Monmouth. Even the peasant life of medieval Europe has been written about and popularized by writers such as Frances and Joseph Gies. In China, this was the age of the Song dynasty and the birth of gunpowder. However, not much is known about what was going on across the ocean in North America.

(Christian Krohg) Leif Discovering America

In this third installment of the Clement series, the boy knight travels in the wake of Leif Erikson, albeit a century and a half after that explorer first mentions Vinland in the Norse sagas. It is said that Leif filled a boat with grapes in a region more temperate than Greenland or Iceland. It is thought by historians Leif might have stumbled across the cranberry bogs of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Not much is known about the people living in this region during the 12th century. The indigenous inhabitants of New England at this time did not keep calendars or written records, or if they did, they have not survived. It would be nearly five centuries until the English colonists in the 17th century recorded anything about the Wampanoag or Nipmuck peoples that lived in this area. As I am a native New Englander, I am familiar with the history of these Native American people. In my book, I describe in detail what a Nipmuck village might have looked like in the 12th century. I based the description on a late 16th century watercolor of an Algonquin village which is located in the British Museum. It is believed that like most European towns and cities in medieval times, indigenous American towns would also have been fortified to prevent a sudden attack by a hostile power.

I am well familiar with the topography in Clement: The Templar’s Treasure. I grew up in Central Massachusetts and woke up every morning with a view of the ‘Lone Mountain’ out my bedroom window. The name of the mountain is Wachusett which, loosely translated is an Algonquin word for ‘Near the Mountain.’ My research of the Nipmuck and Wampanoag of New England was limited to descriptions and literature of early colonists like William Bradford. However, a lot can be discovered by reading these early accounts of New England life. I imagine that not much had changed in the centuries between the events in my book and the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620.

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 Craig R. Hipkins

Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel, Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018) He is an avid long-distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.

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Spotlight on Craig R. Hipkins, author of Clement: The Green Ship (Clement, Book 2)

 

Normandy. The year 1161. King Henry ll sends the 14-year-old Clement, Count of la Haye on a secret mission. The young count and his friends travel in the wake of the mysterious mariner known as Sir Humphrey Rochford. Their destination? The legendary land of Vinland, known only from the Norse sagas. The journey is full of adventure and intrigue. Clement battles with a tyrannical Irish king and then finds his vessel attacked by a massive monster from the deep. The Green Ship sails to the sparse and barren land of Greenland where more trouble awaits.

 

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¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨) ✮ ( ¸.•´✶

Craig R. Hipkins

Fun Facts
(Stuff you may or may not already know!)

I am a twin. My twin brother Jay was also a writer. He published a collection of short stories as well as the novel, ‘Astrolabe.’ I wrote the sequel to ‘Astrolabe,’ called ‘Adalbert.’ Both novels take place in the 12^th century. Unfortunately, Jay passed away in 2018 but I keep his memory alive on our website www.hipkinstwins.com.

I served in the United States Marine Corps as a combat lineman.

I am an avid runner who started running when I was about eight years old. I have finished five marathons and many shorter races, winning a few of them. I once ran forty miles in one day and then slept for about twenty-four hours!

I am a descendent of Myles Standish who was the military officer on board the Mayflower. 

I am an amateur astronomer. I observed the Transit of Venus with my twin brother Jay back in 2012.

 .•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨) ✮ ( ¸.•´✶

Craig R. Hipkins  

Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel, Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018).

He is an avid long-distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.

Social Media Links

 Website   Twitter   Facebook    Instagram   Pinterest   Amazon Author Page   Goodreads