“““Passage to Moorea is a thoroughly engrossing, action-packed wild ride…an edge-of-your-seat thriller read that crafts a “you are here” experience that pulls you deep into the world of 19th century fine art in the company of trained assassins, villainous art dealers, Tahitian warriors, American robber barons, and a host of unforgettable characters.””
Check out our January 2024 newsletter HERE.
3rd Thomas Scoundrel Novel Announced
1884- Two years after the action in Scoundrel in the Thick, Thomas Scoundrel has grown bored training new recruits for the Mexican Army and chasing bandits in the northern territories. He jumps at an offer to write an article about the new Paris to Istanbul luxury train called the Orient Express for his former newspaper editor. Onboard the train he meets Heléne de Bovet, the beautiful daughter of a famous Egyptologist who is on a quest to salvage her father’s reputation and save his life. When Thomas accompanies Hélene to the site of her father’s last dig at Luxor in Egypt, they are swept up into the war that is brewing between British forces under the command of General Charles Gordon, and the fanatical warrior chieftain known as the Mahdi whose thousands of devoted followers are bent on ripping off the shackles of European control. In the ensuing weeks Thomas will be flung into pitched battles on the shores of the Nile, captured by the Mahdi, and tossed into a hellish Sudanese prison. He escapes, but only to face another fight for survival as he races across the blistering Sahara Desert to rescue Hélene, who is being held for ransom by a Bedouin warlord.
The Ghost of Khartoum delivers grand adventure, historical realism, and the familiar touch of gourmet food and wine that readers of the Thomas Scoundrel series have come to expect.
Arriving September 2024
World renowned bass-baritone opera performer Craig Colclough (and voice artist for the Thomas Scoundrel books) will be performing the title role in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer) in Sweden from February 17-April 4, 2024. He left for Sweden on January 7 to begin rehearsals, and we wish him all the best in this major venue. If you aren’t familiar with this masterpiece of love, longing and eternal damnation, the ancient crew of the ghost ship The Flying Dutchman is doomed to sail the oceans for all eternity. Once every seven years, the captain of the vessel is permitted to go ashore in search of the love of a good woman that will release him from his curse. Heavy stuff. Craig will perform in the evenings and record Passage to Moorea during the day. Quite a schedule!
Coming Soon: Art Inspired by the Thomas Scoundrel Series, Hardcover, Limited Edition
Just in time for Christmas, a new cover for Jonathan Marvel’s Christmas Pockets
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!
Scoundrel in the Thick Selected as Finalist for Prestigious Award
Scoundrel in the Thick has been selected from thousands of submissions as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, the most prestigious award given to small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors. We truly appreciate the recognition.
Scoundrel in Paradise, Book #2 in the Thomas Scoundrel Series, is coming December 2023
Artist Tyler Jacobson is onboard for the cover art for Scoundrel In Paradise!
No, that’s not the cover for the new Scoundrel book, but it is some of Tyler’s legendary work
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 summer. 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.
Gatsby Books Complete Review of Scoundrel in the Thick:
“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. Honestly, I’ve not read anything this satisfying since Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove.
Author B.R. O'Hagan has crafted a relentless page-turner with moments of well-earned reflection. It’s both a rip-roaring journey into the American frontier and a heartfelt study of the American character. Thomas Scoundrel, a circumstantial Civil War hero, leans into his reputation and becomes a hero in the truest sense of the word. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it’s rare to find a character in literature who has such a firm moral compass. I wish that I had read this book as a young man. It’s the young man in me that hangs on every word and the old man in me that says, “that’s enough adventure for tonight, let’s save the next chapter for tomorrow.”
Despite the blockbuster movie aspect of this novel, the best thing about Scoundrel in the Thick are the characters. B.R. O’Hagan has created fully-fleshed characters that you care deeply about. When a character dies in this novel, you will cry like a baby because every voice in this story rings true and clear. Best of all, the author has masterfully interwoven his novel with historical figures including Buffalo Bill Cody, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde. It takes a lot of guts to give Mark Twain a two-page speech in your novel and what’s amazing about Scoundrel in the Thick is that the historical figures never feel forced and you’ll never doubt that the words weren’t spoken by Twain himself.
At the end of this novel I felt saddle-sore and emotionally wrung out. I felt lucky to be alive and ready for the next adventure. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but what surprised me the most – was that this book, while ostensibly set in the past, made me feel hopeful for the future. In a real sense, Scoundrel in the Thick is an adventure story that asks us all to become the hero of our own stories.
B.R. O’Hagan is at once the king of the wild frontier and an intrepid explorer of the human heart. Read this book and then pass it to someone else. Scoundrel in the Thick reminds us that life is equal parts circumstance, luck, courage, skill and some really good friends that come to the rescue when we need them the most.” Reviewed by Sean Moor
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
Scoundrel in the Thick hardcover now available at most online book retailers The beautiful hardcover with dust jacket was designed with collectors and gift-givers in mind.
Scoundrel in the Thick Now available on AMAZON Pedee Creek Press today announced that the softcover version of Scoundrel in the Thick is now available for sale on AMAZON. The hardcover version and e-book will be available December 1st, followed shorty after by the audio version.
