Happy new year 2016!

This time last year I had yet to publish my debut novel, The Serpent Sword. In the end I released it in April and since then, I have been living the hectic life of an independently-published author. This means that I need to promote the book as well as write the next one(s), all while keeping the day job going and the family reasonably happy. It is not easy to balance everything, but it is rewarding.

Since the release of The Serpent Sword, it has sold thousands of copies and garnered over a hundred reviews on Amazon.co.uk and edging towards a hundred on Amazon.com. And with over a hundred ratings on Goodreads, it has been a great nine months. For this, I owe a huge thanks to all the readers who have taken the time to leave a review. It is great to get an email or a message telling me you've enjoyed my book, but it is even better for others to be able to see the comments too. It takes only minutes, but makes a huge difference to the success of books. Readers trust readers.

One of the best reviews came from the Historical Novel Society, a prestigious global organisation that awarded The Serpent Sword Editor's Choice and Long-listed it for the HNS Indie Award 2016! Sadly, it did not make the short list, but not bad going for my first book!

I have done lots of interviews with other authors, and also with book promoters and reviewers. The support has been amazing.

Whilst doing all the interviews and promotions, I've also managed to prepare the second book, The Cross and the Curse, for release on 22nd January. I worked on the cover myself (as I did for The Serpent Sword) and got help from a friend, Stephen Weatherly, who took the great cover photo, and Matt Bunker, a living history expert in the period from the group Wulfheodenas, who graciously agreed to pose for the image (it is his gear on the cover the The Serpent Sword too).

As well as all of that, I even found time to write the first draft of book three of the Bernicia Chronicles, By Blood and Blade. I hope to have that book ready for release this summer and I will be working on another book soon.

I am sure 2016 will prove to be just as busy, exciting and rewarding as 2015. As well as the plan of releasing two new novels, there are other things in the works that I will announce in time. I hope you will stick with me for the ride.

Once again, thanks for helping make 2015 such a good year for me and the Bernicia Chronicles and here's to an even better 2016!

Seven things you might not know about me as a writer

Historical novelist, Judith Arnopp, tagged me in a game on Facebook where I need to share seven lesser known facts about me as a writer (I've expanded the remit to cover my books as well). It has taken me about a month to get around to this, but better late than never!

So, here goes:

1. I knew next to nothing about Anglo-Saxon Britain before starting to write The Serpent Sword. The period chose me, and I just had to research to catch up.
2. I designed the cover of The Serpent Sword. 
   
3. The cover photo of The Serpent Sword is an original taken by living historian and reenactor, Matthew Bunker. He belongs to the group Wulfheodenas, and the helm, byrnie and sword are all authentic replicas of archaeological finds from the period of the novel.
4. My dad edited The Serpent Sword, and also the sequel, The Cross and the Curse. I hope he will continue to edit book three of the Bernicia Chronicles and beyond.
5. I started writing about Bebbanburg before Bernard Cornwell published his first Uhtred novel. But he beat me to the punch, and I then set the novel aside for nearly a decade.
6. I failed history at school.
7. I also failed English Literature!

Achievements of yesteryear - 2014

It is usual at this time of year to cast a look back at the twelve months gone by and think of all that you've accomplished, as well as setting goals and resolutions for the coming year.

I find it is all too easy to think of all the things one hasn't managed to do. All the things you had planned but couldn't complete, or those things that didn't pan out through no fault of your own. My main goal for 2014 was to get a publishing deal. That didn't happen and I sometimes have to remind myself that that doesn't mean I have failed in any way. There is still a chance I will find that elusive book deal, but if I don't, there are thousands of other writers (maybe millions) who are publishing independently, so whatever happens, my writing will see the light of day. This is an amazing time for writers. The ability to get books published and distributed is available to everyone in a way that previous generations could not even dream of.

So, dwelling on the positives, here are some of the things that I've achieved in 2014.

I got a literary agent!

This one is actually pretty huge. In fact, I think I was spoilt by how easily I managed to find an agent who liked my book enough to agree to represent me. I started in earnest looking for an agent in January, and within two months I'd signed a contract with Robin Wade, a successful and well-established agent with strong connections in the historical fiction publishing world. Like most writers I'd heard all the horror stories of waiting months and never hearing from agents, so I was prepared for a lot of submissions and many rejections.

My experience was not bad at all. I sent targeted letters out to the first seven agents on my list of about twenty who I thought might be interested. Within a month, I got a few form rejections and then an email from Robin, saying he'd be delighted to represent me.

It was a tense few weeks waiting for replies, but nothing could prepare me for the long silence after Robin had sent my manuscript out to publishers.

Robin pitched THE SERPENT SWORD to all the major publishing houses in the UK at the London book fair. Many editors were interested, and requested the full manuscript. And then the waiting started.

I am not a patient person and the months waiting for replies dragged on and on.

I finished my second novel

While waiting for the publishers to read THE SERPENT SWORD and come back to my agent, I got on with the sequel, THE CROSS AND THE CURSE. That kept me busy, and I knew that I needed to be able to complete a novel in a year or so to be able to produce at the rate expected by mainstream publishers. So I set myself weekly targets and got on with it. I finished in about eight months, then spent a couple of months editing.

It was not easy. There were times when I felt lost and didn't know how to push through invisible walls in the plot, but in the end I got there. And my test readers and Robin liked it more than the first one! Perhaps I can really write, a small voice whispered. But if I am such a great writer, why weren't the publishers falling over themselves to offer me six figure advances?

