SPOKANE, Wash. — Sunbury Press has released The Wolf of Britannia, Jess Steven Hughes’ prequel to the bestsellingThe Sign of the Eagle. The novel has been released in two parts. About the Part I: The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is a breathtaking historical novel of action and suspense set in the wilds of First Century AD Britain. A young Celtic warrior, soon-to-be-legendary Prince Caratacus, must unite the southern tribes of Britain to fight an enemy more cunning and powerful than either he or Britain has ever faced, the juggernaut of imperial Rome. As the prince fights alongside his wife, Rhian, a warrior princess who takes no prisoners, Caratacus must also outsmart a traitorous brother determined to take the throne with the support of Rome. The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is the story of a courageous man who must save his country not only from internal strife and treachery, but from the tyranny of Rome or die trying. Excerpt: Caratacus’s wicker chariot bucked and hurtled across every dip and rise in the track. Two lathering ponies strained at their harness as the young prince urged them ahead. Man-sized wooden targets sprinkled the course. Caratacus struck each through the heart with his casting spears. Now he raced for the finish line in a swirl of chalky dust, blue eyes ablaze with excitement. Tawny hair whipped about his sunburned face. He sweated profusely in a woolen, short-sleeved tunic and tartan breeches, dust muting their colors. A gold collar burned his neck, but to rip it off would bring bad luck. The earthy musk of horse sweat blotted out all other odors. Behind him, clattering wheels and thudding hooves roared in his ears. Four other chariots steadily gained on him. His horses responded to the stinging touch as he slapped the reins. Caratacus leaped from the flimsy cart onto the center drawbar between his team when another chariot nosed into the lead. He struggled for a foothold and looped the dragging reins about his wrists. Barefooted, he deftly edged his way forward on the jouncing bar and catapulted onto the back of his favorite beast. Kneeling on the bay pony, he bellowed encouragement, calling for even greater speed. Sucking dust and screaming, urging the racers to ever greater strides, throngs of men, women, and children circled the large, rutted oval, which served as a race track below the great hill fortress of Camulodunum. A small boy chasing a dog darted from the crowd and crossed in the front of Caratacus’s path. A woman screamed. He sucked in his breath—Damn! In a flash he kicked the pony’s side, sharply swerving the team, barely missing the child. The chariot bounced, arcing one wheel off the ground and back to the earth with a thud. Violently wrenched from the beast’s back, Caratacus grabbed its yoke collar and yanked himself up on the withers. A throbbing pain shot through his loins from where he caught the horse’s knotty backbone between his legs. For an instant, Caratacus glanced at the jostling throng. He caught sight of flaxen-haired Rhian, daughter of the king’s champion. The young woman screamed encouragement. His team leaped ahead and stampeded towards the finish. Caratacus heard a pop and then a rumbling noise. He turned and saw the left trace rein on his other pony had snapped loose from an iron holding lug. It whipped back and forth along the animal’s side. The mare squealed, terrified by the bridle’s lashing. She strained at leather bands around her girth and neck, trying to lurch free of the yoke collar. About the Part II: The Wolf of Britannia, Part II, is a breathtaking historical novel of action and suspense set in the years between 43 and 60 AD, in the mysterious land of ancient Britain and the majestic palaces of Rome. In the first millennium’s early days, the Romans held power over most of the world’s people through disciplined savagery, yet many citizens fought to break from tyranny. This painstaking researched tale is of one such fight for freedom. In the wilds of Britain, the soon-to-be-legendary King Caratacus and his tribe of Celtic warriors are facing down the seemingly unbeatable Roman army. After winning the southern British throne, Caratacus leads his people as they strive for freedom from the iron-fisted Roman rule that has nearly obliterated their culture and lifestyle. As the king fights to keep his people free, he must also battle his beautiful, conniving, and lascivious cousin−a queen who wants Caratacus for herself. The Wolf of Britannia, Part II, is the story of one daring man, willing to risk his life to destroy the entire Roman army. About the Author: Jess Steven Hughes brought his lifetime’s fascination with ancient Roman history into his debut novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. Jess is a retired a police detective sergeant, Long Beach Police Dept, Long Beach, CA. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California in Public Administration with a minor (my first academic love) in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations. He also served four years United States Marine Corps (1962/66). As a retired person, Jess believes in keeping very busy. You must stay active mentally, physically and socially. These are a few of the keys to a long and healthy retirement. Writing novels has contribute greatly to my quality of life. He lives with his wife, Liz, on a four acre mini-farm in Eastern Washington. His hobby is outdoor model railroading. He has an outdoor model railroad that was featured in the June/July, 2010 issue of the regional magazine PRIME NORTHWEST (www.primenw.com). Check their website for the article. Jess is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA), the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) and is active in two writers groups in the Spokane, WA area (Spokane Novelists and Spokane Valley Writers). The Wolf of Britannia Part I Authored by Jess Steven Hughes List Price: $16.95 5.5″ x 8.5″ (13.97 x 21.59 cm) Black & White on White paper 328 pages Sunbury Press, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1620065600 ISBN-10: 1620065606 BISAC: Fiction / Historical The Wolf of Britannia Part II Authored by Jess Steven Hughes List Price: $16.95 5.5″ x 8.5″ (13.97 x 21.59 cm) Black & White on White paper 264 pages Sunbury Press, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1620065631 ISBN-10: 1620065630 BISAC: Fiction / Historical For more information, please see: http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Wolf-of-Britannia-Pa… http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Wolf-of-Britannia-Pa…