Qu arte rd eck

Author
Interviews:
Julian Stockwin
Michael Aye
November/December 2008
 CONTENTS
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The Privateer’s Revenge by Julian Stockwin.

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alex@mcbooks.com
6 Julian Stockwin ...
English novelist Julian Stockwin chats about his new QUARTERDECK EDITOR
George Jepson
Thomas Kydd sea story, The Privateer’s Revenge, and his
269-372-4673
plans for the series. gdjepson@gmail.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
11 Michael Aye Jackie Swift
Georgia-based author Michael Aye reveals the future of The jackie@mcbooks.com
Fighting Anthonys and discusses his new novel, Barracuda.
CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTOR
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ARCHIVE:
2006 - 2008
15 Mutiny on the Bounty: A Novel by John Boyne
www.mcbooks.com

Peter Wicked by Broos Campbell

16 Treachery by Julian Stockwin (collectible, Prices are subject to

signed-and-numbered edition) change without notice.
The Sapphire Sea by John B. Robinson

A Fistful of Diamonds by John B. Robinson

Cover: Detail from a painting by English marine artist

Geoffrey Huband for the jacket cover of The Complete
Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent.

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SCUTTLEBUTT
JULIAN STOCKWIN
Stockwin’s Maritime Miscellany: A
Ditty Bag of Wonders from the Golden
Age of Sail by Julian Stockwin,
author of the Thomas Kydd sea sto-
ries, will be published in the United
Kingdom in July. Stockwin shares
his love and knowledge of the sea in
this entertaining collection of mar-
itime stories and little-known trivia.
DEWEY LAMBDIN
A new Alan Lewrie naval adventure
by Dewey Lambdin, The Baltic
Gambit, will be published in hard-
cover in February 2009. It will be
the 15th title in the series, following
Troubled Waters.
JAMES L. NELSON
Naval historian James L. Nelson has
begun work on a new book, tenta-
tively titled George Washington’s
Great Gamble. The book will discuss
how Washington, whose under-
standing of the need for a naval
force was chronicled in George
QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com
Washington’s Secret Navy, finally N EW B OO K
understood that the Revolutionary
War was not going to be won with-
P UB LI C ATI O N D ATES
out naval supremacy. The new book 2009 - 2010
will look at the Battle of the Capes,
US (United States)
the naval battle that gave the French UK (United Kingdom)
control of the Chesapeake, and how PB (Paperback)
TPB (Trade Paperback)
all the elements came together, HC (Hardcover)
briefly and perfectly, to bring about
the American victory at Yorktown. January
Tentative publication date is winter
2010. Troubled Waters (USTPB)
by Dewey Lambdin
WILLIAM H. WHITE
February
Novelist and maritime historian
William H. White’s new novel,
The Baltic Gambit (USHC)
When Fortune Frowns, will be by Dewey Lambdin
launched in April 2009. It is the
story of HMS Pandora, the Royal April
Navy frigate sent after the mutineers
from HMAV Bounty in 1790. For Love of Country (USHC)
White’s book is based on historic by William C. Hammond
facts taken from original documents
in the Naval Archives at When Fortune Frowns (USHC)
Portsmouth, England. This little- by William H. White
known story is an important conclu-
May
sion to the Bounty saga. After col-
lecting most of the mutineers in
The Frigate Surprise (USHC)
Tahiti, Pandora, under Captain by Geoff Hunt and Brian Lavery
Edward Edwards, sailed for England
by way of the Endeavor Straits just The Hawk (UKPB)
north of Australia, where she by Peter Smalley
wrecked on a reef. Edwards, his sur-
viving crew, and the mutineers made July
an open-boat journey to Coupang
that rivaled Captain William Bligh’s Gathering Storm (UKHC)
own voyage. by Peter Smalley
October
ALEXANDER KENT
Douglas Reeman, writing as
Invasion (USHC)
Alexander Kent, is at work on a new
by Julian Stockwin
Adam Bolitho novel, which will be
called In the King’s Name. The book Mid-to-Late 2009
is expected to be published in mid-
to late 2009 and will be the 28th In the King’s Name (USHC)
title in the popular naval fiction by Alexander Kent
series. It follows Heart of Oak.
3
BY GEORGE!

