Quarterdeck Sea Adventure & Historical Fiction Newsletter - Nov/dec 2008

Qu arte rd eck

Author Interviews: Julian Stockwin Michael Aye

November/December 2008

CONTENTS November/December 2008

DEPARTMENTS 3

Scuttlebutt The latest in news about authors and forthcoming titles in nautical and historical fiction.

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By George! George Jepson rediscovers Jane Ann.

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Quarterdeck is published by McBooks Press, Inc. ID Booth Building 520 North Meadow Street Ithaca NY, 14850 Toll-Free Order Line: 1-888-BOOKS11 (1-888-266-5711) Tel: (607) 272-2114 Fax: (607) 273-6068 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mcbooks.com Our telephone lines are normally open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Bookshelf The Privateer’s Revenge by Julian Stockwin.

FEATURES 6

Julian Stockwin ... English novelist Julian Stockwin chats about his new Thomas Kydd sea story, The Privateer’s Revenge, and his plans for the series.

11 Michael Aye Georgia-based author Michael Aye reveals the future of The Fighting Anthonys and discusses his new novel, Barracuda.

RECENTLY LAUNCHED 15

Mutiny on the Bounty: A Novel by John Boyne

PUBLISHER Alexander Skutt [email protected] QUARTERDECK EDITOR George Jepson 269-372-4673 [email protected] EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Swift [email protected] CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTOR Robin Cisne [email protected] ARCHIVE: 2006 - 2008 www.mcbooks.com

Peter Wicked by Broos Campbell

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Treachery by Julian Stockwin (collectible, signed-and-numbered edition)

Prices are subject to change without notice.

The Sapphire Sea by John B. Robinson A Fistful of Diamonds by John B. Robinson

Cover: Detail from a painting by English marine artist Geoffrey Huband for the jacket cover of The Complete Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent.

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SCUTTLEBUTT Washington’s Secret Navy, finally understood that the Revolutionary War was not going to be won without naval supremacy. The new book will look at the Battle of the Capes, the naval battle that gave the French control of the Chesapeake, and how all the elements came together, briefly and perfectly, to bring about the American victory at Yorktown. Tentative publication date is winter 2010.

JULIAN STOCKWIN Stockwin’s Maritime Miscellany: A Ditty Bag of Wonders from the Golden Age of Sail by Julian Stockwin, author of the Thomas Kydd sea stories, will be published in the United Kingdom in July. Stockwin shares his love and knowledge of the sea in this entertaining collection of maritime stories and little-known trivia. DEWEY LAMBDIN A new Alan Lewrie naval adventure by Dewey Lambdin, The Baltic Gambit, will be published in hardcover in February 2009. It will be the 15th title in the series, following Troubled Waters. JAMES L. NELSON Naval historian James L. Nelson has begun work on a new book, tentatively titled George Washington’s Great Gamble. The book will discuss how Washington, whose understanding of the need for a naval force was chronicled in George

WILLIAM H. WHITE Novelist and maritime historian William H. White’s new novel, When Fortune Frowns, will be launched in April 2009. It is the story of HMS Pandora, the Royal Navy frigate sent after the mutineers from HMAV Bounty in 1790. White’s book is based on historic facts taken from original documents in the Naval Archives at Portsmouth, England. This littleknown story is an important conclusion to the Bounty saga. After collecting most of the mutineers in Tahiti, Pandora, under Captain Edward Edwards, sailed for England by way of the Endeavor Straits just north of Australia, where she wrecked on a reef. Edwards, his surviving crew, and the mutineers made an open-boat journey to Coupang that rivaled Captain William Bligh’s own voyage. ALEXANDER KENT Douglas Reeman, writing as Alexander Kent, is at work on a new Adam Bolitho novel, which will be called In the King’s Name. The book is expected to be published in midto late 2009 and will be the 28th title in the popular naval fiction series. It follows Heart of Oak.

N EW B OO K P UB LI C ATI O N D ATES 2009 - 2010 US (United States) UK (United Kingdom) PB (Paperback) TPB (Trade Paperback) HC (Hardcover)

January Troubled Waters (USTPB) by Dewey Lambdin

February The Baltic Gambit (USHC) by Dewey Lambdin

April For Love of Country (USHC) by William C. Hammond When Fortune Frowns (USHC) by William H. White

May The Frigate Surprise (USHC) by Geoff Hunt and Brian Lavery The Hawk (UKPB) by Peter Smalley

July Gathering Storm (UKHC) by Peter Smalley

October Invasion (USHC) by Julian Stockwin

Mid-to-Late 2009 In the King’s Name (USHC) by Alexander Kent

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BY GEORGE!

