Book Review – Into the Americas

Into the Americas (A novel based on a true story) (Kindle Edition)

Book - Into the AmericasSince I am such a fan of James and Lance Morcan, a father and son writing team, they always send me their newly launched books in exchange for a review. Which I am honored to do.

Into the Americas relates one of the great true wilderness survival stories, based on a true story from the diary of English blacksmith John Jewitt during his time aboard The Boston and his time at Nootka Sound on North America’s Western seaboard (from 1802 to 1805).

As I said, I am a fan of the Morcan writing team, and it all started with their fabulous The Ninth Orphan series. I have read everything they have written ever since and love how they have such a diversity of subjects they tackle.

This time they have turned to the Pacific Northwest and the nineteen-year-old John Jewitt, a blacksmith from England seeking adventure, who becomes crew on a trade ship headed for the Americas to trade goods with the Indians. John Jewitt is one of the two survivors after his crewmates clash with the Mowachaht tribe. Chief Maquina holds them as slaves, and he and his friend Thompson, an amazingly tough and belligerent character (you just love to hate him) make several attempts to escape, which lend for some very tense scenes in the novel.

It is a very good portrayal of the Indians and their lifestyle, but I did have a problem with the writing style, which is not their usual style at all. Rather stiff and stilted, and is the reason for only four stars.

No matter, I do recommend this book, because of all of the intense research, they must have done, the interesting story of John Jewitt, and I highly recommend ANYTHING they write.

AMAZON DESCRIPTION

INTO THE AMERICAS (A novel based on a true story) is a gritty, real-life adventure based on one of history’s greatest survival stories. It was inspired by the diary entries of young English blacksmith John Jewitt during his time aboard the brigantine The Boston and also during his sojourn at Nootka Sound, on North America’s western seaboard, from 1802 to 1805.

Written by father-and-son writing team Lance & James Morcan (authors of The World Duology and The Orphan Trilogy), INTO THE AMERICAS is a tale of two vastly different cultures – Indigenous North American and European civilization – colliding head on. It is also a Romeo and Juliet story set in the wilderness.

Nineteen year-old blacksmith John Jewitt is one of only two survivors after his crewmates clash with the fierce Mowachaht tribe in the Pacific Northwest. A life of slavery awaits John and his fellow survivor, a belligerent American sailmaker, in a village ruled by the iron fist of Maquina, the all-powerful chief. Desperate to taste freedom again, they make several doomed escape attempts over mountains and sea. Only their value to the tribe and John’s relationship with Maquina prevents their captors from killing them.

As the seasons pass, John ‘goes Indian’ after falling in love with Eu-stochee, a beautiful maiden. This further alienates him from his fellow captive whose defiance leads to violent consequences. In the bloodshed that follows, John discovers another side to himself – a side he never knew existed and a side he detests. His desire to be reunited with the family and friends he left behind returns even stronger than before.

The stakes rise when John learns Eu-stochee is pregnant. When a final opportunity to escape arises, he must choose between returning to civilization or staying with Eu-stochee and their newborn son.

INTO THE AMERICAS has been adapted to a feature film screenplay and is in early development with Morcan Motion Pictures.

From the Authors –  Lance Morcan & James Morcan

Into the Americas is the end result of 13 years of research and writing. We first came across the centuries-old diary entries of young English seaman John Jewitt in early 2002 and immediately became enamored with this intriguing slice of North American history. However, it took untold drafts and careful study of the region – including consultation with the tribal peoples of the Pacific Northwest – before we finally felt confident we had developed the original bare bones historical account into the epic adventure novel it deserved to be in literary format. As with writing any novel based on or inspired by a true story, we had a million agonizing decisions to make along the way. Decisions like what aspects of the historical events needed to be added to, fictionalized or given more layers, and what could be kept exactly as occurred but expanded upon or “dramatized”. Our writing/storytelling process continues as we have since adapted Into the Americas to a feature film screenplay and are currently working toward getting a period movie produced. Even after all these years of focusing on the history we still feel John Jewitt’s story is one of the great true wilderness survival tales of all time.

About the Authors

Lance & James Morcan are a father-and-son writing team based Down Under. Lance is a novelist/screenwriter/film producer living in New Zealand, while James is an actor/novelist/screenwriter/producer based in Sydney, Australia. Their other novels include the historical adventure series THE WORLD DUOLOGY (World Odyssey / Fiji: A Novel) and the international thriller series THE ORPHAN TRILOGY. They also have a non-fiction series of books titled THE UNDERGROUND KNOWLEDGE SERIES.