Jane Ann
N
early a year ago, I rang Mike new boat was in the offing.
Kiefer, who had built several As the air warmed and snow melted
wooden boats for us, and away for another season, Mike’s work
announced that Amy and I were moving load increased. One afternoon he asked
back to southwestern Michigan from whether we could wait for delivery of our
Iowa and were interested in a new boat. boat – whatever design it was ultimately
Our thought was that a 14-foot to be – until late summer or early
Whitehall rigged for sailing and rowing autumn. Along with this request came a
promise that one of several boats would
be available to us throughout the sum-
mer. Although we were now in the new
house, there was much to be done before
we would call it home. So we agreed to
delay delivery.
True to Mike’s word, there were count-
less opportunities to sail again. On an
early June evening, we launched his cat-
ketch-rigged 21-foot Caledonia Yawl,
Whitehawk, in the Black River, which
flows into Lake Michigan. As we motored
through the basin in downtown South
Rob Pittaway-designed cat-ketch-rigged daysailer ...
Haven and made a slight turn to star-
board for the channel, the barn-red light
would fit our needs. Over the ensuing at the end of the pier hove into view off
months, Mike and I discussed options as our port bow. The boat began to heave as
our move drew nearer. the current met the lake surge in the
By March, our new home was com- channel. The main and mizzen sails filled
plete and the moving process was under- with a moderate southwesterly breeze, the
way. The boat ended up on the backburn- engine was shut down, and we cleared the
er until we could deal with the details of twin pierheads, sailing easily into the big
settling again in Michigan. Lake effect lake. It was an exhilerating welcome
snow was still falling, and shifting our home after being away from the Great
belongings nearly four hundred miles was Lakes for nearly 15 years. Munching
becoming ever more daunting. sandwiches and sipping soft drinks, we
As often as possible, I visited Mike’s coasted along, chatting about plans for
shop in South Haven on the shore of our new boat.
Lake Michigan, less than a hour from our By the time we hauled Whitehawk, it
home. The aroma of freshly cut woods – was nearly dark and I was struggling with
especially the sassafras – paint, varnish nagging feelings I couldn’t quite pinpoint.
and canvas, plus nearly finished vessels, I had enjoyed the feel of having a solid
were reminders that spring was near and a CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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BOOKSHELF
The Privateer’s Revenge
By Julian Stockwin
“Stirring stuff, liberally laced with shiploads of salty realism
and superbly written by a master storyteller ...”
Western Morning News
T
HOMAS PAINE KYDD, in
command of His Majesty’s
brig-sloop Teazer, has sunk to
the depths of depression fol-
lowing the tragic loss of his fiancée.
Adding to his despair, the young sea offi-
cer offends Admiral Lockwood and is
ordered to sail Teazer to the Channel
Islands for guard duty.
Stockwin deftly leads
Kydd – and readers –
through stormy emotion-
al seas, culminating in the
loss of his command
when he is brutally
betrayed off the Nor-
mandy coast. Kydd’s
naval career is seemingly
at an end. “I will not have
you as an example to my
fleet,” says Admiral Sir
James Saumarez.
Defamed by treachery
and set ashore, Kydd’s
only solace is the friend-
ship of Nicholas Renzi.
Together they begin to eke out a dismal
existence on Guernsey. Desperation leads
Renzi to become involved in covert opera-
tions, while Kydd accepts the captaincy of
the privateer Bien Heureuse, launching a
new venture.
Even as Kydd takes the privateer to
sea, he has hopes of clearing his name and
restoring his career in the navy he loves.
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After an unsuccessful voyage, investors
pull their financial support and Kydd is
beached once again – until a shady char-
acter from his recent past appears with a
fat purse and a proposition. Once again,
Kydd finds himself engaged in privateer-
ing, this time in command of the wicked
Witch of Sarnia, a low and rakish black-
hulled vessel, built especially for the trade
and fitted out to his specifications.
Stockwin paints vivid word pictures of
early nineteenth-century life ashore and at
sea in the Channel Islands, based on time
spent there in preparation for this latest
chapter in the Kydd saga. This is his
forte. He “lives” in the time about which
he writes, breathing life into his charac-
ters, revealing their world layer by layer.
In The Privateer’s Revenge, Thomas
Kydd suffers the loss of his beloved and
struggles to right himself, while dealing
with a betrayal which seems to be out of
his control or understanding. Kydd’s met-
tle and ability to cope appeals as the
author continues to develop his character.
The Privateer’s Revenge reveals the ter-
ror of Napoleonic France, which threat-
ened England from just across the English
Channel in the early nineteenth century.
Stockwin steeps his tale in surging seas,
powder smoke, and the smell of canvas
and tarred rigging.
US HARDCOVER | 318 PAGES | $24.00
(See UK Collectible Edition on page 16.)
5
 JULIAN STOCKWIN

“Get a life!”
“... I hadn’t the
slightest intention
of putting pen to
paper and writing
a novel, let alone a
series on the
Age of Sail.”

