Author L. B. Caulder has released two new titles: Blackthorne's Wake, a historical fiction novel, and Pete the Possum and the Road Home, a children's book published under the pen name L. B. Willow and illustrated by Lindy Ballew.
Set in the early eighteenth century, Blackthorne's Wake follows Nathan Blackthorne, a young man who lost his father to the sea in a storm in 1708. Despite his mother's wishes that he stay away from the docks, Nathan is drawn back to the harbor years later, unable to ignore the pull of a life at sea. His journey takes him from the wharves of his youth aboard a merchant vessel, through storm-tossed passages and foreign ports including Lisbon and Nassau, and eventually into contact with pirates operating along the Atlantic trade routes.
As Nathan is drawn deeper into that world, he is confronted with questions of loyalty, survival, and the kind of man he intends to become. The novel follows his passage through hardship, danger, and shifting allegiances, tracing his transformation from a dockside laborer into someone forged by the sea his father once warned him against.
Pete the Possum and the Road Home follows Pete, a young possum separated from his family, who forms an unexpected friendship with two field mice, Zeke and Caesar. Together, the trio travels from a rural barn toward a nearby city, encountering a series of obstacles along the way, including a barn cat, a diving hawk, a rising river, and a cold winter journey by truck.
Themes of friendship, courage, and self-discovery run throughout the book. As the story progresses, Pete confronts his own fears directly, culminating in a moment where he stands to protect his friends rather than retreat. The book concludes with Pete choosing to continue toward home, guided in part by a chance encounter that echoes the story's central themes of belonging and connection.
Together, the two books reflect the range of Caulder's work, from atmospheric historical fiction to gentle, character-driven stories for younger readers, with a consistent attention to setting, character, and place across both. The simultaneous release demonstrates Caulder's ability to appeal to vastly different audiences while maintaining a signature focus on rich environments and relatable characters. This dual release is significant for readers seeking quality storytelling across genres and highlights the author's versatility in a competitive publishing landscape.
Caulder's background as an architect and artist informs his writing, bringing a keen eye for detail and atmosphere to both works. His historical fiction offers a gritty, immersive escape, while his children's book provides wholesome entertainment with moral lessons. By publishing under two names, Caulder effectively segments his audience, ensuring that each book reaches its intended readership without confusion. This strategic move could serve as a model for other authors looking to diversify their portfolios.
Both titles are available now, with New York Publishing Labs handling publication. The releases underscore a growing trend of authors crossing genre boundaries to build broader readerships and showcase their creative depth.
