"These are characters I love, and books I want to keep. [...]
Exceptional in style and quality, M. Kei’s “Pirates of the Narrow Seas” have won a prominent place upon my bookshelf. The stories are a grand seafaring adventure, and the characters – Peter and Tangle, chief among them – are true favorites.
The momentum never stops. These are tales of daring, heroic leaders of men who are also honorable, vulnerable, and caring. The characters are well-defined, and many are intriguing. There is humor in unexpected places. The clothing is beautifully depicted. The routine and activity aboard ship are spiritedly illustrated.
The battles at sea never cease to thrill me, as I follow the action, tracing the map from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. The warships are vividly described, and the nautical detail is extensive! The vessels – the Ajax, the Amphitrite, the Arrow and the Sea Leopard – are magnificent characters in their own right.
M. Kei is a sailor-poet in the finest tradition. The imagery he creates is a celebration of the tall ships he loves, and a gift to all of us who have ever wished to sail them."--Yancy Carpentier.
Read the full review, covering the whole series, and Heart of Oak in particular, at: http://bookworld.editme.com/Review-Heart-of-Oak-by-M-Kei
Showing posts with label PoNS 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PoNS 4. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2012
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, September 5, 2011
Vixenne's review of The Sallee Rovers
"I literally devoured this seafaring adventure epic in one sitting and am in the middle of the second novel of the series." -- Vixenne
Read the rest at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/134196151
Vixenne on Goodreads has just posted a review of The Sallee Rovers. It's a wonderful review, not just because she likes the book, but because she gives enough information for the reader to know what the books about and why she likes it, instead of just giving her opinion. She also a fan of nautical fiction, and it's especially gratifying to win the approval of somebody that is also a fan of Hornblower, Master and Commander, and other classics of the genre.
As an independent author, I don't expect to get rich (although I'd love it if I did! then I could do nothing but sail and write), I just want people to read and enjoy my stories. Fan feedback makes it all worth while.
On related notes, PoNS 3 : Iron Men ebook has started showing up in retail markets, so hopefully will appear on Kindle very soon. I have no idea when PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak will appear in ebook.
I have also started writing the next book: Man in the Crescent Moon, which can be read independently of Pirates of the Narrow Seas. It is the story of the most notorious of rovers, Captain Tangle. It will take me a long time to write it because it's a complicated thing to write someone's backstory, but just to give you a tease, it starts off with a gawky, sexually inexperienced, nineteen year old Isam al-Tangueli. An orphan, he sails with his uncle, Halim Rais of the Many Daughters. Halim Rais has been blessed by Allah with nineteen daughters, but no sons. He intends to make young Isam his heir, only to find out that he's gay . . .
If you ever wondered how Captain Tangle wound up as the man he is, Man in the Crescent Moon will tell the story. Sadly, I expect it will take at least a year to write it. I have barely started.
~K~
Read the rest at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/134196151
Vixenne on Goodreads has just posted a review of The Sallee Rovers. It's a wonderful review, not just because she likes the book, but because she gives enough information for the reader to know what the books about and why she likes it, instead of just giving her opinion. She also a fan of nautical fiction, and it's especially gratifying to win the approval of somebody that is also a fan of Hornblower, Master and Commander, and other classics of the genre.
As an independent author, I don't expect to get rich (although I'd love it if I did! then I could do nothing but sail and write), I just want people to read and enjoy my stories. Fan feedback makes it all worth while.
On related notes, PoNS 3 : Iron Men ebook has started showing up in retail markets, so hopefully will appear on Kindle very soon. I have no idea when PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak will appear in ebook.
I have also started writing the next book: Man in the Crescent Moon, which can be read independently of Pirates of the Narrow Seas. It is the story of the most notorious of rovers, Captain Tangle. It will take me a long time to write it because it's a complicated thing to write someone's backstory, but just to give you a tease, it starts off with a gawky, sexually inexperienced, nineteen year old Isam al-Tangueli. An orphan, he sails with his uncle, Halim Rais of the Many Daughters. Halim Rais has been blessed by Allah with nineteen daughters, but no sons. He intends to make young Isam his heir, only to find out that he's gay . . .
If you ever wondered how Captain Tangle wound up as the man he is, Man in the Crescent Moon will tell the story. Sadly, I expect it will take at least a year to write it. I have barely started.