J
ulian Stockwin’s new Thomas Kydd
naval adventure, The Privateer’s
Revenge (published as Treachery in
the United Kingdom), is set in the
Channel Islands. As with the previous
Kydd novels, Stockwin and his literary
partner and wife, Kathy, went on location,
crossing the English Channel to Guernsey
to research the ninth title in the Kydd
series.
The author reflects on his journey as a
writer and Thomas Kydd’s amazing career
in the Royal Navy in this interview with
Quarterdeck:

Julian, tell us how you transitioned into a life of writing
from your past careers.
Up until what seems just a few short years ago, I hadn't
the slightest intention of putting pen to paper and writing
a novel, let alone a series on the Age of Sail. I have my
wife Kathy (an ex-magazine editor-in-chief ) completely to
Julian and Kathy Stockwin in front of a portrait of
Admiral Sir James Samaurez during their trip to
Guernsey to research the new Thomas Paine Kydd
naval adventure, The Privateer’s Revenge (published as
Treachery in the United Kingdom).

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JULIAN STOCKWIN
blame. After having lived in Hong
Kong for about 10 years (where I
had moved into the computer field),
I returned to the UK to head up a
big software project. This was an
extremely high pressure environ-
ment and in 1996, when I finally
signed off on the work, my life was
about to change forever. I sank into
an armchair and Kathy thrust a large
tumbler of whiskey into my hand,
looked me straight in the eye, and
told me in no uncertain terms to
“Get a life!” I guess there’s no
answer to that! Without a single
published work to my name she
somehow knew that inside I was a
writer (and that’s something I didn’t
quite see at the time). She persuaded
me to give away the systems analysis
and take a half-time job at the local
college as a tutor in computing. The
other half of the time I began learn-
ing the nuts and bolts of the craft of
writing.
Once I had agreed to try my
hand at writing there could of
course only be one subject for me –
the sea! And I chose the period that
had long fascinated me – the Great
Age of Fighting Sail – to be the
backdrop for whatever story I chose
to tell, but I needed a focus. This all
crystallized when I came across some
incredible statistics. It seems that in
the bitter French Wars at the end of
the eighteenth and early nineteenth
century, there were, out of the
600,000 or so seamen who served
their King and country during that
time, some 200 who by their own
courage, resolution and brute tenaci-
ty made the awe-
inspiring journey from the fo’c’sle as
common seaman to King’s officer on
the quarterdeck. This meant they
changed from common folk to the
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gentry – becoming a gentleman this
way was no mean feat then! And of
those 200, a total of perhaps 20
became captains of their own ship;
and a miraculous five or so attained
flag rank. We can’t be absolutely sure
of the numbers as records are
incomplete and not a one left any
kind of record of their odyssey, how
they must have felt, what impelled
them to the top, but I knew that
there I had my story. I’d write about
one of those on his life journey from
common seaman to admiral.
I have sometimes been asked
“... many readers
have told me how
much they enjoyed
this early focus on
the common man
... and the oppor-
tunity to grow and
learn with Kydd.”
whether I felt regret at not having
become a writer earlier in my life,
but I think the answer is no.
Coming to writing later in life has
meant that I’ve had varied and rich
experiences all around the world,
and in a number of careers, all of
which I can now draw on to varying
degrees when I write. Perhaps most
importantly I have been both a sea-
man and an officer in the Navy, and
these very different perspectives cer-
tainly help inform Kydd’s life jour-
ney.
Your current book, The Privateer’s
Revenge is the ninth in the Kydd
series. As you’re finishing the next
book in the series (working title
Invasion), how do you look back on
this “early” part of your career?
I still have to pinch myself some-
times to remind me that I am a
published author, not just of one
book, but nine. When my tenth
book comes out next year, I will
have over a million words in print!
Looking back on the early part of
my writing career of course I can see
some things in the books that I
might do differently now, but on the
whole I am proud of my creations.
Kydd and Renzi seem so real to me
(and have been so since the very
start) that they inhabit a sort of par-
allel universe.
When I first started writing I
aimed to do something that other
writers in the genre had not done. I
wanted to take the perspective of the
common seaman as my point of
view, instead of the more usual offi-
cer shouting orders from behind on
the quarterdeck. I had always felt
that justice had not been done to
the memory of the eighteenth cen-