Jane Ann

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new boat was in the offing. As the air warmed and snow melted away for another season, Mike’s work load increased. One afternoon he asked whether we could wait for delivery of our boat – whatever design it was ultimately to be – until late summer or early autumn. Along with this request came a promise that one of several boats would be available to us throughout the summer. Although we were now in the new house, there was much to be done before we would call it home. So we agreed to delay delivery. True to Mike’s word, there were countless opportunities to sail again. On an early June evening, we launched his catketch-rigged 21-foot Caledonia Yawl, Whitehawk, in the Black River, which flows into Lake Michigan. As we motored through the basin in downtown South Haven and made a slight turn to starRob Pittaway-designed cat-ketch-rigged daysailer ... board for the channel, the barn-red light at the end of the pier hove into view off would fit our needs. Over the ensuing months, Mike and I discussed options as our port bow. The boat began to heave as the current met the lake surge in the our move drew nearer. channel. The main and mizzen sails filled By March, our new home was complete and the moving process was under- with a moderate southwesterly breeze, the way. The boat ended up on the backburn- engine was shut down, and we cleared the er until we could deal with the details of twin pierheads, sailing easily into the big lake. It was an exhilerating welcome settling again in Michigan. Lake effect home after being away from the Great snow was still falling, and shifting our belongings nearly four hundred miles was Lakes for nearly 15 years. Munching sandwiches and sipping soft drinks, we becoming ever more daunting. coasted along, chatting about plans for As often as possible, I visited Mike’s our new boat. shop in South Haven on the shore of By the time we hauled Whitehawk, it Lake Michigan, less than a hour from our home. The aroma of freshly cut woods – was nearly dark and I was struggling with nagging feelings I couldn’t quite pinpoint. especially the sassafras – paint, varnish I had enjoyed the feel of having a solid and canvas, plus nearly finished vessels, were reminders that spring was near and a CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 early a year ago, I rang Mike Kiefer, who had built several wooden boats for us, and announced that Amy and I were moving back to southwestern Michigan from Iowa and were interested in a new boat. Our thought was that a 14-foot Whitehall rigged for sailing and rowing

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BOOKSHELF

The Privateer’s Revenge By Julian Stockwin “Stirring stuff, liberally laced with shiploads of salty realism and superbly written by a master storyteller ...” Western Morning News

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HOMAS PAINE KYDD, in command of His Majesty’s brig-sloop Teazer, has sunk to the depths of depression following the tragic loss of his fiancée. Adding to his despair, the young sea officer offends Admiral Lockwood and is ordered to sail Teazer to the Channel Islands for guard duty. Stockwin deftly leads Kydd – and readers – through stormy emotional seas, culminating in the loss of his command when he is brutally betrayed off the Normandy coast. Kydd’s naval career is seemingly at an end. “I will not have you as an example to my fleet,” says Admiral Sir James Saumarez. Defamed by treachery and set ashore, Kydd’s only solace is the friendship of Nicholas Renzi. Together they begin to eke out a dismal existence on Guernsey. Desperation leads Renzi to become involved in covert operations, while Kydd accepts the captaincy of the privateer Bien Heureuse, launching a new venture. Even as Kydd takes the privateer to sea, he has hopes of clearing his name and restoring his career in the navy he loves.

After an unsuccessful voyage, investors pull their financial support and Kydd is beached once again – until a shady character from his recent past appears with a fat purse and a proposition. Once again, Kydd finds himself engaged in privateering, this time in command of the wicked Witch of Sarnia, a low and rakish blackhulled vessel, built especially for the trade and fitted out to his specifications. Stockwin paints vivid word pictures of early nineteenth-century life ashore and at sea in the Channel Islands, based on time spent there in preparation for this latest chapter in the Kydd saga. This is his forte. He “lives” in the time about which he writes, breathing life into his characters, revealing their world layer by layer. In The Privateer’s Revenge, Thomas Kydd suffers the loss of his beloved and struggles to right himself, while dealing with a betrayal which seems to be out of his control or understanding. Kydd’s mettle and ability to cope appeals as the author continues to develop his character. The Privateer’s Revenge reveals the terror of Napoleonic France, which threatened England from just across the English Channel in the early nineteenth century. Stockwin steeps his tale in surging seas, powder smoke, and the smell of canvas and tarred rigging. US HARDCOVER | 318 PAGES | $24.00 (See UK Collectible Edition on page 16.)

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JULIAN STOCKWIN

“Get a life!” “... I hadn’t the slightest intention of putting pen to paper and writing a novel, let alone a series on the Age of Sail.”

