HTF Publishing Signs Author Tim Schooley; Will Publish The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant on September 15, 2026
Written By Colin Mustful
For Immediate Press Release
January 9, 2026
Minneapolis, MN – HTF Publishing is pleased to announce that award-winning writer and Sacramento literary leader Tim Schooley has signed a publishing contract for his forthcoming novel, The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant, scheduled for release on September 15, 2026. This marks Schooley’s second published novel, following his debut The Wool Translator, and reflects a lifelong creative trajectory shaped by a remarkable journey—from circus tent to courtroom to literary acclaim.
Schooley’s connection to circus life is personal. His first job out of high school was as a circus clown with Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus. He later attended UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley Law School, worked as an appellate lawyer, taught at UC Davis School of Law, and served as managing attorney of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, in Sacramento. Throughout these varied roles, Schooley wrote fiction, waiting until retirement to publish his first novel. Today, he remains deeply involved in the literary community, serving as Co-Chair of the Sacramento Book Festival and on the board of the Sacramento branch of the California Writers Club.
Set in 1974 America, The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant explores a time of cultural upheaval: the end of the Vietnam War, a collapsing U.S. economy, the uncertainty of the Nixon presidency, the gasoline crisis, and the shadowy operations of radical groups such as the SLA. Against this backdrop, circuses still traveled the country, flaunting elephants and big cats to audiences unaware of the toll on animal well-being—forming the historical frame for Schooley’s ambitious and emotionally rich work of fiction.
This publication will share launch day with another HTF Publishing title, Exalted Objects by Jane D. Cairns. While the two novels differ widely in tone, era, and narrative style, both feature elephants as central, symbolic figures, underscoring History Through Fiction’s mission to uplift bold works of historical imagination that illuminate forgotten, misunderstood, or overlooked histories.
“We are honored to welcome Tim Schooley to our roster,” said Colin Mustful, founder and publisher at HTF Publishing. “His life story is extraordinary, his writing deeply felt, and his new novel brings readers into a once-thriving yet rarely examined world. We can’t wait to share it.”
The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant will be available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats through HTF Publishing beginning September 15, 2026. Pre-orders and media materials will be released in early 2026.
DON'T MISS THE SACRAMENTO BOOK FESTIVAL!
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025, 10 AM TO 4 PM, AT THE SHEPARD GARDEN & ARTS CENTER,
NEXT TO McKINLEY PARK IN EAST SACRAMENTO
Hosted by the Sacramento Branch of the California Writer Club
I’m honored to be the chair of this year’s Sacramento Book Festival Committee
Good Day Sacramento Interview
My live interview with Good Day Sacramento news personality Cody Stark on January 13, 2025. So much fun to talk about The Wool Translator, writing in general, and my career arc from circus clown to attorney to novelist. Many thanks to Cody and KMAX 31.
Good Day Sacramento Interview!
Tune in to Good Day Sacramento on Friday morning, January 3, 2025, from 7 am to 11 am, to hear Tim interviewed by TV personality Cody Stark about The Wool Translator, writing craft, and Tim’s career trajectory from clown to lawyer to author. The interview will air during several segments on KMAX 31 (channel 12 for Comcast viewers).
ROSEVILLE AUTHOR TALK!
I’m proud to announce I will present the first in a series of author talks sponsored by the Roseville Library. Please join me on Saturday, March 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., at The Fig Tree Coffee, Art & Music Lounge, 217 Vernon Street, Roseville. I’m looking forward to talking about the crafting of The Wool Translator. Come here tales of The Alhambra, of stumbling onto fifteenth century documents, and of bumbling into ancient castles.
AVID READER DAVIS EVENT - FEBRUARY 28, 2024, 6 TO 8 P.M.
Join me and author Judith Starkston at the Avid Reader, Davis bookstore, 617 2nd Street, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We’ll be teaching a writing workshop focused on essential skills for getting the “right” point of view for your story. Hope to see you there!
TWO EVENTS IN OCTOBER 2023
I’m excited about two appearances this month:
On Saturday October 14, 2023, all day, I’ll be talking about The Wool Translator and signing and selling books at The Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca.
On Thursday October 19, 2023, at 4:30 p.m., I’ll be reading from The Wool Translator and signing books at the Avid Reader on Broadway bookstore, 1945 Broadway, Sacramento, as part of the California Writers Week events presented by the Sacramento branch of the California Writers Club.
I hope to see you at one of these events!
Come Out to the Authors Booth at the California State Fair on July 14-30, 2023, Building A
This is your chance to meet great California authors, talk to them about their writing, and even get books signed by the author.
I’ll be there on July 17, 27 & 30.
I hope to see you there!
Book Signing at Capital Books
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Capital Books on K Street (between 10th and 11th)
Come say hello and buy a copy of The Wool Translator. Tim will be on hand to sign your book. It’s a great way also to support a great local independent bookstore. Hope to see you there!
The Wool Translator is Short-Listed for the Prestigious Chaucer Book Award!
Exciting news! The Wool Translator has been placed on the short list for the prestigious Chaucer Book Award, presented by Chanticleer Reviews. The winner of the award will be announced in June 2022.
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At an awards ceremony on August 22, 2019, Tim Schooley received the Jameson Award for The Wool Translator. Given annually by the University of Pacific Conference on Creative Writing, the Jameson Award recognizes the best unpublished novel submitted to the conference’s writing contest.
