Valenza Publishing Signs New Authors for ‘60s Detective Romance

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Veteran-owned publishing company Valenza Publishing has recently

signed on two new authors for a Vietnam-era detective romance novel.

Alice Heaton and Mars Pierce have co-written “A Monarch’s Mark”, a new novel releasing on

March 23, 2027, that is meant to be the first in a series, following two ex-lovers on the police

force, forced to work together again after one was presumed dead in the Vietnam War.

Heaton, an Albany native, says she has always wanted to be an author from the time she could

form thoughts, and this project was a chance to develop a story with her romantic partner.

Heaton is currently studying English and Anthropology at SUNY Albany with intentions to further

her writing career. In 2024, Heaton began her university’s first and only Creative Writing club.

“I’m so excited to share this journey that those characters have gone on with the rest of the

world,” Heaton said. “Having my book published has been my dream since I was 10, and I’m so

grateful and excited to be doing it with Mars.”

Pierce, a Cazenovia native, has a passion for history and politics, and credits Heaton with

inspiring him to turn his passions into something creative. He also attended SUNY Albany.

“We’ve been working together on these characters and their arcs since 2021,” Pierce said. “I’m

really excited to share them with the rest of the world.”

The book was originally submitted to Valenza Publishing while publisher Andrew Valenza was

deployed with the 42nd Infantry Division last year in support of Operation Spartan Shield

throughout the Middle East. Valenza was immediately captured by the novel and Heaton and

Pierce’s enthusiasm, that they all agreed to return to the project after Valenza returned home.

“After reading just the first chapter, I knew I needed to be the publisher for this one,” Valenza

said.

Valenza Publishing is a literary publishing company for genre fiction, having previously

published “Witch’s Brew” by Ella M. Hayes, “Thrall” by J.T. McGee, and “Empire of the Void” by

Andrew Valenza.

Media inquiries can be sent to Andrew Valenza at andrewvalenza@valenzapublishing.com.