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ulian Stockwin’s new Thomas Kydd naval adventure, The Privateer’s Revenge (published as Treachery in the United Kingdom), is set in the Channel Islands. As with the previous Kydd novels, Stockwin and his literary partner and wife, Kathy, went on location, crossing the English Channel to Guernsey to research the ninth title in the Kydd series. The author reflects on his journey as a writer and Thomas Kydd’s amazing career in the Royal Navy in this interview with Quarterdeck: Julian, tell us how you transitioned into a life of writing from your past careers. Up until what seems just a few short years ago, I hadn't the slightest intention of putting pen to paper and writing a novel, let alone a series on the Age of Sail. I have my wife Kathy (an ex-magazine editor-in-chief ) completely to 6

Julian and Kathy Stockwin in front of a portrait of Admiral Sir James Samaurez during their trip to Guernsey to research the new Thomas Paine Kydd naval adventure, The Privateer’s Revenge (published as Treachery in the United Kingdom).

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JULIAN STOCKWIN blame. After having lived in Hong Kong for about 10 years (where I had moved into the computer field), I returned to the UK to head up a big software project. This was an extremely high pressure environment and in 1996, when I finally signed off on the work, my life was about to change forever. I sank into an armchair and Kathy thrust a large tumbler of whiskey into my hand, looked me straight in the eye, and told me in no uncertain terms to “Get a life!” I guess there’s no answer to that! Without a single published work to my name she somehow knew that inside I was a writer (and that’s something I didn’t quite see at the time). She persuaded me to give away the systems analysis and take a half-time job at the local college as a tutor in computing. The other half of the time I began learning the nuts and bolts of the craft of writing. Once I had agreed to try my hand at writing there could of course only be one subject for me – the sea! And I chose the period that had long fascinated me – the Great Age of Fighting Sail – to be the backdrop for whatever story I chose to tell, but I needed a focus. This all crystallized when I came across some incredible statistics. It seems that in the bitter French Wars at the end of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, there were, out of the 600,000 or so seamen who served their King and country during that time, some 200 who by their own courage, resolution and brute tenacity made the aweinspiring journey from the fo’c’sle as common seaman to King’s officer on the quarterdeck. This meant they changed from common folk to the

gentry – becoming a gentleman this way was no mean feat then! And of those 200, a total of perhaps 20 became captains of their own ship; and a miraculous five or so attained flag rank. We can’t be absolutely sure of the numbers as records are incomplete and not a one left any kind of record of their odyssey, how they must have felt, what impelled them to the top, but I knew that there I had my story. I’d write about one of those on his life journey from common seaman to admiral. I have sometimes been asked

“... many readers have told me how much they enjoyed this early focus on the common man ... and the opportunity to grow and learn with Kydd.” whether I felt regret at not having become a writer earlier in my life, but I think the answer is no. Coming to writing later in life has meant that I’ve had varied and rich experiences all around the world, and in a number of careers, all of which I can now draw on to varying degrees when I write. Perhaps most importantly I have been both a seaman and an officer in the Navy, and these very different perspectives certainly help inform Kydd’s life journey.

Your current book, The Privateer’s Revenge is the ninth in the Kydd series. As you’re finishing the next book in the series (working title Invasion), how do you look back on this “early” part of your career? I still have to pinch myself sometimes to remind me that I am a published author, not just of one book, but nine. When my tenth book comes out next year, I will have over a million words in print! Looking back on the early part of my writing career of course I can see some things in the books that I might do differently now, but on the whole I am proud of my creations. Kydd and Renzi seem so real to me (and have been so since the very start) that they inhabit a sort of parallel universe. When I first started writing I aimed to do something that other writers in the genre had not done. I wanted to take the perspective of the common seaman as my point of view, instead of the more usual officer shouting orders from behind on the quarterdeck. I had always felt that justice had not been done to the memory of the eighteenth century seaman, and people’s perceptions were too encrusted with myths and stereotypes. The real men at sea in those days were neither saint nor sinner, noble nor brutish, they were common foremast jacks who rose to the occasion, and to me were the real heroes in those turbulent times. Obviously my central character Tom Kydd has now moved on and become an officer, but it is very gratifying that many readers have told me how much they enjoyed this early focus on the common man, so to speak, and the opportunity as a

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JULIAN STOCKWIN reader to grow and learn with Kydd. Can you talk about the development of the Kydd character? As you began writing the novels, you must have imagined some sort of career trajectory for him. Have you “stuck to the script” with Kydd, or has his career taken any unexpected turns? With my computer background, I started with a young man’s life at the beginning of his career at sea and then flow-charted out a number of books to cover his life and eventually becoming an admiral. There were some things I had to be aware of, such as the length of time necessary to serve before it was possible to move up to the next rank (or rate) in the Sea Service. I am also very particular about following the historical record so I could not have him in every fleet action as this would just be unrealistic. On the whole I have stuck with the script, as you put it, but the deeper I have got into the research the more I have become amazed at just how rich this period is for an author's imagination. My original conception of the series was that it would be eleven books, that number is now revised upwards, considerably. Tell us about your research mission for The Privateer's Revenge (Treachery)? The Privateer’s Revenge was published simultaneously in the US and UK in October. Kathy and I spent a most enjoyable two weeks on location research in the Channel Islands for this book. I am a “visile” in that when I write I need to be able to see things in my mind’s eye. Also, I feel 8

