It’s such an honor to have the amazing James Han Mattson lend his support to my new novel, The War Begins in Paris!

We went on a short book tour together in 2018 when both of our debut novels were new and both edited by Vivian Lee, though we hadn’t ever met in person until that first reading at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines. I’m happy to count Jim as a friend now. His novel Reprieve was a powerhouse and he has a new one out next year to add to his debut, The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves.

“Propulsive, immersive, and beautifully rendered, Theodore Wheeler’s The War Begins in Paris is that rare novel that’s both contemplative and energetic, pulse-pounding and utterly devastating. Through Mielle and Jane, Wheeler deftly illuminates themes of friendship, love, sacrifice, and heroism, and shows us how loyalty and conviction can move in unpredictable patterns under wartime duress. This is a major gut-punch of a novel, and I, for one, am thankful it exists.”

—James Han Mattson, author of Reprieve

The War Begins in Paris will be published on November 14, 2023, but you can pre-order your copy now. (Order a signed copy here and have you shipped to you in November.)