Author Name: Susannah Willey
Publication Date: 15 December 2025
Publisher: Utter Loonacy Press
Pages: 297
Genre: Historical Fiction
Any Triggers: graphic descriptions of war wounds and surgical procedures
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.
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Author Bio:
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
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