Books, and reasons to write them

A brand-new anthology in support of The Reading Agency, plus a Fiona Forsyth book review, and news of my latest book.

I’m lucky enough to have some lovely friends among the writing community. One of them is Alistair Forrest (more about Alistair’s work below). I’ve been mulling over something he wrote a couple of weeks ago, in his own Substack (recommended: Not in the Script): “Are we born just to pay the bills and die? Or can we writers make a difference with stories that help fashion a future to be proud of?” As a writer of historical fiction myself, with occasional forays into SFF, I’ve never really thought of my writing having any influence on the future. I may have reasoned that my efforts to better the world ended when I left teaching. However, one of my readers (a lovely lady named Helen) left this comment about my book The Loyal Centurion on Goodreads: “Once again…reminding us that the qualities of good — and evil — have existed throughout the centuries.”

Thank you, Helen, for summarising why I write historical fiction. It’s to bring the people of ancient times into our own world; to indicate how like us they were; and show that their battles, despairs and triumphs are the same as ours. It’s to demonstrate that good and bad have always existed in human society; and that the effort to live a good life continues to be worth the struggle.

I hope that doesn’t sound either trite or grandiose. I think it’s worth going back to basics to explore why we write, and why we read what others have written. There — sermon over!

That leads me neatly into a bit of a trumpet blast. The Ring, the historical fiction anthology I’ve been a part of, is now on Amazon for pre-order. It publishes on 1st May, £2.99 for Kindle ($3.61 for US friends). The paperback edition will follow shortly. As you can see, the cover (designed by the fabulous Ian Bristow) is so spectacular, you’ll want to buy copies for all the short story lovers you know.

The authors involved have united varying historical backgrounds by using the theme of a ring — Fortuna’s gold ring — passed down through the generations and over oceans. But fortune can be fickle, as our stories show in different ways. The anthology includes ten stories by writers at the top of their game: Alistair Forrest (Roman BC); Fiona Forsyth (who edited the book, as well as contributing an Ovid story — Augustan period); Alistair Tosh (post-Roman); Graham Brack (17th century), Eleanor Swift-Hook (17th century); Mark Turnbull (English Civil War); Maggie Richell-Davies (18th century); Robert Bordas (turn of 20th century); Val Penny (contemporary crime). The book takes us right up to the 21st century, and brings the ring home. I’m in the mix too, giving my own dark slant on the well-known Roman Britain Barates-and-Regina story.

So a guaranteed terrific read. But that’s not the best of it. From the start of this project, we intended to donate all proceeds to a UK-wide charity supporting reading and libraries. We quickly settled on the perfect choice: The Reading Agency. This is what they say about their work: “The Reading Agency is a UK charity that inspires social and personal change through the proven power of reading. We work with individuals of all ages, communities and trusted partners to share the transformative benefits of reading for happy, healthy and thriving lives. In the UK:

• 1 in 6 (8.5 million) adults struggle to read

• 1 in 4 children in England cannot read well by the age of 11

This limits life chances and choices.”

Much of their work is in partnership with public libraries. And if there are two things authors are passionate about, it’s fostering reading, and supporting libraries.

So please take look at The Ring. Support The Reading Agency by buying it, if you can, and share the link with other readers who might enjoy it. We’re hoping to raise lots of money for the charity. All proceeds go straight to The Reading Agency.

Book reviews

Death and the Poet by Fiona Forsyth

What a joy it is to contemplate the pleasure of a new Ovid mystery! Author Fiona Forsyth doesn’t disappoint, in this second outing for Rome’s most famous poet-turned-sleuth.

This time Ovid, joined by his lush retired centurion pal, Avitius, finds himself hunting down the truth behind the death of a vegetable stallholder. The plot thickens when a suspect who vehemently denies culpability suddenly changes his mind.

In the series opener, set during Ovid’s recorded time of exile in Tomis on the Black Sea, we met his charming circle of friends, mainly innkeepers. Quel surprise! This time machinations in Rome, involving the elderly Augustus and his wife Livia, entail the addition into the story of Ovid’s long-suffering wife, Fabia. What a sagacious daughter of Rome she turns out to be.

The denouement is satisfyingly twisty, with the very final word of the book setting up the next book enticingly. The only problem now will be waiting while the author writes it!

For an immersive, engaging and erudite trip to a fascinating Roman province, you can’t do better than this book. Enjoy!

And just to prove I don’t only read books my talented friends, honourable mentions this month go to:

The Well of Saint Nobody, by Neil Jordan

Somewhat diminished by the seemingly abrupt switch change of genre halfway through, from faintly fantastical Irish lyricism to full-on gritty urban noir, this outing by the film-maker is nevertheless thought-provoking and twisty enough to be a good read.

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron

Lovers of the Slow Horses series won’t need me to recommend this associated thriller. Stunning — of course. Entertaining — definitely! I was privileged to see Mick Herron speak at a wonderfully relaxed and cosy event near Oxford recently. Very few blockbuster authors can be as approachable and down-to-earth as Mick. He’s deserving of every accolade that comes his way. He’s also a leading organiser of the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival, at Harrogate in July. I’m going this year, and it will be such a privilege to meet him again there.

My News

As well as lovely afternoons spent chatting and signing books with University of the Third Age, Evesham, and The Network in the exquisite black-and-white village of Weobley, Herefordshire, I’m still buzzing from last weekend at Avoncroft Museum’s International Living History Festival. Such fun to see English Civil War soldiers saluting WW2 GIs!, and multiple Glorianas sweeping by in tandem!

With the Vicus re-enactors; selling books with mediaevalist Kate Innes; the replica Roman shoes that came JIT.

• And finally … I’m pleased to let you know that the finished draft of my fifth Roman Britain mystery, The Silver Mirror, has now gone off to my super publishers, Sapere Books. It also in the hands of beta readers, who I hope will enjoy their sneak preview of the first in the new Otto Cornelius series. I don’t yet have a publication date for this first outing for Otto and his friends from Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter Roman city). As soon as I have an inkling, you’ll be the first to know.

  The new series will eventually alternate with the continuing Quintus Valerius books, of which the fourth, The Bath Curse, is written and raring to go. There will be more announcements this summer and autumn, so now might be a good time to catch up on the existing Quintus books.

  I’m away now for a few weeks with my exhausted First Reader, AKA husband Peter. Not that much of a rest, as I’m dragging him round Pompeii and Herculaneum. More on that in my next newsletter!

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All my books, short stories, non-fiction articles, and my Youtube channel can be found on Linktree.