Shanty For The Soul
About this ebook
The only person he can trust is Billy Bird, the crow’s nest girl, a young pirate with sharp eyes who’s about to see more than she ever bargained for.In the volatile Province of Maudlin, enemies old, new and numerous await.
Grand Merchant Xavier Angst bears a grudge that has simmered for eight long years, and he will spend every coin he has to ensure Silus does not escape again. Many others remember de Senza’s last visit and have not forgiven him.
Running out of friends, Silus is relieved when he bumps into Cap’n Samira Dalal, another of the infamous Eight, and a pirate renowned for her cool demeanour and sharp wit. Together they learn that one of their number, Brawley the Vile, arrived two days ago and was murdered along with most of his crew. It’s too great a coincidence. The harbour town is an elaborate trap, and the more they fight the tighter it grips.
Someone - or something - hunts them, and once again Silus de Senza’s arrival in Maudlin will turn the damned place upside-down.
About the author
Prologue : My parents met. (Prologues are never much use.)
Chapter One: I am born. The world blinks.
Chapter Two: I toddle. I am introduced to the works of Richard Scarry. The illustrations burn themselves into my tiny mind. This is followed by an intense interest in Winnie the Pooh and the Radio Times.
Chapter Three: Beanos and Dandys and tape recorders enter my life. I read the comic strips aloud, record these performances. Leads to writing my own stories, which are mostly about spaceships or murderous snakes.
Chapter Four: Santa brings a Commodore 64. Writing is forgotten.
Chapter Five: Teenage nerdism strikes. Dragonlance Chronicles are read. An attempt is made to copy them. Results are dreadful.
Chapter Six: Off to university to study ancient history and archaeology. Hat and whip not received. Compaints about this are ignored. University mostly a waste of time, apart from hours spent writing apocalyptic horror-comedy on 386 PC. It's great.
Chapter Seven: Apocalyptic horror-comedy sent out to literary agents. None are interested. Novel not great. Mostly a waste of time.
Chapter Eight: A long period filled with much writing and many submissions and plenty of rejection letters. Decide I can't stand prologues as they're never much use.
Chapter Nine: Short stories accepted by Polluto, Voluted Tales and Kzine. Prompts a vigorous interest in Kindle Direct Publishing. First release is Macadamian Pliers, YA horror with an emphasis on creepy, spooky and other ooky things.
TO BE CONTINUED...
