Here is where we all meet to discuss market trends, book revues etc
ENJOY !!!
http://newhistoricalfictionwritersgroup.blogspot.com/
Thursday 15 May 2008
Tuesday 13 May 2008
A sister website for this blog
Complete with a picture of Michael Fane appearing before Judge George Jeffreys we invite you to visit http://www.newhistoricalfictionbooks.co.uk/
There you find pages for Authors to add content about their own publications. I hope you like it.
There you find pages for Authors to add content about their own publications. I hope you like it.
Monday 12 May 2008
Thursday 1 May 2008
Where to Buy 'The Adventures of Michael Fane'
Because the novel is selling world wide the best bet is to simply search the title on line and see the best prices available. Hand signed copies are available - just e-mail me at ctabuk@operamail.com
That takes you to the weblog and from there you can contact me directly.
Or you can copy and paste that e-mail address.Monday 28 April 2008
Michael Fane
Now has his own blog!!
http://michaelfane.blogspot.com/
So as Michael becomes famous you can reach him here!!
http://michaelfane.blogspot.com/
So as Michael becomes famous you can reach him here!!
Thursday 24 April 2008
'The Adventures of Michael Fane' by David Castle and why to read it
When I wrote 'The Adventures of Michael FaneI had the original by the wonderful W.Bourne Cooke very much in mind. The copy I worked from had been given to my Grandfather at Ducklington Sunday School in February 1900. As a child I read it, as a teenager I read it. Although penned in 'Olde English' with all the 'betwixts' 'while ever anon's' I found the story line just so fascinating. I asked my wife Leslie to read it, and she gave up! Which is totally unlike her, but the story did take a long time to get to the 'nitty gritty'.
If I read an original James Bond book I know the story line will be set back in the 20's and I know that a few days reading will be required. Yet when the Movie is watched it takes maybe two hours to view. And that is how I write 'The Michael Fane' series.
No over elaborations, no stopping to take in the views, or to describe a meal being eaten or the ingredients. Just a simple 'We ate and discussed the day' followed most likely by a sword fight!
I write as per a film script, I'll take you from St Malo's Port to Holland in a few seconds - I will not describe each judder of the ship, or the tides or how pretty the sunset is. I write 'adventure', the characters have almost become part of my daily life - I introduced Hans Van Den Bos as real character, his 'swagger' is based on the wonderful writings of Michael Moorcock and his character 'Huillam D'Averc' - I am lucky enough to post with Michael in his forum and I am learning a great deal more there.
Indeed I base some of my format on the 'Chronicles of Count Brass'. Michael takes you from one adventure to another in the 'blink of an eye' - I think that is important.
The hero Michael Fane is a very naive young man, his Father Gilbert spent no time in teaching Michael the 'ways of the world' - he knew nothing of making love, so in the final few pages his comrade 'Captain Blood' introduces him to two beautiful girls from the Isle of Corsica and Michael has the time of his life!!
Michael is a 'natural born swordsman' he learns quickly, first he is taught by William Derbyshire, then by Daniel Defoe who was a 'Soldier of Fortune' at the time of the Monmouth Rebellion he then meets with the wonderful character 'Simon Lovelock'. Simon himself had been taught by O'Carroll, an Irishman who hails from the village of 'Swords' - I could not believe my good fortune when I researched Ireland and found that village name!
The sword 'Churchill' is a specially adapted Rapier that enables the quillions and crossguard to slip down the blade allowing the swordsman to switch hands if one arm becomes injured. I own two Soligen Eepees and I got the idea from them!
In book 3 to be published later this year (2009) Michael discovers why William Duke of Orange had him deliver a special package to King Louis XIV as part of the trade for the life of James Duke of Monmouth who was in all probabilty the real 'Man in the Iron Mask'.
Here is a passage from the new book
‘The’ Royal weapons of ‘Good and Evil’ – Excalibur (Caledfwich) was in fact the sword of evil, given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake after he broke his own sword whilst fighting King Cunedda. Arthur had sworn a curse upon Cunedda and had fled to the lake where the sword awaited him; he returned to where King Cunedda was bewitched under Arthur’s curse and cleaved him in two. The other was the blade known as Caladbolg - often referred to as ‘The sword in the Stone’. Excalibur was in fact not Caladbolg.
As you can see, I try to paint a different version of Arthur and those people who have read the draft find my research 'most interesting'!
If I read an original James Bond book I know the story line will be set back in the 20's and I know that a few days reading will be required. Yet when the Movie is watched it takes maybe two hours to view. And that is how I write 'The Michael Fane' series.
No over elaborations, no stopping to take in the views, or to describe a meal being eaten or the ingredients. Just a simple 'We ate and discussed the day' followed most likely by a sword fight!
I write as per a film script, I'll take you from St Malo's Port to Holland in a few seconds - I will not describe each judder of the ship, or the tides or how pretty the sunset is. I write 'adventure', the characters have almost become part of my daily life - I introduced Hans Van Den Bos as real character, his 'swagger' is based on the wonderful writings of Michael Moorcock and his character 'Huillam D'Averc' - I am lucky enough to post with Michael in his forum and I am learning a great deal more there.
Indeed I base some of my format on the 'Chronicles of Count Brass'. Michael takes you from one adventure to another in the 'blink of an eye' - I think that is important.
The hero Michael Fane is a very naive young man, his Father Gilbert spent no time in teaching Michael the 'ways of the world' - he knew nothing of making love, so in the final few pages his comrade 'Captain Blood' introduces him to two beautiful girls from the Isle of Corsica and Michael has the time of his life!!
Michael is a 'natural born swordsman' he learns quickly, first he is taught by William Derbyshire, then by Daniel Defoe who was a 'Soldier of Fortune' at the time of the Monmouth Rebellion he then meets with the wonderful character 'Simon Lovelock'. Simon himself had been taught by O'Carroll, an Irishman who hails from the village of 'Swords' - I could not believe my good fortune when I researched Ireland and found that village name!
The sword 'Churchill' is a specially adapted Rapier that enables the quillions and crossguard to slip down the blade allowing the swordsman to switch hands if one arm becomes injured. I own two Soligen Eepees and I got the idea from them!
In book 3 to be published later this year (2009) Michael discovers why William Duke of Orange had him deliver a special package to King Louis XIV as part of the trade for the life of James Duke of Monmouth who was in all probabilty the real 'Man in the Iron Mask'.
The story reveals King Louis's fascination with the occult and if any of you doubt the existence of 'Excalibur' then if you search hard enough you will find that Richard the Lionheart owned the 'damaged beyond repair' haft and pommel of the famed sword and traded it for lands in Brittany much to his Father's (Henry II) annoyance.
'Captain Blood's Pirates' is released during the summer of 2009
Here is a passage from the new book
‘The’ Royal weapons of ‘Good and Evil’ – Excalibur (Caledfwich) was in fact the sword of evil, given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake after he broke his own sword whilst fighting King Cunedda. Arthur had sworn a curse upon Cunedda and had fled to the lake where the sword awaited him; he returned to where King Cunedda was bewitched under Arthur’s curse and cleaved him in two. The other was the blade known as Caladbolg - often referred to as ‘The sword in the Stone’. Excalibur was in fact not Caladbolg.
As you can see, I try to paint a different version of Arthur and those people who have read the draft find my research 'most interesting'!
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