"I feel very lucky to have been asked to review several books by M. Kei.
"In the first book I reviewed, “Pirates of the Narrow Seas: The Sallee Rovers”, I discovered what I have been missing. Kei is a terrific writer and a wonderful storyteller and he writes about something I know nothing about, naval historical fiction, so I must also classify him as a teacher. Now what is special about this naval historical fiction is that Kei writes with a gay twist and even though his novels are set in a different time period from where we live, everything is very realistic and that is one of the many attributes of the writer. Another is his ability to create characters that are very real."
Read the whole review at: http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=12838
Showing posts with label PoNS 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PoNS 2. Show all posts
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
PoNS Second Edition complete
Over the summer I revamped covers, corrected typos (no matter how you proofread, you always find one of the devils after you go to print), and switched to a better printer that publishes the books on better quality paper with better binding. The resulting books are a definite upgrade from the former printer. The second editions are on an orangish background. There are a few first editions lingering at Amazon.com, which will probably confuse anyone who searches for Pirates of the Narrow Seas, but the second editions are the way to pay if you're buying paperbacks.
Also note, that although the books are available through Amazon.com, the author receives more money if you shop direct from the printer:
PoNS 1 : The Sallee Rovers https://www.createspace.com/3664325
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor https://www.createspace.com/3663702
PoNS 3 : Iron Men https://www.createspace.com/3663650
PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak https://www.createspace.com/3652763
Thank you for your support. I love hearing from my readers.
~K~
Also note, that although the books are available through Amazon.com, the author receives more money if you shop direct from the printer:
PoNS 1 : The Sallee Rovers https://www.createspace.com/3664325
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor https://www.createspace.com/3663702
PoNS 3 : Iron Men https://www.createspace.com/3663650
PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak https://www.createspace.com/3652763
Thank you for your support. I love hearing from my readers.
~K~
Monday, July 25, 2011
Men of Honor reviewed by Gerry B's Book Review -- 5 stars
Men of Honor, book two in the series Pirates of the Narrow Seas, has been reviewed by Gerry B's Book Reviews and given a five star rating. "[P]ulse-raising" and "a core of steel draped in velvet" are just a few of the comments.
Read the complete review at:
http://gerrycan.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/men-of-honor-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-2-by-m-kei/
Read the complete review at:
http://gerrycan.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/men-of-honor-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-2-by-m-kei/
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Astrodene Reviews Men of Honor
I am very pleased that Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction site has posted an excellent review of Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor.
"After reading the first book in the series I had high expectations for this novel and I was not disappointed, it was another page turner. [...] Whilst the narrative will be familiar to lovers of naval fiction set in the late 1700's it is based on a fictional history and the author uses this to full advantage as the plot takes unexpected twists and turns and the various naval powers fight it out."
http://www.historicnavalfiction.com/index.php/general-hnf-info/book-reviews/1657-astrodene-review-men-of-honor-by-m-kei
"After reading the first book in the series I had high expectations for this novel and I was not disappointed, it was another page turner. [...] Whilst the narrative will be familiar to lovers of naval fiction set in the late 1700's it is based on a fictional history and the author uses this to full advantage as the plot takes unexpected twists and turns and the various naval powers fight it out."
http://www.historicnavalfiction.com/index.php/general-hnf-info/book-reviews/1657-astrodene-review-men-of-honor-by-m-kei
Friday, October 15, 2010
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor Ebook Now Available
I'm pleased to report that the long-awaited book two of the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series, Men of Honor, is now available in a variety of ebook formats. You can buy it from Kindle, iBookstore, AllRomance, 1Romance, Rainbow Ebooks, and many other ebooksellers.
