These three recent historical fiction novels of Dr. Michael J. Cooper blend his personal experience with history and cultural exploration to offer readers a great read with an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the Middle East. Please note that all e-books will be available for just 99¢ from November 28 through December 5, 2025.
Cooper’s literary work transcends the typical boundaries of historical fiction. His novels offer readers not just a glimpse into the complex histories of the Middle East but also an immersive and naturally informative experience shaped by his personal journeys as both a doctor and a humanitarian. With his deep understanding of the region, gained from decades of medical volunteer work, and his rich connection to the Holy Land, Cooper’s storytelling brings an unparalleled authenticity and emotional depth to his novels, offering a unique perspective on healing, both physical and cultural.
While some authors approach history from a detached perspective, Cooper’s stories are built on empathy and firsthand experiences. His writing weaves together intricate narratives that explore themes of identity, conflict, and reconciliation. For him, storytelling is not merely a creative outlet; it’s a way of healing hearts and bridging cultural divides, creating a platform for dialogue and understanding.
The Heart of His Story: A Life Immersed in the Holy Land
Dr. Cooper’s connection to the Middle East began at a pivotal moment in history, 1966, when he moved to Jerusalem after high school. During the spring of the last year that Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan, he experienced a crescendo of regional tensions prior to the Six Day War. His time in Jerusalem left an indelible mark, shaping his understanding of the complex and frequently conflicting regional interests as well as the complicated and interwoven identities of Palestinians, Israelis, and the land they all hold dear.
“It was impossible not to recognize the profound connection both Palestinians and Jews have to the land. For both peoples, the Holy Land is a place of deep and abiding cultural, spiritual, and historical significance. An understanding of this shared connection has shaped my life, including my medical career and my writing.”
During his time in Israel, Cooper’s educational journey also took root. He studied biology at Hebrew University and later graduated from Tel Aviv University Medical School. This academic experience, combined with his close relationships with both Jewish and Palestinian communities, deepened his empathy and understanding of the region’s history, setting the foundation for his future work.
A Doctor’s Mission to Heal, Beyond Medicine
While Cooper’s medical career led back to the United States for pediatric cardiology training and a forty-year career of practice in Northern California, his connection to the Middle East never wavered. He devoted over 17 years to medical missions, volunteering to treat Palestinian children who lacked access to specialty care. This continued commitment to reconciliation and compassion would later inform the core of his writing.
“My work as a pediatric cardiologist and my mission work in Palestine gave me a unique lens through which to see the human side of the political and religious divide,” Cooper reflects. “It’s easy to view the Middle East through a political or historical framework, but it’s the personal stories, the lives of individuals–their hopes and their pain, that give the region its true depth.”
This deep-rooted understanding enables him to write characters and narratives that transcend traditional historical fiction. His books are imbued with a genuine respect for the complexity of human experiences making them as emotionally resonant as they are historically rich.
From Tragedy to Inspiration: The Birth of the Storyteller
The catalyst for Cooper’s writing career was the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. The tragedy shook him deeply, igniting a desire to create narratives that could speak to the pain and maintain hope for reconciliation and peace. With a heart full of grief and frustration, he turned to writing historical fiction as a way to process his emotions and he turned to volunteer medical missions as a pathway to the practical work of healing hearts and bridging divides.
Cooper’s most recent historical fiction catalogue includes:
The Rabbi’s Knight: In the final days of the Crusades, a Knight Templar, a wise rabbi, and an unlikely band of allies risk everything to safeguard the hidden secrets of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. In the words of the Kirkus Review: “Cooper brings to life an array of real-life figures, displaying a rich knowledge of history and culture and a deep understanding of the religious conflicts of the time. This page-turner always maintains forward momentum, and detail-oriented fans of historical fiction will find much to enjoy in these pages.” Also central to the novel is a beautiful and complicated love story between the knight and Zahirah, a beautiful Muslim woman. Though recently published, The Rabbi’s Knight has already won the 2025 BookFest Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Wages of Empire is set during World War I in Ottoman Palestine and explores the clash of religion, nationalism, and empires through the eyes and stories of fictional and historical characters. The latter include TE Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, Winston Churchill, Chaim Weizmann, and Faisal bin Hussein. According to Publishers Weekly: “In this absorbing character-driven WWl historical mystery, Cooper explores significant features of the struggle–the Arab desire for independence, the Zionist movement, and Western interests in Middle Eastern oil, control of the Suez Canal, and control of Jerusalem. With a steady pace, Cooper plumbs various facets of the war, with special emphasis on the Middle Eastern Front, as he skillfully braids the disparate plot strands together into a cohesive narrative with suspense and tension.” Wages of Empire has earned multiple awards, including the 2022 CIBA Grand Prize for YA Fiction, First-Place honors for the 2022 CIBA Hemingway Award for Wartime Historical Fiction, and the 2025 Pacific Book Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Crossroads of Empire, is a sequel to Wages of Empire as it continues the exploration of the overt and hidden agendas at play in the Middle East Front during WW 1. According to BookTrib Review: “In Crossroads of Empire Cooper masterfully crafts a novel that intertwines vivid characters and complex themes, blending historical fiction with elements of mystery and intrigue. This unique combination makes it a must-read for fans of both genres.” Crossroads of Empire has won multiple awards, among them; First Place Honors in 2023 CIBA Hemingway Award for Wartime Historical Fiction and Winner of the 2025 International Impact Award for Historical Military Fiction.
Opportunity for Readers to Travel Across Centuries & Experience History
This holiday season, author Michael J. Cooper invites readers to access his acclaimed historical fiction catalogue. “I aim to transport readers into the pivotal moments that have shaped our world. Through vivid characters, sweeping conflicts, and the cultural shifts that define history, my storytelling highlights how historical fiction can illuminate the past while deepening our understanding of the present.”
Beginning November 27, 2025, and lasting for one full week, this limited-time special Black Friday Books Sale offers all e-book editions for just 99 cents. To purchase all E-Book Editions of these award-winning sagas, please click here: https://michaeljcooper.net/books.php (website contains links for each book to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org)
About the Author
Michael J. Cooper, a native of Berkeley, CA., moved to Israel after high school and lived in Jerusalem in 1966, the final year the city remained divided between Israel and Jordan. He spent over a decade traveling the region, performing as a musician on stage and Israeli television, and studying at Hebrew University before earning his medical degree from Tel Aviv University.
After a forty-year career as a pediatric cardiologist in Northern California, he has continued to volunteer on the West Bank, providing cardiac care to Palestinian children who lack access to care. An award-winning author, Cooper writes historical fiction rooted in cultural crossroads, conflict, and coexistence. He lives with his wife in the San Francisco Bay area with a loveable Golden Retriever and a spoiled-rotten cat. Three adult children occasionally drop by.
To learn more about Michael J. Cooper, please click here: https://michaeljcooper.net/
