In which both the AUTHOR and his REPUTATION are Transported STOP PRESS! This is very exciting! WHSmith have picked yrs truly as “Fresh Talent” for summer 2015 - look out for the new paperbacks in their Travel network. Reading at Barton’s Bookshop in Leatherhead on 18 July What a great excuse to visit this popular, buzzy, old-fashioned…
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The Bitter Trade’s plot follows hard on the heels of the Monmouth Rebellion. I asked the 17th century historian Andrea Zuvich (aka The 17th Century Lady ) to share some of her expertise on the Duke of Monmouth and his attempted coup in 1685. Portrait: Museum of Somerset Andrea Zuvich writes: If there’s one historical person you need to know about from the early 1680s, it’s…
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  I’m delighted to announce that The Pigeonhole , a very cool new publishing house, are serialising The Bitter Trade as of April the 21st. If you haven’t read the book already, it’s a brilliant new way to share the experience week by week with friends and fellow readers around the world. If you have, then do please…
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In which the Reader’s AUDITORY SENSES are Befuddled; a Sorcerous Travel through TIME is recommended; and the AUTHOR begs Shamelessly for Testimonial World Premiere of Surround Sound Audiobook, courtesy of Mr Roland Bearne and the WIZARDS of 5a Studios - CLICK HERE TO HEAR IT I did promise this in the last newsletter… Roland has recorded a rather gutwrenching scene from…
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In which the AUTHOR most Treasonously crosses the Pennines in search of an audience; encourages a LOUCHE tendency to pull #coffeefaces; Bamboozles an innocent merchant, Master W. Henry Smith; and invites an Emperor to Dine.     Leeds, Yorkshire: Art, Coffee and a History of Extreme Violence A great day out: first, visiting the Royal…
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In which the AUTHOR narrowly escapes a Loud Death; joins lusty Song in his home citadel of Luxembourg; plans a Progress to the Caffeinated NORTH; and is awarded a Medal of Miniature Excellence   History is DANGEROUS People write books because explosions only happen in your head. Unfortunately, I thought it would be a good idea…
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We lined up four abreast, stumbling on the rough field. Cannon yelled, plumed riders wheeled - and a stone’s throw away, the enemy musketeers slowly, menacingly prepared their weapons. Powder poured, wadding rammed, a smoking match cautiously clamped between the “dog’s teeth”, ready to touch its spark to the gunpan. My own troop was trying…
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In which the AUTHOR intends to besiege Sherborne Castle; visit his homeland’s gloomy citadel of Luxembourg; and boasts VULGARLY of his Novel’s Circulation and Reputation Time Bandit Tour 2014 I thought it would be enough to just write about the seveenteenth century. Now I have to live it. I’ll be joining my Sealed Knot friends for the…
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Frothing, darkly curious, song-filled launch party at Prufrock! Thank you to everyone who came to The Bitter Trade’s launch at Prufrock coffeehouse on the 3rd. It’s my favourite place to consume the burned bean, and inspired a scene or two in the book - so it was great to celebrate the launch by watching co-owner…
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In The Bitter Trade, weaver-boy Calumny Spinks plays a trick on a pair of naive English ladies - playing on their pity for his grumpy father to squeeze some extra pennies out of them. Rebecca and I just got back from Lombok, and I couldn’t resist trying out the hand looms used by these Sasak ladies. Each family…
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