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor was reviewed by Nan Hawthorne at All She Read at http://allsheread.blogspot.com/2010/10/men-of-honor-by-m-kei.html
"Men of Honor is fast paced, action packed and exciting. [...] There are lots of vividly drawn characters in this novel, just as there were in The Sallee Rovers. Tangle, Shakil, and Perry are here, and Captain Horner, the ailing Captain Bishop's replacement, is a welcome addition. Towards the end a new character, a recently blinded Lieutenant Abbey, promises to be a refreshingly resourceful disabled character in a genre prone to stereotypes." -- Nan Hawthorne
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor was reviewed by Alex Beecroft at Speak Its Name http://speakitsname.com/2010/05/18/review-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-ii-men-of-honor-by-m-kei
"unquestionably better than the majority of m/m Age of Sail books I’ve been reading recently. M. Kei has a fine grip on his period and his sailing details, and has produced a book which can stand comparison with C. S. Forester’s Hornblower series." -- Alex Beecroft
An excerpt is available at http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/229363-excerpt-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-2-men-of-honor
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor was reviewed by Nan Hawthorne at All She Read at http://allsheread.blogspot.com/2010/10/men-of-honor-by-m-kei.html
"Men of Honor is fast paced, action packed and exciting. [...] There are lots of vividly drawn characters in this novel, just as there were in The Sallee Rovers. Tangle, Shakil, and Perry are here, and Captain Horner, the ailing Captain Bishop's replacement, is a welcome addition. Towards the end a new character, a recently blinded Lieutenant Abbey, promises to be a refreshingly resourceful disabled character in a genre prone to stereotypes." -- Nan Hawthorne
PoNS 2 : Men of Honor was reviewed by Alex Beecroft at Speak Its Name http://speakitsname.com/2010/05/18/review-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-ii-men-of-honor-by-m-kei
"unquestionably better than the majority of m/m Age of Sail books I’ve been reading recently. M. Kei has a fine grip on his period and his sailing details, and has produced a book which can stand comparison with C. S. Forester’s Hornblower series." -- Alex Beecroft
An excerpt is available at http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/229363-excerpt-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-2-men-of-honor
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Men of Honor reviewed at That's All She Read
http://allsheread.blogspot.com/2010/10/men-of-honor-by-m-kei.html
I am delighted to report that Nan Hawthorne has posted a review of Men of Honor, the second book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series at her blog:
"There is no question this is an exciting adventure. If a Spanish galleon is not firing on them, runaway carts are about to crush them, or someone has called someone else out for a duel. The Spanish send flaming ships to destroy a harbor, and Captain Tangle must follow another into a grotto and wage a gun battle within it." -- Nan Hawthorne, That's All She Read
I confess, book 2, Men of Honor, is my favorite of the three so far. I like them all, but writing this one was sheer fun. There was a certain amount of torture in writing the first one, but for this book I knew who my characters were and what they were up to. Of the three it most closely resembles the old-fashioned swashbucklers I loved when I was a child.
I have just finished listening Rafael Sabatini's Captain Blood on my new Kindle -- it was Errol Flynn's depiction of that hero which firmly imprinted itself in my twelve-year-old brain as what a hero ought to be. I was rather chagrined to realize that I had named my hero 'Peter' -- and Captain Blood's Christian name is also 'Peter.' Peter Thorton's nemesis is Captain Bishop -- and Peter Blood's nemesis is Colonel Bishop. Both details I had forgotten long ago, but they must have been embedded in the fabric of my brain. Dare I mention more? "M. Kei" is a pen name, but in real life my middle name is 'Rafael.' Kismet, enit.
I do hope the rest of you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.
~K~
I am delighted to report that Nan Hawthorne has posted a review of Men of Honor, the second book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series at her blog:
"There is no question this is an exciting adventure. If a Spanish galleon is not firing on them, runaway carts are about to crush them, or someone has called someone else out for a duel. The Spanish send flaming ships to destroy a harbor, and Captain Tangle must follow another into a grotto and wage a gun battle within it." -- Nan Hawthorne, That's All She Read
I confess, book 2, Men of Honor, is my favorite of the three so far. I like them all, but writing this one was sheer fun. There was a certain amount of torture in writing the first one, but for this book I knew who my characters were and what they were up to. Of the three it most closely resembles the old-fashioned swashbucklers I loved when I was a child.
I have just finished listening Rafael Sabatini's Captain Blood on my new Kindle -- it was Errol Flynn's depiction of that hero which firmly imprinted itself in my twelve-year-old brain as what a hero ought to be. I was rather chagrined to realize that I had named my hero 'Peter' -- and Captain Blood's Christian name is also 'Peter.' Peter Thorton's nemesis is Captain Bishop -- and Peter Blood's nemesis is Colonel Bishop. Both details I had forgotten long ago, but they must have been embedded in the fabric of my brain. Dare I mention more? "M. Kei" is a pen name, but in real life my middle name is 'Rafael.' Kismet, enit.