tury seaman, and people’s percep-
tions were too encrusted with myths
and stereotypes. The real men at sea
in those days were neither saint nor
sinner, noble nor brutish, they were
common foremast jacks who rose to
the occasion, and to me were the
real heroes in those turbulent times.
Obviously my central character Tom
Kydd has now moved on and
become an officer, but it is very
gratifying that many readers have
told me how much they enjoyed this
early focus on the common man, so
to speak, and the opportunity as a
7
JULIAN STOCKWIN
reader to grow and learn with Kydd.
Can you talk about the development
of the Kydd character? As you began
writing the novels, you must have
imagined some sort of career trajec-
tory for him. Have you “stuck to the
script” with Kydd, or has his career
taken any unexpected turns?
With my computer background, I
started with a young man’s life at the
beginning of his career at sea and
then flow-charted out a number of
books to cover his life and eventual-
ly becoming an admiral. There were
some things I had to be aware of,
such as the length of time necessary
to serve before it was possible to
move up to the next rank (or rate)
in the Sea Service. I am also very
particular about following the his-
torical record so I could not have
him in every fleet action as this
would just be unrealistic. On the
whole I have stuck with the script,
as you put it, but the deeper I have
got into the research the more I have
become amazed at just how rich this
period is for an author's imagina-
tion. My original conception of the
series was that it would be eleven
books, that number is now revised
upwards, considerably.
Tell us about your research mission
for The Privateer's Revenge
(Treachery)?
The Privateer’s Revenge was pub-
lished simultaneously in the US and
UK in October. Kathy and I spent
a most enjoyable two weeks on loca-
tion research in the Channel Islands
for this book. I am a “visile” in that
when I write I need to be able to see
things in my mind’s eye. Also, I feel
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there are certain intangibles about a
place – the smells, the colors – you
can only really get from actually
being there.
I found the Channel Islands fasci-
nating. Due to their geographical
position, they have close links to
both France and England. The capi-
tal of Guernsey, St Peter Port, retains
much of its Georgian character, with
splendid residences, many built by
successful privateers or merchants of
Kydd’s day. And the ancient castle of
Mont Orgueil, which features in the
book, still lies at the head of Gorey
“... I started with a
young man’s life at
the beginning of
his career at sea
and then flow-
charted out a
number of books to
cover his life ...”
Bay in Jersey. As fiercely independ-
ent as ever, to the inhabitants of the
Channel Islands the loyal toast will
always be not to the Queen, but to
the Duke of Normandy (actually
one and the same)!
In addition to finishing a new Kydd
novel, you are in the process of writ -
ing Stockwin’s Maritime Miscellany.
What can you tell us about this
nonfiction work?
In the course of my research during
the writing of the Kydd series I con-
tinued to come across fascinating
material that for one reason or
another I could not incorporate into
those books. I just squirreled it
away, along with other snippets that
I had found over the years, even
before I started writing. I guess this
is what attracted me to the Age of
Sail in the first place. It really was
such a colorful period!
This collection of data continued
to grow and Kathy suggested that it
would make a wonderful miscellany.
My agent Carole Blake agreed, too,
and I was delighted when Ebury
Press, the largest publisher of general
non-fiction in the UK, commis-
sioned the miscellany. In the course
of discussing the work with my edi-
tor at Ebury, Carey Smith, we decid-
ed to widen the project to include
the period from the heroic Voyages
of Discovery in the fifteenth century
through the iconic Napoleonic wars
to the glorious era of the grey-
hounds of the sea, the clipper ships.
We also decided to go with black
and white line drawings, many con-
temporary to the time, to illustrate
the work. It’s been great fun work-
ing on this with Kathy and Carey,
but I have to be very disciplined
with my time as you can imagine.
Of all your Kydd novels, The
Admiral’s Daughter generated some
discontent among readers, albeit
very small in number. What caused
this reaction? Have you heard from
any of these readers since the publi-
cation of The Privateer’s Revenge
(Treachery )?
I have to tell you that The Admiral’s
Daughter was a difficult book for me
to write, dealing as it does with a
JULIAN STOCKWIN
terrible personal loss for Kydd.
However in the context of the series
I felt it was important. As happens
in real life, I wanted to show that
things do not always go smoothly.
Sometimes people are thrown a real
curve ball, and it is how they
