Friday 29 June 2012

NEW BOOK - The Battle of Otford 776

A much overlooked Dark Age battle brought to life. Fought between the Kingdom of Mercia and the Kingdom of Kent, this was a surprise victory for Kent due to careful tactical arrangements.

The battle fought at Otford in Kent pitched King Egbert II of Kent against a much larger invading army of Mercians. The invaders sought to outflank the main Kentish defences at Rochester by crossing the unguarded ford at Otford, but Egbert got there first and the two armies clashed in the waters of the River Darent.

The battle was fought between armies that rode to war, but fought on foot in the typically English battle formation known as the shield wall. Fighting with spear, sword and shield the outnumbered men of Kent held the Mercians at the ford, then launched a carefully judged flank attack that tumbled the enemy back in confusion and won an unexpected victory against the odds.

In this book historian Rupert Matthews outlines the reasons for the war and gives detailed notes on English weaponry and tactics of the time before describing the events of the battle itself and its aftermath.


About the Author
Rupert Matthews has written over 150 books for different publishers, achieving significant sales in a variety of markets both in the UK and abroad. His works have been translated into 19 languages and have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Rupert has been a freelance writer for 20 years, working in-house at a major book publisher before going freelance.

Buy your Kindle copy HERE
Buy other ebook formats HERE

Thursday 28 June 2012

A DEVIL'S DOZEN - Descendants in Austrlia

There's a group for descendants of the transported members of Aldington Blues. The organiser has put information about several of the men on her website.
 
 
 
 About the book

Violence, love, loyalty and betrayal among the smugglers who once terrorised the coasts of southern England. The true tale of the Aldingston Blues Gang retold as a gripping novel.

For ten years the Blues and the Burmarsh Gang fought each other and the Excise Men over the lucrative smuggling trade in Kent. The rivalry was bitter and the stakes were high. When the Excise Men caught the gang landing brandy at Welland more than 300 men were involved in the savage firefight that followed, and 25 men ended spread in a bloody mess on the marsh.

Behind the scenes the feud between the two leading smugglers, George Ransley and James Hogben, is played out in deadly earnest. While their men grow rich, get married or gamble away thier loot, the intense struggle between Ransley and Hogben follows a twisted route through bloodshed, treachery and unsurpassed wealth as the men struggle to control the huge wealth to be gained by being the only smuggling gang supplying goods to the London market.

In this novel, Newel tells in gripping language of the passions and excitement of the days when smugglers ruled the night and law abiding folk hid indoors as the carts and wagons rolled by in the moonlight.

Meticulously researched and based on contemporary court papers and other records, “A Devil’s Dozen” recreates the vanished world of the smugglers and the deadly feud between the leading smugglers that would eventually tear the brotherhood apart and send the smugglers to the gallows or to convict settlements in Australia.



Wednesday 27 June 2012

PRICE REDUCTION - The Old Ghosts by Barbara Hayes

For a limited time only we have reduced the price of both the printed and ebook versions of this fantastic book by veteran writer Barbara Hayes.

Description
The British Isles are the most haunted places on Earth. Ghosts shimmer through stately homes and humble cottages alike. They linger at lonely crossroads and walk the ancient trackways. But few people know much about them. In the stories in this book Barbara portrays exactly how Boggarts, Banshees, Co-Walkers, the White Lady and the Old Hag really behave.

About the Writer
Barbara Hayes worked on the editorial staff and spent many years writing stories and picture strip scripts for the Amalgamated Press, situated in Farringdon Street, which is round the corner from Fleet Street, London. Later Amalgamated Press became Fleetway Publications and subsequently part of the Daily Mirror IPC publishing group.
Barbara was just in time to work with some of the old Fleet Street hacks in all their drunken glory before the move away from Fleet Street to modern technical respectability.
She got advice straight from the lips of Hugh Cudlipp, the famous editor of the Daily Mirror, and became married to an Amalgamated Press editor, Leonard Matthews, who rose to be a managing editor and then an editorial director.
Over the years she has had some 80 books and about 7300 scripts published by companies from England to Australia to South Africa to Florida and back to Holland.
She likes to think of herself as an old hack writer who succeeded mainly because she always got her work in on time and the right length - but if you read on carefully you might find quite a few other hints to help you.