I do hope the rest of you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.
~K~
Friday, August 20, 2010
Men of Honor
Men of Honor is the second book in the series Pirates of the Narrow Seas. It's my favorite; I had a blast writing it. The title says what the book is about: honor. Today we don't talk much about honor, and we don't have much respect for those old-fashioned folks who believe in honor. Slogans like 'death before dishonor' seem like macho hyperbole. Yet honor was the social currency that enabled the upper class world of the 18th century to function.
A man's word was his bond. When he gave his parole, he lived by, and if necessary, died by it. It was entirely possible to release a man on parole and have him show up for his own execution. This is because if he ran away, he would lose his honor, and he would rather die than live without honor. Interesting studies have been done about how honor relates to access to financial credit, for example. A man's reputation was the only guarantee he could offer for his debts--which is one of the reasons debtors were dealt so harshly with. The man who could not pay his debts had broken his word. Thus men with reputations as liars found it difficult to access credit--and most other aspects of life among the elite of the 18th century. Sure, there were rogues who managed to survive anyhow, but that's because no system is perfect.
Peter Thorton is an honorable man. That is intensely important to him, and it's something that other men recognize in him. In Men of Honor, when he is arrested, he gives his parole and returns to duty as a lieutenant aboard the Ajax while he awaits his court martial -- a court martial that could kill him. He makes no escape attempt -- that would destroy his honor. He's given his word, and even though he has his moments of fear and weakness, he shows up for his court martial at the duly appointed time.
English law presumed a man innocent until proven guilty, and there were very few ways or reasons to keep an officer confined. Parole worked because it had to work. If lieutenants in trouble simply ran away, the system wouldn't work at all. Such a man would have no further career in the British navy, and he probably wouldn't have a career ashore, either. Desertion was punished with death to deter running away, but the real thing that bound gentlemen to the system was honor.
Although we accept incarceration as a suitable method of holding miscreants until their trials, ships have scant facilities for such things. In fact, a ship is effectively a floating prison, so there's really no need to confine somebody -- they aren't going anywhere. British ships anchored offshore instead of docking on purpose; few men could swim, and even if they could, a mile or two of salt water is a powerful discouragement. Furthermore, unless the man in question is a peril to himself or the ship, confining him deprives the ship of his labor -- and crews, especially the officer corp, were not so large that they could afford to give up the labor of a competent hand.
Thorton freely converted to Islam, and he freely confessed his religion, knowing what the consequences would be. There are various incidents in the novel wherein other characters behave contrary to the expectations of honor. Some of the officers haze Thorton by desecrating his Sallee uniform coat, but they do it in secrecy. When the crime is discovered, the morality is made explicit: that if a man does something, he should own up to it. If he isn't willing to own up to it, he shouldn't do it. By this standard Thorton, Horner, and Tangle are men of honor. They take responsibility for what they do and bear the consequences. You can trust them.
Related to the matter of honor is the matter of apostasy, which is the sin of converting to a foreign religion. Although apostasy is despised and lowers a man in the opinion of those who know him, it does not eliminate his reputation for truthfulness. It also bars a man from serving as a commissioned officer in the British navy. But note, the British navy is ruled by law, so even though everybody knows Thorton has converted to Islam, until the court martial he has not actually been convicted and therefore cannot be deprived of his commission, or his duties and privileges as a commissioned officer. Once he is court martialed, he is convicted of violating Article One (establishment of the Church of England), stripped of his commission and disrated, and fined to boot, in an amount that is equal to about one third of his yearly salary as a lieutenant.
The question then, is why didn't Admiralty accept his resignation? Knowing the debility of his religion, Thorton tendered his resignation in good faith. Acting-Captain Perry accepted it. In Men of Honor we learn that Perry was disciplined for overstepping the bounds of his authority. Although it isn't made explicit, it is easy enough to assume that since Perry was punished for doing things he shouldn't have, those things he did -- like accepting Thorton's resignation -- are null and void.
Well then, why not demand Thorton's resignation and redo it properly? Because Thorton has flouted the Admiralty's authority. He didn't wait for the Admiralty to accept his resignation before running off to the Sallee Republic. The Admiralty is predicated on total obedience to its authority; therefore the wayward lieutenant must be made to toe the line and punished as a deterrent to any other officer that thinks he can do as he pleases as long as he drops a note in the mail to the Admiralty.