respond to personal tragedy and
hardship that makes them interest-
ing human beings. A few readers
said they felt that Kydd should have
stayed at sea just fighting the
French, that women were an unnec-
essary distraction to the story.
However I have always said I would
never write formulaic fiction, I
wanted to be true both to the times
and to the way sailors really lived in
those times. Mariners did come
ashore, and they did have relation-
ships from time to time, some per-
manent, some transient.
One reader recently got in touch
with me and said this:
“I thoroughly enjoyed The
Admiral’s Daughter right up to the
last chapter, but the end left me feel-
ing shocked and disappointed. I felt
let down by the death of Kydd’s
sweetheart. I spent the next year
hoping things would get back on
track, but concerned that the series
had taken a turn in a direction that
offered little hope for the future. I
should have had more faith in you.
Treachery put Kydd right back on
track. I was thrilled by every twist
and turn of the plot. The way mis-
fortune turned to vindication was
marvelous. Having read Treachery I
reread The Admiral’s Daughter and
this time, it was a totally different
read. Knowing that Kydd and Renzi
would go on to rise above their cir-
cumstances put the whole tragedy
into a new perspective. I now realise
that the ending of The Admiral’s
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Daughter was a brilliant and brave
stroke. I almost feel I should apolo-
gise to you for doubting your vision.
Thank you for creating this wonder-
ful series. I cannot tell you how
much I am enjoying it.”
You have said that The Privateer’s
Revenge (Treachery) is the first title
in a trilogy within the Kydd series.
What prompted this idea? What can
you share with us about the two
titles to come?
When I started digging deep into
“... digging deep
into the research
for the build-up to
... the Battle of
Trafalgar, I real-
ized there was
more than one
story there.”
the research for the build-up to the
defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of
Trafalgar I realized there was more
than one story there; in fact I felt it
was a trilogy. In The Privateer’s
Revenge (Treachery) we first see Kydd
becoming really aware of the size of
the French menace. Then in
Invasion (book 10) he becomes cen-
trally involved in the activities to
counter the fearsome invasion plans
of Napoleon. Finally, Victory (book
11) deals with the culmination of all
this, and tells the story of one of the
grandest combat spectacles in histo-
ry, the Battle of Trafalgar.
With Invasion completed and soon
to be in the hands of your publish-
ers, what are your plans for research -
ing the next book in the series,
Victory ?
Victory will in many ways be one of
the most challenging to date. It is
the story of the Battle of Trafalgar.
In early December, Kathy and I will
travel to Portsmouth where I have
been given permission to have spe-
cial access to HMS Victory. Of
course I already know the ship very
well, but soon I will be familiar with
every nook and cranny. As well, I
will be consulting various experts
and documentary sources in the
libraries, museums and archives in
Portsmouth.
You were recently presented with a
brilliant scale model of HMS
Teazer , Thomas Kydd’s first com-
mand. How did this come about?
Where is the ship presently berthed?
About a year ago I was contacted by
a reader called John Thompson,
who told me how much he loved
the series. We exchanged several
emails and he then made the incred-
ible offer to build me a model of
whichever ship in the series I would
like. After I got over the shock of
such a generous gesture the choice
was obvious: Teazer, Kydd’s first
command. John kept a build log
during the course of the project,
which is on our website:
www.julianstockwin.com.
It was truly fascinating to watch the
9
JULIAN STOCKWIN
progress of the model from a few
flimsy pieces of wood to the stun-
ning creation John presented me
with in October. In total, he put in
over 850 hours on the ship!
I was approached by the head librar-
ian of Devon’s newest library, at
Ivybridge, who asked whether I
would consider loaning the model
for the official opening by Her
Royal Highness Princess Anne? It
was a great honour, and on the day I
presented Princess Anne with a
signed hardback of Command,
which of course is the book in
which Kydd first meets the lovely
Teazer.
The model is now in our home,
taking pride of place in the dining
room, possibly the most nautical
room in the house (my study British modeller John Thompson built this scale model of Kydd's first command,
excepted) as there are many sea the little brig-sloop HMS Teazer, and recently presented it to Julian and Kathy
prints by Derek Gardner, John Stockwin. Visit the Stockwin website (www.julianstockwin.com) for more pho-
tos and Thompson’s project log.
Chancellor and Geoff Hunt adorn-
ing the walls.

