Novel Series - Sons of Maine
Book I Gathering Currents (1825–1861)
In rural Alfred, Maine, the Parsons family rises from the ashes of the potash trade, forging ambition and identity amid the fires of industry and the pull of the sea.
In rural Alfred, Maine, the Parsons family rises from the ashes of the potash trade, forging ambition and identity amid the fires of industry and the pull of the sea.
Book II Rails and Roots (1861–1890)
As the Parsons brothers build the railroads that unite a divided nation, the brothers face their final years balancing prosperity, conscience, and the cost of keeping faith in an age of ruthless expansion.
As the Parsons brothers build the railroads that unite a divided nation, the brothers face their final years balancing prosperity, conscience, and the cost of keeping faith in an age of ruthless expansion.
Book III The Wash of the Tide (1890–1904)
At the turn of the century, a generation stands between inheritance and change as the century turns and America searches for its moral compass.
At the turn of the century, a generation stands between inheritance and change as the century turns and America searches for its moral compass.
Book IV Lasting Inheritance (1904–1922)
The next generation -the children and grandchildren of Charles Parsons - build new lives through war, innovation, and social reform, carrying forward the family’s enduring questions of duty and grace.
The next generation -the children and grandchildren of Charles Parsons - build new lives through war, innovation, and social reform, carrying forward the family’s enduring questions of duty and grace.
Book V The New Tide (1922–1956)
Through wars, modernity, and memory, the descendants of Maine’s first sons reckon with the changing shape of family and faith - and rediscover that even in a century remade, the tide still returns home.
Through wars, modernity, and memory, the descendants of Maine’s first sons reckon with the changing shape of family and faith - and rediscover that even in a century remade, the tide still returns home.
Prequel: A Curse in the New World
Traces the Parsons family's earliest roots from seventeenth-century England to the untamed shores of colonial New England. Although the land was filled with promise, there was peril,
Traces the Parsons family's earliest roots from seventeenth-century England to the untamed shores of colonial New England. Although the land was filled with promise, there was peril,
Julia Burns is the founder and publisher of Parsons House Press and the author of the Sons of Maine historical fiction series. Inspired by years of genealogical research and a deep connection to her family's history, she writes stories that bring the people, places, and events of New England's past to life.
As a descendant of Charles Parsons, her novels are rooted in real family history, weaving historical fact with compelling fiction to preserve the legacy of generations who helped shape Maine's coastal communities.
When she is not writing, Julia enjoys researching local history, exploring the Maine coast, and uncovering the stories hidden within old maps, family records, and forgotten places. Through Parsons House Press, she is dedicated to publishing books that celebrate history, heritage, and the enduring connection between people and place.