Read an excerpt from What Remains by Erryn Lee

What Remains

By Erryn Lee

Publication Date: September 13th, 2025

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 392

Genre: Historical Fiction / Dual-Timeline Forensic Mystery

What Remains is a haunting dual-timeline mystery that bridges centuries-and secrets-between ancient Rome and the modern world.

Forensic anthropologist Tori Benino has just landed the opportunity of a lifetime: leading a dig at a long-buried Roman village lost to the eruption of Vesuvius. But when she uncovers the remains of a Praetorian guard hidden in an ancient latrine-clearly murdered-Tori realizes she's stumbled onto something far more sinister than a routine excavation. As she digs deeper into the past, her own carefully ordered life begins to fall apart.

Nearly two thousand years earlier, Thalia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a brutal and politically powerful senator. Her only hope lies with a Praetorian soldier assigned to guard her-but trusting him could cost her everything.

As past and present collide, What Remains asks: When history is buried, what truths refuse to stay hidden?

Perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Kate Quinn, this novel is inspired by true events and delivers a compelling blend of suspense, history, and heart.

Excerpt

‘I cannot understand your objections. Is he not rich enough?

‘You know he is, Pater.’

‘And well connected. He was raised alongside Vespasian’s sons.’

‘Well, yes, but...’

‘And he is not an ancient greybeard, or an errant warrior, always in distant lands like your sister’s Titus.’

‘No.’

‘And I am told he is considered handsome.’

He was, though she was unwilling to admit it.

‘Surely all the girls you know would be envious?’

It was true.

‘Quartia, this marriage is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. Until now Messalinus has not shown the slightest interest in seeking a wife. If we do not act, the prize will go to another family. Probably one of those old families who look down on us.’

Thalia was summoning the courage to list all the reasons that the match was not ideal but as she did so her father crossed his arms and she knew the opportunity for discussion had ended.

‘I will send to the augurs to determine the best date for a wedding. Prepare yourself daughter for soon you will fulfil your purpose and become a wife.’

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Erryn Lee

Erryn Lee has spent most of her life between the covers of books, her love for historical fiction drew her to a career as an English and History teacher, where she enjoys sharing her passion for both language and the past with young adults (at least until she needs to give it up to write full time).

When not teaching or writing she is deeply immersed in research and studying her Masters in History. Erryn lives with her husband, a fluctuating number of horses and three bossy  cavoodles on a horse farm in the picturesque central west of NSW, Australia.

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Check out INÊS (Queens of Portugal Trilogy, Book #1) by Catherine Mathis

INÊS

(Queens of Portugal Trilogy, Book #1)

By Catherine Mathis 

Publication Date: October, 14th 2025
Publisher: Histria Books
Page Length: 398
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Romance

An heir to the throne, a gorgeous blonde lady-in-waiting, the king's trusted advisor. When a father and son don't understand each other, the son pays an outrageous price.

Love, jealousy, loyalty, and revenge roil the court of 14th century Portugal.

In this engrossing launch to the Queens of Portugal trilogy, Catherine Mathis gives a fresh take on the tale of Pedro and Inês, Portugal's real-life Romeo and Juliet. Pedro's father would not have been king if not for his trusted advisor, Gonçalves. Once king, he wants no part in neighboring Castile's royal convulsions though his son, Pedro, befriends powerful Castilians.

The all-consuming drive of the king is to ensure his line rules Portugal for centuries to come. He needs legitimate, strong heirs. The Infante Pedro loves a woman not deemed worthy to wear the crown as queen. Between father and son is Gonçalves, the king's powerful, unquestioned counselor who is mentor to the son. Both Gonçalves and Pedro seek the attention of Inês.

There is a horrific cost to winning the love of Inês. She will not release her grip on Pedro until he keeps the two sworn oaths he made to her. Can Pedro do the impossible to satisfy Inês?

Inês is based on real people and events, exploring a cultural touchstone of Portuguese history.