Is there anything else you would like Win a Complete Set of

to share with our readers?

Just to say how very privileged I feel

Kydd Naval Adventures
to be able to do what I do. When I
first started out on this literary jour- For a chance to win one of two
ney it seemed so daunting. Could I complete sets of Thomas Kydd
write one book, let alone a series? naval adventure trade paper-
Now it is hard to imagine not writ- backs (US editions) to date
ing about Tom Kydd and Nicholas (plus The Privateer’s Revenge
Renzi. in hardback), answer the fol-
It always gives me great pleasure lowing question: In what year
to get emails from readers and I did McBooks Press publish its
answer each one personally. So first book?
please do get in touch if you have To enter the contest, send
any comments on the books your answer via email to:
(Julian@JulianStockwin.com). Bosun@JulianStockwin.com.
And why not enter the contest for a The deadline is December 15,
complete set of the Kydd books to 2008. Winners will be notified
date? There are two sets up for grabs by email.
(see box at right)!
10 QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com
 MICHAEL AYE

The Fighting Anthonys

“My intent is to
follow the war
years from 1775 to
1783, with at least
M
ichael Aye, a retired United States Navy officer
with combat service aboard destroyers during
one book covering the Vietnam War, continues the saga of The
Fighting Anthonys and their service to the
King in Barracuda, the third title in the series.
each year.” The author reveals his plans for The Fighting Anthonys in
this interview with Quarterdeck:

Your current novel, Barracuda , is the

third title in the saga of The Fighting
Anthonys, and takes place during the
American Revolution. How far into
the future do you plan to follow the
Anthonys?

