Sunday 22 November 2015

THE CROSS AND THE CURSE - Pre-order NOW!

It is with great pleasure that I announce that the Kindle version of book 2 of the Bernicia Chronicles, THE CROSS AND THE CURSE, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.


Pre-order here: getBook.at/CROSSandCURSE

Giles Kristian, bestselling author of God of Vengeance and the Raven series says the following about THE CROSS AND THE CURSE:
"A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind. Warriors, shield walls, the carnage of the war as it tears at a land that is not yet a nation. Beobrand is a hero to stand shoulder to shoulder with and his story is one to be told round the hearth fire on a dark night. Harffy knows his genre inside out and The Cross and the Curse proves it."
This sequel to The Serpent Sword throws you straight back into Beobrand's world. See what adventures await him in the maelstrom of early seventh century Britain. Beobrand makes new friends and confronts enemies old and new. There are more battles, treachery, twists, love and loss. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

THE CROSS AND THE CURSE will be released on 22nd January 2016. (I will try and get it out a bit sooner than this, but that is the absolute latest date when it can go live and the book will miraculously appear on your Kindle if you've pre-ordered it.)

THE CROSS AND THE CURSE will also be available in paperback, but that will not be on the website until the launch date.

Sunday 15 November 2015

THE CROSS AND THE CURSE - Amazing endorsements from great authors!

It's been a busy few weeks. I'm currently reading through the first complete draft of book 3 of the Bernicia Chronicles, BY BLOOD AND BLADE, and so far I'm enjoying what I'm reading, which is always a plus!

I've also been working on the formatting of book 2, THE CROSS AND THE CURSE. That's almost done now, and the paperback and Kindle version will both be available in January 2016.

I've also done a few interviews with different authors. The latest of these went live this weekend on Christoph Fischer's blog.


The week before last, I got together with Matt Bunker, from the group Wulfheodenas, and a talented photographer friend of mine, Stephen Weatherly, to take photos for the covers of books 2 and 3. Matt took the cover photo for The Serpent Sword, but this time round he is wearing his war gear, so taking the photos would prove a little difficult!

Stephen took nearly 300 photos in two hours and since then we have been going through them, selecting the best and then working on polishing them for publication. The cover for THE CROSS AND THE CURSE is nearly ready and is looking fabulous. I'll be revealing it soon, so watch this space.


In the meantime, I have started to receive some endorsements from great authors who have read advance copies. It is always scary when others read your work for the first time. Getting great reviews and comments from readers is wonderful. Having other authors enjoy it and being prepared to endorse a book, is an amazing feeling. I am over the moon with the quotes I've received so far, so I'll leave you with some of them here!

"A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind. Warriors, shield walls, the carnage of the war as it tears at a land that is not yet a nation. Beobrand is a hero to stand shoulder to shoulder with and his story is one to be told round the hearth fire on a dark night. Harffy knows his genre inside out and The Cross and the Curse proves it."
Giles Kristian, bestselling author of God of Vengeance and the Raven series

"The Cross and the Curse is a terrific novel that strikes just the right balance between fact and fiction, the plausible and the romantic, and it illuminates the Dark Ages like the bolt of lightning in its first few pages: in rare and unexpected ways. Top stuff."
Toby Clements, author of the Kingmaker trilogy

"The best historical fiction enables the reader to simultaneously live in the here and now and the then and there. Matthew Harffy has this skill in abundance. He peoples his work with everyman and everywoman, allowing a bridge across the centuries, a meeting place. Matthew Harffy’s first novel, The Serpent Sword, was superb. The second book, The Cross and the Curse, is every bit as good. He is one of the most accomplished and exciting voices in the field today. I love his novels."
Martin Lake, author of A Love Most Dangerous and The Lost King series
Read Martin's complete review here.

"Harffy’s debut novel, The Serpent Sword, was first rate and it’s often with trepidation that a reader will wait for Book Two in a series in the hope that it will pick up the banner and carry it forward. The Cross and the Curse does that eminently. I reviewed The Serpent Sword from the point of view of emotional reveal and I am pleased to see that Harffy continues to use this metier in order to give his characters real dimension. It  allows the reader to peel back the layers of Dark Age society beyond the implicit violence. His wordage is skilful and beautifully wrought, rather like a perfect damascened sword. Harffy is a writer to watch …"
Prue Batten, author of The Gisborne Saga and The Triptych Chronicle

“Like an oyster which grows a pearl through the irritation of a grain of sand, so Beobrand develops as a person through the horrors he witnesses and fights with, over, and against.  We see his humanity, we see pieces of ourselves, and we love him for it. Matthew Harffy has created a gritty, authentic world, home to a hero who shows us the complexity of what it means to be human – the darkness and the delight.  The Cross and the Curse is historical fiction at its finest.”
Stephanie Churchill, author of The Scribe's Daughter

Wednesday 4 November 2015

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: David Cook

As part of my ongoing series of author interviews, today I welcome to the blog the talented historical fiction author, David Cook. David is a relative new kid on the block when it comes to the historical fiction scene, but he's already published several successful novellas and, as you will see, has plenty more stories to tell.

So sit back and let's get to know a bit more about David Cook and his writing.



Tell us about The Soldier Chronicles series of novellas. You have just launched the first novel length compendium of the first 5 in the series. What is the reasoning behind that decision to bundle them together? 

