The Battle of Wild Goose Lake
Nicholas Asheshov’s debut novel, La Batalla de Guayatacocha, was published in Spanish by Grupo Planeta Perú and launched at the 2025 Lima Book Fair. Set in the 1980s, the action-packed political adventure story follows the Lupaqa, a highly skilled and educated indigenous people, as they seek independence from the republic that seized their ancient lands. Among other permissions, the author retains the rights to the English original, The Battle of Wild Goose Lake, and is currently seeking representation. This is the first book in Asheshov’s Forgotten Secrets series, set in Perú’s Amazon and high Andes.
Excerpt
Masked, helmeted men trotted in orderly squads behind the slim back of a young native woman. Her Excellency Inka Kura Ocllo II, dressed in a light tropical outfit, leaned into a cluster of microphones in front of scores of cameras, the world’s press gathered under a grey Lima sky at the international airport. Three helicopters clattered overhead.
Something was wrong.
Six batons slammed down, not on protestors, of which there were none, but on the Inka’s head, her face, her back. Jackboots kicked hard into her legs and stomach. Batons crunched into her forehead, nose, mouth. Soft screams, then choked cries.
Shocked shouts from the press pack, disbelieving their luck. A police loudspeaker: “Let’s teach this criminal a lesson!”
At Government Palace, President Moldado and Archbishop Castañeda were met by a hubbub of shouts and waving radiophones. “It’s a golpe, sir! The national police are seizing control!” The president and archbishop raced up the marble staircase to the cabinet office and watched, appalled, as the beating proceeded on live TV.
The Inka lay on the filthy cement in close-up focus as young louts methodically kicked, thrashed, and dragged her by the hair to the open back doors of a paddy wagon. A bloody heap. A critical mess.
Moldado shouted at the generals standing by. “Move it! Send the paratroops. Arrest those goons! That asshole Zapata!”
“Dios mío, por favor…” were the last soft words from Inka Kura Ocllo, heard on a million screens worldwide.
Welcome to Lupaqa
Nicholas Asheshov 