there are certain intangibles about a place – the smells, the colors – you can only really get from actually being there. I found the Channel Islands fascinating. Due to their geographical position, they have close links to both France and England. The capital of Guernsey, St Peter Port, retains much of its Georgian character, with splendid residences, many built by successful privateers or merchants of Kydd’s day. And the ancient castle of Mont Orgueil, which features in the book, still lies at the head of Gorey

“... I started with a young man’s life at the beginning of his career at sea and then flowcharted out a number of books to cover his life ...” Bay in Jersey. As fiercely independent as ever, to the inhabitants of the Channel Islands the loyal toast will always be not to the Queen, but to the Duke of Normandy (actually one and the same)! In addition to finishing a new Kydd novel, you are in the process of writ ing Stockwin’s Maritime Miscellany. What can you tell us about this nonfiction work? In the course of my research during

the writing of the Kydd series I continued to come across fascinating material that for one reason or another I could not incorporate into those books. I just squirreled it away, along with other snippets that I had found over the years, even before I started writing. I guess this is what attracted me to the Age of Sail in the first place. It really was such a colorful period! This collection of data continued to grow and Kathy suggested that it would make a wonderful miscellany. My agent Carole Blake agreed, too, and I was delighted when Ebury Press, the largest publisher of general non-fiction in the UK, commissioned the miscellany. In the course of discussing the work with my editor at Ebury, Carey Smith, we decided to widen the project to include the period from the heroic Voyages of Discovery in the fifteenth century through the iconic Napoleonic wars to the glorious era of the greyhounds of the sea, the clipper ships. We also decided to go with black and white line drawings, many contemporary to the time, to illustrate the work. It’s been great fun working on this with Kathy and Carey, but I have to be very disciplined with my time as you can imagine. Of all your Kydd novels, The Admiral’s Daughter generated some discontent among readers, albeit very small in number. What caused this reaction? Have you heard from any of these readers since the publication of The Privateer’s Revenge (Treachery )? I have to tell you that The Admiral’s Daughter was a difficult book for me to write, dealing as it does with a

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JULIAN STOCKWIN terrible personal loss for Kydd. However in the context of the series I felt it was important. As happens in real life, I wanted to show that things do not always go smoothly. Sometimes people are thrown a real curve ball, and it is how they respond to personal tragedy and hardship that makes them interesting human beings. A few readers said they felt that Kydd should have stayed at sea just fighting the French, that women were an unnecessary distraction to the story. However I have always said I would never write formulaic fiction, I wanted to be true both to the times and to the way sailors really lived in those times. Mariners did come ashore, and they did have relationships from time to time, some permanent, some transient. One reader recently got in touch with me and said this: “I thoroughly enjoyed The Admiral’s Daughter right up to the last chapter, but the end left me feeling shocked and disappointed. I felt let down by the death of Kydd’s sweetheart. I spent the next year hoping things would get back on track, but concerned that the series had taken a turn in a direction that offered little hope for the future. I should have had more faith in you. Treachery put Kydd right back on track. I was thrilled by every twist and turn of the plot. The way misfortune turned to vindication was marvelous. Having read Treachery I reread The Admiral’s Daughter and this time, it was a totally different read. Knowing that Kydd and Renzi would go on to rise above their circumstances put the whole tragedy into a new perspective. I now realise that the ending of The Admiral’s

Daughter was a brilliant and brave stroke. I almost feel I should apologise to you for doubting your vision. Thank you for creating this wonderful series. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying it.” You have said that The Privateer’s Revenge (Treachery) is the first title in a trilogy within the Kydd series. What prompted this idea? What can you share with us about the two titles to come? When I started digging deep into

“... digging deep into the research for the build-up to ... the Battle of Trafalgar, I realized there was more than one story there.” the research for the build-up to the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar I realized there was more than one story there; in fact I felt it was a trilogy. In The Privateer’s Revenge (Treachery) we first see Kydd becoming really aware of the size of the French menace. Then in Invasion (book 10) he becomes centrally involved in the activities to counter the fearsome invasion plans of Napoleon. Finally, Victory (book 11) deals with the culmination of all this, and tells the story of one of the

