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Welcome

Welcome to my author website. I write fantasy imbued with the richness of ancient worlds. I love the lore of the Greeks and Hittites. Their myths and clashes inspire my fiction and open gates to magical realms. Scroll down to read about my books and see my latest posts, or click on my Authentic History or Blog menu pages to explore the Bronze Age archeology that informs my novels.

Latest Release – Flights of Treason

Tesha Series book 4 – Release date May 7, 2024

Treason threatens the thrones of the Hitolian Empire and the griffin realm. Can an unlikely ensemble of heroes save them?

As rulers of a vassal kingdom within the Hitolian Empire, Tesha and her husband Hattu have propped up a treacherous Great King. But balancing on the blade of a royal dagger is only half the problem. Unknown to them, Tesha’s blind sister is communicating with the king of the human-hating griffins.

Then hidden foes tip their lives toward disaster, and crises in both worlds collide.

The heroes fight battles with swords, claws, and sorcery. Will Tesha be forced to use the magic that might kill her daughter? Who truly unleashed these lethal strands of chaos? Will the empire—or Tesha’s family—survive?

Escape into the final book of this historical fantasy series, inspired by the true-life of a remarkable Hittite queen who ruled for decades over one of history’s most powerful empires.

“Starkston wraps history and magic together in an unforgettable package.”—the Book Review Crew

Books series:

Tesha Series

Tesha Series book covers

Welcome to the Hitolian Empire and Tesha, Priestess of Ishana. This historical fantasy world is inspired by the ancient Bronze Age Hittites, a fertile starting point for historical fantasy with their combination of military world dominance, international intrigue, richly documented beliefs in supernatural powers and magical rites, and a remarkable queen — a woman so strong and gifted that she commanded respect and awe throughout her ancient civilization.

Trojan Threads Series

Cover, Hand of Fire by Judith Starkston

This series opens in the Trojan War, told from a woman’s viewpoint, and starts with my novel Hand Of Fire. A legendary war, an invincible warrior, a woman forced to defend her family and realm—and her independent spirit. Will she become the captive or the captor?


Latest Posts:

book cover image The Witch's Lens
The Witch’s Lens by Luanne G. Smith: Book Review

World War I with a fantastical layer added in? Luanne Smith's novel puts the historical horrors of t…

book cover image The Romanov Impostor
The Romanov Impostor by Jennifer Laam: Book Review

The Romanov Impostor portrays a "what if she'd survived" story of Anastasia Romanov. The novel is an…

Cleopatra's languages. She shown standing before Caesar
Cleopatra’s Languages: Reimagining a Famous Queen

Ancient sources describe Cleopatra as an amazing polyglot, but to what degree did she really speak a…