Published January 6, 2026! COURAGE to WRITE grantee Max Watman’s novel, Tomorrow, the War, was published by Heresy Press. This is especially exciting, as it is the project for which Max was awarded a grant!
Tomorrow, The War is a sweeping historical epic that follows the intertwined lives of Jed Stokes, a restless wanderer shaped by violence, and Raleigh, a once-enslaved man seeking justice. After fleeing his troubled Jewish family in Virginia, Jed is drawn into the Mexican-American War before becoming a drifter, outlaw, and buffalo hunter in the untamed West. Meanwhile, Oliver Bodkin VII, heir to a failing Virginia plantation, attempts a radical experiment—raising his enslaved half-siblings, Temple and Raleigh, as equals. But their idyllic existence is shattered when outraged neighbors burn their home, killing Oliver and forcing Raleigh to flee. Believing Temple dead, he survives as an itinerant musician—until he discovers that his sister is enslaved once more under a cruel master. Teaming up with Jed, Raleigh stages a daring return to Virginia, leading to a heart-pounding rescue mission on the eve of the American Civil War. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and Tarantino-style action, Tomorrow, The War is a gripping tale of survival, rebellion, chutzpah, and redemption.