Made lots of author "friends"

This is a great part of the modern age. You can find like-minded people to interact with online very easily. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, are amazing tools for writers. Writing is lonely and it is easy to get frustrated, but there is always someone out there who has had the same experience as you and who is willing to offer a word of advice, or a listening virtual ear.

In the last year I've had online chats with all manner of people, and quite a few published authors who I admire and aspire to emulate. It is incredibly gratifying that most of the authors I have conversed with have been open, friendly and actively helpful.

Got great quotes for THE SERPENT SWORD

One of the benefits of social media and communicating with authors meant it was easy for me to ask if some writers in the same genre would read my book and provide me with quotes for the cover and marketing. I have been humbled by the response. A few said they were too busy - something I can relate to - but most agreed to read the manuscript and to provide me with quotes, if they enjoyed the book.

Luckily, they all seemed to enjoy it!

A few (edited) examples from the quotes I've received so far (I'm still waiting on a couple):

"...a gripping and credible tale of Dark Ages Britain...Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this." ANGUS DONALD

"Vivid and compelling, The Serpent Sword is historical fiction at its brutal best." PAUL FRASER COLLARD 

"A storming debut novel fans of Bernard Cornwell should not miss!"
STEVEN A. MCKAY 

"The Serpent Sword is a stunning debut: fast, confident, adrenaline-pumped, this story of a young warrior's coming of age in the maelstrom of the Dark Ages has the flavour of early Giles Kristian or James Aitcheson: it's raw, rugged and rich in colour and texture."
MANDA SCOTT 

"...a fast-paced tale of historical adventure beautifully written. The Serpent Sword is a story of revenge, passion, betrayal, honour, love and loss. Above all, it contains both a quest and a love story. Harffy’s characters are portrayed with depth and humanity. This novel is a thrilling read.”
CAROL MCGRATH

"With powerful language and gripping action, Harffy tells a tale of courage, revenge and love..."
JUSTIN HILL

Reading the comments again as I'm typing this is making me grin. Did they really read my book?! It seems amazing to me that authors, all successful and extremely busy, would take the time to read my novel and have enjoyed it enough to endorse it.

Designed an awesome cover

I spent a couple of weeks at the end of the year using all kinds of free software tools (GIMP, Light Zone Project, Inkscape) to design a cover for THE SERPENT SWORD. The cover centres on a photo of authentic war gear (sword, mail, helm) supplied by the generous and talented, Matt Bunker (from the living history group Wulfheodenas), and I am very pleased with the results. I will use the image if I decide to publish independently in the end , but I think I'll save it for another blog post. It is always a good thing to leave something to look forward to.

In the meantime, here is a fantastic Serpent Sword logo that my very good friend, Gareth Jones, designed for me and gave me for Christmas! He also gave me the new domain www.theserpentsword.com, which I will add content to in the future. How cool is that?

2014 has been a busy, challenging, but ultimately very rewarding year. Thanks for being a part of it, if you have left a comment here or chatted with me on Facebook or Twitter. If you have just stumbled onto this blog, please follow me on Twitter, Like my Facebook page, sign up to my newsletter, so that you can join me on the ongoing journey towards publication.

Here's to a great 2015!

A day in the life of a seventh century Anglo-Saxon

April. In England.

More accurately, in Gloucestershire. At the National Trust-owned magnificence that is Dyrham Park.

And of course, as it is April, it is raining.

My wife and daughters traipse along behind me across the beautifully sculpted park. We are making our way to the Old Lodge buildings. The level of excitement is pretty low from the female contingent of our little group. I, however, am buzzing.

Because we are off to see the living history re-enactors, Wulfheodenas, who specialise in reconstructing the warrior class of Anglo-Saxons from the 6th and 7th centuries. As my novel, THE SERPENT SWORD, is set in 633 - 634 AD, I am very excited to meet them and see what they have on display.

When we arrive at the cluster of buildings on the hill overlooking the manor house, we find a small group of what appear to be time travellers, stepped out of a saga as told in the smoke-filled halls of northern Europe well over a thousand years ago.

A lady and three men are huddled around a fire cooking their breakfast.

We seem to be the first visitors of the day, and a couple of the menfolk kindly get up and show us where their hoard of goodies is laid out on trestle tables. Because of the rain, they are inside the barn, which seems quite fitting, with the wooden beams giving the feel of a mead hall.

They are more than happy for us to handle the items on display. "If it looks sharp, it probably is. And the helmets are heavy and expensive, so don't drop them." There ends the health and safety warning.

Heavy and expensive. And awesome!

They are also pleased to answer questions. Lots of questions in my case.

I'm too seaxy for my kirtle...

We stay for about as long as my daughters can stand it. It is cold and miserable, with the wind gusting and rain blowing into the barn, but I am so pleased we have come. I have learnt some interesting things and met some people who are incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the period that my novels are set in.
 
I hope to be able to see Wulfheodenas again sometime, hopefully with better weather.

Some more photos

Here is a selection of some more of my photos from the visit.

A thegn can never have too many helms!

Get off of my land!

Look at the pattern-welding on that beauty, sir. A bargain at twice the price.

Lyre, lyre, your scop is on fire.

I want your seax, baby!

7th century utility belt?

The hospitality left a little to be desired...no mead or pottage!

Matt looking moody.

Fork 'andles? No. Axe handle!