In an age where the word honor is often dismissed as outdated, historical fiction has a unique responsibility and opportunity to remind us why it once mattered so deeply.
In the 18th century, honor was not an abstract idea. It governed how men fought, how leaders ruled, and how soldiers faced death. For officers and foot soldiers alike, honor defined loyalty to king, regiment, and comrades. It was the difference between standing firm under fire or breaking ranks in fear.
While writing Valor With Honor, I was continually drawn back to this concept. The soldiers of the Pragmatic Army did not march for glory alone. Many marched because honor demanded it, because to abandon their post meant disgracing not only themselves, but their families and clans. This mindset shaped every battlefield decision, every sacrifice, and every quiet moment before combat.
Historical fiction allows us to explore what happens when honor is tested. What does a man do when survival conflicts with duty? When faith is shaken by violence? When leadership carries the weight of thousands of lives? These questions are timeless, even if the setting is centuries old.
Honor may look different today, but its core remains unchanged. It still asks us who we are when no one is watching, and what we are willing to stand for when the cost is high. That is why honor remains at the heart of my work and why it continues to resonate with readers who seek more than spectacle from historical fiction.