Pawn to King’s End (Secrets of the Republic Book 1)

Douglas Gosselin

United States2 Books

FollowAMA (10)

Historical Mystery Thriller Suspense Mystery Action & Adventure Historical Fiction

BIOGRAPHY
I’m just a guy who loves history and telling a good story. My fascination with the past probably comes from years of service and a deep respect for the quiet, often overlooked individuals who shape history in ways most people never notice.

I started my military career as an Army airborne infantryman, bouncing around as a scout on a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team—essentially sneaking around and hoping not to get caught. Later, I spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, working across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. I like to think I played a small role in supporting efforts to build nations and secure freedom. In reality, most of the heavy lifting was done by the people who lived there.

After leaving the military, I spent years working for several federal agencies, navigating the complex world of government operations and policy. It was challenging, rewarding, and, at times, more bureaucratic than I’d like to admit. Eventually, I realized I wanted to get back to one of my true passions—history and mysteries. That pull toward uncovering the past and crafting compelling stories led me to write Pawn to King's End, my historical novel set during the Great Derangement at the start of the French and Indian War and leading into the American Revolution. The story follows an Acadian family caught in the shifting tides of empire and revolution. It’s about loyalty, survival, and the cost of freedom.

At its heart, the novel explores something I’ve come to believe deeply: building a nation—and securing true liberty—isn’t a single event. It’s a process, full of sacrifice, struggle, and uncomfortable contradictions. The early founders knew the irony of declaring universal freedom in a world where many remained unfree. But they also understood that the work of creating a truly free nation wouldn’t be finished in their lifetimes. It would take generations.

I did my best to weave meticulous historical research with compelling characters. Hopefully, the book serves as a reminder that freedom isn’t something you win and walk away from. It’s something that demands ongoing commitment, perseverance, and a whole lot of people willing to fight for it, even when no one is looking.
Please visit the Pawn site at https://pawntokingsend.net.
There are no spoilers on the site.