Publishers Weekly Review War of Knives

Publishers Weekly Review: The War of Knives by Broos Campbell
"In this entertaining sequel to No Quarter, the debut installment of Campbell's Matty Graves series of historical novels, the intrepid nautical hero, newly promoted to acting lieutenant aboard the navy schooner Rattle-Snake, finds himself out of his depth on terra firma . . . Campbell constructs an elaborate swashbuckling tale that will appeal especially to fans of high historical adventure." Will be available April 20th. read the review

Alexander Kent: new novel Heart of Oak

Onward - by Kim Reeman
An interview with Heart of Oak author Alexander Kent (pseudonym of Douglas Reeman).

Q: Douglas, you went back to the distant past to write Band of Brothers. Was it difficult to leap forward from that time back into Adam Bolitho’s life for Heart of Oak?

A: No, because I was reminded a lot of the big part the midshipmen play as I was writing Heart of Oak. So much of the action takes place on the ship, and you get to know the people so well. We have Adam’s midshipman, Napier, whom he’s sponsored, and his friends. It seemed a natural transition. read the interview | buy this book

HBO Rome TV and Sand of the Arena book

HBO: Rome TV series shares theme of James Duffy's Sand of the Arena

The highly acclaimed HBO series Rome has started its second season with a great deal of fanfare. If you like Roman history, especially gladiators, then we recommend James Duffy's book Sand of the Arena. His story occurs in AD 63 when the long arm of the Roman Empire stretches across the European continent and the gladiatorial games are awash in blood and glory. For Quintus Honorius Romanus, son of one of the richest men in Rome, everything is as it should be -- as long as he can sneak off to the arena for a little entertainment. Things go drastically wrong, however, when Quintus loses his family, his social standing, and his name to an imposter. Faced with a life of menial slavery, Quintus joins a gladiatorial school instead and begins a game of high stakes, as he vows to bring down the usurper who stole his life. see details | buy this book

Radio: Letters from author John Biggins

Found: The Real John Biggins!

As broadcast on Tony Miksak's Words on Books, KZYX radio: "Who could forget these great historical novels by John Biggins and his amusingly intelligent hero Otto Prohaska, Future Hero of the Habsburg Empire? . . . How COULD a contemporary author, writing a series of spectacularly well-reviewed historical novels published in two countries to great acclaim, disappear so completely that not even Google can find him?" see article | books by John Biggins

Publishers Weekly Review: Bodyfoods for Busy People

PW Review: Bodyfoods for Busy People

Here is a quote from the recent starred review from Publishers Weekly: ". . . Clarke provides clear, blessedly brief explanations as to why nutrients matter, and bolsters her arguments, point by point, with simple, fresh recipes that highlight particular ingredients, such as her Mango, Lime and Raspberry Juice (which provides a boost of beta carotene and vitamin C) and her high-fiber, whole grain Favorite Oatcakes." read the review | buy this book

Tribute to Arthur Mercante Sr.

Big Boxing Night/Tribute to Arthur Mercante Sr. | TheSweetScience.com Boxing

Bob Duffy and Tony Mazzarella’s Ring Promotions will host a grand night of boxing, as well as a stirring tribute to legendary referee Arthur Mercante Sr., at the Plattduetsche Park restaurant in Franklin Square, Long Island, New York, on Thursday, October 19, 2006.

The 86-year-old Mercante has been a professional referee since the 1940s. Besides officiating Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier I, he has been the third man in the ring for championship bouts featuring Floyd Patterson, Emile Griffith, Carlos Ortiz, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, Jeff Fenech, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ike Quartey, Roy Jones Jr. and Shane Mosley, among others. The last bout he refereed was between Zab Judah and Reggie Green when he was spry 81-year-old.

Mercante’s wonderful autobiography, “Inside the Ropes,” was published earlier this year by McBooks Press. Fans will be able to purchase books at the event, and Mercante will be on hand to autograph them, as well as regale them with colorful anecdotes from his decades in boxing. see details | buy this book

Julian Stockwin Video Tenacious

Julian Stockwin discusses his new nautical fiction book Tenacious, the sixth book in The Kydd Series about the Royal British Navy. This adventure novel is set in the great age of fighting sail during the eighteenth century. It is a rousing tale of courage and fighting skill, as Thomas Kydd joins the forces of Admiral Horatio Nelson. see details | buy this book

Kydd Sea Adventures Newsletter

The Bosun’s Chronicle brings the latest news and views about Thomas Kydd and his creator - Julian Stockwin. This free e-mail newsletter contains contests, book reviews, information on the great age of fighting sail and tales from other Shipmates about their own adventures. Each month there is a special Lucky Draw - one new subscriber will win a signed paperback of the first book in the series, Kydd.

The Kydd series follows the adventures of Thomas Paine Kydd, former wig-maker, pressed into the Royal Navy as a seaman in 1793. There he learns the ways of the sea and meets the philosophical Renzi, an upper-class scion with his own reasons for serving in the lower-deck of a man-o-war. Together, Kydd and Renzi sail the world, facing mutinies, shipwrecks and the uncertainties of a sailor's life—and their bravery and resourcefulness bring them unexpected rewards. Free newsletter | Kydd books

Bernard Cornwell Receives Award

United Kingdom: Her Majesty The Queen has awarded Bernard Cornwell, noted author, an OBE (Officer, Order of the British Empire) in recognition of his contributions to literature and the furtherance of British culture abroad. Mr. Cornwell is an internationally renowned author of historical novels. His Sharpe series of books have been entertaining readers since 1980 when the first installment, Sharpe’s Eagle, was published. Ever since, the series has showcased British exploits in the Napoleonic Wars to audiences around the world through the lens of Cornwell’s hero. The series was televised and, in the US, the series also ran on Masterpiece Theatre.

Britain’s Consul General to Boston, John Rankin, said, “I was delighted to hear that Her Majesty The Queen had given the award to Mr. Cornwell in her Birthday Honours List. Bernard Cornwell’s words have not only entertained millions of readers but have also brought key aspects of British history to modern-day audiences”.

Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944. He was raised in Essex, graduated from London University in 1966. Mr. Cornwell will travel to London later this year to receive the honour from Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. see books by Bernard Cornwell

James Duffy Video Interview

In this five-minute interview, McBooks author James Duffy discusses his book: Sand of the Arena: A Gladiators of the Empire Novel. The video is produced by Comcast Newsmakers / CNN Headline News. You can play the interview in Windows Media or Quicktime format. view video | buy this book