Orcas author David Turnoy, pictured above, has released his debut historical fiction novel “American Tales: Stories of America’s Past for the Young People of Today.”

He will sign books at  Darvill’s on Wednesday, June 25 at 6 p.m.

Turnoy is a retired elementary education teacher with a long-time interest in history. In “American Tales,” six intermediate-level elementary students enroll in an after-school American history enrichment class.

Their teacher helps them to learn about important events – from the time of explorers through the Civil War and Reconstruction – not only through class discussion but also by traveling back in time to these important events.

In each new epoch, the students are met by a young person their own age who guides them through the experience, enabling the students to experience history firsthand and sometimes a little too close for comfort.

“I truly believe that only by possessing an honest and full knowledge of our past can we genuinely understand our present, which informs our thoughts and actions as we work for a better future,” said Turnoy.

For more information, visit www.americantales.net.