Author Douglas Jacobson talks about historical research

Douglas Jacobson, author of Night of Flames, posted a guest article for "As the Pages Turn" book blog. In it he discusses what it takes to write good historical fiction, and describes his own research into WWII.

Getting it Right . . . Doing Research for Historical Novels

As the old saying goes, “The devil is in the detail.” One of the reasons I have always loved historical fiction is that it is a truly marvelous way to learn a bit of history. Some authors of non-fiction (Stephen Ambrose comes to mind) have a flair and style of writing that make their work enjoyable and easy to read. But, in my humble opinion, there’s nothing quite like curling up with Herman Wouk’s War and Remembrance or Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth for the ultimate reading experience . . . and, a great way to learn history.

And that brings us to the issue at hand. Writing good historical fiction places a special burden on the author, the burden of getting it right. (Read more at "As the Pages Turn.")

Julian Stockwin offers book giveaway

Win a Set of All Nine Kydd Sea Adventures! Plus the New Stockwin's Maritime Miscellany!

Julian Stockwin, author of the Kydd Sea Adventures is offering visitors to his website the chance to win his books--and a handy jute Union Jack tote to put them in.

Check out his website for more information!

http://www.julianstockwin.com/Contest.htm

George Kimball Profiled In Kansas Alumni Magazine

McBooks Press author George Kimball was recently profiled in the Kansas Alumni Magazine. The article, by Tom King (a freelance writer from Lawrence), covers over 25 years of Kimball's colorful career as a sportswriter and his process of writing Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing. Kimball, class of 67, spoke about the Four Kings, especially Roberto Duran, at Kansas University's Hispanic Heritage Month clebration. "George Kimball has penned a knockout," writes King.

Quarterdeck Historical Fiction Newsletter

The May/June 2009 issue of Quarterdeck, our bimonthly newsletter of the world of historical fiction written by George D. Jepson is available for download at McBooks.com.

This issue features interviews with: English marine artist Geoff Hunt, who chats about his career and new book, The Frigate Surprise; and British naval historians and archaeologists Roy and Lesley Adkins, who describe their approach to researching and writing about the Age of Fighting Sail.

Please notice that if any of the interviews, articles, or reviews in Quarterdeck tempt you to purchase some the the relevant books, there are book cover links in the PDF file that take you to the appropriate pages at the McBooks Press website.

FREE 2009 Historical Fiction Catalog PDF

McBooks Press Historical Fiction & Nonfiction Catalog

Our 2009 PDF Catalog is ready for you to download! It contains the best historical fiction books — nautical and military — that we sell to individuals. These include all McBooks Press publications in these categories, as well as hard-to-find and imported books from other publishers. Browse through expanded choices including exciting westerns, spine-tingling 20th-century spy novels, historical mysteries, and riveting naval nonfiction. To give you faster shipping and less chance of back-orders, McBooks has developed a new shipping procedure employing four satellite warehouses. More frequently, your order may arrive at your home in two or more boxes, but it will often arrive quicker—and with the same low shipping charges as always. Right now the dollar is stronger against the British pound, that means we’re cutting our prices on many books from our extensive collection of U.K. imports and passing the savings on to you!

Julian Stockwin discovers painting of real Thomas Kydd

Recently Julian Stockwin, author of the Kydd Sea Adventures, was sent this image by a fan of his Kydd novels. Apparently this is the real Thomas Kydd, and Julian never even knew he existed!

Julian was gobsmacked when he received this photo from Shipmate Sim Comfort! Browsing among the items in an art auction recently Sim had come across a portrait of one Thomas Kydd, master’s mate of His Britannic Majesty’s Royal Navy. The painting dates from about 1800.

Visit Julian Stockwin's website to learn more interesting information about Thomas Kydd and the Age of Sail .

Museum of Human Beings helps "fill in the gaps" in what we know about history

Michelle Dover, book reviewer for The Steamboat Local (Steamboat Springs, CO), recently focused on some historical novels--including Museum of Human Beings by Colin Sargent--which she says help minorities and women find their place in history "thus reclaiming a past that isn’t readily available in the history books." Here's her take on these fascinating novels.