Buy your printed book HERE
Buy your Kindle ebook HERE
Buy other ebook formats HERE

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Another research website for UK convicts sent to Australia

"Founders and Survivors" is a great research tool tracking UK emigrants to Oz.  Marian Newell, author of A Devil's Dozen" recommends it.

The records available online have increased steadily. This site is interesting because it searches a range of records when you search for a person's name. The home page says: 'Founders & Survivors is a partnership between historians, genealogists, demographers and population health researchers. It seeks to record and study the founding population of 73,000 men women and children who were transported to Tasmania. Many survived their convict experience and went on to help build a new society.'

Visit the site HERE

 About "A Devil's Dozen"


Violence, love, loyalty and betrayal among the smugglers who once terrorised the coasts of southern England. The true tale of the Aldingston Blues Gang retold as a gripping novel.

For ten years the Blues and the Burmarsh Gang fought each other and the Excise Men over the lucrative smuggling trade in Kent. The rivalry was bitter and the stakes were high. When the Excise Men caught the gang landing brandy at Welland more than 300 men were involved in the savage firefight that followed, and 25 men ended spread in a bloody mess on the marsh.

Behind the scenes the feud between the two leading smugglers, George Ransley and James Hogben, is played out in deadly earnest. While their men grow rich, get married or gamble away thier loot, the intense struggle between Ransley and Hogben follows a twisted route through bloodshed, treachery and unsurpassed wealth as the men struggle to control the huge wealth to be gained by being the only smuggling gang supplying goods to the London market.

In this novel, Newel tells in gripping language of the passions and excitement of the days when smugglers ruled the night and law abiding folk hid indoors as the carts and wagons rolled by in the moonlight.

Meticulously researched and based on contemporary court papers and other records, “A Devil’s Dozen” recreates the vanished world of the smugglers and the deadly feud between the leading smugglers that would eventually tear the brotherhood apart and send the smugglers to the gallows or to convict settlements in Australia.

BUY YOUR COPY HERE

BUY YOUR EBOOK HERE 



Monday 25 June 2012

Guy Gibson VC - Book Review


Our book "Guy Gibson VC", part of the Heroes of the RAF series, has been reviewed in the Britain and War magazine (see scan).


Guy Gibson was chosen to lead the great Dambusters Raid of 1943 as he had already proven himself to be a skilled pilot and a magnificent leader of men. Having joined the RAF in 1936, Gibson was a bomber pilot when war broke out. He won a DFC in July 1940 then, having completed a tour of operations volunteered for Fighter Command and flew nightfighters on 99 sorites during which he was awarded a bar to his DFC and the DSO. He then returned to Bomber Command and flew 46 more missions before being chosen to form and command No.617 Squadron for the Dambusters Raid. After a period off operations, Gibson returned to Bomber Command to act as a Pathfinder. He was killed on one such raid in September 1944.

This book looks at the life and career of the man who led the most famous bombing raid of World War II. It is a gripping account of his life and exploits, revealing new and little known facts about Guy Gibson for the first time.

About the Author
John Fareham is the son of an RAF veteran who grew up on RAF bases around the world. He now lives only a short drive from RAF Scampton from which Gibson flew his famous Dambuster Raid. This is John’s first book about the RAF, but is far from being the last.

Buy your copy HERE
Buy your ebook HERE



Friday 22 June 2012

More than 70,000 convicts were transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) between 1804 and 1853. The Tasmanian Government's online archive has records for many of these, including the convicted members of the Aldington Blues - protagonists of the novel Devil's Dozens.

Access the records HERE. 

About the book

Violence, love, loyalty and betrayal among the smugglers who once terrorised the coasts of southern England. The true tale of the Aldingston Blues Gang retold as a gripping novel.

