News update

My novel The Belgae Torc is now available from Amazon in Kindle format.  It seems that it can also be had in other formats such a Kobo, so everyone waiting for this to happen can now satisfy their e-readers by downloading a copy.
On another note, my next book The Witness, supposed to be launched on March 22nd, will have to be put back. I'm still struggling with the final edit, tweaking the manuscript and I think I need another month to complete working with my publisher.  I'm hoping to re-schedule the launch party for a weekend towards the end of April but the books may be available before then.  Will keep you updated.

 

The Belgae Torc on Kindle

I have just been speaking to my publisher after having read The Belgae Torc proposed Kindle version.
We have decided to go with the original version, the same as the novel, so warts and all.
I have found a couple of gramatical errors but I suppose its no worse than some books I've read recently!
Anyway, the book should be available from Amazon on Kindle in about 48 hours.

The Witness update

I have just finished reading throught the novel again on my new netbook and was able to make changes as I saw fit.  Now the manuscript has been printed off, using a ream of paper and ink cartriges to the value of forty pounds!  Maria is reading through it and feeding back.  As she is my harshest critic, some of her suggestions are rather cutting but I can usually see what she means, so a number of minor changes are necessary.  The book launch date of 22nd March has been proposed but I really don't think that is possible.  Time is slipping by and although I'm working on it every night, I don't want to rush and turn out a load of rubbish.  The editing in my first novel is a bit suspect and I don't want to make the same mistakes again.  So, the official book launch date may have to be put back by a couple of weeks.

The Amber Room or Chamber

This is a reconstruction of the Amber Room completed in 2003.  It is on display at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Reserve outside St.Peretersburg.

Brief History.

Before it was lost, the Amber Room was dubbed the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.  Construction began in 1701 to 1711 in Prussia.  The designers; German baroque sculptor Andreas Schluter and Danish amber craftsman Gottfried Wolfram worked on it until 1707, then work was continued by amber masters Gottfried Turau and Ernst Schacht from Danzig.  Known then as the Amber Cabinett, it remained in the Berlin City Palace until 1716 when it was given by the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm I to his ally, Tsar Peter the Great of the Russian Empire.  In Russia it was expanded and after several renovations, it covered more than 55 square metres and contained over six tons of amber.  It was finished in 1755 and restored in 1830.  The Amber Room was looted by invading forces during World War Two and brought to Konigsberg where it was lost during the chaos at the end of the war.

Conspiracies and Curses.

There have been numerous conflicting reports and theories regarding what happened to the room, among them that it was destroyed by bombing, hidden in a now lost subterranean bunker in Konigsberg, buried in mines in the Ore Mountains or taken onto a ship which was sunk by Soviet forces in the Baltic Sea.

Many people connected with the room have met with untimely deaths.  Whilst the KGB was investigating a man and his wife who were considered to have information about the room, they died suddenly of typhus.  General Gustav, a Russian intelligence officer was killed in a car crash after he talked to a journalist about the Amber Room but the most disturbing of all, Amber Room hunter and former German soldier Georg Stein, was murdered in a Bavarian forest in 1987.

The Amber Room appears in my second novel 'The Gordian Knot', which is part of 'The Torc Trilogy'.  Jack Harrington, searching for the room, is led to the Sea of Azov after investigating the sinking of the ship Wilhelm Gustloff.  He and Dr Orlagh Gairne are drawn into another adventure involving the Belgae Torc and the sinister 'Phoenix Legion'.

In order to improve my knowledge of this subject, I am about to read a novel 'The Amber Room' by Steve Berry.  Hopefully this book will explore the various conspiracy theories surrounding this subject and give me a solid grounding that I can use along with my other research to further the continuing plot.
I discovered the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff and references to The Amber Room quite by chance when researching other avenues for my next book.  I am fascinated to know more and use my knowledge to spice up the historical content of my novels.

Sales in the USA

Great news, today I discovered that I have sold two books in the USA, one in Tucson and another in Boston.  At last my Amazon.com sales have started, and long may they continue.  I just hope that the kind people who bought my book will review it favourably.

Synopsis of my next novel

The Witness

Josie MacDonald, a landscape artist is visiting her aunt Molly who lives in the peaceful village of Garmouth in Morayshire.  On a painting trip early one morning she is witness to a horrific murder.

Forced to flee the psychopathic killer she has to bear the brunt of psychological torment and anguish as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare.

 

She must return to the scene of crime in order to discover the truth.  With time running out and a killer on the loose, she has to prevent her abducted friends from becoming victims whilst surviving long enough to bring their terrible ordeal to an end.

 

 

Editing finished at last!

At last I've finished editing 'The Witness'. Now all I have to do is read it through before printing off a copy. Maria will then read it and feed back, if there are any further edits to do they will have to be done before a copy is e-mailed to my publisher. I have to do this by mid February or there will be no chance of meeting my book launch date. I'm also reading the Kindle version of 'The Belgae Torc', I have to make sure that everything has uploaded correctly before I give the go ahead. As soon as I'm happy then the book will be available on Kindle. Another week or so I think.