On my blog today, I am putting the spotlight on Nostalgia, the new book from SUSANNAH WILLEY, an intriguing novel set in the American Civil War, based on the military service of the author’s ancestors.

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What is the book about?

🎖️ AWARD-WINNING HISTORICAL FICTION 🎖️

5-Star “Award of Excellence” ––Historical Fiction Company

Before PTSD had a name, they called it “nostalgia”—and Dr. Jim Banyon was the only one who believed it wasn’t cowardice.

1862: The Civil War rages, and Union Army surgeon Jim Banyon arrives on the battlefield hungry for glory. But bullets and cannon fire aren’t the only killers stalking his hospital tent.

Soldiers return from combat with wounds that don’t bleed—invisible scars the army dismisses as weakness. Jim recognizes what no one else will: these men are suffering from something beyond cowardice, a psychological trauma that’s as deadly as any bullet.

When he dares to defend these “broken” soldiers, Jim faces an impossible choice:

Advance his career by staying silent…
Or risk everything to save the men nobody else believes are worth saving.

Based on the military service of the author’s Civil War ancestors, NOSTALGIA is a gripping exploration of battlefield medicine, moral courage, and the invisible wounds of war that wouldn’t have a name for another century.

Perfect for readers who love:
✅ Civil War medical history with psychological depth
✅ Moral dilemma fiction (conscience vs. career)
✅ Award-winning literary historical fiction
✅ Based-on-true-story military novels
✅ Character-driven war fiction that questions authority

For fans of: Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain + Geraldine Brooks’ March + medical drama depth of The Nightingale

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Tackles the less explored emotional experiences of war with authenticity and heart.”

📚 From the award-winning author of WAR SONNETS (2023 HFC Book of the Year, Bronze Award Winner for General Fiction)

Discover the untold story of Civil War “nostalgia”—the 19th century term for what we now call PTSD.

Triggers: graphic descriptions of war wounds and surgical procedures

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Book details

Nostalgia was published in December 2025 by Utter Lunacy Press, and is available from Amazon and other outlets as an eBook and in both hardback and paperback.

Buy links

Universal Buy Link

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About the author

Susannah Willey is the award-winning author of War Sonnets (July 2023, Utter Loonacy Press). Awarded a five star “award of excellence” by the Historical Fiction Company, War Sonnets was also awarded third place in the General Fiction Category of its 2022 Book of the Year awards.

Susannah Willey was born in 1952 in the small town of Ira, New York where her family settled over 200 years ago. She received a degree in Instructional Computing from SUNY Empire State College in 1998 and a degree in Instructional Design from Boise State in 2002. She and her partner make their home in Central New York in the foothills of the Adirondacks. A baby-boomer and a first-generation computer geek, nature photography and hiking are among her passions and, like all good grannies, she knits.

Susannah loves to tackle the less explored emotional experiences of war. Her rich family history often serves as the foundation for her historical novels. Her first novel, War Sonnets, was inspired by poetry written by her uncle about his experiences in the Pacific War during WWII. Her latest novel, Nostalgia, follows a Civil War surgeon and is loosely based on the military service of two ancestors. Nostalgia was short-listed for the Historical Fiction Company’s 2025 Book of the Year.

Stay connected with Susannah—and stay informed about special deals, giveaways, new releases and other fabulous reader perks—by subscribing to her blog at Utterloonacy.com

You can connect with Susannah via social media:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest

Book Bub | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

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