Todd Otis wins DAR honor for historical novel Sparks of the Revolution

By AI, Created 4:49 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Todd Otis’s historical novel Sparks of the Revolution received the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Certificate of Award for Excellence in American History. The recognition highlights a book that has drawn praise from leaders across the political divide and marks a milestone for Modern History Press.

Why it matters: - The DAR honor signals that Sparks of the Revolution has been recognized for both literary quality and historical scholarship. - The award gives added visibility to a historical novel focused on the origins of American independence. - The book’s bipartisan praise suggests the subject matter is reaching readers beyond a single political audience.

What happened: - Todd Otis received the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Certificate of Award for Excellence in American History for Sparks of the Revolution. - The recognition was announced from Minneapolis on May 12, 2026. - The novel examines the journey from resistance to revolution in the lead-up to American independence.

The details: - The DAR honor recognizes a work that presents American history with clarity, depth and a fresh perspective. - Sparks of the Revolution is described as a meticulously researched account of the origins of American independence. - Otis combines historical scholarship with narrative storytelling in the book. - Otis has a background in history, journalism and politics. - Tom Ridge praised the book as “a must-read book for patriots of today, whether liberal or conservative.” - Amy Klobuchar said the book does “a terrific job bringing to life the key leaders in Boston who led America into the Revolutionary War.” - Modern History Press has published novels meant to educate and inspire readers about regional American history and the experience of American troops in combat zones. - Sparks of the Revolution is the first historical novel published by Modern History Press about national history. - The publisher says the book has been embraced by both history buffs and general readers. - More information is available at Modern History Press.

Between the lines: - The award and endorsements position the novel as both a history title and a bridge across political lines. - The DAR recognition also gives Modern History Press a higher-profile entry into publishing national-history fiction. - The praise from a Republican former governor and a Democratic U.S. senator is central to the book’s crossover appeal.

What’s next: - Otis and Modern History Press are likely to use the DAR recognition to broaden the book’s reach. - The award may help the novel find new readers among educators, history enthusiasts and general audiences. - Modern History Press may continue expanding from regional history titles into broader national-history publishing.