My intent is to follow the war years

from 1775 to 1783, with at least one
book covering each year. However, I
intend to do two books for the years
1778 to 1780, when a lot of events
took place with France, and later
Spain, entering the war as allies to
the newly united Colonies. I intend
to continue with Admiral Lord
Anthony and Gabe as the main char-
acters, but other characters will come
Michael Aye with wife, Pat. and go, playing key parts in each
book. I have named characters in
honor of real-life people, but do not base any character on an
actual person. I would not invade their privacy by doing such
a thing.
Baseball great Ray Knight, who was the MVP for the 1986
World Series Champion New York Mets, and his wife, Hall
QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com 11
MICHAEL AYE
of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez, are
characters in Barracuda. These won-
derful people have been very gener-
ous and supportive of my grandson,
who was paralyzed in a four-wheeler
accident a year ago. God truly holds
a place in heaven for them.
My next book, which will be
titled SeaHorse, will have two new
characters. One is based on a friend
whose ancestor was a Scottish Lord
(his Ragland Castle still stands
today). The other is based on a
World War II vet who served aboard
a crash boat named SeaHorse in the
Pacific – a hero in his own right.
Andy Gunnells, the sailing master
in Barracuda, is a pharmaceutical
company representative who calls on
me. With a name like Gunnells,
how could I not include him?
How did you select the historical
time period against which the first
three titles in the series are set?
At the time the series was started
nobody was writing about that peri-
od. Also, it’s a time in which I’ve
always been fascinated, by the dar-
ing and willingness of our forefa-
thers to take on an overwhelming
power and risk all that they held
dear to be free men, to not compro-
mise their beliefs or principles and
to stand fast for what they believed
to be fair and just treatment.
Being a history buff, I have stud-
ied the period to the point I’ve
become quite familiar with it. I’ve
numerous reference books in my
library dealing with both Colonial
and British viewpoints. Novelist and
maritime historian James Nelson has
written several non-fiction texts
about the era and I’ve been surprised
how closely our interest lies. I would
12 QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com
like to say that while my books are
written from a British point of view,
the main characters have doubts
about the political views of the pow-
ers in London – not unlike some of
the feelings circulating in this coun-
try today. While our main characters
have doubts they do fight for the
flag and do their duty as called
upon.
How important is historical credibil -
“... it’s a time in
which I’ve always
been fascinated, by
the daring and
willingness of our
forefathers to take
on an overwhelm-
ing power ... ”
ity in creating engaging fiction for
readers?
Very much so. I try to write about
the little known facts so as to not be
repetitive of other works. I have
been known to move events upwards
or backwards to coincide with my
storyline, but overall I try to remain
historically accurate. I also try to
add a historical note that ties the
true events and my story together.
I’ve had numerous emails from read-
ers telling me they like this and feel
it adds a special touch.
When you are working on a novel,
do you find yourself falling into the
past?
Yes, much more than I can express
and often to the point my wife has
to break my reverie. I have written
several poems at such times and they
are on my website at
www.michaelaye.com.
One is entitled Battle Fatigue:
BATTLE FATIGUE
© Michael Aye
I take a breath and look around me,
I’m grateful to be alive.
The guns, they’re all silent now,
But, the smoke still burns my eyes.
There’s a heaviness within me,
It takes a heavy toll.
It burns like rum going down,
To an empty, aching soul.
How did you research Barracuda ?
Some of the research was done dur-
ing a fishing trip to St. Augustine,
Florida. The rest was done via my
reference library and online. The
history of Florida is pretty interest-
ing, and I’d recommend the fishing
to anybody.
Do you find your personal experi -
ence serving in the United States
Navy influences your writing?
I don’t think I could write a sea
novel without having my experi-
ences in the Navy to reflect upon.
The rigidity of the watch, the struc-
ture, discipline and organization of
shipboard life is something you
don’t forget. When I write about the
sea I want the reader to feel the
MICHAEL AYE
emotions I felt when facing a situa-
tion. The desperate sinking feeling NAVAL FICTION
that grips your soul when you man
your battle station and it’s not a
drill; the unease of riding out a hur- 3 - Barracuda
ricane or facing any of nature’s ele-
ments. Being on water rations, tast- By Michael Aye
ing food that freshness has long
deserted. The camaraderie of telling Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and
sea stories or smoking your pipe on his brother, Lieutenant Gabriel
the stern with the sun setting on the Anthony, fighting for the Crown
horizon. I could never write of these during the American Revolution,
things had I not experienced them find adventure, daring pirates, and
firsthand. a ghost ship!
The ghost ship Barracuda plies
How important is your reference the waters off the coast of Saint
library to your writing? Augustine, Florida in 1777. The
Barracuda takes no prize and leaves
Very important. While I’ve visited no one alive. Tracking down the
most of the places I write about, the Barracuda is only one of the many
way it is now and how it was in challenges and battles the brothers
1776 is totally different. Boston, face when assigned to protect
Massachusetts is a prime example. Florida Loyalists.
So is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and
Charleston, South Carolina. By
US TRADE PAPERBACK | 233 PAGES | $16.95
viewing maps of the era it’s easier to
understand how the lay of the land Also available ...
influenced events. I have prints of
antique maps, books on weaponry,
Revolutionary War medicine, cross
references that deal with uniforms or
in some cases lack thereof. This is in
addition to my many books dealing
with various ships, shipboard life,
navigation and sail handling. All of
them are invaluable in my writing.

