About the Book

Book: Collision Course Author: Millie Norwich Inman Genre: Historical Fiction Release date: January 17, 2024

The shocking death of the popular Prince of Wales launches his young heir from innocent childhood into a roiling caldron of jealousy and intrigue. Set in all the glory of eighteenth century England, the young crown prince is urgently prepared for his aged grandfather’s throne. Under the wing of his godly mentor, the prince staggers through a minefield of hazards. Parallel to the prince’s journey, is the story of a down-and-out firebrand statesman, considering retirement from the House of Commons because he’s under the king’s extreme disfavor. An alliance between the two ensures the prince’s safe ascension. It also renders his godly mentor and the statesman, the two most powerful men in Great Britain. Then, in the face of escalating war, a shocking twist changes everything. Collision Course is a slice of real history with real people fleshed out and facing the real challenges of living in a fallen world. It shatters stereotypes as it treks through England’s finest gardens and dines with kings and statesmen all the while peering into the universal nature of the human soul and the heartbeat of corrupted constitutional government. This is the true, untold story of alliance, ambition, betrayal, war, loss, and recovery that set the world stage for the American Revolution.

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About the Author

Millie Norwich Inman holds a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis. She taught school and raised a family before dabbling in freelance for periodicals. A fair measure of success added to profound sorrow over the loss of Western Civilization culture and history, launched her into extensive research for this engaging slice of pre-American Revolution history. On two trips to England she read at the British Library and Richmond Records Office, and traipsed through fabulous architecture and scrumptious gardens. At home in Texas, she took advantage of the Trinity University, Rice University, and University of Texas San Antonio Libraries, as well as the amazing Inter-Library Loan System from her hometown Boerne Library. Similar to the research style of NYT bestseller, America’s First Daughter, some of the wittiest dialogue in Collision Course has been lifted and adapted from original letters.

More from Millie

Collision Course is a walk in the park to smell the roses compared to an all-nighter-adrenalin-rush. And the third Earl of Bute is a reluctant hero-protagonist. He’s far more interested in creating calming garden vistas than in jumping into the heart of a rough-housing political fray. Lord Bute is John Stuart (b. 1713), a descendant of the Stuart kings of Scotland on his father’s side and the powerful Campbell Clan on his mother’s. Branches of the Campbell Clan were still known as the fiercest of highland fighters when Bute was in his twenties. The Highlanders identified as Catholics but knew little of Jesus, and I dare say, never seemed to have heard of the Bible. So, their war-like tendencies really went berserk, after the Bloodless Revolution of 1688. Whenever the banished Catholic heir, the debauched “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” felt sufficiently resentful to sail back from France and contend for the crown, he’d swing by Scotland and enlist belligerent Highlanders. On these occasions, the Campbells would take a respite from murdering the MacDonalds and bludgeoning Lowlander Presbyterians, to gleefully enlist for a bloody tromp into England. However, by the third “Bonnie Prince” invasion in 1745, Lord Bute’s branch of the Campbell Clan had experienced a come to Jesus. Godly education had become a family priority. Since Lord Bute’s godly father had died when he was nine, his godly mother had tucked him under the wings of her two godly Campbell brothers. Bute’s Campbell uncles were entrenched in the Edinburg intelligentsia. Intellectuals were Christians. Enlightenment academics followed Christians. Bute’s Campbell family branch were Scotland’s civic leaders, innovators in banking, business, jurisprudence, and republican statesmanship in addition to their stellar reputations in science, theology, medicine, and literature. Lord Bute’s Campbell uncles, along with his Stuart father, were instrumental in the forming the United Kingdom and in installing Protestant royalty, to act in the interest of all their subjects, on the throne of England. The value of the common man was a novel idea. Bute’s uncles ran the elections for nineteen Scottish representatives to Parliament in Westminster. So, it’s really no wonder, that in the third invasion of Prince Charlie tyrants, three contingents of militia from the Campbell Clan fought for British liberty under George II’s favorite son, the Duke of Cumberland. Campbells fought Campbells. It was in this third invasion that the young protagonist prince’s uncle, the Duke of Cumberland, became feared as “The Butcher.” After Cumberland led the government’s final victory, and as the “Bonnie Prince” slipped away on his ship back to France, the Duke of Cumberland ran a genocide campaign of the most war-like Highlanders (30 something Campbells). That ended the north Britain invasions and turned thoughts to a walk in the park-like gardens. Let Collision Course begin.

Interview with the Author

1) Do you read books in this genre?

Absolutely. I grew up feasting on historical fiction classics like Taylor Caldwell’s

Dear and Glorious Physician, Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur, and Catherine Marshall’s Christy. Later, I gobbled up Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series. A forever favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird. I found Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth, riviting.

2) If a reader were to ask you what author you are like, what would you answer?

I’ve been assured by respected writers and editors, I have my own, strong and unique voice. However, I might be most like a lighter version of Sharon K. Pittman. However, I let Harper Lee encourage my imagination in the early chapters of Collision Course, when I was writing a child’s voice— even though I had that child’s own letters and essays for reference.

Recently I read NYT bestseller America’s First Daughter by Dray and Kamoie. I found it most like Collision Course. It was in the same time period of thinking leaders with classical educations. And it has a similar research style of lifting and adapting dialogue from letters and diaries. Dray wrote their American Revolution story, sweeping. So did I. The big difference in our work is, I have a God-centered worldview. And, drumroll, I didn’t select a story, nor massage the truth, for agenda.

3) If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

I’d go right to this pre-American Revolution period in England. I’d want to go right to Westminster Palace and experience Opening Day of Parliament with all the grandees. I’d want to take a bench in St. Stephens Chapel among the MPs I know so well. I’d want to follow them over to the Painted Chamber to witness The King’s Speech penned by William Pitt, who was forced by George II to clarify it by making it less flowery, mind you. And I’ll be so glad Lord Bute was asked to edit the speech, so it included reference to our magnificent omnipotent God.

Then I’d linger in the gardens and country seats, starting with Lord Bute’s crowning jewel at Hampstead Heath. And not miss Kew. I would skip the ostentatious Stowe, but catch Wooten House, and catch a train to Weems, Scotland, where I’d revel in remote quiet until the ferry came for the Isle of Bute. Then down the gangplank and I’d wander around a few days in the park-like Mt. Stuart garden. It must be early May when there are still patches of daffodils and bluebells reclining beneath soaring conifers. Yes, in May, when the yellow azaleas perfume the deep lane all the way to the little stone bridge over the babbling brook. In May, when giant, fairyland rhododendrons head to the sky dressed for a heavenly ball in floor length floral gowns of pinks and lavenders.

4) What is your favorite hymn and why?

My favorite hymn is A Mighty Fortress is Our God sung with all the verses. This blessed hymn has ministered to me in the darkest trials of my life. It speaks to the priority in life for those who have chosen to follow Christ. I take great courage that Martin Luther and many, many others have had to take unpopular stands for truth and obedience and bare the consequences.