Potential cover reveal: THE SERPENT SWORD

As I said last month, I have made great progress getting THE SERPENT SWORD ready for publication. Along with the quotes I've got from excellent historical fiction authors, I've also put together a potential cover. I say 'potential', because if my agent sells the novel to a publisher, an in-house designer would create a new cover.

The cover, which I've put together using only free software, features an original photo of authentic war gear by the talented, Matt Bunker, from the living history group Wulfheodenas.

Check out the cover and let me know what you think in the comments.

Review of The Wolf and the Raven by Steven A. McKay

I recently received a review copy of the audio book of Steven A. McKay's second novel, "The Wolf and the Raven" that is now available on Audible.

Story

The blurb on the book is as follows:

In the aftermath of a violent rebellion Robin Hood and his men must fight for survival with an enemy deadlier than any they've faced before... 1322. England is in disarray and Sir Guy of Gisbourne, the king's own bounty hunter, stalks the greenwood, bringing bloody justice to the outlaws and rebels who hide there. When things begin to go horribly wrong self-pity, grief and despair threaten to overwhelm the young wolf's head who will need the support of his friends and family now more than ever.

As with all of McKay's writing it is action-packed, with strong characters fighting for their lives and the survival of their loved ones. Danger and peril lurk around every corner and there is never a dull moment. Robin faces the reality that he is to be a father and is also now the leader of a group of men who are being tracked by the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne, a dastardly bounty hunter out to destroy all outlaws.

There are two main parts to the narrative: Robin Hood and his men struggling with Guy of Gisbourne, and the fate of the two charismatic Knights Hospitaller, Sir Richard-at-Lee and his trusted sergeant-at-arms, Stephen. I have to confess I enjoyed the side story of the knights more than that of Robin and his outlaws. I liked Stephen's quest for aid in London and Sir Richard's travails back in Kirklees. However, I was slightly disappointed by the denouement of the knights' tail. It lacked a certain heroic panache that McKay seems to reserve for the protagonist.

It is a dark novel. Important characters are killed, people get badly beaten and injured, and things look bleak for Robin and his cohorts. Robin's enemy is evil in the extreme, and whilst McKay gives Gisbourne a back story to explain his violence, you never really feel sympathy for the bounty hunter.

The Wolf and the Raven is a solid sequel to the great debut Wolf's Head. Whilst it is clearly a transition novel, adding depth to the characters and setting the scene for later adventures, the second act of a longer story, it is an extremely satisfying read that paves the way for the last two books McKay plans in The Forest Lord series.

My verdict?

McKay does it again. Blood-splattered historical adventure from a powerful story-teller.

Narrator

Nick Ellsworth, who has read all of McKay's works to date, reads with a strong sense of authenticity. He has a deep, serious voice that is naturally suited to the gravity of the story. There are a few moments when I was put off by unusual pronunciations of certain words, and I would recommend speeding up the Audible player to 1.25X, which seems to provide the perfect speed of delivery, but all in all Ellsworth gives a solid performance that is worthy of the material.

Experience

Audible is a real doddle to use. No problems at all.

Overall score

4.5 out of 5 stars

Links

The Wolf and the Raven on Amazon.co.uk

The Wolf and the Raven on Audible.co.uk
Steven A. McKay's webpage

REVIEW: THE SCARLET THIEF by Paul Fraser Collard

The Scarlet Thief by Paul Fraser Collard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a storming debut novel. Jack Lark is a strong likable character. The set up is clever, allowing Jack to flee from his past, assuming the identity of a deceased officer and to escape to the Crimean. There, he has to think fast to survive in the brutal Battle of the Alma.

The battle scenes are relentless, with blood, mud and entrails splashed over the pages, as the troops are scythed down by rifle and cannon fire.

Paul Fraser Collard does not shy away from the horrors of warfare, and the details that pepper the storytelling give the novel a real sense of authenticity.

At the core of the story is Jack Lark's quest for acceptance in a world that has little to offer one such as he -- a low class lad from the slums of London. Lark is ingenious, daring and loyal to his friends and you cannot help rooting for him.

