Gripping tales of memorable characters fighting the tides of Polish history
Our Latest Title ! "The Untouched" ! A Polish Texas girl is abducted during a 1874 Stage Coach robbery by a Comanche.
Our Latest Title ! "The Untouched" ! A Polish Texas girl is abducted during a 1874 Stage Coach robbery by a Comanche.
Thanks (Dziękuję) for dropping in! Welcome to the intriguing world of historical fiction from the tales of David & Marie Trawinski. Browse our titles, the reader's comments, and even scroll down for a few photos of the places we've visited that have inspired our stories.
A young Polish girl, Kalina, from Panna Maria, Texas, is taken from a stage coach. Her impetuous brother Piotr strikes out in search of her. Cord McCullough is hired to save the boy before he gets himself killed, but after meeting his beautiful Ciocci Mieczysława (Aunt Midge), Cord decides to save the "Untouched" one.
IT"S HERE! The 2nd Installment of THE LIFE OF MAREK ZACZEK saga.
"The Life of Marek Zaczek Volume 2: Embers of Love and War"
Review from September 2023 Polish American Journal
Reviewed by Basia Betlejewski
It has already been three years since Volume 1 of this appeared, (See PAJ, Nov. 2020, p. 6 for the review of Vol 1.), and another page turner flows from David Trawinski’s pen.
In his latest historical novel set in the Napoleonic era, Marek is now a handsome soldier of 32 years— and living the dissipated life of such in Paris in 1804, having left partitioned Poland. Poland would not become a country again until 1918.
The book is mildly R-rated due to occasional sex and violence— unfortunately, realistic. Marek’s life as a soldier who leaves a string of broken hearts behind him. The back cover shows a beautiful painting of the mounted Polish lancers of Napolean’s Imperial Guard, but danger and heartache lurk beneath the handsome façade.
In this volume, Trawinski again crafts a plot with unexpected twists and turns. His literary style is poetic, although, in my opinion, it could be somewhat “tighter,” more succinct. But if you have forgotten your Napoleonic history and its relation to partitioned Poland, this novel is an excellent review — and filled with juicy, lurid details your high school teacher never taught you. Who knew Horatio Nelson, the British naval commander who enabled Britain to rule the seas for a good hundred years, callously dumped his wife to take up with his mistress? And that he was a dead- beat, absentee dad with a “love” child named Horatia?
Most know that Napoleon had “short-pant” syndrome at 5’6”, but who knew he was obsessed with having an heir and “tested” himself out on other women? His wife Josephine, a widow with two children when he married her, proved infertile after they wed. (Josephine, it should be noted, cheated on Napoleon several days after their wedding, when he left for a military campaign). One of the women that Napoleon used included a beautiful young Polish countess, Maria Walewska, who was served up to him as a sacrificial pawn by Polish leaders to attempt to convince Napoleon to help liberate Poland and restore it as a country.
For those interested in military history, Trawinski has researched and intertwines many of the details of Napoleon’s and Nelson’s battles in the novel. If our high school history book had been written like this, we would be glued to the page and would ace the final. Again, like the first volume, family secrets are a large part of this novel’s plot — and cause continued chaos, or, as Sir Walter Scott said, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Nearly every character in this novel, including the women, acts dishonorably and dishonestly at times, again unfortunately, an only too realistic portrayal.
This novel is quite relevant to our own lives, as most of our ancestors left what had been Poland to escape the oppression under the Partitions by Germany, Austria, and Russia, just as Marek did. The novel terminates abruptly and chaotically. Imperial overreach and hubris, then as now, are on the horizon, as the novel ends with Napoleon over-wintering in Warsaw in 1807 prior to his failed Russian campaign. A detailed reading of “The Art of War,” by Sun Tzu, (544-496 BCE) might have helped him avoid some fatal mistakes. “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.”
Once you finish avidly turning the pages of this novel, you must wait patiently for Trawinski’s next volume to be published. With Trawinski, it will no doubt be a wild ride!
THE LATEST CLAY AND DEEKIE NOVEL!!!
The year is 1873, and Clay and Deekie take up with a flamboyant gambler and travel to Memphis, Tennessee. Once there, Clay takes advantage of their location to take the Old Butterfield Overland Stage Coach to Fort Worth and search for his missing "Diddy".
A Texas billionaire's dying mother claims to have given birth to twin sons who later fought in World War II. Is this shocking family revelation real, or a manifestation of her dementia? Diane Sterling and her team are called in to investigate, and she uncovers a story stretching back to 1912, involving three international families who become entangled in fighting the Nazi invasion in Arctic Norway.
