Time is Fleeting

Since my last post, I finished my fourth novel of the Roman Sky series, Justinian’s Wall. The series is now set in 6th century Caledonia, where Scotland stands now. This novel and the next two are a tribute to my Irish-Scottish-Welsh-Pictish roots. My Scottish ancestors were forced off their lands during the Clearances while my Irish ancestors fled the Irish Famine. The history of both sides of my family beyond the turn of the last century are lost and unlikely to be found. It is probably why I spent so much time constructing Cillian’s family history as well as reconstructing Pictish and Brittonic languages.

It was also time that the Romans tried once again to conquer the Picts and deal with druids, who thrive outside the borders of this Roman Empire.

I am now halfway through writing Justinian’s Shore, which will be published this summer if all goes well. And then I plan to publish the third novel of the Beyond 1812 series, Summer of 1813, before the end of this year. I like making plans and schedules, even if they never work out as expected.

A Belated Victory

It is actually a belated update, five months after latest novel was published. Aside from the aggravation of an old injury, the death of my Mother, all of us here catching Covid, and trying to work on next my novel, there’s no good reason for taking this long to post something and update this blog with my latest work, Empire’s Victory.

Empire’s Victory was published in December, last year. The story was not much different from the outline that I drafted in 2017 although the events in Washington and Ottawa in January 2021 would  appear to have inspired the story rather than the already existing series’ outline and the real history it was based upon. I hoped these current events would not put off readers this novel and so I stuck with the plan: it was a good story that fit well in the series.

I was going to work on Spring of 1813, but after struggling with it during the challenges I noted above, I put it aside. A month later, I began working on Justinian’s Wall, the next book in The Roman Sky series. It took a month to develop the outline down to the chapter level and start writing the story. I completed Chapter One yesterday. The novel should be out this autumn with a fallback of out before the end of the year.

Now that I’ve updated this blog, I will start working on Chapter Two of Justinian’s Wall.

Spring is Here

Spring arrived at the end of July. Spring of 1813 that is. Aside from the major shifts involving Fort Meigs, this volume makes only small alterations to our world’s history of that spring. Winter of 1813 and Spring of 1813 have shaped the war and politics for the major changes that will occur in Summer of 1813. Enjoy.

Spring of 1813 is Coming

The next book of the Beyond 1812 series, Spring of 1813 should be out by July this year. I wonder how this forecast will turn out? 

The story 21-chapter-long outline is firm—as are the maps—and the writing of Chapter 3 is about become the writing to Chapter 4. 

James, the son of “Butcher” Butler, and his American cousin, George are on opposite sides of the war and a family division that goes back to the War of Independence. On top of that, they each work for their respective generals, Sir Isaac Brock and William Harrison, while their love lives and other concerns tug at them. They will encounter characters in this alternative history who also exit in ours, who will shape their views and actions.

As winter gives way to spring, General Brock’s army faces the army of General Harrison in the west and General Dearborn’s in the east. The cousins prepare for the expected attack each side will launch and must react to attacks that are not expected. It is, after all, the Spring of 1813. 

Below is the map of Upper Canada with related chapter numbers noted on it.

The Roman Sky Has Two Books Now

 It took longer than expected, but Empire's Shield is published, my book for 2021. 

While the rest of Magister Sittas's army has gone to help its Goth allies push back a Persian invasion in Gothic Armenia. Dux Bouzes has been left behind with a few legions and a war flock of airships to shield Roman Armenia from a possible, but unlikely second invasion. 

In that war flock, on the Eagle, Victoria is Cillian. As a new tent group commander, he must train a mix of recruits and veterans and build them into a team.

What started out as a peaceful spring on a quiet frontier is about to change.

Almost Done … Maybe

I might yet have Empire’s Shield on sale by December as I am plodding through the last three chapters now. One distracting, intrusive thought I ruminate about too much is what started me writing twenty years ago, and my annual commemoration of one event.

The Ides of June

I was just reminded that I planned to publish Book II of The Roman Sky series this month. What was I thinking when I posted that ambitious goal in March? 

Without tempting the Fates, I believe Book II might be out before the leaves fall (here) if nothing else unexpected happens to divert my attention, time, and energy.

If I lived on Cillian’s Earth, it would be AA (Anno Augusti) 2007 right now as its years are dated from the death of Augustus Caesar. So, I would still be behind schedule and in the midst of a pandemic as it’s the same year but with a different count.

Book II is set in AA 517, ten months after the battle of Dara in Book I. Sarapion’s Cohort flew north as it was supposed to do, but not as far north as originally ordered. Cillian has rebuilt his tent group from the steady flow of new sagittarii that feed the Airborne legions. But since it is spring, it is time for celebrations, change, and new campaigns. A peaceful year is about to end.