grandest combat spectacles in history, the Battle of Trafalgar. With Invasion completed and soon to be in the hands of your publishers, what are your plans for research ing the next book in the series, Victory ? Victory will in many ways be one of the most challenging to date. It is the story of the Battle of Trafalgar. In early December, Kathy and I will travel to Portsmouth where I have been given permission to have special access to HMS Victory. Of course I already know the ship very well, but soon I will be familiar with every nook and cranny. As well, I will be consulting various experts and documentary sources in the libraries, museums and archives in Portsmouth. You were recently presented with a brilliant scale model of HMS Teazer , Thomas Kydd’s first command. How did this come about? Where is the ship presently berthed? About a year ago I was contacted by a reader called John Thompson, who told me how much he loved the series. We exchanged several emails and he then made the incredible offer to build me a model of whichever ship in the series I would like. After I got over the shock of such a generous gesture the choice was obvious: Teazer, Kydd’s first command. John kept a build log during the course of the project, which is on our website: www.julianstockwin.com.

It was truly fascinating to watch the

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JULIAN STOCKWIN progress of the model from a few flimsy pieces of wood to the stunning creation John presented me with in October. In total, he put in over 850 hours on the ship! I was approached by the head librarian of Devon’s newest library, at Ivybridge, who asked whether I would consider loaning the model for the official opening by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne? It was a great honour, and on the day I presented Princess Anne with a signed hardback of Command, which of course is the book in which Kydd first meets the lovely Teazer. The model is now in our home, taking pride of place in the dining room, possibly the most nautical room in the house (my study excepted) as there are many sea prints by Derek Gardner, John Chancellor and Geoff Hunt adorning the walls. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Just to say how very privileged I feel to be able to do what I do. When I first started out on this literary journey it seemed so daunting. Could I write one book, let alone a series? Now it is hard to imagine not writing about Tom Kydd and Nicholas Renzi. It always gives me great pleasure to get emails from readers and I answer each one personally. So please do get in touch if you have any comments on the books ([email protected]). And why not enter the contest for a complete set of the Kydd books to date? There are two sets up for grabs (see box at right)! 10

British modeller John Thompson built this scale model of Kydd's first command, the little brig-sloop HMS Teazer, and recently presented it to Julian and Kathy Stockwin. Visit the Stockwin website (www.julianstockwin.com) for more photos and Thompson’s project log.

Win a Complete Set of Kydd Naval Adventures For a chance to win one of two complete sets of Thomas Kydd naval adventure trade paperbacks (US editions) to date (plus The Privateer’s Revenge in hardback), answer the following question: In what year did McBooks Press publish its first book? To enter the contest, send your answer via email to: [email protected]. The deadline is December 15, 2008. Winners will be notified by email.

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MICHAEL AYE

The Fighting Anthonys “My intent is to follow the war years from 1775 to 1783, with at least one book covering each year.”

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ichael Aye, a retired United States Navy officer with combat service aboard destroyers during the Vietnam War, continues the saga of The Fighting Anthonys and their service to the King in Barracuda, the third title in the series. The author reveals his plans for The Fighting Anthonys in this interview with Quarterdeck: Your current novel, Barracuda , is the third title in the saga of The Fighting Anthonys, and takes place during the American Revolution. How far into the future do you plan to follow the Anthonys?

My intent is to follow the war years from 1775 to 1783, with at least one book covering each year. However, I intend to do two books for the years 1778 to 1780, when a lot of events took place with France, and later Spain, entering the war as allies to the newly united Colonies. I intend to continue with Admiral Lord Anthony and Gabe as the main characters, but other characters will come Michael Aye with wife, Pat. and go, playing key parts in each book. I have named characters in honor of real-life people, but do not base any character on an actual person. I would not invade their privacy by doing such a thing. Baseball great Ray Knight, who was the MVP for the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets, and his wife, Hall QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com

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MICHAEL AYE of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez, are characters in Barracuda. These wonderful people have been very generous and supportive of my grandson, who was paralyzed in a four-wheeler accident a year ago. God truly holds a place in heaven for them. My next book, which will be titled SeaHorse, will have two new characters. One is based on a friend whose ancestor was a Scottish Lord (his Ragland Castle still stands today). The other is based on a World War II vet who served aboard a crash boat named SeaHorse in the Pacific – a hero in his own right. Andy Gunnells, the sailing master in Barracuda, is a pharmaceutical company representative who calls on me. With a name like Gunnells, how could I not include him? How did you select the historical time period against which the first three titles in the series are set? At the time the series was started nobody was writing about that period. Also, it’s a time in which I’ve always been fascinated, by the daring and willingness of our forefathers to take on an overwhelming power and risk all that they held dear to be free men, to not compromise their beliefs or principles and to stand fast for what they believed to be fair and just treatment. Being a history buff, I have studied the period to the point I’ve become quite familiar with it. I’ve numerous reference books in my library dealing with both Colonial and British viewpoints. Novelist and maritime historian James Nelson has written several non-fiction texts about the era and I’ve been surprised how closely our interest lies. I would 12

like to say that while my books are written from a British point of view, the main characters have doubts about the political views of the powers in London – not unlike some of the feelings circulating in this country today. While our main characters have doubts they do fight for the flag and do their duty as called upon.