~K~
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak now available in trade paperback
PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak available in trade paperback
27 July 2011 — Perryville, Maryland
Keibooks is pleased to announce that Heart of Oak, the long awaited fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, is now available in trade paperback. Heart of Oak continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship when HMS Amphitrite is the target of a Spanish cutting out raid.
The redoubtable Duke Henrique, forced to marry a puritanical princess for political reasons, must once again call upon the courage of his British friends to aid him in a time of crisis. Captain Tangle, the famous Sallee rover, assists them all, but catches a Tartar when he attempts to seize the Spanish royal yacht, bringing down the wrath of a Spanish battle fleet upon them all. Meanwhile, Cmdr. Alan Abby, retired ashore at Gibraltar, has the opportunity to show that although blind, he is a still an active and gallant officer.
Through it all, Thorton is still longing for love, but is a victim of bad advice and his own naïveté. He succumbs to the charms of the dashing hussar, Colonel Karolyi, and is sorely tempted to throw away everything and follow the devil-may-care light horseman. Captain Horner, determined to keep Thorton on the straight and narrow, intercedes, and both of the British officers must face the far superior saber skills of the colonel in separate duels.
Book Four brings Thorton to the nadir of his career, his health broken, and kept a virtual prisoner in a cellar, he discovers which man has the ‘heart of oak’ he can truly trust. Written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei, Pirates of the Narrow Seas combines swashbuckling adventure, gay romance, and gritty realism.
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 from:
Keibooks
P O Box 516
Perryville, Maryland, USA
Or CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3652763, or your favorite online retailer.
E-book forthcoming from Bristlecone Pine Press.
27 July 2011 — Perryville, Maryland
Keibooks is pleased to announce that Heart of Oak, the long awaited fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, is now available in trade paperback. Heart of Oak continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship when HMS Amphitrite is the target of a Spanish cutting out raid.
The redoubtable Duke Henrique, forced to marry a puritanical princess for political reasons, must once again call upon the courage of his British friends to aid him in a time of crisis. Captain Tangle, the famous Sallee rover, assists them all, but catches a Tartar when he attempts to seize the Spanish royal yacht, bringing down the wrath of a Spanish battle fleet upon them all. Meanwhile, Cmdr. Alan Abby, retired ashore at Gibraltar, has the opportunity to show that although blind, he is a still an active and gallant officer.
Through it all, Thorton is still longing for love, but is a victim of bad advice and his own naïveté. He succumbs to the charms of the dashing hussar, Colonel Karolyi, and is sorely tempted to throw away everything and follow the devil-may-care light horseman. Captain Horner, determined to keep Thorton on the straight and narrow, intercedes, and both of the British officers must face the far superior saber skills of the colonel in separate duels.
Book Four brings Thorton to the nadir of his career, his health broken, and kept a virtual prisoner in a cellar, he discovers which man has the ‘heart of oak’ he can truly trust. Written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei, Pirates of the Narrow Seas combines swashbuckling adventure, gay romance, and gritty realism.
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 from:
Keibooks
P O Box 516
Perryville, Maryland, USA
Or CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3652763, or your favorite online retailer.
E-book forthcoming from Bristlecone Pine Press.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
M. Kei Interviewed at Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction
M. Kei, author of Pirates of the Narrow Seas, was interviewed by Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction, one of the largest and most comprehensive sites on the Internet that covers nautical fiction.
"My goal was write a swashbuckler of the sort I loved when I was young, but for an adult audience. Strict historicity is not required in a swashbuckler--adventure and romance and gorgeous period dress are the hallmarks. All the same, I wanted to be stricter about it than the rather fanciful treatments the genre has received of late."
Read the rest of the interview at: http://www.historicnavalfiction.com/index.php/general-hnf-info/astrodenes-blog/2295-an-interview-with-m-kei
"My goal was write a swashbuckler of the sort I loved when I was young, but for an adult audience. Strict historicity is not required in a swashbuckler--adventure and romance and gorgeous period dress are the hallmarks. All the same, I wanted to be stricter about it than the rather fanciful treatments the genre has received of late."
Read the rest of the interview at: http://www.historicnavalfiction.com/index.php/general-hnf-info/astrodenes-blog/2295-an-interview-with-m-kei
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak update
I don't mean to tease you, I really don't. PoNS 4 : Heart of Oak is coming sort of soon in paperback. I continue to be plagued by ill health, so progress is slow, but it is happening. I am currently working on the third (polishing) draft, after which it will need one more draft of fine tuning / proofreading, then book layout, proofs ordered, corrections, made, second proof ordered, and assuming all is well, go to print.
