American Author Tim Byers Concludes Book Tour of Luxembourg

The American author Tim Byers, who has had three books published aimed at teenage and adult readers, has recently concluded a week-long book tour in the Grand Duchy.

Tim Byers is the author of The Order of the Red Lion and The Vianden Deception, historical fiction thrillers set in Luxembourg during World War II. His inspiration began while living in Strassen as a student, at the Miami University (Dolobois) European Center, which imprinted a deep and lasting appreciation for the country's history and culture. The stories capture the courage and resilience of ordinary people in extraordinary times. His third novel, In The Garden At Midnight, released in February, achieved a #1 New Release ranking on Amazon, and continues the quest for truth through a fast-paced narrative that blends mystery, suspense and the will to endure.

Book Tour

In addition to book reading events and workshops at the Luxembourg City library and the American Women's Club Luxembourg (AWCL), he also visited a number of schools, including the Lenster Lycée, St George's International School, the International School of Luxembourg (ISL), the Lycée Michel Lucius (LML), the Lycée Fieldgen and the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) in Differdange, as well as a public book reading held at Home from Home's Teapot Parlour, with AMCHAM Luxembourg and Chronicle.lu as event partners.

Public Book Reading

On Sunday 15 March 2026, Tim Byers led a book reading at the Home from Home Teapot Parlour in Strassen, at which he talked about his writings, including the famous Luxembourg-American who inspired them, answer questions, and he also signed copies of his three books.

Introduced by Andrew Butler, Strassen municipal councillor, Tim Byers recalled his path to becoming a creative writer, linking his interest in history - particularly the WWII period - and his love of Luxembourg which he experienced in the early 1980s as a student, during which time he met John E. Dolibois.

He read - to silence in the room as all attendees were transfixed by his storytelling - the first chapter of his first novel The Order of the Red Lion, as a result giving the attendees a taste of his creative writing, a novel set in wartime Luxembourg.

With some attendees being published authors themselves, and others school teachers, etc., the session was interactive with much engagement.

A solid start to his week's book tour of the Grand Duchy.

Secondary School

On Monday 16 March 2026, Tim Byers visited the first of a number of secondary schools in the Grand Duchy following different curricula, Lenster Lycée in Junglinster, where he held a number of workshops with students from different classes, including one on "Exploring Creative Writing" with advanced English students in the secondary school library.

The US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Stacey Feinberg, also attended, and was given a brief tour of the school by the school's director, Tom Nober, before engaging with students and participating in the workshop.

In his introduction, Tim Byers talked about (a) Dreams: What does it take to be a writer?; (b) Details: How do you write a good story?; (c) Detours: What's stopping you?; and (d) Destinations: Where do you want to go?, as all part of the cycle of creative writing.

He talked about there being stories "all around us", all with causes and effects. He engaged with the students, encouraging them not to stop asking questions, at least not until they have found answers, not taking the easy way out.

Asking about how one starts a story, he said to ask a "What if?" question, which he explained is known as The Premise; he then moved on to The Setting. To illustrate his point, he read from his first novel The Order of the Red Lion, both in relation to places and characters.

This then led to interactive exercises as he encouraged the students to develop and share their creativity.

That evening, the school hosted a community event with Tim Byers the special guest.

University

On Tuesday 17 March 2026, after a morning session at St George's International School in Luxembourg-Hamm, Tim Byers and his wife Mary visited the third-level educational institution, the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) in Differdange, where he made a presentation entitled "History Meets Fiction" which evolved into an interactive session with significant student engagement.

Tim Byers talked about Luxembourg during 1939 to 1945 and recalled the story of Grand Duchess Charlotte, with Stephanie Shaheen of MUDEC filling in some aspects of the story of Charlotte and her elder sister, Marie-Adélaïde, who abdicated in 1919 due to her views which were perceived to be pro-German.

He talked about around 11,000 young Luxembourg men who were conscripted into Germany's Wehrmacht and were sent to fight in Russia, then talked about Luxembourg's liberation and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, in which American soldiers fought.

He then asked the question "What would you have done if you were near Luxembourg-Gare when a bomb went off at that time?", which was the premise of his first book The Order of the Red Lion. Another one: "What would you do if you volunteered for a routine mission that goes terribly wrong?" which was the premise of his second book The Vianden Deception.

To illustrate what he had just been talking about, he read from the opening chapter of The Order of the Red Lion. This led the students to be inquisitive about how the author started writing and how he approached creating his characters, resulting in rich dialogue on different aspects of creative writing in the context of historical fiction.

Other Engagements

Other book reading and creative writing workshop engagements then took place along a similar structure, culminating in a cosy meeting of the American Women's Club Luxembourg (AWCL) at their clubhouse in Luxembourg-Merl.

The Author

Talking with Chronicle.lu after the official engagements had concluded, Tim Byers stated: "Luxembourg welcomed me in an incredible way this week. School facilities are amazing, and even more amazing has been the welcoming spirit. Students and educators were so engaged in the creative writing and history sessions, and I always leave inspired more than I can describe. This week was like returning home in a way and in another way like meeting new friends. I hope I get to come back and enjoy the hospitality again! And I hope readers enjoy the adventures that happen right here in the Grand Duchy!"

The Books

The Order of the Red Lion: Rumours of war echo through the gentle Grand Duchy. Fourteen-year-old Hansi Broussard would rather draw in his sketchbook atop the fortress walls of the medieval city than pay attention to politics. As the unthinkable happens, he can no longer ignore the signs of the impending conflict. The rumours become reality and his family is thrust into the middle of it. With the help of Karin, a German girl he recently befriended, Hansi sets out to find the truth behind the mysterious circumstances they have uncovered. Their quest carries them through the old city, the heart of steel country, and even across the border into Germany. Can Hansi trust Karin? What they discover threatens both their friendship and their lives. Will their courage overcome the growing threat?

The Vianden Deception: Just past midnight, a knock at the door stirs fifteen-year-old Hansi Broussard from a fitful sleep. A member of the Resistance has arrived to join Papa on a mission near Vianden in the Ardennes Forest north of the city. But Maman is too ill for Papa to leave, and so, in a moment of excitement, Hansi volunteers for what promises to be a routine task to divert the invaders. At the stone bridge in the misty ravine, however, things don't go as planned. With the German Army pouring across the border, to continue seems foolish if not hopeless. But Hansi made a promise. Can he keep it? His friend before the war, Karin Blik, awakens to news of the attack from her home in Berlin. She has no idea if Hansi is safe, but she knows one thing: he is in danger. And if her mother's new suitor, Heinrich Schlinge of the Gestapo, finds out, the consequences are unthinkable. Can she warn Hansi in time? In this pulse-pounding sequel to The Order of the Red Lion, Hansi and Karin seek the truth despite unimaginable dangers, treachery and the unlikely possibility of seeing each other again.

The Garden At Midnight: In wartime Cologne, sixteen-year-old Karin Blik breaks curfew on the night of the thousand-bomber raid and stumbles into a web that reaches back to Luxembourg and the father whose death was never truly explained. When a small act of courage draws the attention of the regime -especially the charming but calculating Herr Gossen - Karin is offered answers, but at a dangerous price. Armed with her grandmother's garden journal and a quiet but stubborn resolve, she navigates the treacherous loyalties of the BDM, the Hitler Youth, the Gestapo and Cologne's street gangs, where truth is wielded like a weapon. As pressure mounts at school, rallies and under the eyes of men who trade secrets for power, Karin must decide what she is willing to risk to uncover what happened in Luxembourg... and to survive what comes next.

ED