When you are working on a novel, do you find yourself falling into the past? Yes, much more than I can express and often to the point my wife has to break my reverie. I have written several poems at such times and they are on my website at www.michaelaye.com.

How important is historical credibil One is entitled Battle Fatigue:

“... it’s a time in which I’ve always been fascinated, by the daring and willingness of our forefathers to take on an overwhelming power ... ” ity in creating engaging fiction for readers? Very much so. I try to write about the little known facts so as to not be repetitive of other works. I have been known to move events upwards or backwards to coincide with my storyline, but overall I try to remain historically accurate. I also try to add a historical note that ties the true events and my story together. I’ve had numerous emails from readers telling me they like this and feel it adds a special touch.

BATTLE FATIGUE © Michael Aye

I take a breath and look around me, I’m grateful to be alive. The guns, they’re all silent now, But, the smoke still burns my eyes. There’s a heaviness within me, It takes a heavy toll. It burns like rum going down, To an empty, aching soul. How did you research Barracuda ? Some of the research was done during a fishing trip to St. Augustine, Florida. The rest was done via my reference library and online. The history of Florida is pretty interesting, and I’d recommend the fishing to anybody. Do you find your personal experi ence serving in the United States Navy influences your writing? I don’t think I could write a sea novel without having my experiences in the Navy to reflect upon. The rigidity of the watch, the structure, discipline and organization of shipboard life is something you don’t forget. When I write about the sea I want the reader to feel the

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MICHAEL AYE emotions I felt when facing a situation. The desperate sinking feeling that grips your soul when you man your battle station and it’s not a drill; the unease of riding out a hurricane or facing any of nature’s elements. Being on water rations, tasting food that freshness has long deserted. The camaraderie of telling sea stories or smoking your pipe on the stern with the sun setting on the horizon. I could never write of these things had I not experienced them firsthand. How important is your reference library to your writing? Very important. While I’ve visited most of the places I write about, the way it is now and how it was in 1776 is totally different. Boston, Massachusetts is a prime example. So is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Charleston, South Carolina. By viewing maps of the era it’s easier to understand how the lay of the land influenced events. I have prints of antique maps, books on weaponry, Revolutionary War medicine, cross references that deal with uniforms or in some cases lack thereof. This is in addition to my many books dealing with various ships, shipboard life, navigation and sail handling. All of them are invaluable in my writing.

NAVAL FICTION

3 - Barracuda By Michael Aye Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his brother, Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony, fighting for the Crown during the American Revolution, find adventure, daring pirates, and a ghost ship! The ghost ship Barracuda plies the waters off the coast of Saint Augustine, Florida in 1777. The Barracuda takes no prize and leaves no one alive. Tracking down the Barracuda is only one of the many challenges and battles the brothers face when assigned to protect Florida Loyalists. US TRADE PAPERBACK | 233 PAGES | $16.95

Also available ...

What can you tell our readers about Barracuda , without spoiling the plot? It deals with the American Revolution and British East Florida. Lord Anthony’s squadron finds itself balancing the intricacies of protecting St. Augustine from Colonial invasion by both land and sea. It

1 - The Reaper US TRADE PAPERBACK | 200 PAGES | $16.95

2 - HMS SeaWolf US TRADE PAPERBACK | 276 PAGES | $16.95

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MICHAEL AYE also depicts Spanish settlers who decided to stay in St. Augustine when the British traded Cuba (Havana) for Florida, some of whom were believed to be spies. A number of real persons from that era add authenticity. Barracuda features familiar characters so that readers feel at home even as new characters are introduced. Gabe rekindles his love life. The war, now three years old, is starting to wear on men and ships. I have tried to intersperse action, adventure, romance, humor and, at times, sadness. The SeaHorse is the next title in the series. Where will this book take Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony? The book will open with a shipboard action. This will take place in Barbados. Meanwhile, Lord Anthony has taken his squadron back to England for a much needed refit and R&R. Gabe will have time at home, as a surprise awaits readers. However, the war continues and the need for Lord Anthony’s leadership is greater than ever. Summoned to the Admiralty, he is given a new flagship, and is sent once more to deal with troubles in the West Indies. Sir Joseph Ragland will be introduced as will as a new master, an old salt named George Jepson. An old but not forgotten nemesis also makes an appearance. Do you have other writing projects underway in addition to The Fighting Anthonys? I have just completed the first book in a planned trilogy called Malachi Mundy, Book One, Birth of a Nation. The main character is an American 14

privateer. It is a Christian novel. Malachi Mundy once commanded a brig in the British Navy during the Seven Year War, or as we Colonials called it, The French and Indian Wars. During this time Mundy was able to build up enough prize money to purchase a plantation near Beaufort, South Carolina. Here he married and had six sons (named after my grandsons). He loses his wife to illness and faces raising his children without their mother, with the help of an aunt and free blacks. When the Revolutionary War breaks