I expect PoNS 4 to appear in print this summer. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, being too ill to sail also means being too ill to do much of anything. My insurance runs out in September and I don't have a diagnosis, so I must concentrating on pushing for as much testing and consultation as I can get before this barky is wrecked on the reefs of the American healthcare system. Obamacare cannot arrive fast enough as far as I'm concerned.
The cover of PoNS 4 will continue the tradition of using classic works of art. This time the cover will be 'Le Chasseur' by one of Frances' most famous artists, Théodore Géricault (26 September 1791 – 26 January 1824). You can see an image here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GericaultHorseman.jpg. Géricault may be most famous for 'The Raft of the Medusa,' in which he depicts the horrors after the Medusa was wrecked and her passengers abandoned by the crew and officers, but he began his early career as a painter of cavalry officers. 'Le Chasseur' is the portrait that brought him fame.
Pirates of the Narrow Seas takes place in the middle of the 18th century, so the uniform is anachronistic, but when you're a small press with a budget only slightly larger than zero, custom art is out of the question. Hussars (light horsemen) with spectacular uniforms date back to the 1500s in Hungary and were in use throughout central Europe and were being adopted sporadically in western Europe during the 18th century; England was one of the last countries to adopt them (early 1800s). The hussar uniform with its ladders of gold braid on the chest was inspired by the Turkish uniform and became de rigeur for armies throughout the 19th century. The last hussars / light horsemen saw service during WWII.
Turkish military band music was spreading through Europe at the same time; the clarinet, cymbal, and kettledrum were all Turkish inventions, as was the very concept of a military band. Not surprisingly, the pomp of the military band accompanied the spread of the spectacularly uniformed light horsemen, and all military bands today are their direct descendants. If your high school still uses the old-fashioned band uniforms with a long-sleeved, short-waisted wool tunic, matching trousers, decorated with (fake) gold braid, topped off with an imitation bearskin, you too are the heir this Turkish/European tradition.
The light horseman cover is in honor of one of the supporting characters in the novel, Colonel Jan Karolyi, commander of the bodyguard for Count Orsini, the ambassador from the Kingdom of Hungary to Portugal. Although he is only one of several supporting characters in the story, he is the only one for whom I could find a suitable classic work of art in colors that went handsomely with the established color scheme for the novels. The fact that he has a leopard skin saddle cover is bonus.
No spoilers, so I won't tell you what Colonel Karolyi gets up to, but I will tell you a story about French chasseurs. It is said that when they arrived in town, the populace started running: the men away from them, and the women toward them. Colonel Karolyi lives up to the light horsemen's reputation.
I expect PoNS 4 to appear in print this summer. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, being too ill to sail also means being too ill to do much of anything. My insurance runs out in September and I don't have a diagnosis, so I must concentrating on pushing for as much testing and consultation as I can get before this barky is wrecked on the reefs of the American healthcare system. Obamacare cannot arrive fast enough as far as I'm concerned.
The cover of PoNS 4 will continue the tradition of using classic works of art. This time the cover will be 'Le Chasseur' by one of Frances' most famous artists, Théodore Géricault (26 September 1791 – 26 January 1824). You can see an image here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GericaultHorseman.jpg. Géricault may be most famous for 'The Raft of the Medusa,' in which he depicts the horrors after the Medusa was wrecked and her passengers abandoned by the crew and officers, but he began his early career as a painter of cavalry officers. 'Le Chasseur' is the portrait that brought him fame.
Pirates of the Narrow Seas takes place in the middle of the 18th century, so the uniform is anachronistic, but when you're a small press with a budget only slightly larger than zero, custom art is out of the question. Hussars (light horsemen) with spectacular uniforms date back to the 1500s in Hungary and were in use throughout central Europe and were being adopted sporadically in western Europe during the 18th century; England was one of the last countries to adopt them (early 1800s). The hussar uniform with its ladders of gold braid on the chest was inspired by the Turkish uniform and became de rigeur for armies throughout the 19th century. The last hussars / light horsemen saw service during WWII.
