GILDED AGE AUTHORS
Shedding light on little-known true stories of The Gilded Age
Book Now Available Globally!
A Harbor of Deceit
A Gilded Age Tale of Money, Murder, and Madness
was launched on January 20, 2026
We encourage you to support your independent local bookstores to purchase a copy.
All editions are also available via Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Walmart.com, Books-A-Million, bookseller.org, Strand, Google Books, etc.
Click here to order via Amazon
Click here to order via Strand
Click here to order via Books-A-Million
The novel is available for wholesale distribution through Ingram. We kindly ask that if you've enjoyed reading A Harbor of Deceit, please encourage your favorite bookseller to keep it in stock and take a moment to write an online review.
We thank you for your patronage!
2026: Scheduled Speaking Engagements
Wednesday, March 18th
1:30 p.m
University of Arkansas
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
481 S. Shiloh Drive
Fayetteville
Stories and Secrets
of the Gilded Age:
An Introduction to the Gilded Age
Tuesday, April 21st
1:30 p.m
University of Arkansas
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
481 S. Shiloh Drive
Fayetteville
Stories and Secrets
of the Gilded Age:
Fortunes and Fame
Tuesday, May 12th
1:30 p.m.
University of Arkansas
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
481 S. Shiloh Drive
Fayetteville
Stories and Secrets
of the Gilded Age:
The Domestics
Monday, June 8th
and
Wednesday, June 10th
Salve Regina University
Circle of Scholars Program
Newport, Rhode Island
Kay and Nancy will be presenting their newest story
"The Madness of William Henry King: The Forgotten Owner of Kingscote"
June 11th - 18th
New England Islander Cruise with
American Cruise Lines
Kay will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker with daily historical presentations.
July 7th - July 16th
New England Islander Cruise
with
American Cruise Lines
Kay will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker with daily historical presentations
August 9th - 16th
New England Islander Cruise
with
American Cruise Lines
Nancy will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker
with daily historical presentations
September 6th - 13th
New England Islander Cruise
with
American Cruise Lines
Nancy will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker
with daily historical presentations
September 2nd - 9th
New England Islander Cruise
with
American Cruise Lines
Kay will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker
with daily historical presentations
September 29th - October 9th
New England Explorer Cruise
with
American Cruise Lines
Kay will serve as the on board resident Guest Speaker
with daily historical presentations
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORK
I Could Have Killed Him Twice:
A Gilded Age Tale of Seduction, Betrayal and Revenge
We hope your enjoy this long-form nonfiction story published at narratively.com
Editors' Picks:
The Best Narratively Stories of 2023
My favorite was “I Could Have Killed Him Twice” by Nancy Markey and Kay Adams. This story embodies what Shonda Rhimes shows, and Narratively stories, are made of! Annie Cutler illustrates that even in dire situations, choices exist — even if they lead to a death sentence. More seriously, there is always hope. I find myself thinking about the line, ‘I think I would be almost glad if more of our women so treated would do the same thing,’ more often than I should.”
- Yunuen Bonaparte, Photo Editor
A Gilded Age Tale of Murder and Madness
Our first long-form story published with Narratively.com
Editors’ Picks:
The Best Narratively Stories of 2022
“This year, I especially loved A Gilded Age Tale of Murder and Madness, for its rich history and complex characters, as well as its epic scope and seemingly endless twists and turns.” – Joe Lugo, Director of TV and Film Development
The 5 Most Popular Narratively Stories of 2022
"In opulent seaside Newport, a wealthy and beloved Black businessman turns up dead. The prime suspect is his son-in-law, a dashing medical student set to become one of the country’s first Black surgeons. The resulting trial will tear the town in two."
Smithsonian Magazine
History/November 2022
A Gilded Age Tale of Murder and Money
The 1885 death of Black entrepreneur Benjamin J. Burton divided the close-knit community of Newport, Rhode Island
Benjamin J. Burton was a trailblazing entrepreneur once thought to be the wealthiest Black businessman in Rhode Island. His killing on October 6, 1885, polarized the Newport community.
READ THE SMITHSONIAN VERSION HERE
for interactive links to our research
Illustration by Jo Zixuan Zhou courtesy of narratively.com
Illustrations by Camilla Sucre courtesy of narratively.com
On the Radio
Ozarks at Large
KUAF
NPR affiliate since 1985
Northwest Arkansas Writers Examine Rhode Island Murder 140 Years Later
Listen to our interview here
Online
STORYTELLER SPOTLIGHT
The Women Who Became Writing Partners After 50 Years of Friendship
Nancy Markey and Kay Adams on how they teamed up in their 60s to pursue a shared lifelong dream.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH NARRATIVELY HERE
In the News
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT GAZETTE
Not All that Glitters: Story of the Gilded Age strikes gold for authors
Read the article here
You Tube
Fayetteville Public Library
Authors Talk
Enjoy one of our first presentations where we share the inside story behind
"A Gilded Age of Murder and Madness"
Watch the YouTube Video Here
Honorable Mention
‘Based On a True Story’: 4 Narratively Pieces That Were Born to Star In Hollywood
"Why It’s Ripe for the Screen:
In this Black Gilded Age whodunit set in the elite enclave of Newport, Rhode Island, you have an irresistible murder mystery set against the tantalizing backdrop of wealth, privilege and the continued oppression of the African-American community. If this weren’t enough, our writers behind the story have a series of other Gilded Age murders they’re dissecting one by one. Movie franchise, anyone?"
-Noah Rosenberg, co-founder of narratively.com
Public Events
Taking our stories on the road!
From a fundraiser for the Newport Elks Club to teaching a series of classes for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas and the University of Rhode Island,
Nancy and Kay are eager to share their stories!
We are currently accepting guest speaker engagements.
Contact us to schedule
NANCY MARKEY
&
KAY ADAMS
Gilded Age Authors
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nancy Markey and Kay Adams are life-long friends who have teamed up to collaborate on a series of long-form, nonfiction stories of the Gilded Age. They have also authored their first novel and are busy at work on their second.
Nancy and Kay believe strongly that there are many fascinating little-known stories which deserve to be told and preserved for future generations.
Through extensive research, authentication, and documentation, every character and event in their written accounts accurately reflect the truth of the events as they happened.