David W. Arndt

Welcome to my author page!

My name is David W Arndt and I am the author of Grimm Patriot - A Novel of the Continental Marines. The story begins in Philadelphia during November of 1775 and follows Joseph Grimm's adventures in the newly formed Continental Marines during America's war for independence.

Having recently lost their parents, Joseph Grimm and his younger sister Gabi are young, wealthy adults with a secure future. Both could simply choose the comfort and safety afforded by their social and economic status, yet both find themselves in search of lives that matter.

Gabi enters the whirlwind of Philadelphia society, confronting the expectations placed upon a young, single woman to find a suitable matrimonial match and immediately tend to the needs of her husband and family. Gabi, though, is her late mother's daughter and has been known to possesses opinions on matters that women aren't generally encouraged to care about. She is fiercely independent and, like her mother before her, determined to live a life of freedom.

Joseph seeks a life of action like the one his father led as an officer in the Prussian Army. So, at the urging of his godfather who was his father's best friend, Grimm enlists in the newly formed Continental Marines. Before they can complete their initial training, though, Grimm and a small detachment of fellow Marines are sent on a vital mission to protect a secret hidden in a mountain cave. That secret, if exploited, could cripple the nascent rebellion.

Unfortunately for Grimm and the Marines, British soldier-spy Major Marcus Calhoun has uncovered the secret and understands it's true significance. So, both sides race to see which one can gain the advantage in the struggle for power on the North American continent.

Inspired by the works of Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O'Brian, James L Nelson, Simon Scarrow, Jan Guillou, and Jame Fenimore Cooper, Grimm Patriot is just the first installment in a series of books following Grimm's adventures in the Continental Marines.

After a career in corporate America, I retired from my job in the spring of 2026 to start a second career as a writer. My passion for history and storytelling is what motivates me to write every day. It is my sincere hope that you will enjoy the story and the characters and, if you do, you'll tell your friends!

Look for the second installment in the Joseph Grimm series (working title: Grimm Voyage) in the second half of 2027.