That puts the Admiralty in a spot: force obedience to the Church of England, or force obedience to its authority? If the former, Thorton gets discharged, which is what he wants, and the Admiralty's authority is undermined. Ergo, the Admiralty chooses to enforce its authority and maintains Thorton in service as a midshipman. Thorton is required to attend Divine Service the same as everybody else; Horner testified as much at the court martial. The outer forms are being observed; the Admiralty doesn't give a damn what he actually thinks. It's an 18th century version of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
All of this is in the background. The details are there, the clues all add up, it's consistent. But the politics are not what the novels are about; the politics are what set events in action and impose consequences for them. Thorton himself is oblivious to most of this. All of this is subtext for the action adventure that unfolds. The purity of the main characters in the maintenance of their honor is in ironic contrast to the more pragmatic and corrupt figures in the background of the story. That's traditional in adventure fiction; our hero is always more pure and honorable than the corrupt world through which he is forced to move.
~K~
A man's word was his bond. When he gave his parole, he lived by, and if necessary, died by it. It was entirely possible to release a man on parole and have him show up for his own execution. This is because if he ran away, he would lose his honor, and he would rather die than live without honor. Interesting studies have been done about how honor relates to access to financial credit, for example. A man's reputation was the only guarantee he could offer for his debts--which is one of the reasons debtors were dealt so harshly with. The man who could not pay his debts had broken his word. Thus men with reputations as liars found it difficult to access credit--and most other aspects of life among the elite of the 18th century. Sure, there were rogues who managed to survive anyhow, but that's because no system is perfect.
Peter Thorton is an honorable man. That is intensely important to him, and it's something that other men recognize in him. In Men of Honor, when he is arrested, he gives his parole and returns to duty as a lieutenant aboard the Ajax while he awaits his court martial -- a court martial that could kill him. He makes no escape attempt -- that would destroy his honor. He's given his word, and even though he has his moments of fear and weakness, he shows up for his court martial at the duly appointed time.
English law presumed a man innocent until proven guilty, and there were very few ways or reasons to keep an officer confined. Parole worked because it had to work. If lieutenants in trouble simply ran away, the system wouldn't work at all. Such a man would have no further career in the British navy, and he probably wouldn't have a career ashore, either. Desertion was punished with death to deter running away, but the real thing that bound gentlemen to the system was honor.
Although we accept incarceration as a suitable method of holding miscreants until their trials, ships have scant facilities for such things. In fact, a ship is effectively a floating prison, so there's really no need to confine somebody -- they aren't going anywhere. British ships anchored offshore instead of docking on purpose; few men could swim, and even if they could, a mile or two of salt water is a powerful discouragement. Furthermore, unless the man in question is a peril to himself or the ship, confining him deprives the ship of his labor -- and crews, especially the officer corp, were not so large that they could afford to give up the labor of a competent hand.
Thorton freely converted to Islam, and he freely confessed his religion, knowing what the consequences would be. There are various incidents in the novel wherein other characters behave contrary to the expectations of honor. Some of the officers haze Thorton by desecrating his Sallee uniform coat, but they do it in secrecy. When the crime is discovered, the morality is made explicit: that if a man does something, he should own up to it. If he isn't willing to own up to it, he shouldn't do it. By this standard Thorton, Horner, and Tangle are men of honor. They take responsibility for what they do and bear the consequences. You can trust them.
Related to the matter of honor is the matter of apostasy, which is the sin of converting to a foreign religion. Although apostasy is despised and lowers a man in the opinion of those who know him, it does not eliminate his reputation for truthfulness. It also bars a man from serving as a commissioned officer in the British navy. But note, the British navy is ruled by law, so even though everybody knows Thorton has converted to Islam, until the court martial he has not actually been convicted and therefore cannot be deprived of his commission, or his duties and privileges as a commissioned officer. Once he is court martialed, he is convicted of violating Article One (establishment of the Church of England), stripped of his commission and disrated, and fined to boot, in an amount that is equal to about one third of his yearly salary as a lieutenant.
The question then, is why didn't Admiralty accept his resignation? Knowing the debility of his religion, Thorton tendered his resignation in good faith. Acting-Captain Perry accepted it. In Men of Honor we learn that Perry was disciplined for overstepping the bounds of his authority. Although it isn't made explicit, it is easy enough to assume that since Perry was punished for doing things he shouldn't have, those things he did -- like accepting Thorton's resignation -- are null and void.