Book Review by Mary E. Lanham from December 2020
See all the autographed volumes currently available to purchase
My Blog on History, Travel and Literature
Photos from the actual sites of many of the pivotal scenes in my novels
THE TWINS OF NARVIK, PART I (Abridged Review)
The Twins of Narvik is a mystery split into two alternating-but interwoven tales, cleverly wrapped around a World War I-II history lesson. The time period of Part I is 1912 to 1939, told from a present-day viewpoint. This book is part of Trawinski’s Churchill Trilogy. Quotes from Winston Churchill are sprinkled throughout the book.
Trawinski has a natural talent to keep one turning the pages to find out what happens next.
If you like war books with intel ops, you will like this mystery... but you'll still find plenty of "chick flick" material. Romance, family secrets, interpersonal relations, mental illness, DNA identifying lost relatives, father/son difficulties, the avoidable problems caused by excess wealth, power, money, adventure - it's all there. And as I said earlier, Trawinski has a natural talent to keep you turning ages to find out just how his clues interconnect to solve the mystery.
Barbara Betlejewska
Polish American Journal
May-June 2021
Click the link below to go to the bookstore. or scroll up to the main menu
Set against the backdrop of late eighteenth-century Poland, is the first volume of "The Life of Marek Zaczek" by well-known Polish American author David Trawinski. In this volume, the protagonist comes of age during the turbulent times of the partitions of Poland.
Born into a peasant's life on the estate of a duke, Marek Zaczek seems fated to work in a salt mine. As he grows up watching the duke's horses, he develops s love for the animals and soon has his heart set on working with them. As he matures, he becomes infatuated with the idea of becoming like the great winged Hussars.
Marek has aspirations that are above his station, but what he doesn't know about his origins would change his world forever. Marek's mother keeps secrets from him that will turn their lives and the lives of his grandparents upside-down and inside-out. Magda,as his mother is known, is the daughter of a noble couple who were exiled to Russia. The other secret is the truth of Marek's parentage, which she cannot bring herself to reveal to him.
The novel illustrates the cruel way some nobles exerted their power over the peasants that worked their land; The duke viewed the peasants on his estate as his property, which Magda bravely contradicts. Although this novel focuses on Marek, the women in the book, especially Magda, shine as resilient characters as they rally against the hardships they are forced to endure at the hands of men.
To give a larger view of the tumultuous times, Trawinski has the characters of the duke and Count Von Arndt, an acquaintance of the duke, discuss and expound upon the changing world order. With this, the author sets the stage for his cast of assorted characters.
Mary E. Lanham
Polish American Journal
December 2020
The Chopin Trilogy
Join the excitement that begins with Stanley Wisniewski, a retired CIA operative, being called to investigate an apparent corporate murder in Amsterdam in "The Willow's Bend". Stanley is hunted across Europe by the CIA and Britain's MI6 in "Chasing the Winter's Wind". In this novel, Stanley's backstory is revealed as he is pursued by his protege, Diane "The Huntress" Sterling. And the third novel, "War of the Nocturne's Widow", opens with Diane missing as an Intelligence War between the CIA and Britain's MI6 looms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are a few comments excerpted from my readers:
"It did not take me long to read these because they were hard to put down once started."
(Unsolicited Website Review of "The Chopin Trilogy")
"After reading your trilogy, I was thoroughly captivated by your storytelling, plot twists and character development!"
(Unsolicited Website Review of "The Chopin Trilogy")
"You had me thoroughly engrossed in Chapter 2 ... As a second generation Polish American, I thoroughly enjoyed..... and even more, I appreciated..... the weaving of the Polish character, culture, history and heritage into the espionage and intrigue of the Chopin Trilogy. Thank you, Mr. Trawinski, for your telling me Stanley's tale."
(Unsolicited Website Review of "The Chopin Trilogy")
"I would love to see this trilogy turned into a mini-series or full-length movie!"
("The Chopin Trilogy")
"The Willow's Bend masterfully works through its protagonist Stanley to take you into Nazi Germany's occupation of Poland, Polish culture, and the inner workings of a modern day large aerospace defense contractor to create an enthralling and captivating read. The clandestine, investigative components of the book easily pull you in for what becomes an exciting and unexpected ending shaped by belief, character, and moral duty."
(Amazon Review of "The Willow's Bend")
"The book tells of the brutal occupation of Poland during WWII and how one's actions of the past can have a powerful influence on the actions of the present. The descriptive passages are wonderfully written. I enjoyed this story immensely."
(Amazon Review of "The Willow's Bend")
"I loved the intrigue and suspense. The author did an excellent job of describing and developing the characters with their devious personalities. I could easily visualize the various locations that the story takes place in. The best mind-blowing element is the twist you do not see coming at the end of the book. I was on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters."
(Amazon Review of "The Willow's Bend")
"This immersive book is brilliantly written and took me on an action packed adventure from DC and CIA headquarters at Langley through parts of Europe including Poland, East Germany, Austria, Italy, and France."
