Female spy puts life on the line for America’s freedom
Award-winning author pens historical novel based on Culper Spy Ring
Arvada, CO – Delve into the mystery behind 355, the unnamed and elusive lady in George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution, in this fast-paced historical novel, a finalist for the Page Turner Award! “To Outwit Them All” (Oct 14, 2025, Iron Stream Media) follows Betty Floyd, Founding Father William Floyd’s niece, who is recruited into the Culper Ring to entertain British soldiers for information–and accidentally falls in love with the very man determined to catch her.
From the Literary Titan Book Award-winning author of the YA historical fiction The Stars in April, Peggy Wirgau celebrates the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday with a story set during the American Revolution. Based on her own research into 355, the only woman in the Culper Ring, Peggy pens a tense story of a young lady who agrees to spy for George Washington, putting her life and heart on the line for America’s freedom. “Wirgau’s tense, twisty plot unfolds against the backdrop of a richly detailed portrait of a Revolutionary era filled with grime, bustling industry, divided loyalties, and plenty of secrets.” – Publisher’s Weekly
Here’s more about the book: Betty Floyd’s uncle risked his life when he signed the Declaration of Independence, yet she is the epitome of British loyalty and social grace in 1779. She attends New York’s balls and soirees with the Crown’s officers, but the city is a dangerous place for someone with Patriot ties. Betty would rather ignore the war, until a soldier she has befriended is murdered at the prison. Now she is driven to choose sides and join General Washington’s covert spy group, the Culper Ring.
Her social calendar provides the perfect backdrop to dance with the enemy, and she catches the eye of the charming Major John André, Britain’s Director of Intelligence. Gathering critical information for the Patriots becomes a never-ending balancing act, as duty to her country collides with her deepening feelings for André. The slightest misstep could expose her and the entire Ring–and when a traitorous plot conducted by Benedict Arnold unfolds, Betty is led to the very brink of death. Will she outwit the enemy, or will her flirtations with danger cost her everything?
“To Outwit Them All”
Peggy Wirgau | October 14, 2025 | Iron Stream Media | Historical Fiction
Ebook | 978-1-56309-791-1 | $8.99
Paperback | 978-1-56309-790-4 | $24.99
Hardcover | 978-1-56309-796-6 | $36.99
PEGGY WIRGAU loves true stories from the past and writes through the eyes of history’s unsung heroines. Her first novel, The Stars in April, is based on the true story of a twelve-year-old Titanic survivor. The book is the recipient of several awards and honors, including a Starred Review from School Library Journal and the Pageturner Award Longlist. Her newest novel, To Outwit Them All, is about the only woman in George Washington’s spy ring during the American Revolution.
Peggy is a Michigan native and she also lived in the states of Washington, Virginia, and Florida before moving to Colorado in 2023. She is an active member of the Historical Novel Society, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Colorado Authors League, and loves exploring historical sites with her family. Find Peggy at https://www.peggywirgau.com.
Follow Peggy Wirgau on social media:
Facebook: @peggywirgauhistoricalfiction | Twitter: @PeggyWirgau
Instagram: @peggywirgau | Goodreads: @Peggy_Wirgau
Interview:
What inspired you to start writing, and how did your journey as an author begin?
I enjoyed writing from the time I could spell well enough to put a sentence together, but I didn’t get serious about it until I was a mom, reading to my children. I began writing stories and articles for children’s magazines, and soon, I joined a critique group, took writing classes and attended conferences. My pieces started selling. Then, I read about a young girl who had survived the Titanic after being separated from her family, and how she helped passengers in her lifeboat. I had never considered writing a book until then, but I wanted people to know her story. That became my debut novel, The Stars in April.
Can you share a little about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
In 1779 British-occupied New York, a young woman pretending to be a Loyalist to the Crown wants to avenge the death of a Patriot soldier she has befriended by joining George Washington’s spy network known as the Culper Ring. To Outwit Them All is inspired by the true story of 355, the Culper Ring’s “lady,” whose real name remains unknown to this day.
Readers can expect to be immersed in page-turning historical fiction, with plenty of suspense, unlikely spies, and a romantic element, taking place during one of the most pivotal points in history, the American Revolution.
Which character has been the most challenging (or rewarding) for you to write, and why?
Betty Floyd, the main character in To Outwit them All, was immensely challenging. She was a real person, so I wanted to incorporate what is known about her. Plus, she is a possible candidate for 355, the Culper spy ring’s unknown female member, so I needed to research everything about what the Ring did in New York and weave in a plausible story arc for her that would fit with the facts. That turned out to be extremely rewarding as she came to life and developed into a multi-dimensional character with faults that get her into trouble, along with deep convictions.
Did you encounter any surprises or unexpected turns during the writing process of your newest book?
One thing that surprised me was a snag in the plot toward the end. Something big needed to happen but I didn’t know how to execute it. The more I approached the end, the less I knew. Then—ta da! One of the characters showed me the key to what was missing, based on something innocuous he’d mentioned doing in the beginning. That helped me add the right twist and for everything to come together.
How do your personal experiences or background influence your storytelling?
I tend to draw on my own fears and insecurities in my writing, and that helps me to build a more realistic and honest character. In both of my novels, the main characters want to stay in their comfortable worlds, yet they’re faced with adversity from many sides. They don’t react very well in the beginning but eventually take on the challenges and find the courage to grow and change in the process. Focusing on how I might feel and mishandle the characters’ situations has helped make them much more believable.
What’s one piece of writing advice you wish you’d received when you were starting out?
Don’t rush! Write your best book, then take a hard look at each scene. Find ways to go deeper to improve it so the reader experiences the story along with the characters.
Are there any authors or books that have especially influenced your work?
There are several books that have resonated with me and I hope they’ve influenced my writing. Any books by Cathy Gohlke, for example, stay with me long after I finish reading. They’re historical novels with a faith element and plenty of tension, and her characters of all ages are so wonderfully rich. She’s definitely one of the masters.
How do you balance research and creativity—especially when writing about complex or unfamiliar topics?
Both of my novels are about real historical individuals and contain unfamiliar settings and topics that required a great deal of research. I studied, watched videos, took field trips and read what others living at the time had to say in order to get a sense of what my characters might have experienced. As the stories developed, I wanted to enter their worlds and imagine what they might normally think about in addition to what was happening to them. They surely had hopes, plans, concerns, and dreams that I creatively wove into their story.
With historical fiction, where there are gaps in the historical record, or we simply don’t fully know how something happened, that’s where creativity comes in as well. I’ll ask myself, who else might have been involved? Do we know everything? What led to that event or that decision, and how did those on the sidelines see it? No matter the genre, questions like these will spark some pretty creative ideas, and one or two can turn a decent plot into a much more interesting and satisfying one.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
It’s my hope that readers will identify with the characters and enjoy diving into their lives and important moments in history. I’ve loved getting to know unsung women that did the extraordinary, and I hope that comes through on the pages of my books.
The Stars In April takes the reader on a journey of a lifetime, from Ruth Becker’s home in her beloved India, to her breathless, courageous moments on the Titanic and beyond.
To Outwit Them All is a story of courage, patriotism, and forgiveness. It’s also timely, coinciding with America’s 250th birthday next year, as we consider the people and events that led our nation to independence. I hope readers will get a sense of the great price paid by the men and women whose names we may never know yet risked everything in the fight for freedom.
Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
With my love for unknown women in history, I’m doing some preliminary research to find the right story to tell. I may go back to the Revolution again. But it will ultimately depend on what person from the past finds their way into my heart and whispers, “Let me tell you how it really happened….”