Praise for Inês:

 “Mathis masterfully weaves emotional depth into the narrative, creating a deeply engaging experience that leaves a lasting impression and invites readers on an unforgettable journey through the grandeur and intrigue of Portugal’s past.”
~ Mary Anne Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book Club 5* Review

“This exciting start to the Queens of Portugal trilogy describes the legendary love story of Pedro and Inês, and I was amazed at the excellent storytelling and how the author brings the courts to life. There is a lot of drama and intrigue, and the characters' emotions are beautifully captured in this engrossing tale.”
~ Readers Favorite 5* Review

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Catherine Mathis

Catherine Mathis was born in Berlin, the daughter of an American spy. As she grew up in Washington, D.C., her spy father turned into a drug enforcement agent. His career change wrecked any chance at high school popularity.

She graduated from Sewanee | The University of the South with a degree in history focused on the medieval period. After a career in finance, she returned to her first love of medieval history to ‘Share Iberian Tales.’

Outside of writing, spare time joys are family, friends, reading, collecting folk / outsider art, and travel.

Library Journal included Inês on its list of coming historical fiction for July 2025 - June 2026 in June 2025 during the annual meeting of the American Library Association. The book is in the Turbulent Relationship category, a great category name.

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Read an excerpt from Outback Odyssey by Paul Rushworth-Brown

 

Outback Odyssey

By Paul Rushworth-Brown

Publication Date: June 20th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 342
Genre: Historical Fiction

"Outback Odyssey" tells the story of a young man from Yorkshire who emigrates to Australia in the 1950s under the Big Brother Movement scheme.

In the wake of war and dislocation, young Yorkshireman Jimmy journeys to the outback, chasing escape but finding something far more dangerous: the truth of himself and the land he now calls home.

What begins as a story of survival becomes a profound allegory of belonging, silence, and identity. As Jimmy collides with love and betrayal, he also encounters the enduring wisdom of the First Peoples — knowledge that most outsiders are too frightened to face, let alone write about.

Outback Odyssey is sweeping and cinematic, a novel of resilience threaded with unexpected twists and allegorical depth. Already under consideration for a screenplay adaptation, it peels back the myths of Australia’s past to reveal what lies beneath: the unspoken histories, the inherited traumas, and the courage it takes to walk a path that others fear.

Excerpt

The Voyage

The tang of salt and sea clung to the air, sharp and fresh after the close quarters below decks. Jimmy leaned against the rail, letting the wind sting his face. Mr Olsen stood beside him, a man of weathered leather hands and a white beard, the anchor pendant at his neck catching the light. He spoke with a strange accent — Dutch cut by an Australian drawl.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it, lad?”

Jimmy nodded. “Yes, it’s something to behold. Sounds like you’ve done this before.”

Olsen’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. Many times. Wait till you see the wonders beyond the Suez. It’s a journey you will not soon forget.”

Days later, in the ship’s saloon, Jimmy found him slouched at the bar, cheeks flushed from drink but his eyes still sharp. They shared stories over lager and margaritas, and Olsen spoke of the vastness of Australia, of treasures hidden in its earth and dangers to match. There was wisdom behind the drink, as though he carried secrets he could never quite set down.

It was near the voyage’s end when Olsen faltered. Jimmy rushed to his side, catching the old man’s hand as he struggled for breath. Olsen’s lips moved, a whisper against the roar of the sea.

“Map… mattress… Amanda…”

And then he was gone.

Jimmy knelt there, stunned, clutching the words as if they were a gift and a curse. A map in his mattress? Amanda? The riddle hung heavy. The sea kept its silence, but Jimmy knew the voyage had left him with more than a passage — it had left him with a mystery that would shape everything to come.

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Paul Rushworth-Brown

Paul Rushworth-Brown was born in England and raised in Canada before emigrating to Australia at eighteen, where he became a citizen. By twenty, he had already travelled the world twice, hitchhiked across Australia, and worked as a navvy in outback Queensland — experiences that gave him an enduring respect for resilience, culture, and the landscapes that shape human character.

He later completed a Master’s degree at Charles Sturt University, honing the research skills that underpin his richly detailed novels. A high school teacher and former professional football coach, Paul draws on a lifetime of experience to bring authenticity and depth to his writing.

His novels are known for their cinematic sweep, allegorical undercurrents, and unexpected twists. Outback Odyssey, his fourth book, is a tale of survival and belonging set against the vast backdrop of 1950s Australia. Beneath its page-turning adventure lie questions of identity, silence, and reconciliation — themes that echo long after the final page.

Paul lives in Sydney, where he writes, teaches, and continues to explore the intersections of history and identity.

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