Virtual Epic Patriot Camp
INDEPENDENCE
writing the Epic Story of America
In 2022 and 2023 award-winning historical fiction authors Jenny L. Cote and Libby McNamee hosted Epic Patriot Camp, with campers aged 10-19 across the United States, and one from Australia. These epic young people assumed the identity of and researched an American Patriot, British Loyalist, or European Sympathiser to write about key events in the American Revolution from 1776 until 1779.
Both camps concluded with the compiling of a manuscript which became a published book, telling the stories of thirty-five different historical characters who played significant roles in the Revolution: The Epic Story of 1776, and The Epic Story of America: 1777–79.
Now, in 2025, Epic Patriot Camp is returning to the stage, this time with two new hosts: Christopher J. Watt and Ella Quill, who were both campers previously. The 6-week online writing course will teach campers vital American history as well as how to research and write historical fiction. They will also learn the process of how to publish a book; from editing to formatting to marketing. Each week campers will conduct research and complete writing assignments to send to the authors who will provide one-on-one critiques, and they will share their work with others to gain further feedback, encouragement, and ideas. This year’s camp theme is INDEPENDENCE; an exclusive opportunity for past campers to return and showcase their coming of age in what will be the final book in their Epic Story of America trilogy.
2022
In an exciting debut, Virtual Epic Patriot Camp kicked off in triumph as twenty-five campers excitedly researched and wrote about their assigned characters. And they not only wrote the stories of historical figures, but also got to meet an icon of their own— reenactor Mark Schneider, who arrived in the final week as a surprise special guest as “Bloody” Banastre Tarleton. Friendships were forged and memories made during this first camp, with their completed work published on Amazon in September 2022.
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The Epic Story of 1776 has also been acknowledged and endorsed by the Grateful American Book Prize, as of September 2023.
May 2023 saw the return of Virtual Epic Patriot Camp, with many returning faces as well as a few new ones. Like in the previous year, campers researched and wrote about an assigned character, while also collaborating alongside one another to provide feedback and support. Award-winning author Bruce Mowday was invited to give a talk on the historical research and publishing process, and special guest Mark Schneider also returned to the scene, this time as the Marquis de Lafayette. With even more collaboration and fellowship than the previous camp, campers came together in teams to produce another excellent novel which was published in September 2023.
2023
The Books
THE EPIC STORY OF AMERICA: INDEPENDENCE
Watch the official trailer, created by the camper-led Marketing Team of Epic Patriot Camp 2023, for book two in the series; The Epic Story of America: 1777–79: Trials, Turning Points, and Triumphs.
Voiceover produced by EPIC Colonial Williamsburg Patrick Henry reenactor, Richard Schumann. HUZZAH!
Meet Ella Quill
Ella Quill is a young writer who is passionate about using her God-given gift to serve others. She’s always grown up telling stories to herself and others but started pursuing writing more seriously in 2020. Her debut as a published author was in the autumn of 2023 when she published her Christmas novella, Tales from Bethlehem. When she and her pet rabbit aren’t coming up with the next story idea, she loves to sing Christian theater songs, knit, eat chocolate, and read good books.
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Visit Ella's website to learn more: https://lavenderdawn.nobleknoll.com/