Award-winning Gettysburg author Jessica James will sign copies of her best-selling book Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia at the Random House Book Fair at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Md., on March 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Released in January 2008 by Patriot Press, Shades of Gray is the winner of two Best Regional Fiction awards, and has gained national recognition for its balanced portrayal of the War Between the States. It was also chosen as the FAVORITE BOOK of 2008 across all genres by two book review sites and has risen to #3 on the Amazon Best-Seller list in the Romance/Historical category.

In its review, The Book Connection says, “Shades of Gray explores the War Between the States in a way that will touch you like no other work of fiction. If you read only one book in 2009, make it this one.”

The novel chronicles the clash of a Confederate cavalry officer with a Union spy as they defend their beliefs, their country and their honor. The rolling hills of northern Virginia provide the backdrop for this page-turning tale of courage and devotion.

      James’ novelis garnering attention from Civil War authors and historians, as well as lovers of romantic and historical fiction. Bob O’Connor, author of The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln, calls Shades of Gray the most balanced portrayal of the War Between the States he has ever read, while Catherine Bennett says “it’s a beautiful story with a timeless message. It touched my heart and soul.”