A Review to Remember

We have been fortunate to receive reviews from all kinds of people around the world, and a new review posted yesterday is very special. It comes from internationally acclaimed artist Paul Harmon, whose work is well represented in numerous galleries, museums, major corporate and private collections in Europe, Asia, and the USA.  Among his collectors are Her Serene Highness, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and former US President George Bush. He has enjoyed a stellar career. Here is his review, followed by a link to his website if you would like to explore his work.

Why I recommend this book!

“No, it isn’t a silly name (Scoundrel) made up by the author. His character’s name is Thomas Edward Scanddrel (French origin) which was bastardized when a harried officer’s aide filled out a military form. I mention this because the name bothered me when I first saw the book cover. Loved this book. Quite a page turner with action packed into a riveting story line. Add to that, Thomas Scoundrel’s path brings him into comradeship with a wealth of historic characters. Walt Whitman, Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson, Lily Langtree, Giuseppe Verdi, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, John L. Sullivan and others. The brilliantly crafted plot makes these appearances very logical and propels the tale to great heights. Yeah, a great and fun book. Curiously, Thomas Scoundrel isn’t a great fighter, marksman, quick draw expert or much that usual heroic characters possess. He gets beat up, knifed, thrown off a cliff and shot at relentlessly. But, he keeps getting back up. Keeps moving ahead and thinking his way through adversities. He is the everyman that prevails because of good character and an eye on the ultimate goal. You will like this book. It will prepare you for the next upcoming book of Scoundrel’s adventures. B. R. O’Hagan is quite the story teller. A writer of great talent and imagination.” Paul Harmon

https://paulharmon.com

Thomas Scoundrel Meets Wolfgang Mozart

LA Opera Production of Figaro Stars Craig Colclough, the 'Voice' of Thomas Scoundrel

This Saturday, February 4th, internationally acclaimed opera performer Craig Colclough takes center stage as the title character in the Los Angeles Opera production of Mozart's delightful comedy, The Marriage  of Figaro. This role catapults Craig to the top tier of opera singers in the world.Craig did a magnificent job with the audio version of Scoundrel in the Thick, and we are excited to announce that he will be recording  the 2nd book in the Thomas Scoundrel series, Scoundrel in Paradise.

By way of celebrating, we are giving away 25 free downloads of the audio version of In the Thick. Go HERE for details, and if you are in LA between February 4-26 you might want to drop by the opera. When you do, please say hello for us!

Researching Passage to Moorea: the leper colony on Molokai

When the Kingdom of Hawaii selected a remote 4-acre patch of dirt and rock at Kalawao on the north coast of the island of Molokai in 1866 as the location for a leper colony, they knew they would not need guards to keep sufferers from escaping. Approach from the sea was almost impossible, and the only way in by land meant a dangerous trek down a narrow switchback trail that dropped almost 1,500 feet from the plateau to the beach. Each of the 8,000 afflicted victims of what is now called Hansen’s disease were legally certified as dead by the Hawaiian government before they were shipped to the colony. Even so, many lived for years, farming, fishing and maintaining the structures in the tiny settlement. 

In Thomas Scoundrel’s new adventure, Scoundrel in Paradise, the people of Kalawao and their remarkable priest, Father Damien, play an important role when Thomas and a friend are shipwrecked on the beach of the forbidden colony. The real-life Damien was 32 when he came to minister to the lepers, and he died at 49 after contracting the disease himself. In Paradise we are introduced to the Catholic saint as a real man, with a joy for life and spirit that make it easy to understand why he is universally revered.

Artist Tyler Jacobson is onboard for the cover art for Scoundrel In Paradise!

We are proud to announce that one of America’s most outstanding artists has just signed to do the cover artwork for Scoundrel In Paradise, which will be released this fall. Tyler Jacobson will follow-up on his extraordinary work for the first Scoundrel book with a cover that reflects the time Thomas Scoundrel spends in Tahiti and Hawaii in the newest book in the series. Be sure to check back to see the sketches in progress as he works his way to the final painting.

See his work at:http://www.tylerjacobsonart.com/gallery-i

One of Tyler’s famous paintings.

Powerful, richly drawn characters are a hallmark of Tyler Jacobson’s work

King of the Wild Frontier? Why, thank You!

Gatsby Book's own Sean Moor reviews the book:

"Sometimes you start a novel and you quickly realize that you don’t want it to end.  So, you begin reading slowly and savor each chapter. You turn the page and let it breathe like a bottle of fine wine that you’ve been saving for just the right occasion.  Scoundrel in the Thick is that kind of novel, filled with fully-fleshed characters that you care deeply about.  Author B.R. O'Hagan has crafted a masterful, rip-roaring and relentless page-turner that crowns him King of the Wild Frontier.”

National reviewers like us!

Our first major review is in!

 The Midwest Review of Books says: “Scoundrel in the Thick is a historical novel set in 1882 Colorado, where former Civil War hero Thomas Scoundrel sets out on a mission to rescue his best friend's kidnapped fiancée. B.R. O'Hagan adds plenty of real characters and historical events to further spice the tale as Scoundrel partners with Bat Masterson, encounters old friend Buffalo Bill Cody, and interacts with famous literary figures during the course of what can only be described as a rollicking ride through the icons and images of America's past.Scoundrel in the Thick represents historical novel writing at its best. O’Hagan excels in both recreating this period of time and its famous personalities. With its blend of fictional and real events and attention to strong character development, it's a story that will captivate even those who may have little prior knowledge of these times. Historical fiction library collections will find this book a worthy addition." D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

No bull. Well, actually,bull-and then some.

Justice is sometimes handed down in unexpected ways. During the climactic battle in Scoundrel in the Thick, this 1500-pound bad boy serves up some extreme ( translated: gruesome) karma to someone who deserves every bit of the pain that is inflicted upon him. And that's no bull. Well, actually, it is bull, but not that kind of bull. Oh, hell, just read the book, you'll see.

In glorious audio

We are proud to announce that internationally renowned opera voice Craig Colclough is performing the audio book version of Scoundrel in the Thick. You can listen to a sample in this post. Craig made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2018 in the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth, and he brings extraordinary vocal talent and acting ability to his performances. Visit Craig’s website, and get to know the ‘voice’ of Thomas Scoundrel. Enjoy this audio sample!

http://www.craigcolclough.com

Yes, THAT Bat Masterson

Frontier lawman Bat Masterson was a friend of Thomas Scoundrel, and he is featured in Scoundrel in the Thick. That's Bat in the back row, third from the left. In town, where most everything happened at close range, Bat wore his Colt (pictured) cross draw style, butt forward and covered, making it almost impossible for anyone to disarm him from behind.

Ask any man how he would react

Ok, so Stinging nettle is a nutritious plant that studies suggest may reduce inflammation, hay fever symptoms, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.But, they are also filled with formic acid, and can burn like a blow torch if you barely brush against them. In Scoundrel in the Thick, an elderly Cheyenne woman puts on gloves, and, (while Thomas is tied to a tree) shoves a bunch of fresh nettles somewhere no man would rather think about. It was actually painful for me just to write that part of the chapter.