Helena P. Schrader

Dr. Helena P. Schrader is an award-winning historical novelist and non-fiction author with a distinguished career spanning aviation, the Second World War, ancient Sparta, and the Crusader States. Her extensive body of work includes six critically acclaimed non-fiction books and twenty historical novels, twelve of which have earned prestigious literary awards. Among her notable titles are "Cold Peace," a 2024 Independent Press Award winner for Political Thrillers, "Moral Fibre," which received the Global Book Awards Gold for 20th Century Historical Fiction, and "Where Eagles Never Flew," honored with the Hemingway Award for 20th Century Wartime Fiction. Her novel "Envoy of Jerusalem" also secured the Book Excellence Award for Best Biography in 2017.

Schrader's writing is distinguished by meticulous research and nuanced character development, reflecting her academic background and diplomatic experience. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Hamburg, where her doctoral thesis examined a leader of the German Resistance to Hitler. Her professional tenure as an American diplomat in Europe and Africa further enriched her understanding of historical and geopolitical dynamics. Currently, she is completing "The Bridge to Tomorrow Series," a trilogy exploring the Berlin Crisis of 1948–1949 through multifaceted perspectives. The first installment, "Cold Peace," has garnered multiple accolades, including recognition from the Historical Fiction Company and Feathered Quill Awards.

Retired and residing with her husband and two dogs, Schrader continues to craft narratives that bridge historical events with human experiences. Her works, praised for their depth and authenticity, offer readers a window into pivotal moments of the past while illuminating universal themes of resilience and conflict.
Balian D'Ibelin Books
# Title Year
1 Balian d'Ibelin: Knight of Jerusalem 2014
2 Defender of Jerusalem 2015
3 Envoy of Jerusalem 2016
Bridge to Tomorrow Books
# Title Year
1 Cold Peace 2023
2 Cold War 2024
Leonidas of Sparta Trilogy Books
# Title Year
1 A Boy of the Agoge 2010
2 A Peerless Peer 2011
3 A Heroic King 2012
Tales from the Languedoc Books
# Title Year
1 A Widow's Crusade 2013
2 The Disinherited 2013
Templar Tales Books
# Title Year
1 The English Templar 2007
2 St. Louis' Knight 2014
The Rebels of Outremer Books
# Title Year
1 Rebels Against Tyranny 2018
2 The Emperor Strikes Back 2019
The Templar Trilogy Books
# Title Year
1 The Cypriot Knight 1995
2 Sir Jean of Acre 1997
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Olympic Charioteer 2005
2 Are They Singing in Sparta? 2006
3 The Lady in the Spitfire 2006
4 Where Eagles Never Flew 2007
5 Spartan Slave, Spartan Queen 2007
6 Traitors for the Sake of Humanity 2008
7 The Last Crusader Kingdom 2017
8 Lack of Moral Fibre 2021
9 A Rose in November 2021
10 A Stranger in the Mirror 2021
11 Moral Fibre: A Bomber Pilot's Story 2022
12 The Tale of the English Templar 2025
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Sisters in Arms: The Women Who Flew in World War II 2006
2 The Blockade Breakers: The Berlin Airlift 2008
3 Codename Valkyrie: General Friedrich Olbricht and the Plot Against Hitler 2009
4 The Holy Land in the Era of the Crusades: Kingdoms at the Crossroads of Civilizations, 1100–1300 2022
Helena P. Schrader Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Castles, Customs, and Kings Volume 2 2015