Blue Morpho Publishing

For Immediate Release: Contact: Leann Garms September 1, 2006 214-289-3563 [email protected]

Texas Author Explores the Shadow Side of World War II in a Spellbinding Thriller Moreland’s First Novel Marks Debut of “A Major New Talent”

Blue Morpho Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Shadows in the Mist, the debut novel from Brian Moreland. The novel, a supernatural thriller set in the foggy woods of Nazi Germany in World War II, has already received high praise.

New York Times best-selling author James Rollins (Map of Bones and Black Order) said, "Brian Moreland's Shadows in the Mist is a smashing debut of a major new talent. Combining Masonic history, mysticism, and Nordic rune-lore, Moreland's tale of a world at war is equal parts horror story and spine-jangling thriller. An adventure not to be missed!"

Some describe the novel as Band of Brothers meets The Da Vinci Code. After 60 years of silence, a secret pact between two war heroes is about to be broken. Buried beneath the blood stained soil of Germany lies a Nazi relic that could destroy armies if fallen into the wrong hands. Now the diary of WWII hero Jack Chambers is being delivered to the U.S. Army to reveal a dark conspiracy. “This is the untold story. The real reason my entire platoon vanished in October, 1944.”

“A rocket-paced mystery about occult-obsessed Nazis. Classic good vs. evil action in this page turner!” said Joseph P. Farrell, author of Reich of the Black Sun.

Moreland has spent several years working in Dallas as a film/video editor, art director, and graphic designer. He edited the acclaimed documentary Band of Champions, about the Highland Park Scots 2005 winning season. In the literary field, Brian has written numerous short stories and edited a number of books for other authors. He studied fiction writing and screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin. In between film projects, Brian writes supernatural suspense novels and travels around the world.

Shadows in the Mist has broad appeal, not only to audiences who love suspense thrillers, but also to those who appreciate war histories. During his extensive research for the novel, Brian backpacked across Germany to visit battle sites and museums. He walked over the former battlefields and visited landmarks of the past, like the remains of the Siegfried line bunkers and Dragon’s teeth. Albert Trostorf, a German historian, toured with Moreland as he researched the battlefields of the Hürtgen Forest.

“Brian’s descriptions of the battles, area, and soldiers in the dark, cold and wet month of October, 1944 are very detailed. The mist-enshrouded woods echo with the cries of a battle that can’t be forgotten. Shadows in the Mist is a truly great read,” said Trostorf. - more - SHADOWS 2 “This novel was inspired and dedicated to my grandfather, Captain Dawson Moreland, a U. S. army pilot who flew C-47’s that dropped Army paratroopers over France,” said Brian. He, like the lead character Jack Chambers, had secrets locked away in his WWII Army footlocker that Brian remembers as a boy.

“ I was fortunate my grandfather survived WWII because he has been a powerful role model in my life,” said Moreland who recently held a book signing with his grandfather in Ballinger, TX where Capt. Moreland resides.

“I remember when visiting him in my youth he had this old Army footlocker that he kept locked up. When I asked my grandfather what was in it, he said it contained photos, letters, and memorabilia from his war days. Always a curious kid, I asked if I could see them. But my grandfather’s eyes suddenly turned haunted, and he said he could never open that footlocker. Growing up, I often wondered what mysteries were concealed in that locker. Perhaps writing this novel has been a way to solve that mystery for myself,” Moreland added.

Publisher Information:

P.O. Box 601537 Dallas, TX 75360-1537 214-507-5527

Book Title: Shadows in the Mist Author: Brian Moreland Category: Horror/Supernatural Thriller Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 Pages: 424 Price: $16.95 ISBN# 0-9778405-5-7 Release Date: September 16, 2006 Website: www.BlueMorphoBooks.com e-mail: [email protected]

Cover art and photos available at www.BrianMoreland.com 300 dpi photos available to ship upon request High Praise for Brian Moreland And Shadows in the Mist

"Brian Moreland's Shadows in the Mist is a smashing debut of a major new talent. Combining Masonic history, mysticism, and Nordic rune-lore, Moreland's tale of a world at war is equal parts horror story and spine-jangling thriller. An adventure not to be missed!" New York Times best-selling author James Rollins, Map of Bones and Black Order

“A rocket-paced mystery about occult-obsessed Nazis. Classic good vs. evil action in this page turner!” Joseph P. Farrell, author of Reich of the Black Sun

“With Shadows in the Mist, Brian Moreland weaves together the best elements of military, supernatural and religious conspiracy genres, staking out a new territory all his own.” TL Hines, author of Waking Lazarus

“Brian’s descriptions of the battles, area, and soldiers in the dark, cold and wet month of October, 1944 are very detailed! The mist-enshrouded woods echo with the cries of a battle that can’t be forgotten. Shadows in the Mist is a truly great read.”