Well then, why not demand Thorton's resignation and redo it properly? Because Thorton has flouted the Admiralty's authority. He didn't wait for the Admiralty to accept his resignation before running off to the Sallee Republic. The Admiralty is predicated on total obedience to its authority; therefore the wayward lieutenant must be made to toe the line and punished as a deterrent to any other officer that thinks he can do as he pleases as long as he drops a note in the mail to the Admiralty.
That puts the Admiralty in a spot: force obedience to the Church of England, or force obedience to its authority? If the former, Thorton gets discharged, which is what he wants, and the Admiralty's authority is undermined. Ergo, the Admiralty chooses to enforce its authority and maintains Thorton in service as a midshipman. Thorton is required to attend Divine Service the same as everybody else; Horner testified as much at the court martial. The outer forms are being observed; the Admiralty doesn't give a damn what he actually thinks. It's an 18th century version of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
All of this is in the background. The details are there, the clues all add up, it's consistent. But the politics are not what the novels are about; the politics are what set events in action and impose consequences for them. Thorton himself is oblivious to most of this. All of this is subtext for the action adventure that unfolds. The purity of the main characters in the maintenance of their honor is in ironic contrast to the more pragmatic and corrupt figures in the background of the story. That's traditional in adventure fiction; our hero is always more pure and honorable than the corrupt world through which he is forced to move.
~K~
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor, 15% off until August 15
Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor
Purchase Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor with 15% off with coupon code BEACHREAD305
Disclaimer: Use coupon code BEACHREAD305 at checkout and receive 15% off Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on August 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.
All other Keibooks titles are available for 10% off for the month of July.
Copyright © 2002-2010 Lulu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lulu.com | 3101 Hillsborough St. | Raleigh | NC | 27607-5436
Purchase Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor with 15% off with coupon code BEACHREAD305
Disclaimer: Use coupon code BEACHREAD305 at checkout and receive 15% off Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor. Maximum savings with this promotion is $10. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on August 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.
All other Keibooks titles are available for 10% off for the month of July.
Copyright © 2002-2010 Lulu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lulu.com | 3101 Hillsborough St. | Raleigh | NC | 27607-5436
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
"a book which can stand comparison with C. S. Forester's Hornblower series"
Just a quick note--I'm briefly ashore and have a ton of things to do before going back to sea, so this won't be a full-fledged press release.
Men of Honor, the second book in the series, Pirates of the Narrow Seas, has been reviewed.
"M. Kei [...] has produced a book which can stand comparison with C. S. Forester's Hornblower series."
and
"The ample amounts of action keep the book moving fast and breathlessly onwards, and there are some real standout scenes of naval warfare. My favourite by far is the scene where the ships are being fought inside a cave. Wow! That was a corker."
—Alex Beecroft, author of False Colors.
Full review is at: http://speakitsname.com/2010/05/18/review-pirates-of-the-narrow-seas-ii-men-of-honor-by-m-kei
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Perils of Self-Publishing
Long term readers of this site are probably aware of the trials and tribulations I have undergone in the attempt to publish Pirates of the Narrow Seas, but newcomers may be confused. To answer the recent question: This is the canonical site that will stay up-to-date and supercedes all other information.
Being a micropress, I have to do all my own publicity, and that means making use of all available means to blog, review, post, share, excerpt, promote, interview, etc. That can be confusing, but if you follow this blog you'll get the important information in a timely manner. (I also recommend subscribing to Keibooks-Announce (at) googlegroups (dot) com to receive email to your inbox. This announcement-only elist published 0-5 posts per month regarding my various literary projects.)
Pirates of the Narrow Seas series (aka 'PoNS')
Book One : The Sallee Rovers (PoNS 1)
This book was originally named 'Pirates of the Narrow Seas,' but people were confused that a book and the series had the same name, so I changed it to make it clear. Thus the book is officially: Pirates of the Narrow Seas, Book One : The Sallee Rovers. That's a mouthful, so most people just call it 'Pirates of the Narrow Seas.'
Versions:
Free online: the version on this site (tweaked to fix typos, but no revisions)
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters. If you really, REALLY love me, you will send cash in untraceable bills to my post office box.