Turkish military band music was spreading through Europe at the same time; the clarinet, cymbal, and kettledrum were all Turkish inventions, as was the very concept of a military band. Not surprisingly, the pomp of the military band accompanied the spread of the spectacularly uniformed light horsemen, and all military bands today are their direct descendants. If your high school still uses the old-fashioned band uniforms with a long-sleeved, short-waisted wool tunic, matching trousers, decorated with (fake) gold braid, topped off with an imitation bearskin, you too are the heir this Turkish/European tradition.
The light horseman cover is in honor of one of the supporting characters in the novel, Colonel Jan Karolyi, commander of the bodyguard for Count Orsini, the ambassador from the Kingdom of Hungary to Portugal. Although he is only one of several supporting characters in the story, he is the only one for whom I could find a suitable classic work of art in colors that went handsomely with the established color scheme for the novels. The fact that he has a leopard skin saddle cover is bonus.
No spoilers, so I won't tell you what Colonel Karolyi gets up to, but I will tell you a story about French chasseurs. It is said that when they arrived in town, the populace started running: the men away from them, and the women toward them. Colonel Karolyi lives up to the light horsemen's reputation.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
PoNS 4: Heart of Oak coming this spring
Heart of Oak, the fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, will be coming out in paperback later this spring/early summer. It will be followed by an ebook from Bristlecone Pine Press, available through all the same outlets as the previous books in the series.
Here are the blurbs:
Short blurb:
Heart of Oak, the fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship. Discarded by friends and lovers, his health wrecked, and dependent upon the charity of others, at the nadir of his career he discovers what really matters and must make a choice that will seal his fate.
Long blurb:
Heart of Oak, the fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship when the Amphitrite is the target of a Spanish cutting out raid.
Meanwhile, Cmdr. Alan Abby, retired ashore at Gibraltar, has the opportunity to show that although blind, he is a still an active and gallant officer. The redoubtable Duke Henrique, forced to marry a puritanical princess for political reasons, must once again call upon the courage of his British friends to aid him in a time of crisis. Captain Tangle, the famous Sallee rover, befriends them all, but catches a Tartar when he attempts to seize the Spanish royal yacht, bringing down the wrath of a Spanish battle fleet upon them all.
Through it all, Thorton is still longing for love, but is a victim of bad advice and his own naivété. He succumbs to the charms of the dashing hussar, Colonel Karolyi, sorely tempted to throw away everything and follow the devil-may-care light horseman. Captain Horner, determined to keep Thorton on the strait and narrow, intercedes, and both of the British officers are obliged to face the far superior saber skills of the colonel in separate duels.
Book Four brings Thorton to the nadir of his career, his health broken, abandoned by his friends, and forced to discover which man he used to love and admire has the Heart of Oak he can truly trust. Written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei, Pirates of the Narrow Seas combines swashbuckling adventure, gay romance, and gritty realism.
Here are the blurbs:
Short blurb:
Heart of Oak, the fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship. Discarded by friends and lovers, his health wrecked, and dependent upon the charity of others, at the nadir of his career he discovers what really matters and must make a choice that will seal his fate.
Long blurb:
Heart of Oak, the fourth book in the Pirates of the Narrow Seas series by M. Kei, continues the adventures of Lt. Peter Thorton of the British navy as his divided loyalties are tested in the crucibles of love and war. A pawn in the war for Portuguese independence, he is marked for revenge by the Spanish, and comes perilously close to losing both his life and ship when the Amphitrite is the target of a Spanish cutting out raid.
Meanwhile, Cmdr. Alan Abby, retired ashore at Gibraltar, has the opportunity to show that although blind, he is a still an active and gallant officer. The redoubtable Duke Henrique, forced to marry a puritanical princess for political reasons, must once again call upon the courage of his British friends to aid him in a time of crisis. Captain Tangle, the famous Sallee rover, befriends them all, but catches a Tartar when he attempts to seize the Spanish royal yacht, bringing down the wrath of a Spanish battle fleet upon them all.
Through it all, Thorton is still longing for love, but is a victim of bad advice and his own naivété. He succumbs to the charms of the dashing hussar, Colonel Karolyi, sorely tempted to throw away everything and follow the devil-may-care light horseman. Captain Horner, determined to keep Thorton on the strait and narrow, intercedes, and both of the British officers are obliged to face the far superior saber skills of the colonel in separate duels.