What can you tell our readers about

Barracuda , without spoiling the
plot?

It deals with the American 1 - The Reaper

Revolution and British East Florida. US TRADE PAPERBACK | 200 PAGES | $16.95
Lord Anthony’s squadron finds itself
balancing the intricacies of protect- 2 - HMS SeaWolf
ing St. Augustine from Colonial US TRADE PAPERBACK | 276 PAGES | $16.95
invasion by both land and sea. It
QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com 13
MICHAEL AYE
also depicts Spanish settlers who
decided to stay in St. Augustine
when the British traded Cuba
(Havana) for Florida, some of whom
were believed to be spies. A number
of real persons from that era add
authenticity. Barracuda features
familiar characters so that readers
feel at home even as new characters
are introduced. Gabe rekindles his
love life. The war, now three years
old, is starting to wear on men and
ships. I have tried to intersperse
action, adventure, romance, humor
and, at times, sadness.
The SeaHorse is the next title in the
series. Where will this book take
Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony?
The book will open with a ship-
board action. This will take place in
Barbados. Meanwhile, Lord
Anthony has taken his squadron
back to England for a much needed
refit and R&R. Gabe will have time
at home, as a surprise awaits readers.
However, the war continues and the
need for Lord Anthony’s leadership
is greater than ever. Summoned to
the Admiralty, he is given a new
flagship, and is sent once more to
deal with troubles in the West
Indies. Sir Joseph Ragland will be
introduced as will as a new master,
an old salt named George Jepson.
An old but not forgotten nemesis
also makes an appearance.
Do you have other writing projects
underway in addition to The
Fighting Anthonys?
I have just completed the first book
in a planned trilogy called Malachi
Mundy, Book One, Birth of a Nation.
The main character is an American
14 QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com
privateer. It is a Christian novel.
Malachi Mundy once commanded a
brig in the British Navy during the
Seven Year War, or as we Colonials
called it, The French and Indian
Wars. During this time Mundy was
able to build up enough prize
money to purchase a plantation near
Beaufort, South Carolina. Here he
married and had six sons (named
after my grandsons). He loses his
wife to illness and faces raising his
children without their mother, with
the help of an aunt and free blacks.
When the Revolutionary War breaks
“... it’s a time in
which I’ve always
been fascinated by
the daring and
willingness of our
forefathers to take
on an overwhelm-
ing power ... ”
out Malachi seizes the opportunity
to help furnish the Colonial army
with much needed war supplies,
while at the same time putting
together a great sum of money to
secure the future for his boys and
the plantation, Three Notch. All of
this is done amid a spiritual struggle
with regard to the war and taking
another’s life. I have included char-
acters from The Fighting Anthonys
and Isaac Biddlecomb from Jim
Nelson’s series, Revolution at Sea,
(with Jim’s permission of course). I
would like to thank Jim for his
encouragement and words of wis-
dom.
The new series does not yet have
a publisher. However, the manu-
script has had wonderful critiques.
This book was written to fill what I
perceive is a void in available fiction
for the male sector in the Christian
market. I’m also writing it as a trib-
ute to my mom. She said after read-
ing The Reaper, “It’s good, but how
about writing something for the
Lord?”
Is there anything else you would like
to share with our readers?
I would like to thank the readers for
supporting me by purchasing The
Fighting Anthonys. All proceeds
from the series go to my grandson’s
trust for spinal care.
I appreciate all the wonderful
emails I get and I will continue to
answer them the same day if possi-
ble. Thus far, I’ve received emails
from the United States, Canada,
Mexico and Great Britain. I’d also
like to thank my publisher, Boson
Books, for taking a chance on me
and Age of Sail. Nobody could have
a better group to work with.
I’d also like to thank Carrie Skalla
for doing such a wonderful job with
the cover art on Barracuda, her first.
Hopefully we will collaborate on
many more.
Finally, I’d like to thank Alex
Skutt and the team at McBooks
Press for continuing to bring the
Age of Sail to loyal readers, even in
these difficult economic times.
Visit Michael Aye online at
www.michaelaye.com.
RECENTLY LAUNCHED
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BY GEORGE!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
hull underneath us and I liked the roominess of the
yawl. A Whitehall, I figured, would be much more ten-
der and that was beginning to bother me, anticipating
grandchildren aboard. On the drive home, my thoughts
turned to a previous boat we had owned, an 18-foot
gaff-rigged, cat-ketch designed by former Mystic
Seaport naval architect Rob Pittaway. It had been built
for us by Mike in the summer of 1996, but had never
really been satisfactory for the small Iowa lakes. It had
been designed for coastal sailing in New England. A
couple of years back, we had traded the vessel – called a
“Robin” by her designer – for a smaller craft better suit-
ed to conditions on the prairie. The Robin, I reasoned,
had many of the same characteristics as Whitehawk, not
the least of which was safety and stability on the big
lake.
The next morning, I phoned Mike. Trying to sound
nonchalant, I said something like, “By the way, whatev-
er happened to the Robin?” Some months earlier, the
drummer from a 1970s rock band had made overtures
to Mike about buying her. There was a slight pause at
the other end of the line (as my heart started to sink),
and then Mike said, “The deal fell through ... she’s sit-
ting in a barn near here, and ...” I quickly interrupted,
not even trying to disguise my elation: “What kind of a
deal could we make in lieu of a new boat? I think she’s
just what we want ... built for the big lake.” Suddenly,
we were both on the same page, stumbling over each
other’s words, wondering why this hadn’t occurred to
either of us sooner.
A couple of days later, the Robin was sitting in
Mike’s yard, outside the shop, as we sluiced away the
layers of barn dust and dirt. She sure looked good to
me. It wasn’t long before the white lapstrake hull with
the bright blue sheerstrake was rigged and ready for a
summer of sailing. Over the next three months, we
nearly sailed the bottom off her, dropping everything at
a moment’s notice on good days. When breezes of 10-
20 knots were forecast, Mike would drive to the beach
to check out sailing conditions. Last summer they were
favorable more than not. Minutes after planting his feet
in the sugar-white sand and assessing conditions, he’d
phone to inquire as to how quickly I could be there.
One Saturday morning in August, with autumn on
the horizon, the call came with a report of southerly
winds of 15-20 knots, gusting a bit above that range. By
QUARTERDECK | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 | 1-888-266-5711 | www.mcbooks.com
10:00 AM we had the southerly breeze at our backs as
the Robin surged along on three- to five- foot waves,
with an occasional rogue topping six feet, as we jour-
neyed along the Lake Michigan dunes from South
Haven to Saugatauk some 20 miles north. These were
the conditions for which the Robin was designed. Three
hours later, we came about and were soon sliding along
in the lee of the breakwater, looking forward to lunch
and a rendezvous with Mike’s wife, Sue, who would
meet us with the trailer. Although this wasn’t our last
outing of the summer, it was the one that will be most
remembered as we sit in front of a fire this winter while
the snow blankets our little bit of Michigan.
As for the Robin, she’s snugged down in Mike’s shop
as I write. Her bronze hardware and seats have been
temporarily removed. A new flat cockpit sole has been
built and installed, replacing the floorboards that had
followed the vessels contours. Soon she’ll have fresh var-
nish and paint, along with new rigging, and a new,
lighter hollow mizzen mast. After a dozen years, includ-
ing almost two in a barn, she deserves a refitting and
crisp livery. The final touch will be a pair of hard-carved
nameboards, with her original name: Jane Ann, for our
only daughter.
George Jepson
Editor’s Note: As November winds blow and leaves continue to
drop, there is snow in the air. I am pleased as punch to be back
at the helm of Quarterdeck and look forward to bringing word
of exciting new books and interviews with the talented folks who
write them in the months to come.
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