For ten years the Blues and the Burmarsh Gang fought each other and the Excise Men over the lucrative smuggling trade in Kent. The rivalry was bitter and the stakes were high. When the Excise Men caught the gang landing brandy at Welland more than 300 men were involved in the savage firefight that followed, and 25 men ended spread in a bloody mess on the marsh.

Behind the scenes the feud between the two leading smugglers, George Ransley and James Hogben, is played out in deadly earnest. While their men grow rich, get married or gamble away thier loot, the intense struggle between Ransley and Hogben follows a twisted route through bloodshed, treachery and unsurpassed wealth as the men struggle to control the huge wealth to be gained by being the only smuggling gang supplying goods to the London market.

In this novel, Newel tells in gripping language of the passions and excitement of the days when smugglers ruled the night and law abiding folk hid indoors as the carts and wagons rolled by in the moonlight.

Meticulously researched and based on contemporary court papers and other records, “A Devil’s Dozen” recreates the vanished world of the smugglers and the deadly feud between the leading smugglers that would eventually tear the brotherhood apart and send the smugglers to the gallows or to convict settlements in Australia.
Buy your copy HERE
Buy your ebook HERE


Thursday 21 June 2012

Fairy Tales - all in one book

A retelling of the classic fairy tales for 21st century youngsters by a master storyteller.

We are all familiar with the classic fairy stories, but there is so much more to the original versions.




BUY YOUR COPY HERE
Sleeping Beauty did not just marry the handsome prince who woke her up and live happily ever after. Dear me, no.

There is a lot more to Puss in Boots than a pair of boots. What about the hungry snake or the rabbits?

Little Red Riding Hood - well what about the archery contest or the pet raven?

How do a young lady dressed in green and a shipwreck feature in Jack and his Beanstalk?

What was Goldilocks doing in the woods in the first place, and what did she do after she left the Three Bears?

What did Cinderella do with a hazel twig and what about all those peas?

The stories as we usually hear them today is a very much shortened version of the original.

Fairy Stories have been told for hundreds and hundreds of years. No one really knows when they started or who first wrote them - or told them I expect. They probably started before many people could read or write.

Anyway they have been told and retold and everyone who tells them alters them a little bit to suit themselves or to please the people listening.
So Grandma Chatterbox when she was younger (which was a long time ago) went round and about and over the hills and far away searching for the oldest versions of Fairy Tales which she could find.

So now Grandma Chatterbox is going to tell you Fairy Stories as close to the oldest versions that she can get. After all it is part of every child’s education to know all the traditional tales.

Grandma Chatterbox just loves the old stories, and simply adores telling them to young children. The vocabularly and grammar in these stories is specially adapted to be suitable to younger children. When your children get a little bit older and start to learn to read you will find that the vocabulary contains words that they will be learning. Increase the type size on your tablet or other device and you can read along with your children.

So, are you ready for a story? Good, then I will begin...

About the Author
Barbara Hayes has been a best selling author of children’s books and comics for more than 40 years. She has been published around the world and in numerous languages. And yes - she really is a Grandma!



BUY YOUR COPY HERE

Wednesday 20 June 2012

The Governor Ready Convict Ship



Some members of the Aldington Blues were transported aboard the Governor Ready. The ship was wrecked soon after, highlighting that the journey was not without risk. This image of the wreck is taken from 'Narrative of a Voyage around the World', which was written by TB Wilson (surgeon-superintendent on the Blues' voyage) and is available through Google's Book Search.







The story of the Aldington Blues is at the heart of the novel "A Devil's Dozen" by Marian Newell.

About the book

Violence, love, loyalty and betrayal among the smugglers who once terrorised the coasts of southern England. The true tale of the Aldingston Blues Gang retold as a gripping novel.

For ten years the Blues and the Burmarsh Gang fought each other and the Excise Men over the lucrative smuggling trade in Kent. The rivalry was bitter and the stakes were high. When the Excise Men caught the gang landing brandy at Welland more than 300 men were involved in the savage firefight that followed, and 25 men ended spread in a bloody mess on the marsh.