Book cover design for scoundrel in the thick announced
artist selected to record first book in the scoundrel series
Craig Colclough
LAUNCH VIDEO FOR SCOUNDREL#1
Appearance before writer’s group
Marketing theme for 1st Scoundrel book announced
Sixth book added to the Scoundrel series
Hilton Head Island, SC The cover design for the first book in the Thomas Scoundrel series has been finalized. An epic book needed an epic cover, and our graphic folks have delivered. Here it is:
Hilton Island, SC Pedee Creek Press is proud to announce that international opera star, bass-baritone Craig Colclough, has signed to perform the audio version of Scoundrel in the Thick. Craig made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2018 in the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth, and that season also saw him in the roles Telramund in Lohengrin at Opera Vlaanderen, Peter in Hansel & Gretel at the Los Angeles Opera, Fra Melitone in La Forza del Destino for his company debut with Oper Fankfurt, as well as the Storyteller in A Flowering Tree for his company debut with Opera Queensland. Craig brings extraordinary vocal talent and acting ability to his performances, and we anticipate he will make Scoundrel in the Thick one of the most exciting and memorable audio books in years. Visit Craig’s website, and get to know the ‘voice’ of Thomas Scoundrel. For a sneak listen to a portion of the new Scoundrel audio, go HERE.
Hilton Head Island, SC The 1st launch video for Scoundrel in the Thick has just been released.
Hilton Head Island, SC On Wednesday March 4th, 2021, B.R. O’Hagan will speak to the Willamette Writer’s Group on the topic: Writing in the shadows: Ghostwriting for top CEOs, the ultra-affluent, and national political figures. Admission is free to members, $10.00 for the general public. Venue: Scottish Rite Center, 4090 Commercial St SE, Salem. Time: 6:30-8:30 PM. (Talk begins at 7:00 PM)
Hilton Head Island, SC Pedee Creek Press today announced the theme for the launch of the first Thomas Scoundrel book. Adventure Returns captures the essence of the Scoundrel universe. Fast-paced, surprising, non-stop, humorous and unforgettable. Real adventure has been in short supply in film, TV and books in recent years. Scoundrel in the Thick brings adventure back!
Hilton Head Island, SC Pedee Creek Press today announced an agreement with author B.R. O’Hagan to add a sixth book to the Thomas Scoundrel historical fiction series. Titled Passage To Moorea, this book takes a step back in Thomas Scoundrel’s life and tells the story of how the 23-year old stows away on a Hawaii bound schooner, becomes the manager and part owner of a sugar plantation, and battles missionary bankers, loan collecting native warriors, and the American art industry.
When he is pursued across the South Pacific he settles briefly in French Polynesia, where he befriends famous artist artist and agrees to represent him in New York. Will the villainous snobs of the art world be a match for Scoundrel? Don’t bet on it.
Scoundrel series publication schedule announced
Hilton Head Island, SC The publication schedule for B.R. O’Hagan’s six book historical fiction series about the life of Thomas Scoundrel has been announced.
1. Scoundrel in the Thick Publication date: Winter 2021
2. Passage to Moorea Publication date: Winter 2023
3. At the Hunt Publication date: Fall 2024
4. The Valley of Sighs Publication date: Spring 2025
5. In the Shadow of Vesuvius Publication date:Winter 2025
6. Scoundrel In the Clouds Publication date: Summer 2026
Jonathan Marvel TV-stage rights secured
Scoundrel Series book cover design announced
Scoundrel film & television deal announced
University of Oregon Appearance
Manhattan Beach, CA Appearance
Manhattan Beach, CA Appearance
Hilton Head Island, SC Pedee Creek Publishing today announced the acquisition of television and stage production rights for the book Jonathan Marvel’s Christmas Pockets, by B.R. O’Hagan. Pedee Creek will begin sales of the softcover and e-book editions of Jonathan Marvel in the Christmas 2022 season. And, a joint venture proposal for the production of television and stage versions of the book is being developed.
“Jonathan Marvel was originally conceived for live stage performances,” says author B.R. O’Hagan, “and it also lends itself well to the production of a one-act, one-set television show. We are excited to share the work with experienced production companies.”
Hilton Head Island, SC Pedee Creek Publishing today announced that they have acquired the rights to film, cable, and broadcast television rights to the Thomas Scoundrel historical fiction series.
“If ever a book series was perfect for film and television development, this is it,” says a Pedee Creek spokesperson. “Scoundrel’s adventures across four of the most rousing decades in American history offer viewers everything they could want: compelling characters, original stories and stirring action, all played out across a world stage at a time when the possibilities were endless and adventure was the rule of the day.”
On Monday, June 13th, 2023, B.R. O’Hagan will be the featured speaker at the University of Oregon Author Series, in Eugene, Oregon, @ 7PM. Admission is free. 1277 University of Oregon, Eugene
B.R. O’Hagan will be the featured speaker at The Manhattan Beach, CA Jocelyn Center on April 18th, 2023 at 12 noon. $10 admission includes lunch. 1400 Highland Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
On Sunday, July 7th, 2023, B.R. O’Hagan will be the featured speaker at the Manhattan Beach Community Church. Admission is free. 303 S Peck Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
B.R. O’Hagan