Inspired by the Chinese classic Hong Lou Meng
The Boy with the Jade
A young aristocrat's quest for identity amid love, loss, and betrayal in 18th-century China.
Baoyu, a privileged heir born with a jade pendant, is torn between desire, duty, and tradition. As love fades and tragedy strikes, he embarks on a spiritual journey to reclaim his identity, freedom, and sense of purpose.
About the Author
From History Buff to Legal Mind
I’m Charles Bush, a former attorney turned novelist, originally from Kansas City, Missouri. I studied history at Harvard College and the University of California, Berkeley, but when the job market for historians looked bleak, I shifted course and earned my law degree from the University of Chicago. After many years practicing law, I began phasing out my legal career in the early 2000s to pursue a lifelong passion: writing fiction.
Writing Legal Thrillers with a Human Edge
My legal background inspired my first two novels. What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll? follows a San Francisco attorney fighting to save a mentally challenged man from death row, while Houseboat Wars is set in the rebellious, eccentric houseboat communities of 1970s Sausalito, where legal battles and personal dramas collide during a fight against eviction.
Returning to My First Love: History
With my latest novel, The Boy with the Jade, I return to my first love—history. Set in 18th-century China, the novel is a richly layered story of love, loss, and self-discovery, inspired by the literary classic Hong Lou Meng. It will be published by HTF Publishing in September 2025, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with readers.
Books
The Boy with the Jade
What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll?
The Boy with the Jade
In 18th-century China, privileged heir Baoyu faces emotional turmoil, spiritual awakening, and family pressure. After tragedy and loss, he seeks meaning through Taoist and Buddhist paths. Inspired by Hong Lou Meng, this richly woven tale explores love, loss, and self-discovery.
Houseboat Wars
What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll?
The Boy with the Jade
Set in 1977 Sausalito, houseboaters battle eviction by a greedy developer. Legal Aid attorney Rick Spenser becomes their unlikely hero, caught in legal chaos, sabotage, and romantic tension. A vivid tale of rebellion, community, and the cultural clashes of the post-hippie era.
What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll?
What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll?
What Went Wrong with Oscar Toll?
Attorney Eric Lawson races to save Oscar Toll from death row, piecing together a new narrative despite legal roadblocks and personal struggles. This gripping, darkly humorous legal drama explores justice, mental illness, and the emotional cost of life inside the system.
Contact Me
Contact Me
Charles Bush - Author
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