Joey Oliver – författare

On September 16, 1990, the tanker ship Jupiter exploded while unloading gasoline at a Bay City pier on the Saginaw River. The blast killed one worker, injured eleven others, and triggered what the U.S. Coast Guard later described as an unprecedented crisis on the Great Lakes. For weeks, the disaster commanded national attention as officials worked to contain the damage and investigate the cause. Then, like so many industrial accidents, the story faded from public memory.When the River Burned tells the story of this overlooked chapter in Great Lakes maritime history. Drawing on newspaper archives, Coast Guard investigations, and eyewitness accounts, Joey Oliver reconstructs how a series of small oversights—in equipment, procedure, and human judgment—aligned to produce catastrophe. The book places the Jupiter explosion within a broader history of the Saginaw River, tracing its evolution into a vital artery of Michigan industry. Oliver examines the fragile interdependence of ships, piers, and river traffic, revealing how disasters emerge not from single causes but from the breakdown of complex systems. When the River Burned is not only the account of a deadly tanker explosion; it is a reflection on what caused it, on the safety changes that followed, and on changes that never came.

In a kingdom ruled by a ruthless monarch, two brothers are torn apart by royal decree-one forced into military service, the other left behind to nurture a growing rebellion.Kain Villairo, son of a legendary rebel, is conscripted into the Royal Army of Nymea as a child. Under the tutelage of the fearsome Royal Hand, Sir Drake, he transforms from a reluctant recruit into the kingdom's deadliest warrior. Rising through the ranks to become a general, Kain serves the very crown that executed his father, his loyalty to King Alastor seemingly unshakable.Meanwhile, his twin brother Bruce remains in their village, eventually continuing their father's legacy by igniting a rebellion against the crown. As famine spreads through the kingdom and tensions rise, the two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing civil war.When a devastating betrayal forces Kain to question everything he's fought for, he must confront the brutal truth of what he's become. Trapped between duty, family, and vengeance, Kain faces an impossible choice that will determine not only his fate but the future of the entire kingdom."e;The Grey Lion"e; is a gripping tale of brotherhood, betrayal, and redemption, exploring how power corrupts and how the monsters we fight can sometimes become the monsters we are. Epic in scope yet intimately personal, this novel delves into the devastating costs of war and the blurred lines between hero and villain.If you enjoyed "e;The First Law"e; trilogy, "e;The Broken Empire"e; series, and "e;The Poppy War,"e; you'll love "e;The Grey Lion."e;