An American Family Portrait
Witness American history through the triumphs and tragedies of the Morgan family as they pledge to keep their Christian faith alive through the passing of a family Bible from generation to generation.
Popular among readers of historical fiction, The American Family Portrait series has also been used by Christian High Schools and homeschoolers to supplement their study of American history. In the back of each book the author identifies which parts of the story are fictional and which parts are historical.
Cavanaugh describes men and women of unswerving conviction, determination, loyalty, and courage, but there is also tenderness, sensitivity and unabashed joy.
— Reviewer, Good News Etc.
In Stores Now! The Guardians The exciting conclusion to the Morgan family series!
After nearly a decade since the release of The Peacemakers, This is not just Book 9 in a series. The Guardians is a story that stands on its own. A contemporary suspense thriller,The Guardians brings the Morgan story into the present day with a bang as Ethan Morgan is catapulted into a crisis with implications far beyond the fate of a single family. The nation's future is at stake! Author Comment about The Guardians: Everything I've been trying to say about a family's spiritual heritage and the fate of our nation is summed up in this story. It's not necessary to have read the historical series to enjoy this book. If you like suspense fiction, you'll enjoy this story. If you've read ANY of the American Family Portrait series.... If you HAVEN'T READ ANY of the American Family Portrait series.... |
 | The sweeping saga of the Morgan family begins as Drew Morgan infiltrates the quiet village of Edenford to uncover the secret identity of a notorious Puritan pamphleteer. Instead of a hotbed of insurrection he finds romance, a mentor, and a cause that propels him and the entire village to the New World. (1994) _________________________________ Jack Comments: This is my debut novel. Some readers think it's the best novel I've written. |
| The untimely death of Benjamin Morgan splinters the Morgan family into feuding factions and it appears Drew Morgan’s dream of a family dynasty will die a still-born death. Can the Morgans overcome their differences long enough to defeat a common enemy and save their heritage? (1995) _________________________________ Jack Comments: During the promotion of The Colonists a couple of psychologists analyzed the characters and a dream sequence during a radio interview. Lots of fun. |
 | As the spirit of revolution sweeps through the American colonies, identical twin brothers on opposite sides of the war fight a personal battle that will determine the course of the Morgan family for generations to come. (1995) _________________________________ Jack Comments: Writers of historical fiction are presented with a challenge: they must find a balance between history and fiction. The amount of each varies depending on the novelist and the story. In this book, I wrote the kind of novel I like to read. |
 | As the winds of Civil War sweep the nation toward destruction, Jeremiah Morgan struggles against forces beyond his control that threaten to rip apart his family. The battlefields are littered with young boys, the nation's future. Who will survive this nightmare? (1996) _________________________________ Jack Comments: This is my most ambitious novel. To tell a Civil War story and do it justice, I had to use two families and five storylines. |
 | The victim of a cruel practical joke, Jesse Morgan flees the tenements of New York City for the adventurous West. In doing so, he runs away from the only people who can save him. (1996) _________________________________ Jack Comments: Don't be fooled by the cover. This isn't your typical going west, covered-wagon story. I wanted to show that the people who migrated west were transplanted city-folk, not career pioneers as they are often depicted. |
 | Matthew Morgan, an arrogant, self-confident fly boy is shot down and captured following a foolhardy dogfight. His sister Katherine, a Red Cross nurse, goes behind enemy lines to rescue him. (1997) _________________________________ Jack Comments: A scene in this story surprised me. It began as an excercise. (What can you learn about a person you've never met if you are allowed to rummage through their personal things?) Then, as the story took an unexpected turn, the scene became significant to the climax. At times like that writing is fun. |
 | The Morgans, one of America’s first families, have grown complacent regarding their family heritage. But as the nation is thrust into the deadliest war of its history, they soon realize that their family, and their faith, are only one generation away from extinction. (1998) _________________________________ Jack Comments: For this World War II story I included storylines that showed the women's contribution to the war effort, not just in the factories, but in the air and on the front lines. Fascinating history. |
 | The 1960s was without a doubt one of the most turbulent decades in America’s history. Vietnam. Student unrest. Drugs. Race riots. Assassinations. The Peacemakers tells the story of a family and a nation in the most violent year of a most violent decade. (1999) _________________________________ Jack Comments: I can't tell you how strange it felt to write historical fiction about a time period I could remember. I was a teenager in the Sixties. Naturally, I had to make a cameo appearance. Look for the guitar player in the bonfire beach scene. That's me. |