HTF Publishing Signs Author Tim Schooley; Will Publish The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant on September 15, 2026

For Immediate Press Release

January 9, 2026

New title to launch the same day as Exalted Objects by Jane D. Cairns—two distinct novels united by a powerful symbol: the elephant.

Author Tim Schooley

Minneapolis, MN – HTF Publishing is pleased to announce that award-winning writer and Sacramento literary leader Tim Schooley has signed a publishing contract for his forthcoming novel, The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant, scheduled for release on September 15, 2026. This marks Schooley’s second published novel, following his debut The Wool Translator, and reflects a lifelong creative trajectory shaped by a remarkable journey—from circus tent to courtroom to literary acclaim.

Schooley’s connection to circus life is personal. His first job out of high school was as a circus clown with Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus. He later attended UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley Law School, worked as an appellate lawyer, taught at UC Davis School of Law, and served as managing attorney of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, in Sacramento. Throughout these varied roles, Schooley wrote fiction, waiting until retirement to publish his first novel. Today, he remains deeply involved in the literary community, serving as Co-Chair of the Sacramento Book Festival and on the board of the Sacramento branch of the California Writers Club.

Set in 1974 America, The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant explores a time of cultural upheaval: the end of the Vietnam War, a collapsing U.S. economy, the uncertainty of the Nixon presidency, the gasoline crisis, and the shadowy operations of radical groups such as the SLA. Against this backdrop, circuses still traveled the country, flaunting elephants and big cats to audiences unaware of the toll on animal well-being—forming the historical frame for Schooley’s ambitious and emotionally rich work of fiction.

This publication will share launch day with another HTF Publishing title, Exalted Objects by Jane D. Cairns. While the two novels differ widely in tone, era, and narrative style, both feature elephants as central, symbolic figures, underscoring History Through Fiction’s mission to uplift bold works of historical imagination that illuminate forgotten, misunderstood, or overlooked histories.

“We are honored to welcome Tim Schooley to our roster,” said Colin Mustful, founder and publisher at HTF Publishing. “His life story is extraordinary, his writing deeply felt, and his new novel brings readers into a once-thriving yet rarely examined world. We can’t wait to share it.”

The Circus of the Vanishing Elephant will be available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats through HTF Publishing beginning September 15, 2026. Pre-orders and media materials will be released in early 2026.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Schooley is a novelist, former circus clown, appellate lawyer, law professor, and managing attorney, based in Sacramento, California. He is Co-Chair of the Sacramento Book Festival and serves on the board of the California Writers Club, Sacramento branch. His debut novel is The Wool Translator.

ABOUT HTF PUBLISHING

HTF Publishing is an independent hybrid publishing imprint dedicated to amplifying powerful stories grounded in history, whether rooted in archival truth or imaginative reconstruction. HTF Publishing provides professional editorial, production, and distribution services to authors committed to serious craft and meaningful storytelling. It is an imprint of History Through Fiction.