Behind the scenes the feud between the two leading smugglers, George Ransley and James Hogben, is played out in deadly earnest. While their men grow rich, get married or gamble away thier loot, the intense struggle between Ransley and Hogben follows a twisted route through bloodshed, treachery and unsurpassed wealth as the men struggle to control the huge wealth to be gained by being the only smuggling gang supplying goods to the London market.

In this novel, Newel tells in gripping language of the passions and excitement of the days when smugglers ruled the night and law abiding folk hid indoors as the carts and wagons rolled by in the moonlight.

Meticulously researched and based on contemporary court papers and other records, “A Devil’s Dozen” recreates the vanished world of the smugglers and the deadly feud between the leading smugglers that would eventually tear the brotherhood apart and send the smugglers to the gallows or to convict settlements in Australia.

Buy your copy HERE
Buy your ebook version HERE


Tuesday 19 June 2012

HALF PRICE SALE - limited period only - Sceptic at Large by Roger Helmer MEP

For a limited time only we have reduced the price of our ebook "Sceptic at Large" by Roger Helmer MEP. You can now buy this ebook at half price.

Buy the Kindle version HERE
Buy other ebook formats HERE

We have also reduced the price of the printed book from £9.99 to £6.99. Buy your copy via Amazon HERE


About the book

A controversial critique of the European Union by maverick UKIP MEP Roger Helmer.

In this highly readable book, one of Britain’s most colourful and controversial figures gives his views on where the EU is going wrong and why David Cameron’s policies are contributing to the unfolding disaster in Brussels.

Covering a wide range of policy topics, Roger Helmer explains how democracy is being eroded robbing freeborn Englishmen of their birthrights of freedoms and democracy that have taken generations to secure. Roger also casts a sceptical eye over the Climate Change industry, the grip of political correctness on the EU and how the rural way of life is being undermined by an increasingly urban chattering class.

The book closes as Roger peers into the future to predict what the next five years has in store for Britain, the EU and for the British people that he is so proud to represent.

Illustrated with photos, this book combines serious political thought with an entertaining writing style that has made Roger Helmer one of the more popular bloggers on the centre right of the political spectrum.

About the Author
Roger Helmer MEP was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 for the East Midlands of England region. In 2006 he was expelled from the Conservative Group, and later readmitted after public pressure. He has been re-elected top of the poll at every election since. Roger formerly worked for Procter & Gamble and with Coats Viyella in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea.
(Less)

Monday 18 June 2012

Maidstone Gaol & Assizes - from Devil's Dozen

Sixteen members of the Aldington Blues stood trial on a variety of charges. The case was heard at Maidstone Assizes, by which time they were held in Maidstone Gaol after several moves to reduce the risk of their being rescued by friends.


About the Book

Violence, love, loyalty and betrayal among the smugglers who once terrorised the coasts of southern England. The true tale of the Aldingston Blues Gang retold as a gripping novel.

For ten years the Blues and the Burmarsh Gang fought each other and the Excise Men over the lucrative smuggling trade in Kent. The rivalry was bitter and the stakes were high. When the Excise Men caught the gang landing brandy at Welland more than 300 men were involved in the savage firefight that followed, and 25 men ended spread in a bloody mess on the marsh.

Behind the scenes the feud between the two leading smugglers, George Ransley and James Hogben, is played out in deadly earnest. While their men grow rich, get married or gamble away thier loot, the intense struggle between Ransley and Hogben follows a twisted route through bloodshed, treachery and unsurpassed wealth as the men struggle to control the huge wealth to be gained by being the only smuggling gang supplying goods to the London market.

In this novel, Newel tells in gripping language of the passions and excitement of the days when smugglers ruled the night and law abiding folk hid indoors as the carts and wagons rolled by in the moonlight.

Meticulously researched and based on contemporary court papers and other records, “A Devil’s Dozen” recreates the vanished world of the smugglers and the deadly feud between the leading smugglers that would eventually tear the brotherhood apart and send the smugglers to the gallows or to convict settlements in Australia.



Buy your copy HERE
Buy you ebook HERE