Empire is a story about Doug Ryan, a school teacher who comes to Monarch, who finds himself caught between powerful and dangerous families, snared in emotion too strong to break. Doug is infatuated by the love of Dana, the young Indian girl, tempted by the unbridled and raw passion of Vicki Silverman.

The author, Sheldon Russell, was born in the small railroad town of Waynoka, Oklahoma. He grew up on a cattle ranch located along the Cimarron River. Dr. Russell was a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma until he retired recently to pursue a full time writing career.