Shoulder-Straps: A Novel of New York and the Army, 1862

Set against the soaring turbulence of 1862, the story follows two longtime friends—Walter Lane Harding, a shrewd merchant, and Tom Leslie, a restless journalist—as they navigate a city buzzing with rumors of secession, secret societies, and the looming specter of war. Their investigations lead them through bustling Prince Street, a mysterious carriage chase, and a chance encounter with a curious “Red Woman” whose prophecies seem to echo the nation’s fears. Alongside them are a cast of vivid figures: Colonel Egbert Crawford, a wounded officer torn between duty and family, and the spirited Josephine Harris, whose daring foray into espionage hints at larger shadows gathering beyond the streets of New York.

While the narrative brushes the battlefields of Bull Run and the political intrigue of Lincoln’s inauguration, its heart remains rooted in personal dilemmas—love entangled with ambition, loyalty tested by betrayal, and the quiet resilience of those left to pick up the pieces. The novel paints a textured portrait of a city and its people caught in the swirl of a nation at war, inviting listeners to experience the era’s drama through intimate, often unexpected, encounters.