• The Little-Known Story

    of a Mormon King who ruled over a Lake Michigan island

An arrogant leader. A utopian promise.

A woman who challenged it all.

Based on a true story, Kingdom Forgotten is the fictionalized account of James Jesse Strang, a self-proclaimed Mormon king, and the people with whom he battled, confided, and created a thriving island community in the 1850’s.

What people are saying

Serendipity made me bump into Kingdom Forgotten. A superbly well-written true-events inspired fictional piece that both captured my attention and moved me to tears while reminding me how frail and wrongdoing-prone our human condition is. Laurie Lounsbury has managed to question power and fundamentalism with a spotless common-sense narrative that does not resort to Manichean binaries, but thrives amidst situated storytelling and critical thinking. A must-read.

Pablo Prado CórdovaProfessor, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

Lounsbury’s deeply researched, historically accurate, and utterly fascinating novel is a vivid and authentic depiction of life on the island for both recently converted Mormons and non-Mormon inhabitants who watched as several thousand Mormons flocked to the island.

Michigan in Bookshttp://michiganinbooks.blogspot.com/

A lush, multi-layered work of fiction that superbly mines a hidden gem of American history.  Laurie Lounsbury beckons you to a time and place made so vibrant and real that you won’t want to leave.  Kingdom Forgotten does what fine historical novels should do: engagingly employ the past to illuminate and examine critical present-day issues.

Russell FeeAuthor of the Sheriff Matt Callahan Mystery Series (set on Beaver Island)RussellFee.com

This is a fascinating glimpse into the little-known life and influence of an enigmatic and charismatic leader. Few historical fiction writers can both incorporate so much history and in a way that it becomes a full-fledged story all on its own.

Sandra HavenSenior Editor for Writer’s Intl. ForumBristol Editing Services Intl.