Parallel Lines: A Civil War Novella

Parallel Lines is a work of historical fiction set during the American Civil War, unfolding across two simultaneous battles fought on December 31, 1862. One takes place at Parker's Cross Roads in western Tennessee. The other erupts near Murfreesboro along the Stones River. Though miles apart, both battles shape lives caught along the same invisible lines of fate. Told through alternating perspectives, the novella follows Union soldier Harold Levins and Confederate soldier Lucas Howell as they move through confusion, fear, and moments of unexpected recognition. Neither man knows the other, yet their experiences mirror one another in ways neither can fully understand. Grounded in documented history and informed by letters, memoirs, and battlefield terrain, Parallel Lines explores how war reshapes memory, identity, and moral certainty. It avoids romanticizing conflict, instead focusing on the private costs carried by individuals long after the noise fades. With lyrical prose and careful historical context, Parallel Lines invites readers to stand inside the fog of battle and witness how lives can run alongside one another without ever truly meeting. This novella is ideal for readers of thoughtful historical fiction, Civil War history, and literary war narratives.