(Amazon Review of "Chasing the Winter's Wind")
"What a well-written and well-thought-out story. It's full of suspense and intrigue. I could not stop reading until I found out how it ended. I was not disappointed, either."
(Amazon Review of "War of the Nocturne's Widow")
"I would love to see this trilogy turned into a mini-series or full-length movie!"
("The Chopin Trilogy")
"I studied very little of the Civil War growing up in Texas. (This) book has done more to explain ... the pain and damage of war are both physical and psychological ... 'Ever Blooms the Rose' captures both sides of the coin in a story of one family ripped apart by war, the mental and medical wounds of which seem unrecoverable ... The historical and geographical research to pull off this book is impressive, and I thoroughly enjoyed (it).
(Amazon Review of "Ever Blooms the Rose")
See more reviews on Amazon.com
An Aerospace Executive is found drowned in the canals of Amsterdam.
Stanley Wisniewski is a retired CIA officer, called in to solve this mysterious death for the firm that manufactures the CIA's Daedalus Destroyer Drones.
As he investigates, he recalls the three promises he made to his dying father, an Auschwitz survivor:
- Cherish and Care For Your Mother
- Always Remember your Polish Heritage
- Throughout Your Life, Protect The Weak from The Abuses of the Strong
Thus, two stories are concurrently told - Stanley solving the murder of the Defense Executive, and his father's telling of how he was able to survive the horrors of Auschwitz and World War II. The two tales across time intertwine, lighting the fuse to the dramatic climax which takes place in Warsaw.
Historical themes explored include the Nazi and Russian invasions of Poland, the infamous development of the Auschwitz and Birkenau Nazi Concentration Camps, The August 1944 Polish Insurgency (The Warsaw Uprising) and a brief summary of the history of Poland. Pride of the Polish Culture is the central theme.
Set in Baltimore, Washington DC, California, London, Amsterdam and Poland, with the climatic conclusion of both stories taking place in Warsaw's Stare Miasto and Krasiński Square.
204 Pages
Published April 2016
This novel begins in the closing moments of The Willow's Bend.
Stanley Wisniewski is now being chased across Europe by his former boss, Deputy Director Jack Trellis of the CIA. Stanley knows the excesses of Trellis' greed, and that Trellis wants him silenced forever. Trellis has the search for the aged spy led by Stanley's former protege, Diane "The Huntress" Sterling. Trellis has also added to the team the ominous Special Ops recruit, Carlyle, whose secret mission is to silence Stanley once Diane finds him.
Stanley is driven by his love for the beautiful Agnieszka Danuska, the beautiful wife of Communist Poland's Economic Minister. Stanley recalls the years he spent in Warsaw, developing Agnieszka and her son as the core of his network within the emerging Solidarity Trade Union in Gdansk.
This story deals with the historical events ranging from the 1940 Katyń Massacre to the Gdansk shipyard strikes of 1980, leading to the failure of the Communist State in Poland.
The story is set in Washington DC, London, Berlin, Vienna, Warsaw, Gdansk, Görlitz, Milan and France. The climatic ending takes place in Paris' celebrated Père Lachaise Cemetery at the foot of Frédéric Chopin's tomb.
421 Pages
Published September 2017
Diane Sterling is missing, and this fact alone threatens to ignite an intelligence war.
Following the conclusion of "Chasing The Winter's Wind", the CIA cannot locate their agent, Diane, who they have respectfully given the moniker of "The Huntress".
Jack Trellis, Deputy Director of Operations for the CIA suspects Diane is being harbored by his nemesis within the British Secret Service (MI6), George Chartwell.
Trellis fears Diane carries with her his darkest secrets of the Cold War, Project Osiris.
Join your favorite characters returning for this concluding installment of The Chopin Trilogy -the young innocent Polish cultural agent Sophie, the young German Stasi expert Emory Hauptmann, the charming British spy Malcolm Devereaux, the ambitious internet publisher Preston Almesbury, Trellis' CIA adjutant Ellison Redmond, and the ever-erring Dominic Reeves. And, of course, carrying the story from "The Willow's Bend" through this novel is the idealistic Stanley Wisniewski.
The story deals historically with the establishment of the communist state of East Germany after World War II, and their repressive Stasi Secret Police. The history of the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, in the context of events leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, is explored.
The novel is set in Washington DC, London, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Poland. The exciting conclusion takes place in and around Berlin.
230 Pages
Published April 2018
My Chopin Trilogy
Any book is so much more meaningful when you can discuss it with others. That goes for the authors, too. We would love to hear your thoughts on the characters, locations and historical facts woven throughout our stories...
My random thoughts on Art, Travel, History and Literature related to my storylines: past present and future! - Dave
Sign up to hear from us about specials, sales, and events.
Copyright © 2017 David Trawinski - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy