Drawing Courage

A novel set during the American Civil War, "Drawing Courage" presents an intimate portrait of personal transformation set against the turbulent backdrop of a nation divided.
Clayton Miller, a talented artist and son of a prominent senator, defies his father's political ambitions by refusing military service while his brother Hector becomes a decorated Union officer. Clayton's comfortable life in Washington D.C. is upended when he meets the captivating Sita, an exotic woman presented as a visiting Indian princess.
Their immediate connection draws Clayton into a web of deception orchestrated by Sita's manipulative British guardian, Lord Ian St. James. As Clayton navigates this dangerous entanglement, he's forced to make choices that challenge his principles and ultimately lead him into the heart of the war's brutality.
The novel explores courage in its many forms: the battlefield heroism lauded by society, the moral fortitude to follow one's conscience against overwhelming pressure, and the personal bravery required to confront one's past and seek redemption.
Wolke masterfully recreates the historical landscape—from the elegant drawing rooms of Washington's elite to the horrific realities of combat and the disturbing scenes of slave auctions. Through rich character development and vivid historical detail, the story examines how ordinary individuals respond to extraordinary circumstances.
"Drawing Courage" ultimately celebrates the power of love and human connection to transcend societal constraints and heal even the deepest wounds of war. It's a moving exploration of how we define heroism, the price of freedom, and what it truly means to save another human being—both literally and spiritually.

Thomas Wolke is a retired Defense Intelligence Agency senior analyst and a retired Naval Reserve Intelligence Officer. He is also a hypnotherapist, past-life regressionist, author of fiction in several genres, essayist, and screenwriter.