Contact: Josiah Williams, Executive Director, WinePress Publishing, 360-802-9758, josiah@winepresspublishing.com

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Dec. 15, 2010 /Christian Newswire/ -- "In June of 1606, King James I granted a charter to a group of London entrepreneurs, the Virginia Company, to establish a satellite English settlement in the Chesapeake region of North America. By December, 104 settlers sailed from London instructed to settle Virginia, find gold, and seek a water route to the Orient." Later one writer said "The Far East has its Mecca, Palestine its Jerusalem, France its Lourdes, and Italy its Loretto, but America's only shrines are her altars of patriotism - the first and most potent being Jamestown; the sire of Virginia, and Virginia the mother of this great Republic"*

While reading a genealogical history, retired pastor and Army chaplain William Thomas discovered that one of his ancestors -- John Thomas -- had settled in Jamestown. This revelation inspired him to write an historical novel based on this man's life. "Virginia Gold" (WinePress 2010) is the story of seventeen-year-old John Thomas, who indentures himself and sets sail from Wales in 1609. His journey includes a shipwreck on the island of Bermuda, caused by a hurricane believed to have inspired Shakespeare's "The Tempest." Finally John arrives in Jamestown, only to face a series of challenges and dangers that threaten his dreams of land and wealth.

When asked about the underlying message of "Virginia Gold," Thomas says, "First, dreams have power to move people if we have faith enough to persevere. Secondly, spiritual wealth supersedes material wealth." It took Thomas five years to finish the novel, a process that taught him a great deal about the value and importance of perseverance.

He hopes that "Virginia Gold" will be enjoyed by younger readers, as well as adults. In his opinion "the average person sees history as just events of the past, rather than seeing the people that shaped and influenced those events." He firmly believes that historical novels have the power to perk more interest in history.

For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview, please contact Josiah Williams by phone at 360-802-9758, by email at josiah@winepresspublishing.com, or by fax at 360-802-9992. To purchase a copy of this book visit www.winepressbooks.com or call 877-421-7323.

* Both quotes found in "History of Jamestown," www.historicjamestowne.org.