“... it’s a time in which I’ve always been fascinated by the daring and willingness of our forefathers to take on an overwhelming power ... ” out Malachi seizes the opportunity to help furnish the Colonial army with much needed war supplies, while at the same time putting together a great sum of money to secure the future for his boys and the plantation, Three Notch. All of this is done amid a spiritual struggle with regard to the war and taking another’s life. I have included characters from The Fighting Anthonys and Isaac Biddlecomb from Jim Nelson’s series, Revolution at Sea,

(with Jim’s permission of course). I would like to thank Jim for his encouragement and words of wisdom. The new series does not yet have a publisher. However, the manuscript has had wonderful critiques. This book was written to fill what I perceive is a void in available fiction for the male sector in the Christian market. I’m also writing it as a tribute to my mom. She said after reading The Reaper, “It’s good, but how about writing something for the Lord?” Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? I would like to thank the readers for supporting me by purchasing The Fighting Anthonys. All proceeds from the series go to my grandson’s trust for spinal care. I appreciate all the wonderful emails I get and I will continue to answer them the same day if possible. Thus far, I’ve received emails from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Great Britain. I’d also like to thank my publisher, Boson Books, for taking a chance on me and Age of Sail. Nobody could have a better group to work with. I’d also like to thank Carrie Skalla for doing such a wonderful job with the cover art on Barracuda, her first. Hopefully we will collaborate on many more. Finally, I’d like to thank Alex Skutt and the team at McBooks Press for continuing to bring the Age of Sail to loyal readers, even in these difficult economic times. Visit Michael Aye online at www.michaelaye.com.

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RECENTLY LAUNCHED Naval Fiction

Peter Wicked

Mutiny on the Bounty

By Broos Campbell

By John Boyne

Navy Lieutenant Matty Graves is still recovering from his ordeal during the slave rebellion in the French colony of SaintDómingue when he is ordered to Washington to answer questions about the death of his former captain. On home soil he must deal with the mystery and shame surrounding his birth, as well as the attractions of his best friend's sister. But when he's offered a command of his own, he seizes the opportunity to make a name and fortune for himself – even if it means destroying those closest to him.

December 23, 1787, Portsmouth ...

Hardcover | 312 pages | $23.95

Also available ...

A fourteen-year-old boy, John Jacob Turnstile, has got into trouble with the police on one too many occasions and is on his way to prison when an offer is put to him. A ship has been refitted over the last few months and is about to set sail with an important mission. The boy who was expected to serve as the captain’s personal valet has been injured and a replacement must be found immediately. The deal is struck and Turnstile finds himself on board, meeting the captain, just as the ship sets sail. The vessel is HMS Bounty and the captain is William Bligh. Their destination is Tahiti. Mutiny on the Bounty is the first novel to explore all the events relating to the Bounty’s voyage, from their long journey across the ocean to their adventures on the island of Tahiti and the subsequent forty-eight-day expedition towards Timor. A vivid recreation of the famous mutiny, the story is packed with humor, high drama and historical detail, while presenting a very different portrait of Captain Bligh and Mr Christian than has ever been shown before. UK Hardcover | 496 pages | $31.95

1 - No Quarter TRADE PAPERBACK | 261 PAGES | $16.95

2 - The War of Knives HARDCOVER | 309 PAGES | $23.95

John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. He is the author of five previous novels, including the international bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which won two Irish Book Awards, was shortlisted for the British Book Award, and has recently been made into a Miramax feature film. His novels are published in over thirty languages. Boyne lives in Dublin.

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RECENTLY LAUNCHED Collectible Edition

McBooks Thrillers

Treachery

The Book of Matthew

By Julian Stockwin

By Thomas White

A series of horrifying murders plagues San Francisco. Homicide Inspector Clemson Yao enlists the help of Angie Strachan – a Realtor who is a former policewoman. The two face off against a ghoulish, black-humored serial killer who whimsically refers to his grotesque, sadistic murders as "messies." Gripped by a macabre obsession for a decade, he's evolved into a grandmaster of slow agonizing death, roaming the globe to catalog the most despicable methods of execution and keeping his research in dozens of leather-bound notebooks. Hardcover | 338 pages | $23.95

