The Second James Family Novel
Sequel to Thunder Snow &Dry Rain

In the 17th century, the Spanish empire reigned over vast territories in enigmatic Mesoamerica. Driven by a mix of religious fervor and curiosity, the governor of Cartagena sent a military expedition to eradicate a Mayan mountain sanctuary and its inhabitants. The assault resulted in the massacre of many Mayans, and the survivors were condemned to slavery. Among the captives were Bel, a eunuch, Mal, a death priestess, and a young devotee of the mysterious Mayan religion, known to the others only as the Acolyte. Huddled together in the slave market of San Agustín, Florida, flashes of heat lightning occasionally illuminated them in the darkness.  

     In Heat Lightning, the story of Aleyn James and Acoona Stonefire continues, a journey filled with unexpected twists and unwelcome surprises. Imprisonment, near escapes, encounters with wild animals, the destruction caused by a massive hurricane, salvaged Spanish treasure, and heartbreaking losses test their resilience and strain their newly formed bonds of friendship and trust. Yet, amid the hardships, there are also moments of renewal as they build unlikely alliances and take daring risks, sometimes succeeding against the odds.

       Nor'easters further unfolds the saga of the James family, including Aleyn, Acoona, Humphrey, Tara, as well as Aleyn's loyal friend Haley and their new companion, Galen. After their journey from Spanish Florida, their pinnace, Virginia, wrecks on the outer banks of Cape Cod. Joining the emerging colony of New Plymouth, Aleyn and Acoona gracefully age as they start their new life as farmers. Meanwhile, their children, “Hump” and Tara, take center stage, dealing with the increasing tensions between the English settlers and the Native tribes, witnessing the horrors of the Pequot War, and experiencing the tumultuous birth of a nation as it finds its identity.