James J Houts

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Welcome to the Web site of award-winning author James J Houts. James has burst upon the literary world with his imaginative storytelling, insightful characters and powerful plots. We invite you to pull up a comfortable chair and explore his writings.

James J Houts with copies of his books on a table
eLit AwardeLit AwardeLit AwardPinnacle Book Achievement AwardPinnacle Book Achievement AwardPinnacle Book Achievement AwardReaders' Favorite Five StarsBook Excellence Award Finalist

Seasons of Secrets

Historical Fiction

Seasons of Secrets — book cover

A stolen Nazi treasure in diamonds, epic naval battles in the Pacific, Patton's drive across Europe, Marines in life and death struggles on remote islands, the disgusting discovery of a Nazi death camp, and the terrifying secret mission of a female scientist recruited by the OSS and tasked with discovering Nazi progress toward an atom bomb, drive the irresistible momentum Seasons of Secrets.

The daughter and sons of the family MacMurrough of Brooklyn, New York are dispersed across the globe as they join the fight against evil during World War Two. Separated by time and space and danger, they manage to maintain the unbreakable bonds of family and ultimately the moral and ethical framework taught them by their immigrant Irish mother.

Eighty years after the end of the war, the second generation of MacMurrough children, now aging Boomers themselves, are invited to Chicago for a mysterious reading of a Last Will and Testament. Their favorite centenarian Aunt Aidee has passed. She is the last of her generation and she has a story to tell.

The Boomers are startled to learn the prior generation has left an incredible fortune behind. Estranged most of their adult lives, their social and political differences flare during a week-long presentation of videos created by their Greatest Generation parents to explain the astounding treasure. During the week they learn surprising secrets their parents kept from them their entire lives and are forced to face secrets they have been keeping from one another and even themselves.

A global story of war and peace that extends across America to Asia and Europe, the extensively researched history of the period; the culture, language and habits; the battles, weapons and food; provides a uniquely detailed panorama for the story of the MacMurrough family to unfold.

Based upon the author's own family's history during World War Two, the story of the MacMurroughs is a loving eulogy to their memory.

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Quality of Quantity, the sixth book and third novel by James J Houts, won the NABE Pinnacle Book Award, the Reader's Choice 5 Star Award, and was Finalist for the prestigious Book Excellence Award.

Spirit of Error, the author's first novel, is the winner of three 2011 eLit Awards.


James writes on Medium at www.medium.com/@jamesjhouts.

James's books are available on Amazon at www.amazon.com search James J Houts.


James J Houts author portrait

What Readers Are Saying

Quality of Quantity is a masterpiece of literary fiction.

Houts writes with the precision of a surgeon and the soul of a poet.