M

cBooks Press is pleased to offer a small number of a special, limited-edition, signed-and-numbered set of Julian Stockwin’s Treachery. The set includes the UK first edition, which is signed by the author, embossed and numbered on the title page. Also included is a signed commemorative postcard and a gold-on-black leather bookmark. These sets are strictly limited to 500. Please be aware that this book has different titles in the United States and the United Kingdom. McBooks Press publishes the ninth volume of the Kydd series in a handsome US edition for $24.00 under the title The Privateer’s Revenge (see page 5). Hodder & Stoughton publishes the same volume in the UK under the title Treachery. We are offering a small number of UK first editions sets to collectors of Julian Stockwin’s works. The illustration above shows the book cover; the signed, numbered, and embossed title page; an enlarged detail of the embossing; and both sides of the signed commemorative postcard. The leather bookmark isn’t shown. UK Hardcover First Edition | 344 pages | $59.95 Signed-and-Numbered by the Author (while supplies last)

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A Fistful of Diamonds By John B. Robinson

A suite of priceless diamonds surfaces in Central Africa. Fast-talking gem expert Lonny Cushman wants them. As cover, he chaperones a young seminarian to Rwanda in search of her missing father. Once there, Lonny chases the diamonds through the killing fields of the Congo. Survival depends on negotiating the bloody machinery that benefits from the conflict diamond trade--Islamic jihadis, corrupt army officers, Israeli diamantaires, and Ukrainian arms dealers. Trade Paperback | 196 pages | $14.95

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hull underneath us and I liked the roominess of the yawl. A Whitehall, I figured, would be much more tender and that was beginning to bother me, anticipating grandchildren aboard. On the drive home, my thoughts turned to a previous boat we had owned, an 18-foot gaff-rigged, cat-ketch designed by former Mystic Seaport naval architect Rob Pittaway. It had been built for us by Mike in the summer of 1996, but had never really been satisfactory for the small Iowa lakes. It had been designed for coastal sailing in New England. A couple of years back, we had traded the vessel – called a “Robin” by her designer – for a smaller craft better suited to conditions on the prairie. The Robin, I reasoned, had many of the same characteristics as Whitehawk, not the least of which was safety and stability on the big lake. The next morning, I phoned Mike. Trying to sound nonchalant, I said something like, “By the way, whatever happened to the Robin?” Some months earlier, the drummer from a 1970s rock band had made overtures to Mike about buying her. There was a slight pause at the other end of the line (as my heart started to sink), and then Mike said, “The deal fell through ... she’s sitting in a barn near here, and ...” I quickly interrupted, not even trying to disguise my elation: “What kind of a deal could we make in lieu of a new boat? I think she’s just what we want ... built for the big lake.” Suddenly, we were both on the same page, stumbling over each other’s words, wondering why this hadn’t occurred to either of us sooner. A couple of days later, the Robin was sitting in Mike’s yard, outside the shop, as we sluiced away the layers of barn dust and dirt. She sure looked good to me. It wasn’t long before the white lapstrake hull with the bright blue sheerstrake was rigged and ready for a summer of sailing. Over the next three months, we nearly sailed the bottom off her, dropping everything at a moment’s notice on good days. When breezes of 1020 knots were forecast, Mike would drive to the beach to check out sailing conditions. Last summer they were favorable more than not. Minutes after planting his feet in the sugar-white sand and assessing conditions, he’d phone to inquire as to how quickly I could be there. One Saturday morning in August, with autumn on the horizon, the call came with a report of southerly winds of 15-20 knots, gusting a bit above that range. By

10:00 AM we had the southerly breeze at our backs as the Robin surged along on three- to five- foot waves, with an occasional rogue topping six feet, as we journeyed along the Lake Michigan dunes from South Haven to Saugatauk some 20 miles north. These were the conditions for which the Robin was designed. Three hours later, we came about and were soon sliding along in the lee of the breakwater, looking forward to lunch and a rendezvous with Mike’s wife, Sue, who would meet us with the trailer. Although this wasn’t our last outing of the summer, it was the one that will be most remembered as we sit in front of a fire this winter while the snow blankets our little bit of Michigan. As for the Robin, she’s snugged down in Mike’s shop as I write. Her bronze hardware and seats have been temporarily removed. A new flat cockpit sole has been built and installed, replacing the floorboards that had followed the vessels contours. Soon she’ll have fresh varnish and paint, along with new rigging, and a new, lighter hollow mizzen mast. After a dozen years, including almost two in a barn, she deserves a refitting and crisp livery. The final touch will be a pair of hard-carved nameboards, with her original name: Jane Ann, for our only daughter. George Jepson Editor’s Note: As November winds blow and leaves continue to drop, there is snow in the air. I am pleased as punch to be back at the helm of Quarterdeck and look forward to bringing word of exciting new books and interviews with the talented folks who write them in the months to come.

ID Booth Building 520 North Meadow Street Ithaca, NY 14850

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