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. This is not going as quickly as I had hoped, but I have signed off on the ebook proof, so soon?
Paperback: Amazon.com has declined to carry the series, so I have submitted to the Borg, I mean, Amazon.com, and submitted the book to their CreateSpace program in order to be able to sell it on Amazon.com. I am awaiting approval. Amazon.com only pays the author about half of what Lulu.com does, but half of something is better than all of nothing, so that's why I did it.
These versions are all the same novel, just in different formats from different sellers. Giant publishers take care of all of this stuff by themselves and the author doesn't have to worry about it and it's simpler for the reader, but giant publishers aren't interested in gay nautical fiction.
Fictionpress.com: I posted the rough draft to Fictionpress.com way back in the day when I had no thought of formally publishing it -- I just wanted people to read it and send feedback. I have left it for archival purposes and in the hopes that readers at Fictionpress.com will find their way to this site for the rest of the books.
If you are a big publishing company that wants to give me a five figure advance, please email: Keibooks (at) gmail (dot) com
Book Two : Men of Honor (PoNS 2)
Versions:
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. Will be released this summer.
Book Three : Iron Men (PoNS 3)
Versions:
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. Will be released this summer.
Book Four : Heart of Oak (PoNS 4)
Versions: Not yet contracted. I am going to see how the first three books do before deciding where and how to publish.
Under construction - anticipated to be available in time for Christmas. If you are a wealthy benefactor who can't wait that long, contact me.
Rumors of Hussars waltzing with naval officers during an earthquake refer to this novel. Why Hussars? See this link:
Random Excerpts
Miscellaneous excerpts are published at Goodreads.com, Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction, the_macaronis elist, and random other locations. The excerpts are edited for brevity, so do not include all the details present in the same scene/chapter in the novels. They are teasers to entice the reader into reading the whole thing.
Promotions
Lulu.com has been having various promotions; when I become aware of them I post them to this site. During the summer of 2010, readers who purchase $20 or more can get free shipping on books through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- buy the whole series and get free shipping! That saves you some bucks. The nice thing is, Lulu.com is eating the cost and not deducting if from our author royalties. Yay!
Being a micropress, I have to do all my own publicity, and that means making use of all available means to blog, review, post, share, excerpt, promote, interview, etc. That can be confusing, but if you follow this blog you'll get the important information in a timely manner. (I also recommend subscribing to Keibooks-Announce (at) googlegroups (dot) com to receive email to your inbox. This announcement-only elist published 0-5 posts per month regarding my various literary projects.)
Pirates of the Narrow Seas series (aka 'PoNS')
Book One : The Sallee Rovers (PoNS 1)
This book was originally named 'Pirates of the Narrow Seas,' but people were confused that a book and the series had the same name, so I changed it to make it clear. Thus the book is officially: Pirates of the Narrow Seas, Book One : The Sallee Rovers. That's a mouthful, so most people just call it 'Pirates of the Narrow Seas.'
Versions:
Free online: the version on this site (tweaked to fix typos, but no revisions)
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters. If you really, REALLY love me, you will send cash in untraceable bills to my post office box.
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. This is not going as quickly as I had hoped, but I have signed off on the ebook proof, so soon?
Paperback: Amazon.com has declined to carry the series, so I have submitted to the Borg, I mean, Amazon.com, and submitted the book to their CreateSpace program in order to be able to sell it on Amazon.com. I am awaiting approval. Amazon.com only pays the author about half of what Lulu.com does, but half of something is better than all of nothing, so that's why I did it.
These versions are all the same novel, just in different formats from different sellers. Giant publishers take care of all of this stuff by themselves and the author doesn't have to worry about it and it's simpler for the reader, but giant publishers aren't interested in gay nautical fiction.
Fictionpress.com: I posted the rough draft to Fictionpress.com way back in the day when I had no thought of formally publishing it -- I just wanted people to read it and send feedback. I have left it for archival purposes and in the hopes that readers at Fictionpress.com will find their way to this site for the rest of the books.
If you are a big publishing company that wants to give me a five figure advance, please email: Keibooks (at) gmail (dot) com
Book Two : Men of Honor (PoNS 2)
Versions:
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. Will be released this summer.
