The Apple King: A World War 1 Family Saga

by Barbara Anne King

Winner of the 2021 Connecticut Author Project Award for Adult Fiction.

An enthralling WW 1 historical fiction saga about a Croatian immigrant whose impulsive act has consequences decades on. Will a shameful secret keep him from aiding his Fatherland’s freedom? A powerful story of family, fate, guilt, and redemption.

In 1881, Nikola Markovich’s ambitions took him from poverty in Croatia to pursuing his dreams in America. And despite a rocky start, the determined foreigner finds his fortune in the booming California apple business. But years later, his sinful burden resurfaces when he hears word of his homeland’s fight for independence.

As conflict brews in Europe, Markovich can no longer stand by and watch Croatia’s desperate struggle. When a Slavic diplomat comes to town to lobby for assistance, Markovich is shocked to discover a connection to his hidden disgrace that tears his loyalty in two.

Can the remorseful man put aside his checkered past and help his people rise from the ashes of war?

The Apple King is a riveting standalone historical novel. If you like morally driven characters, multi-generational stories, and epic struggles for justice, then you’ll love Barbara Anne King’s inspiring saga.

Read The Apple King to follow a battle from the heart today!

Genres: Fiction

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2021

About the author

series, featuring multicultural stories told from the heart.

Barbara was born and raised in Watsonville, California, a third-generation Croatian-American whose great, great uncles were pioneers in the town’s apple industry which they helped develop into the Apple Capital of the World. After graduating from UCLA with a political science degree, she headed east for a job on Capitol Hill. She also worked in broadcast journalism and corporate public affairs before trading the work world for the home front to raise three children. But while she may have left California, it never left her, and she remains a California Girl who is a proud new member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Barbara and her husband live in Connecticut.



www.barbaraanneking.com
author@barbaraanneking.com

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in 5 days. Being an immigrant from Croatia this story was hitting close to home. It is set in early 1900 about 60 years prior to my family immigrating. Some of the processes were unrealistic and seemed too easy to what we went through. I loved it and the historic aspect of it…a history that I did not know. Highly recommend it!

[Susan Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What a crazy history Croatia has had,” says one of the characters at the end of this book. The Croatians who landed in Watsonville, California also have quite an amazing history. The Apple King follows an ambitious young Croatian man, Nikola (Nick in America), on his journey from his village of Cilipi, near Dubrovnik, through many ports and then across the U.S, eventually to make his life in Watsonville, California. Proud, warm and hardworking (but with a dark secret that haunts him), Nick is welcomed into his new town by other Croatians living there. Luck is with him mostly but many disasters, worries, sabotage and intrigue all await as he makes a success of his life in the booming Watsonville apple trade. Amidst building a business and helping family, Nick’s finds that his birth-country’s fight for freedom will call upon his new-found prominence and leadership abilities. This historical novel has a multitude of fine characters and takes place in a period ripe with history across the globe. I always enjoy a book in which I learn a great deal. This is one of those books.

[Helen Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book. I'm first generation Croatian-American and always interested in reading an immigrant story. The book is easy to read, great character development, wonderful plot and full of all things Croatian. There is many references to Croatian food, drink, clothing and customs. I like how the author added so much about Croatian history. There were many fact that I did not know. I had to chuckle when Nick explains the naming tradition of children. My father came from a very big Croatian family and all of the first born son have the same first name. I have eight 1st cousin with the same first name. It get so confusing that we gave them all nicknames. I may have missed it but I never found the use of the Croatian word for apple -jabuka. I have a Croatian friend who last name is Apple. She said when her dad immigrant to US he told the person at Ellis Island his name meant apple in English. So that is what they put on the paper work. Or so the story goes. I can't wait to read her other book The California Immigrant.

[Brooke Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her second historical novel on the Croatian immigrant experience, King traces the twin developments of the apple industry and Croatian community of Watsonville, California, by following the journey of one man. His story is the lens for examining themes of freedom, family, ethnic solidarity and community, and the ways that the local and the global intersect in the lives of individuals.

[Barbara King]

The Apple King is the 2021 Winner of the Connecticut Author Project Award for Adult Fiction sponsored by the Indie Author Project.