‘Crescent Moon’ illuminates little-known era, the Ottoman Empire

A retired Seneca Valley Intermediate High School history teacher’s expertise came into play in his second published novel that uses a little-known period as a backdrop.

Mark Macedonia’s “Beneath A Crescent Moon” offers a story of love, betrayal, and survival during the 16th-century Ottoman Empire. The novel, published by Christopher Matthews Publishing, was released March 15, 2023.

“As a world history teacher, I found this topic sort of glossed over by other educators.” Macedonia said. “Not a lot of students or adults know about the Ottoman Empire.”

He emphasized that the empire played a significant role in European history. For instance, when the Ottomans closed the Silk Road, the trade route responsible for bringing goods from the Far East to Europe, it ultimately prompted Christopher Columbus’ famous voyage to find an oceanic route to China.

Drawing from historical facts, Macedonia crafted the story of Jadran, an 11-year-old Croatian boy separated from his family as part of the “human tax” imposed on Christians in the Balkans by the Ottomans. Through the narrative, Jadran rises through the ranks of the Janissary Corps. This elite military unit served as the personal guard of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.

“It took a tremendous amount of research, some of it about Suleyman the Magnificent and the influences behind the scenes,” Macedonia said.

Macedonia began writing the novel in the winter of 2019 and completed it a year and a half later. However, when he was two-thirds of the way through the book, he contracted COVID-19 and spent a week in the hospital. Afterward, he spent an additional two weeks recovering at home with the help of oxygen before resuming work on his novel.

Finally, after completing the final version of “Beneath A Crescent Moon” at 123,000 words, Macedonia faced the challenge of finding a publisher. Without an agent, he sent letters to 20 publishers until Christopher Matthews agreed to publish his work.

Despite the long and arduous process, seeing his work in print fulfilled Macedonia’s lifelong dream of becoming an author.

“I’ve always wanted to write. I took a journalism class in high school and wrote for the student newspaper at St. Bonaventure (University).”

Unfortunately, he could not secure a journalism position after graduation, so he worked in the food service industry before returning to college to pursue his master’s degree and teaching certification. This eventually led him to a fulfilling 32-year career in the Seneca Valley School District.

Although now retired, Macedonia deeply misses imparting knowledge to his students. His latest book, “Beneath A Crescent Moon,” is dedicated to his wife and the thousands of students who have graced his classrooms over the years.

Macedonia is currently writing his fourth novel, a gripping spy story set during World War II. His third novel, “Beware the Shifting Sands,” is scheduled for release in 2024.

Some parts cited from: https://www.butlereagle.com/20230324/crescent-moon-illuminates-little-known-era-2/