The first in a series, THE SCARLET THIEF, is an easy 5 stars.

I am looking forward to reading more of Jack's exploits as he travels the great British Empire of the nineteenth century. I am sure of one thing, where Jack Lark goes, adventure will be sure to follow.

View all my reviews

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!

Book blurb for The Serpent Sword

It's been a long time since I wrote a post about my writing and I haven't actually been doing much in the last couple of months. However, that is not to say that I haven't been making progress on my novels. I completed the second draft of THE CROSS AND THE CURSE back in September and sent it off to some beta readers. Some have already come back with some very positive comments. It needs another round of edits, and when I hear back from all of the test readers and my agent, I'll give it another once over.

In the meantime, I have started plotting book 3, and even written the first chapter. I've also had a great idea for a novella set in the same time and place, perhaps as a prequel to THE SERPENT SWORD.

I have put both of those projects on hold though, while I have focused on getting THE SERPENT SWORD ready for publication. That means I have been sending it out to other authors for endorsements (I'll post their responses in a future blog post), adding details like Acknowledgements and a map to the novel, working on layout and typesetting and a cover (again, another future blog will cover some of the things I've learnt, and the software tools I've used). I hope to reveal the cover very soon - I am very proud of it.

But first, one of the things I need to do is finalise the book blurb (you know, that text on the back of the book, and probably on the Amazon page, Goodreads, etc?). It needs to be pithy and engaging, enticing people to want to read (and buy!) the book, so it is quite important, but not something I have much experience of.

So, here it is. Please comment below with your thoughts. I'm reasonably happy with it, but welcome the chance to get some feedback before I put it on the back cover of the book, and associated websites.

BRITAIN 633 A.D.

Beobrand embarks on a quest to avenge his brother in war-torn Northumbria. When his journey leads him to witness barbaric acts at the hands of warriors he considered his friends, Beobrand questions the path he has chosen and vows to bring the men to justice.

Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, Beobrand faces challenges that change him irrevocably. Just as a great sword is forged by beating together rods of iron, so Beobrand’s adversities transform him from a farm boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall.

As he closes in on his kin’s slayer and the bodies begin to pile up, can Beobrand mete out vengeance without losing his honour or his soul?

Set against the backdrop of the clash between peoples and religions of seventh century Britain, The Serpent Sword is the first novel of the Bernicia Chronicles.

UPDATED BLURB  

Thanks to Steven A. McKay, Beth Mann and E.M. Powell for their input and suggestions.

BRITAIN 633 A.D.

Certain that his brother’s death is murder, young farmhand Beobrand embarks on a quest for revenge in war-torn Northumbria. When he witnesses barbaric acts at the hands of warriors he considers his friends, Beobrand questions his chosen path and vows to bring the men to justice. 

Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, Beobrand faces challenges that change him irrevocably. Just as a great sword is forged by beating together rods of iron, so his adversities transform him from a farm boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall.

As he closes in on his kin’s slayer and the bodies begin to pile up, can Beobrand mete out the vengeance he craves without sacrificing his own honour … or even his soul? 

The Serpent Sword is the first novel of the Bernicia Chronicles.

Let me know what you think. Watch this space - there'll be more news soon. 

Review of audiobook "Knight of the Cross" by Steven A. McKay

Following on from my recent review of another audio book, I was lucky enough to get the offer to receive a review copy of Steven A. McKay's latest work, the novella "Knight of the Cross" that is now available as an audio book on Audible.

Story

The blurb on the book is as follows:

The Knights Hospitaller battle ancient evil in medieval Rhodes as mysterious disappearances and insane devil-worshippers threaten to turn the entire island into a bloodbath....

When three Hospitallers go missing from a local village outraged Grand Master Foulques de Villaret sends the English knight Sir Richard-at-Lee and his trusted sergeant-at-arms Jacob to discover their fate. Met with resistance from frightened locals and rumours of a blasphemous sect performing unspeakable rites beneath the village Sir Richard must overcome not only the devil-worshippers but the faceless, unstoppable demon that stalks his dreams.

