Welcome to the official website of Chad Dutson's latest project,
a book code-named

New World

The novel is an historical fiction that takes place in the mid 1600s.
The project is a major undertaking involving research mostly of the
newfound Swedish colony called New Sweden (today's Delaware).

=== Book writing began in December 2006 and is currently about 1/4 complete ===
 

(excerpt from chapter 1, subject to change):

"The gusty December wind chilled Peter Minuit as he stood on the
quarter deck of the Kalmar Nyckel. Dusk had come all too quickly due to
the low cloud cover. The wind became so intense that rain struck him in the
face horizontally. It felt as if the rain splintered his skin with each strike,
creating tiny areas of numbness. He faced front towards the forward deck,
appraising that all sails were full as the ship and her counterpart, the Fogel
Grip, made their way westward to what was to become New Sweden in
the New World.

Peter’s mind wandered to some eleven years earlier, to a time when
the Netherlands was proud of its empirical accomplishments, yet he knew
the nation would never recognize his valiant achievements on its behalf. He
had been selected at that time to serve as the director-general of the
newfound colony at New Amsterdam in the New Netherlands. Not only
were his merits positive, but they were glorious to the Dutch Empire, yet
somehow Peter had been betrayed.

Peter had arranged for the actual purchase of Long Island from the natives
for the price of trade goods valued at sixty guilders. Times were
prosperous and the Dutch West Indian Company had become rich.
Regardless, as misfortune would have it, success turned and an immense
financial loss was felt by the investors of the company. Governor Minuit
was made to blame and temporarily suspended until a hearing could be
convened back at Amsterdam, where upon hearing his testimony, Minuit
was permanently removed from his post.

Show your support of this project by dropping
the author a short note at chad@chaddutson.com.