Book Four brings Thorton to the nadir of his career, his health broken, abandoned by his friends, and forced to discover which man he used to love and admire has the Heart of Oak he can truly trust. Written by a tall ship sailor and internationally acclaimed poet, M. Kei, Pirates of the Narrow Seas combines swashbuckling adventure, gay romance, and gritty realism.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A Sneak Peak at PoNS 3 and PoNS 4
http://bookworld.editme.com/kujakupoet
I've been at work most of the day sprucing up and improving my author pages at the GLBT Bookshelf. I have added thumbnails for all the ebok covers now, including the thumbnail of the cover for PoNS 3 : Iron Men. Although it is not yet out in ebook format, the cover is done, and the manuscript is at the coder, so I'm hoping it will be out in time for Christmas.
As usual, the ebook cover was done by Alex Beecroft. She found the image that is used on the cover and I'm very happy with it because it shows a Western sword side by side with a Turkish sword. To see the cover, visit the link above, choose PoNS 3 : Iron Men, and scroll down. Sadly, since it's not yet available for Kindle, the link won't take you anywhere, but it's coming. Eventually.
And speaking of 'eventually,' I've made progress with PoNS 4 : Hearts of Oak. I've hit chapter 33 of the draft, so we are now in the home stretch where I get to juggle all the pieces to make them come together and give a satisfying conclusion.
There is a new character introduced in PoNS 4 : Hearts of Oak, a 'bonny lighthorseman,' as the song puts it. He was inspired by a friend, Luc Alexander, the artist who retouched the cover of the paperback for PoNS 1 to give it a purple Sallee flag )not to be confused with Alex Beecroft, the ebook cover artist). Alex (the former) is a great fan of Hussars, and I have acquired the addiction from him.
The following artwork by French painter Gericault (famous for 'The Raft of the Medusa') depicts a chasseur, or French lighthorseman: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/GericaultHorseman.jpg. This image was the inspiration for the character of Colonel Jan Karolyi, the Hungarian Hussar in PoNS 4.
The following image is a portrait of Lord Paget, who was commander of the King's Own Hussars during the Battle of Waterloo: http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/72/Henry_William_Paget00a.jpg. He lost his leg in battle, and because he was such a handsome and popular man, it inspired advances in prosthetic technology to equip him with a prosthetic limb that would allow him to walk naturally. His leg went on to have an independent career: it was publicly exhibited for money in France for some years afterwards.
I've been at work most of the day sprucing up and improving my author pages at the GLBT Bookshelf. I have added thumbnails for all the ebok covers now, including the thumbnail of the cover for PoNS 3 : Iron Men. Although it is not yet out in ebook format, the cover is done, and the manuscript is at the coder, so I'm hoping it will be out in time for Christmas.
As usual, the ebook cover was done by Alex Beecroft. She found the image that is used on the cover and I'm very happy with it because it shows a Western sword side by side with a Turkish sword. To see the cover, visit the link above, choose PoNS 3 : Iron Men, and scroll down. Sadly, since it's not yet available for Kindle, the link won't take you anywhere, but it's coming. Eventually.
And speaking of 'eventually,' I've made progress with PoNS 4 : Hearts of Oak. I've hit chapter 33 of the draft, so we are now in the home stretch where I get to juggle all the pieces to make them come together and give a satisfying conclusion.
There is a new character introduced in PoNS 4 : Hearts of Oak, a 'bonny lighthorseman,' as the song puts it. He was inspired by a friend, Luc Alexander, the artist who retouched the cover of the paperback for PoNS 1 to give it a purple Sallee flag )not to be confused with Alex Beecroft, the ebook cover artist). Alex (the former) is a great fan of Hussars, and I have acquired the addiction from him.
The following artwork by French painter Gericault (famous for 'The Raft of the Medusa') depicts a chasseur, or French lighthorseman: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/GericaultHorseman.jpg. This image was the inspiration for the character of Colonel Jan Karolyi, the Hungarian Hussar in PoNS 4.
The following image is a portrait of Lord Paget, who was commander of the King's Own Hussars during the Battle of Waterloo: http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/72/Henry_William_Paget00a.jpg. He lost his leg in battle, and because he was such a handsome and popular man, it inspired advances in prosthetic technology to equip him with a prosthetic limb that would allow him to walk naturally. His leg went on to have an independent career: it was publicly exhibited for money in France for some years afterwards.
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!
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