I am a fan of fantasy and horror, as well as historical fiction, and I'm pretty sure my tastes are similar to McKay's. This novella blends perfectly a believable historical setting with elements of classic fantasy stories and Lovecraftian horror. I will admit to having played a lot of role playing games back in the day (and I mean the games with dice and pencils and paper, not the PC games called RPGs) and this novella almost felt like an adventure from Dungeons & Dragons.

An ancient evil stalking a village. Mysterious disappearances. A terrifying subterranean cult. And a couple of adventurous knights sent to investigate.

The story speeds along at the pace of a galloping destrier. It is relentless, exhilarating and just spooky enough.

McKay handles the occult references well, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination as the novella hurtles towards its horrific conclusion.

My verdict?

A fabulous, rich, action-filled story that manages to pack an epic punch into a novella-sized story.

Narrator

Nick Ellsworth reads with conviction and verve. He has a voice that sounds at home intoning the grave events that take place on the island of Rhodes in Knight of the Cross. His deep voice reminded me a little of Richard Burton at times, which is praise indeed.

Experience

I've used Audible a couple of times now, and the experience has always been smooth and easy.

Overall score

5 out of 5 stars

Links

Knight of the Cross on Amazon.co.uk

Knight of the Cross on Audible.co.uk
Steven A. McKay's webpage

A Quick Visit to Sherborne, Dorset

A couple of weeks ago, on 26th September 2014 I decided, on a whim, to take the day off work and go out somewhere with my wife. We chose to visit Sherborne, a place of historical interest that we could get to in an hour or so, as we had to get back in time to pick up our younger daughter from school.

On the way we stopped for breakfast in Frome. We went to a place that looked nice, The Garden Cafe, and it was good enough to gain a mention here. Hmm, those poached eggs were yummy!

Sherborne's history

Wikipedia describes Sherborne's history as follows:

The town was named scir burne by the Saxon inhabitants, a name meaning "clear stream" (see: Bourne (placename)) and is referred to as such in the Domesday book.

Sherborne was made the capital of Wessex, one of the seven Saxon kingdoms of England, and King Alfred's elder brothers King Ethelbert and King Ethelbald are buried in the abbey. In 705 the diocese was split between Sherborne and Winchester, and King Ine founded an abbey for St Aldhelm, the first bishop of Sherborne. The bishop's seat was moved to Old Sarum in 1075 and the church at Sherborne became a Benedictine monastery. In the 15th century the church was burnt down during tensions between the town and the monastery, and rebuilt between 1425 and 1504 incorporating some of the Norman structure remains. In 1539 the monastery was bought by Sir John Horsey and became a conventional church. Sherborne was the centre of a hundred of the same name for many centuries.

In the 12th century Roger de Caen, Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of England, built a fortified palace in Sherborne. The palace was destroyed in 1645 by General Fairfax, and its ruins are owned by English Heritage.

In 1594 Sir Walter Raleigh built an Elizabethan mansion in the grounds of the old palace, today known as Sherborne Castle.

Sherborne became home to Yorkshireman, Captain Christopher Levett who came to the West Country as His Majesty's Woodward of Somersetshire, and who remained in Sherborne when he turned to a career as a naval captain and early explorer of New England.

It is a lovely, picturesque town, with a bustling high street, that didn't seem to be quietened at all by the drizzle that fell on the day we visited.

We didn't have a massive amount of time to spend there, so we elected to focus our attention on Sherborne Abbey.

Sherborne Abbey

There has been a church on the site since the early 8th century and perhaps even earlier, as there may have been a Celtic Christian church there before the diocese of Sherborne was created in 705 by King Ine of Wessex. It is now a beautiful building, with vaulted ceilings and sumptuous stained glass windows. I would recommend visiting to anyone with an interest in history or architecture.

After a little bit of shopping (I was with the wife, after all!), we had a great lunch at The Three Wishes.

It was a great day out, and I'd like to go back with a bit more time to visit the other places of interest in and around the town like Sherborne Castle.

If you are in the vicinity and looking for somewhere to visit, I would thoroughly recommend Sherborne.