Albert Trostorf, German Historian of the Hürtgen Forest

"A captivating tale of suspense and horror that will chill you to the bone and leave you wanting . . . more!"

Ernest de L’Autin, author of Reach to the Wounded Healer

“Reading Shadows in the Mist is like transporting back to war time Germany and reliving the bloody battles fought inside the treacherous Hürtgen Forest. Brian Moreland has written one hell of a good book.”

Ron van Rijt, Dutch Historian of the Hürtgen Forest

About Author Brian Moreland

Brian Moreland grew up in Texas and has spent the past several years working in Dallas as a film/video editor, art director, and graphic designer. He edited the acclaimed documentary Band of Champions.

Brian also edited The Ross Perot Biography, which aired prime time during his run for the presidency and co-edited a documentary on the U.S. campaign in Viet Nam. In the literary field, Brian has written numerous short stories and edited a number of books for other authors. In between film projects, Brian writes supernatural suspense novels and travels around the world. Shadows in the Mist is his debut novel. Helping English Students

While writing the novel, Brian contributed to a High School writing program up in Syracuse, New York. The Freshman Honors English students were assigned to write a novel over the Spring semester. The teacher, George Klotz, thought it would be beneficial if the class saw some chapters from a novel in progress. Brian initially sent three chapters along with some writing tips. The twenty students got so enthralled by the story of Shadows in the Mist, that they began to ask for more chapters. Even though the second half of the novel was still being polished, Brian began sending a few chapters every couple weeks. The process of working with Klotz’s class propelled Brian to finish his novel much faster than anticipated. Receiving enthusiastic emails from teen readers really inspired Brian. In turn, Brian began reading the chapters the students wrote and gave constructive feedback. The story of George Klotz’s class collaborating with an author writing a real novel was published in the District News in Syracuse, New York.

"Shadows in the Mist is a masterful blend of history and gothic horror that my students devoured from cover to cover. Never have I taught a class so captivated to read/write like my English Honor's class as Brian Moreland engaged them in the process of novel writing. Moreland achieves as every good writer, a story to be read and enjoyed, remembered."

George Klotz, Honors English Teacher

“I'm in Mr. Klotz's class, the one that has been reading your book. I must say, I love it. It's one of the best stories I have ever read. Military novels are actually my favorite genre, if it can be called one. Your ending to Shadows in the Mist was awesome, simply put. I was so surprised at what had happened, and then I realized how realistic it was. It was such a fitting end for the story.”

Tyler M., high school student

“I'm in Mr. Klotz's 9th grade honors English class. Thank you so much for letting us read your novel, and for reading ours. I must say that I simply love the whole novel, especially the ending. I was totally hooked reading the last six chapters. Whenever we got more of your novel, I started reading and didn't put it down until I finished. I have to admit I usually don’t like books about war, but Shadows in the Mist was excellent. Thanks again!”

Kelsey K, high school student Dedication to a War Hero

Shadows in the Mist is dedicated to Brian’s grandfather, Captain Dawson Moreland. As a U.S. Army pilot during World War II, he flew C-47’s that dropped Army paratroopers over France. His grandfather braved many deadly missions through storms of flack from German anti-aircraft guns and German Luftwaffe jetfighters in hot pursuit.

“I was fortunate my grandfather survived World War II, because he has been a powerful role model in my life. He was a man of action more than words. I remember when visiting him in my youth he had this old Army footlocker that he kept locked up. When I asked my grandfather what was in it, he said it contained photos, letters, and memorabilia from his war days. Always a curious kid, I asked if I could see them. But my grandfather’s eyes suddenly turned haunted, and he said he could never open that footlocker. Growing up, I often wondered what mysteries were concealed in that locker. Perhaps writing this novel has been a way to solve that mystery for myself.

“My lead character Jack Chambers is a veteran colonel who has also kept a secret locked away for sixty years. Haunted by post-war nightmares and guilt from a pact he made to conceal a dark conspiracy, Colonel Chambers entrusts his grandson to deliver a war diary to the Army that will open up an investigation. While my novel is dedicated to my grandfather, the main hero, especially when depicted as a young lieutenant, is a combination of the infantry soldiers I interviewed and read about while researching World War II.”