Fire Between Two Skies
The Dual-time Odyssey Series, Book 3
by R. F. Whong
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Pub Date 12 Jan 2026 | Archive Date 11 Jan 2026
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Description
Across centuries—power and peril—one fire endures.
• Sweeping dual timelines—2022 Hong Kong and the 1850s Taiping rebellion—where two men’s destinies echo across centuries
• High-stakes tension: real-estate corruption, secrecy and seduction, forbidden love, and the price of faith and justice
• A riveting meta twist: an unpublished manuscript binds past and present in a relentless quest for truth
• For fans of Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, Vanessa Hua’s Forbidden City, and Michael X. Wang’s Lost in the Long March
• Book 1 in the series won several awards.
• Whong (author): a featured author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library in 2025 and by the Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival in 2026.
Discussion Questions for Book Clubs:
1. What parallels between the two eras stood out to you most?
2. How does temptation shape both men’s destinies?
3. What does the novel suggest about rebellion—political, spiritual, or personal?
4. How does the Taiping movement echo modern ideological conflicts?
5. Where do you see grace or redemption in the ending?
A Note From the Publisher
Thank you so much for your interest. I'm thrilled to share with you that I've been named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library, a 2026 Featured Author by the Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival, and one of my books, Echoes over Stormy Sea (Action/Adventure), was chosen by readers as a winner in the HOLT Medallion Contest.
As you dive into this book, please feel free to note down any thoughts, emotions, or questions that arise. Your perspective is crucial, and I appreciate any feedback you can provide.
The paperback version of this book will be released on Jan. 3, 2026. I’d be grateful if you could share your thoughts in an honest review on your preferred platform. Your review will be automatically transferred to the eBook version when it is released on Jan. 12, 2026. Your comments not only help me as a writer but also assist other readers in discovering new stories to love.
Thank you again for being part of this exciting journey.
Yours,
Ruth
Advance Praise
I really enjoyed the novel. I left a review on Goodreads and will do so on Amazon once it's available. I also got a form from my local library to request it.
-- Barbara Hawley
***
We are excited to inform you that you have been selected as a featured author for the upcoming Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival… Congratulations! Your captivating work and unique voice have truly impressed our selection committee. With nearly 300 author applications submitted this year, your selection is a meaningful accomplishment
-- Danielle Jonigan
***
R. F. Whong is an artist using the keyboard instead of a paintbrush. Her descriptions in the story, both of scenes and characters, give a vivid picture of what's going on in the story. The dual timeline was very easy to keep track of, and I was able to jump back into each separate (yet connected) story.
-- Sharon K Connell
Marketing Plan
• Historical Novel Society has replied to my request and is currently evaluating this book.
• I'll give a talk on 12/13 at Anoka County Library – Rum River.
• Plan to run ads on Amazon, BookBub and FaceBook, targeting various authors (historical epics: Ken Liu, Lisa See, Pearl S. Buck, Amitav Ghosh; dual-timeline literary works: Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton; faith & moral complexity: Anthony Doerr, Marilynne Robinson, Shūsaku Endō, Abdulrazak Gurnah).
• Faithful Reads and My Book Cave will run ads on the book and the whole series in 12/2025
• I've recruited 50+ launch team members for this book. They'll start to post their reviews once the paperback is released on 1/3/2026.
• I've been posting articles I about the book’s background on my blog.
• I've created a trailer for this book.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798889040149 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 279 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
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