When modern-day thirteen-year-old Zane wakes from a coma in 1849 Missouri, his plans for adventure in Indian Territory with Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Jim are halted by the kidnapping of Becky Thatcher.

A native of Fargo, North Dakota, Tim Champlin grew up in Nebraska, Missouri and Arizona where he was graduated from St. Mary's High School, Phoenix, before relocating to Tennessee. After receiving a BS degree from Middle Tennessee State College, he declined a job as a Border patrol agent in order to finish work on an MA degree in English from Peabody College.
Since then, 38 of his historical novels have been published, featuring frontier stories, Civil War tales, juvenile time travel, the lost Templar treasure and a clash between Annie Oakley and Jack the Ripper.
He's twice been runner-up for a Spur Award from Western Writers of America.
In 1994 he retired from the U.S. Civil Service. He and his wife, Ellen, have 3 children and 10 grandchildren.