Get Lit

by Michelle Dover

The Amazing Adventures of Human Beings

Yes, yes, we all love the founding fathers of the United States of America. Their biographies always have a hold list at the library when they arrive from the publishers. Authors do a brilliant job of recreating these men’s lives through the plethora of documents left behind.

Ask yourself: Was my great, great, great grandma perched on the end of her rocking chair worshipping the founding fathers? Was that same grandma working her knitting needles impatiently waiting for news about their latest speech? Remember that great grandma couldn’t even vote, maybe grandma couldn’t even read, maybe grandma didn’t have access to news and information. Maybe grandma was doing the laundry on a rock in the river.

In the last decade more and more readers have turned to historical fiction to fill in the gaps left in history. (Read the full article.)

Purchase Museum of Human Beings, by Colin Sargent at McBooks.com

Flashman Papers by George MacDonald Fraser

George MacDonald Fraser's series Flashman Papers is once again available at McBooks!

Book 1: Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser

The first installment of the Flashman Papers sees the rotter from Tom Brown's Schooldays commence his military career as a reluctant secret agent in Afghanistan. Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father's mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan's Hussars. En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duelist, imposter, coward and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.

Purchase Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser at McBooks.com

John Robinson at Portland Library

Brown Bag Lecture
with John B. Robinson
author of A Fistful of Diamonds
Portland Public Library, Portland Maine.
Wed., April 8, 2009 (12pm-1pm)
207-871-1700 ext. 758

"The Brown Bag Lecture Series features best-selling authors from Maine and New England as well as from across the nation and world. Bring your lunch and enjoy...Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be provided. (During the renovation of the Main Library, Brown Bag Lectures will be held at Community Television Network, just a few blocks from the Main Library)"

John B. Robinson graduated from Harvard and headed straight to Africa to pursue writing. Along the way he worked as a guide on Mount Kilimanjaro; bought, sold and traded rare gems; and taught English in out-of-the-way places. He currently lives in Portland, Maine.

A Fistful of Diamonds - Book 2 of the Gemstone Thrillers: A suite of priceless diamonds surfaces in Central Africa. Fast-talking gem expert Lonny Cushman wants them. As cover, he chaperones a young seminarian to Rwanda in search of her missing father. Once there, Lonny chases the diamonds through the killing fields of the Congo. Survival depends on negotiating the bloody machinery that benefits from the conflict diamond trade--Islamic jihadis, corrupt army officers, Israeli diamantaires, and Ukrainian arms dealers. Can he save himself, the diamonds, and the seminarian from a terrible end?

Purchase the Gemstone Thrillers, by John B. Robinson, at McBooks.com

Author James L. Nelson discusses George Washington’s secret navy

Author James L. Nelson has written a wide range of historical fiction and nonfiction-- from The Only Life that Mattered (a novel based on the true story of two female pirates) to Benedict Arnold’s Navy (a nonfiction exploration of the little-known fleet of American ships cobbled together by Benedict Arnold to fight the British). His recent book George Washington’s Secret Navy takes a look at how the esteemed general took it upon himself to create a secret navy of merchant ships sent out to harass the British. Recently Nelson gave a talk at the Pritzker Military Library in Chicago. There he gave intriguing background and context for Washington’s decision to establish his ragtag Colonial Navy behind the Continental Congress’s back.

Nelson was introduced at the Pritzker Library on March 14, 2009 thus:

Tricky situation here. It's 1775, and you need to prepare for battle against the world's most powerful fighting force. You know quite a bit about combat on land, but you have no naval experience whatsoever – and no navy, either - which is a problem, because your enemy is sitting pretty in Boston Harbor, supplied by merchant ships that you'll need to stop. And whatever you do, Congress can't know about it, because they're not even ready to call this a revolution yet.

What's your move, General Washington? (Hear the rest of the intro and listen to James L. Nelson’s fascinating talk.)

Purchase books by James L. Nelson at McBooks.com