Book Three : Iron Men (PoNS 3)
Versions:
Paperback: Via my micropress, Keibooks, orders fulfilled through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- if you love me and want more books, you will buy through this site because they pay the highest royalty to the author, which for a small press book matters
Ebook: I sold the ebook rights to Bristlecone Pine Press, and they are distributing it through All Romance, Kindle, Applestore, etc. Will be released this summer.
Book Four : Heart of Oak (PoNS 4)
Versions: Not yet contracted. I am going to see how the first three books do before deciding where and how to publish.
Under construction - anticipated to be available in time for Christmas. If you are a wealthy benefactor who can't wait that long, contact me.
Rumors of Hussars waltzing with naval officers during an earthquake refer to this novel. Why Hussars? See this link:
Random Excerpts
Miscellaneous excerpts are published at Goodreads.com, Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction, the_macaronis elist, and random other locations. The excerpts are edited for brevity, so do not include all the details present in the same scene/chapter in the novels. They are teasers to entice the reader into reading the whole thing.
Promotions
Lulu.com has been having various promotions; when I become aware of them I post them to this site. During the summer of 2010, readers who purchase $20 or more can get free shipping on books through Lulu.com/Keibooks -- buy the whole series and get free shipping! That saves you some bucks. The nice thing is, Lulu.com is eating the cost and not deducting if from our author royalties. Yay!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Pirates of the Narrow Seas 2 : Men of Honor Coming Soon
Captain Peter Thorton, Sallee rover, and his lover, Shakil bin Nakih set out on a quest to rescue the mad duke, Henrique, Duke of Coimbra, the man who wants to be king of Portugal. Shakil disguises himself to slip into the Spanish stronghold of Sebta, and with a Spanish fleet hot on their heels, Thorton, Shakil, and Henrique flee for their lives—only to run smack into the arms of the British navy.
Arrested for desertion and sodomy, Thorton is obliged to surrender his arms and give his parole and serve as a lieutenant aboard the Ajax under the dour and proper Captain Ebenezer Horner. His former friend, Lt. Roger Perry, becomes his worst enemy. He is harassed and taunted, in spite of his victories at sea.
Thorton's Sallee friends do not abandon him. Captain Tangle comes to his rescue, but the redoubtable corsair meets his match in the steely Captain Horner. Determined to do his duty and turn Thorton over for trial before the notorious homophobe, Admiral Walters, Horner must keep the impetuous Turk at bay even when being menaced by the Spanish who are bent on revenge against them all.
Men of Honor carries on the tradition of nautical derring-do in exotic and colorful locations, written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei.
Due to the terms of the contract with Bristlecone Pine Press, the e-book publisher that is publishing all three books, PoNS 2 is no longer available for free on this site. It will be available in print from Lulu.com/Keibooks and in a variety of e-book formats from http://www.bcpinepress.com on or about March 22.
Arrested for desertion and sodomy, Thorton is obliged to surrender his arms and give his parole and serve as a lieutenant aboard the Ajax under the dour and proper Captain Ebenezer Horner. His former friend, Lt. Roger Perry, becomes his worst enemy. He is harassed and taunted, in spite of his victories at sea.
Thorton's Sallee friends do not abandon him. Captain Tangle comes to his rescue, but the redoubtable corsair meets his match in the steely Captain Horner. Determined to do his duty and turn Thorton over for trial before the notorious homophobe, Admiral Walters, Horner must keep the impetuous Turk at bay even when being menaced by the Spanish who are bent on revenge against them all.
Men of Honor carries on the tradition of nautical derring-do in exotic and colorful locations, written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei.
Due to the terms of the contract with Bristlecone Pine Press, the e-book publisher that is publishing all three books, PoNS 2 is no longer available for free on this site. It will be available in print from Lulu.com/Keibooks and in a variety of e-book formats from http://www.bcpinepress.com on or about March 22.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Pirates of the Narrow Seas to be published as e-books
I have signed a contract with Bristlecone Pine Press to produce e-books of all three Pirates of the Narrow Seas. As a consequence of that agreement, I will be pulling PoNS 2 : Men of Honor and PoNS 3 : Iron Men. Pirates of the Narrow Seas, renamed Pirates of the Narrow Seas 1 : The Sallee Rovers will remain free online.
If you're reading the books free online, you will need to hurry up and finish! Or else buy the e-books. I plan to pull them tomorrow.
~K~
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