"compares favorably with Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester"

It's been a while since Pirates of the Narrow Seas has received a review, but this one is fabulous.

"Pirates of the Narrow Seas are some of the best fiction I have ever read. Mr. Kei's writing compares favorably with Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester. How's that for praising a new author to the skies? [...] The characters are believable, flawed, and more human than most other authors can achieve. The writing is a pleasure." Read the rest of the review at: http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Narrow-Seas-Sallee-Rovers/product-reviews/0615521363/ref=pr_all_summary_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Man in the Crescent Moon - Rainbow Award Finalist - on sale for 99 cents

If you've been thinking about picking up M. Kei's award-winning Pirates of the Narrow Seas series, now is your chance to acquire the prequel for just 99 cents for one week only: December 11 - 18.

Man in the Crescent Moon is the latest adventure in the swashbuckling Pirates of the Narrow Seas series. Isam Tangueli is a gangly youth of nineteen, longing to leave home and become a famous corsair, and trying to understand his attraction to men. He joins the crew of the Grey Wolf and fights the Spanish on land, at sea, and under water. Under the command of the short but feisty Rajet Rais, young Isam learns the skills of navigation and leadership necessary to become "Captain Tangle," the most notorious corsair of the age. The hallmarks of the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series are all present—diverse and engaging characters, storms at sea, desperate ship fights, hand-to-hand combat, captures, rescues, and escapes, all told with authentic detail.

"Isam Agha Hamet saw his father killed and vowed to become a great corsair. But working with his uncle on their galley will not lead to fame and fortune. When Rajet Rais and the Grey Wolf seek refuge and the Spanish attack he must seize the opportunity to fulfil his dream. But will love for a slave stop him."--Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction

Man in the Crescent Moon is a Finalist for the Rainbow Award in the category of Best Gay LGBT Historical Fiction

Pickup this swashbuckling adventure novel for just 99 cents (regular price $6.99 US) in ebook at: http://www.amazon.com/Man-Crescent-Moon-Pirates-Adventure/dp/0615829236/

Man in the Crescent Moon a Finalist for the Rainbow Awards

Man in the Crescent Moon, my prequel to the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series, is a Finalist for the Rainbow Awards in the category of LGBT Historical Fiction. I'm very pleased to be a Finalist and to be placed in the historical fiction category rather than as a historical romance. Finalists scored at least 32 out of 40 points, showing a very high level of competition among the submissions.

The first novel in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series, The Sallee Rovers was an Honorable Mention for the Rainbow Awards when it first came out. I'm very pleased at the response of the reviewing community for the Rainbow Awards in recognition of the series.

For the complete list of Finalists, visit: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/3898883.html

~K~

Man in the Crescent Moon, a Pirates of the Narrow Seas Adventure, Available in paperback and ebook

Man in the Crescent Moon, a Pirates of the Narrow Seas Adventure, Available in paperback and ebook

26 July 2013 — Perryville, Maryland

Keibooks is pleased to announce that Man in the Crescent Moon, the latest installment in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, is now available in trade paperback and e-book. Man in the Crescent Moon opens a new story as we meet Captain Isam Tangle as a youth of nineteen, just starting the career that will ultimately make him the most notorious corsair of his age. 

The adventure begins when a Turkish corsair, the Grey Wolf, under command of the short but fierce Rajet Rais, takes refuge in Isam’s hometown. Pursued by a Spanish frigate with guns blazing, the town must defend itself from the unexpected onslaught. Much to the young corsair’s frustration, his uncle is not the aggressive kind of leader he wants to follow. He is drawn to the fiercely effective Rajet Rais and joins his crew. Rajet promises to teach him everything he needs to know to be a successful corsair—including the ways of men between the sheets.

Meanwhile, Isam’s relatives are causing him grief. One of his female cousins runs off with an unsuitable man while Isam falls in love with the man’s Spanish slave. He and two of his male cousins, the clever but untrustworthy Samir and the loyal but dimwitted Umar, must pursue the runaway bride. Unfortunately, their adversary proves to be dangerous and resourceful. He ambushes them at multiple points along the trail, then bears false witness against them so that they are arrested by the local chieftain.

The furious Spaniards have laid siege to Isam’s hometown and are shelling it to destruction. Refugees stream out of the city to be preyed upon by bandits as order breaks down. The sword and musket become the rule of the day, and where a bold frontal attack fails, the Spaniards substitute guile, sabotage, and assassination. Menaced from all sides, not trusted by his own government, Isam must use his wits to triumph over his enemies and defend his home.

Man in the Crescent Moon is a complete story that can be read separately from Pirates of the Narrow Seas, or in conjunction with it. Those who already know the characters will be pleased to watch the mighty Kapitan Pasha came of age, while those who don’t will enjoy the story of a young man with burning ambition. The adventure has all the hallmarks expected from Pirates of the Narrow Seas: diverse and engaging characters, storms at sea, desperate ship fights, hand-to-hand combat, captures, rescues, and escapes, all told with authentic detail.

Praise for previous novels in the series:

“A true literary first: a gay seafaring novel that’s every bit as good with the ‘gay’ stuff as the ‘seafaring’ stuff [...] Pirates of the Narrow Seas has thrilling action sequences, complex, conflicted characters, and a healthy dose of contemporary realism.”—Steve Donoghue, Open Letter A Monthly Arts and Literature Review

“A swashbuckling tale full of colour, adventure and romance – a good read!”—Gerry Burnie, Gerry B’s Book Reviews

“an action-packed swashbuckler of the Captain Blood tradition”—Nan Hawthorne, That’s All She Read

“well rounded individual personalities which it is a joy to follow” and “Recommended Reading”—Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction

“Please, Mr. Kei, write us another.”—Candice E. Frook, Amazon.com

The Sallee Rovers, the first book in the series, won a Sweet Revolution Award in the category of “best full cast” and “Judge’s pick”, and also won a 4th/Honorable Mention from the Rainbow Awards in the category of “Best gay historical fiction.”

Available in trade paperback and ebooks from: 

Keibooks

P O Box 516

Perryville, Maryland, USA

http://AtlasPoetica.org

Or CreateSpace , or your favorite online retailer. 

Rough Draft of Man in the Crescent Moon complete

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/3069708/1/Man-in-the-Crescent-Moon

I have completed the rough draft of Man in the Crescent Moon, A Pirates of the Narrow Seas Adventure. It features Captain Tangle as a young man, tall, gawky, and learning the ropes the hard way as he longs for fame and wealth as a Sallee rover. The rough draft of MitCM will remain free on Fictionpress.com until it appears in print this summer.

Note that it is a ROUGH draft; as in, has not been revised or proofread, and parts of it need work. Nonetheless, a few of my diehard fans have been following along and chafing at the delay in getting it finished. Actually, I'm right on schedule for finishing the draft... It's just that I started early on it, so when I had to put it aside to meet my other deadlines, there was a large gap in time until I was able to return to it and finish the draft.

No substantial changes will happen in revision; revision is where redundancies are smoothed out, descriptions are fleshed out, continuities errors are repaired, etc. (If you find a continuity error, feel free to point it out: Keibooks at gmail dot com.)

My thanks to my beta readers Joy, Chele, and Yancy for their support.

~K~