Author Talk: Michael J Cooper on Crossroads of Empire
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: MECA Offices, 1101 8th Street, Berkeley CA 94710
Join MECA in welcoming author Michael J Cooper as he introduces two of his books of historical fiction which are set in Ottoman Palestine during WW1 and deal with the imperial designs of the Great Powers. Michael will also discuss his experience as a pediatric cardiologist on 26 volunteer medical missions to Palestine over the past twenty years.
There will also be refreshments and special musical entertainment from Cormac Gannon and Ibrahim Safi.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and opportunity to obtain books with donations to MECA: all donations of at least $50 will receive a free copy of either book, with both books free for a donation of $90 or more.
100% of monies raised at this event will be donated to MECA to assist in delivering vital aid to children in Palestine.
Please note: this event is dedicated to the memory of the founder of MECA, Barbara Lubin.
Entry is free, but because of limited space, we ask that you RSVP in advance.
“Wages of Empire is a superb historical novel and a must read! I am a man of Jerusalem and felt goose bumps as Cooper’s prose brought back vivid memories of the city of my birth. Most importantly, this memorable historical novel directly relates to issues we face today. I’m grateful for Cooper’s genius in invoking a difficult past to heal a broken present.”
—Rizek Abusharr, Emeritus Director General of Jerusalem International YMCA, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (1993), recipient of Marthe Laube Prize for Tolerance and Democratic Values (1996).
“Crossroads of Empire dives into the tumultuous waters of World War I, presenting a thrilling narrative enriched by a blend of historical and fictional characters. Cooper’s writing is compelling and richly detailed, offering a tapestry of scenes that bring early 20th-century conflicts vividly to life.”
—Literary Titan Review
Combined synopsis of Wages of Empire & Crossroads of Empire
In the summer of 1914, sixteen-year-old Evan Sinclair leaves home to join the Great War for Civilization. Little does he know that, despite the war raging in Europe, the true source of conflict will emerge in Ottoman Palestine, since it’s from Jerusalem where the German kaiser dreams to rule as Holy Roman Emperor. Filled with such historical figures as Gertrude Bell, T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Faisal bin Hussein and Chaim Weizmann, Wages of Empire follows Evan through the killing fields of the Western Front where he will help turn the tide of a war that is just beginning, and become part of a story that’s still being written.
The story of Evan Sinclair that begins in Wages of Empire continues in Crossroads of Empire. Having survived German artillery, poison gas, and friendly fire in helping to turn the tide of the war in its first months, Evan barely survives his hospital ship’s sinking by a German U-boat, and left with amnesia, he no longer remembers who he is. During his quest to recover his memory Evan will discover far more: love for his father, grief for his late mother, and hidden secrets of his bloodline.
The Middle East Front soon explodes with pitched battles at Suez and Gallipoli as the great imperial powers maneuver, calculate, and make promises they have no intention of keeping. These machinations are woven into the fabric of both books as the German Empire, the British Empire, and France look forward to controlling various portions of the Ottoman Empire, and particularly the Middle East, after the war.