Fire and Steel is an anthology of the novella's; all designed to be snap-shots of a particular soldier in the long period of war between the years 1793-1815. All fiction, but very much based on actual events.



I self-published Death is a Duty in April and fortune's good wheel allowed me to spend nine days in June, Belgium, during the bicentenary anniversary of the Waterloo campaign. I was sat on the battlefield, high up where Napoleon's grande battery tried to shatter Wellington's centre, enjoying lunch with my good friend Adam, on the 18th - the day of the battle- and I overheard some Scottish re-enactors talk about the battle. And it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't really taken that into consideration with the Highlanders of the Black Watch, the principle regiment as featured in the story. So I made some corrections on the spot, thanks to my ever-present notebook.



Upon my return to the UK I revisited the other four stories where I made corrections, re-jigged parts, expanded dialogues, fleshed out parts and with the series now enhanced, I'm very pleased with the end result.

I believe you started writing The Soldier Chronicles as backstories for the characters in your first (as yet unpublished) novel, The Desert Lion. What has happened to that novel? Will it be published soon?

Yes, The Soldier Chronicles will work as companion pieces to the series which starts with The Desert Lion. Right now, I'm waiting for it to come back from my editor and from there I will be amending the story over the next six weeks. I will then begin to pitch the story to agents and try the traditional publishing route. (Matthew: Good luck!)

The Desert Lion started it all off; all my writing. I read a journal of a redcoat soldier who recounted the Egyptian expedition of 1801 and I was fascinated by it. It's practically unheard of or written about and I thought it would make a brilliant story.



What attracted you to the period of the Napoleonic wars and these characters?

My father's love of the period and history passed down to me, but I it was from Secondary school history and English literature lessons that opened my eyes. The writings of Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott spoke about society and battles and upon getting Sharpe's Siege as a Christmas present, my love of the period was complete. It all opened my eyes.

I also think from war-gaming the period and learning how their armies marched, the logistics, troop uniforms, weaponry, the different characters of the period and the politics just add to the fascination to this day. Talking to re-enactors who speak of their love of the period helps you understand how it can turn your mind to smoke - like a good woman!



Have you got more Soldier Chronicles planned? 

I have books 6-10 mapped out. Book 6 is called Tempest and is about the last invasion of Great Britain, when in 1797 a French force managed to slip through the wooden walls of the Royal Navy and land in Pembrokeshire, Wales. They wanted to unite the workers, spread liberty and revolutionary zeal and burn the city of Bristol to the ground. Can they be stopped in time? Tempest will be out, Spring, 2016.

What about novels set in the same period?

The Desert Lion will start the planned series of books from 1801-1815. I have rough outlines that will probably change, so I'm not sure just how many the series will go to. Perhaps  10, 12, 15 - I don't know.



I’ve seen you’ve also worked on a retelling of the story of Robin Hood. What is the status of that project?

After I sent The Desert Lion to agents around 2008 and getting no interest with the early drafts, I decided to write about something different. It would be a story that I wanted to read, love and told in first-person style and I've always loved the legend of Robin Hood. The Wolfshead is about one of Robin's trusted men and will set the record straight about the legend, intermingling history; but not about the Crusades or the Peasants Revolt. As I'm English I grew up with the stories and have seen the legend watered down over the years, particularly with TV and films. I have gone for 13th century brutal violence, religion, and grit. I'm really proud of it and someday hope to get it released.

If you had to choose only one real historical figure to feature in your future novels, who would it be and why?

It would be Sir John Moore, the creator of British Army training reforms for light infantry - which went on to become the elite regiments. Moore was present in Ireland, and features in Liberty or Death, the first story in The Soldier Chronicles. He also plays a part in The Desert Lion. He was a kind man, courageous, ahead of his time and a humanitarian. Another reason to write about him is that there isn't much on the shelves dedicated to him and I think there should be.



When did you start writing? What made you take the plunge and write your first book? I think you, like most authors including me, still have a full-time day job that pays the bills. Do you foresee a future when you can give up the day job and write full time? If so, how far in the future is that moment, do you think?

It started writing because I wanted to read a book about the Egyptian campaign and there wasn't one. It was, and still is, a hobby, because I work full-time. The dream is to become a full-time writer, but I don't see that as an option in the near future.

What has surprised you most about writing?

I'm surprised that characters have their own voice! I'm surprised when things happen that I didn't plan at all.

What writer or book has had the biggest influence on your work?

It would be Bernard Cornwell and Sharpe's Siege was the catalyst.

What are the best and worst things about being a writer?

Writing is a lonely job, it's a double-edged sword.

What is the best book you've read in the last twelve months?

Make Me, by Lee Child. The latest Jack Reacher novel and its brilliant. I love the plot twists, the character definitions and the action.

What is the most exciting experience you've had as a result of writing?

It's connecting to other writers, readers and book lovers.

And now for the quick-fire questions:

Tea or coffee?

Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.

Burger or hot dog?

Burger.

Villain or hero?

Hero, because they can do things wrong too.

Beer or wine?

Beer.

Movie or TV series?

TV series (this is before Star Wars The Force Awakens comes out though :) )

Happy ending or tragedy?

Happy ending to the story.

In the car, audio-book or music?

Music

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions and best of luck with Fire and Steel and your future writing.

Connect with David online: