Jess Steven Hughes's Blog, page 15

5 Star Review - Brilliant historical novel of Ancient Britain and Rome, August 9, 2015

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2URMRBU...

Normally, I would not publish an entire review from Amazon on my page, but this 5 star review is exceptional and I could not bypass it.

This review is from: The Wolf of Britannia Part II (Paperback)

Jess Steven Hughes is a real talent floating in a sea of wannabees. Books of vivid and evocative historical fiction about ancient Britain clashing with Rome come few and far between these days, requiring as they do deep research and a sensibility that will put you in the mind and soul of characters long buried. Jess Steven Hughes has these skills, and more. This is the third Hughes book I have read, and I hope for many more. His prose is always crisp, his scholarship fine-honed but never obtrusive. But these qualities alone don't make a book exceptional or unforgettable: a story must have the ability to grab you by the throat and not let you go until the last line on the very last page. Hughes has the gift of breathing life into his characters, which is a skill that a true historical writer must have, or fail in the task of transporting the reader into a vanished world.

Read The Wold of Britannia II and you will be transported into the mind of a great Celtic warrior, Caratacus, as he fights for freedom against the whole of Rome. Wolf of Britannia II has war and death, mystery and betrayal, love and glory, and an intrepid band of men and women fighting a battle that may be hopeless -- but then, perhaps not...

Here's a sample from Hughes' brilliant Wolf II: "Caratacus watched as wave after wave of his and Fergus ap Roycal's charioteers hurtled through the roiling dust, working opposite sides of the Roman column and hurling spears at the Roman shield-wall. Several penetrated and a few soldiers went down screaming. But the wall instantly closed around the dead men."

Read this prequel to The Sign of the Eagle slowly if you can. Take your time. Savor it. Delight in Hughes' deft plotting, his ability to breathe life into his characters. If you love historical fiction, I can nearly guarantee you will devour this books and its sequels and hope for more.

Proposed Back Cover Revision for The Wolf of Britannia, Part II

After winning the southern British throne, Caratacus and his tribe of Celtic warriors must face down the invading Roman army. He leads his people as they fight for freedom from the iron-fisted Roman rule that is in the process of obliterating their culture and lifestyle.

As the king strives to keep his people free, he must also battle his beautiful, conniving and lascivious cousin−a queen who wants Caratacus for herself.

Set in the years between 43 and 60 AD, in the mysterious land of ancient Britain and the majestic palaces of Rome, The Wolf of Britannia, Part II, is a painstakingly researched tale of one daring man, willing to risk his life to destroy the entire Roman army and to save his people.

http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-...

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Britannia-...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-w...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_n...

http://www.amazon.de/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.it/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.es/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.fr/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Wolf-Britanni...

http://www.junglee.com/The-Wolf-Brita...


Signed copies available @ Hastings 2512 E. 29th, Spokane, WA (509) 891-1695.

Signed copies available @ Hastings 101 Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID (208) 664-0464

Signed copies available @ Hastings 15312 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 924-0667

Copies available @ Barnes & Noble 15310 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 922-4104

Copies available @ Barnes & Noble 5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA (408) 979-0611

Copies available @ Barnes & Noble 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, WA (509) 736-1414

Proposed Back Cover Revision for The Wolf of Britannia, Part I

First Century AD Britain is a fragmented land of warring Celtic tribes, ripe for invasion by the juggernaut of imperial Rome. Knowing this, a young warrior, soon-to-be-legendary, Prince Caratacus, must unite the southern tribes if they are to survive. This is an enemy more cunning and powerful then either he or Britain has ever faced.

Standing by him is his wife, Rhian, a warrior princess who takes no prisoners. She is the first woman he has truly loved. With her support and that of other allies, Caratacus must outsmart a traitorous brother who is determined to take the throne, aided by a conniving Roman diplomat and a tribal king in the pockets of the Romans.

Caratacus must save his country not only from the pending Roman onslaught but from his own peoples treachery.
Or else die trying.

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Britannia-...

http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-w...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Britanni...

http://www.amazon.de/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.it/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.es/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.fr/Wolf-Britannia-P...

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Wolf-Britanni...

http://www.junglee.com/The-Wolf-Brita...

Signed copies available @ Hastings 2512 E. 29th, Spokane, WA (509) 891-1695.
Signed copies available @ Hastings 101 Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID (208) 664-0464
Signed copies available @ Hastings 15312 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, WA (509) 924-0667

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8w8a...

Author's Website Blog Update

http://www.jessstevenhughes.com/blog....
Check out my latest author's website updated blog. I discuss why I wrote THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA PART I & II; book signing updates, the latest installment of MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF ANCIENT ROME and more.

Face Book Author's Page Update

For those who are interested, I have updated my author's page now titled, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE TRILOGY.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Si...

The Writing of the Wolf of Britannia, Part I & Part II

I wrote the historical novels, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA PART I & II, in part because I found so little in historical fiction about the Celtic British King, Caratacus, who fought the Romans for eight years after they invaded Britain in 43 A.D.
Knowing he could not defeat the Roman jaggernaut in a classic pitch battle, he resorted to guerrilla warfare which he successfully waged for eight years before he was betrayed and captured by one of his own.
The Romans had expected to conquer Britain in two years, but because of Caratacus's efforts and those that came after him, e.g. Boudicca, it would take them more than thirty years.
This is a story not only of warfare but of political intrigue and the personal lives of Caratacus, his father, Cunobelinos (immortalized in Shakespeare as Cymboline), his brothers, Adminios and Togodubunos (Tog) and the women in his life, Rhian and Dana, who play very important roles.
We know very little of Caratacus's early life. Volume I is a story of the right of passage of a young Celtic prince who was aware of the Roman threat to his lands. I use historical characters and events where they are known and blend in fictitious characters and events in a logical fashion to move the story along.
In Volume I, we see the role women played in Celtic society. They had nearly equal rights with their men. They fought in battle alongside their men and were priests and healers as well. They could even be elected rulers by the tribal counsels. In this aspect, I show Caratacus, first wife, the vulnerable Rhian, a warrior in her own right taking up arms to fight in battle. When she could not bear children, Caratacus was forced to take another wife, Dana, the mother of Macha, the main character in my novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE.
Ultimately, Volume I ends when Cartacus drove his brother, Adminios, a drunk and incompetent, into exile. We know from history he would go to Rome and plead with the Emperor Claudius to invade Britain, which he did.
That leads us to Volume II, the invasion of Britannia. Most of this is based on fact as it is known. I have taken some historical license. We don't know if Celtic women fought against the Romans. In my novel, I show that they did.
Again, I show the family relationships in this novel, and we see Macha from birth until age seventeen.
We do see Caratacus's betrayal and capture along with his second wife and daughter Macha, who is seven at this point. But Caratacus and his family would survive.
Caratacus has been far too long underrated for his contribution in a gallant resistance against the might of Rome and these novels are my humble way of showing that he deserve greater recognition for his efforts. He is a true hero of Britannia.
If any of you are interested in purchasing copies you can obtain through Amazon or at my publisher Sunbury Press (www.sunburypress.com). These novels are not self-published indies. Sunbury Press is a legitimate traditional small press. Once these were accepted for publication, I worked with an editor for four months. I made several significant changes including the major rewrite of eight scenes and the adding of two new chapters. By the end of the month, the novels will be available on Kindle. Also, I would advise waiting until then to purchase the books. Several punctuation and word usage errors have been discovered and the volumes are in the process of being revised.

Book Signing Follow-up

On Saturday, June 13th, I conducted another successful signing @ Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Blossom Hill, San Jose, California. Met lots of interesting people (San Jose is very multi-cultural), gave out all my fliers and signed several copies of my three historicals, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, PART I & II, and THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE.

Store manager, Jeremiah, told me, "Camille (the Comm. Relations Manager) is very selective about who she allows to do book signings in our store. You are one of them. You can return anytime you want to sign books. ANYTIME!"

I felt a combination of humility and flattery knowing they felt so highly of me. I will certainly do my best to continue to earn their trust.

I want to thank Community Relations Manager, Camille; Store Manager, Jeremiah; and weekend manager, Jonathan for their support in making this a successful event.

I am through signing for the Summer. Will start again Sept. 12th @ Barnes & Noble, Kennewick, Washington. More details later.

Book Signing Reminder

Book signing reminder. For those who live in the San Francisco Bay area, I will be signing copies of my historical trilogy set in Celtic Britain and ancient Rome, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, PART I & II and THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Blossom Hill, 5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California, Saturday, June 13th, 12 - 5 p.m. This store was tagged by The San Jose Mercury News as the best book store in Silicone Valley. I have been to several other stores in the region and this one several times and would agree with the designation. Hope to see you there.

Blog Update

For those of you who still have not clicked on to my book sites on Amazon, Sunbury Press, etc and read about The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, below is a summary and an excerpt from chapter one.

The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is a breathtaking historical novel of action and suspense set in the wilds of First Century AD Britain. A young Celtic warrior, soon-to-be-legendary Prince Caratacus, must unite the southern tribes of Britain to fight an enemy more cunning and powerful than either he or Britain has ever faced, the juggernaut of imperial Rome.

As the prince fights alongside his wife, Rhian, a warrior princess who takes no prisoners, Caratacus must also outsmart a traitorous brother determined to take the throne with the support of Rome.

This is the story of a courageous man who must save his country not only from internal strife and treachery, but from the tyranny of Rome or die trying.

The following is an excerpt from chapter one.

Caratacus’s wicker chariot bucked and hurtled across every dip and rise in the track. Two lathering ponies strained at their harness as the young prince urged them ahead. Man-sized wooden targets sprinkled the course. Caratacus struck each through the heart with his casting spears. Now he raced for the finish line in a swirl of chalky dust, blue eyes ablaze with excitement.

Tawny hair whipped about his sunburned face. He sweated profusely in a woolen, short-sleeved tunic and tartan breeches, dust muting their colors. A gold collar burned his neck, but to rip it off would bring bad luck. The earthy musk of horse sweat blotted out all other odors.

Behind him, clattering wheels and thudding hooves roared in his ears. Four other chariots steadily gained on him. His horses responded to the stinging touch as he slapped the reins. Caratacus leaped from the flimsy cart onto the center drawbar between his team when another chariot nosed into the lead. He struggled for a foothold and looped the dragging reins about his wrists. Barefooted, he deftly edged his way forward on the jouncing bar and catapulted onto the back of his favorite beast. Kneeling on the bay pony, he bellowed encouragement, calling for even greater speed.

Sucking dust and screaming, urging the racers to ever greater strides, throngs of men, women, and children circled the large, rutted oval, which served as a race track below the great hill fortress of Camulodunum.

A small boy chasing a dog darted from the crowd and crossed in the front of Caratacus’s path. A woman screamed. He sucked in his breath—Damn! In a flash he kicked the pony’s side, sharply swerving the team, barely missing the child. The chariot bounced, arcing one wheel off the ground and back to the earth with a thud. Violently wrenched from the beast’s back, Caratacus grabbed its yoke collar and yanked himself up on the withers. A throbbing pain shot through his loins from where he caught the horse’s knotty backbone between his legs.

For an instant, Caratacus glanced at the jostling throng. He caught sight of flaxen-haired Rhian, daughter of the king’s champion. The young woman screamed encouragement. His team leaped ahead and stampeded towards the finish.

Caratacus heard a pop and then a rumbling noise. He turned and saw the left trace rein on his other pony had snapped loose from an iron holding lug. It whipped back and forth along the animal’s side. The mare squealed, terrified by the bridle’s lashing. She strained at leather bands around her girth and neck, trying to lurch free of the yoke collar.

For further information and book purchases, check one of the following links:

Caratacus rallies the tribes of Britain to face invading Romans
The Wolf of Britannia, Part I

Amazon: The Wolf of Britannia, Part I
(check out the five reviews on Amazon of this book)

UK Amazon: The Wolf of Britannia, Part I

You can also order copies from your brick and mortar book store as well.

Signed copies are available at the following Hastings Books, Music and Video Stores:

1. 101 Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (208) 664-0464.
2. 2512 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, Washington (509) 535-4342.

Copies are also currently available at the following Barnes & Noble Booksellers:

1. 15310 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley, Washington (509) 922-4104.
2. 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Washington (509) 736-1414.
3. 5353 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California (408) 979-0611.

For additional information check my website blog: http://www.jessstevenhughes.com/blog....

Book Review - The Wolf of Britannia, Part I

Check out this wonderful 5 star book review from Amazon.

Fight for Freedom in Celtic Britain..., June 4, 2015
By Tailer

This review is from: The Wolf of Britannia Part I (Paperback)

First I should say that I previously read Jess Steven Hughes' "Sign of
> the Eagle," an loved it -- for me it was a story told by a modern
> Umberto Ecco, without the academic conceit that made that book slow and
> creaky. So I approached The World of Britannia somewhat hesitantly:

> I'd loved that one; would I like this as well? Or was Sign of the Eagle
> a fluke? I am here to testify that Sign of the Eagle was no fluke. The
> author is a natural story teller. His domain is the Celts at the dusk
> of Roman rule. His story's are humanistic, full of mystery, suspense --
> yes, and violence where needed. There are so few good historical novels
> written today that are not bodice rippers meant only for women that this
> book is a breath of fresh air. I dare say women will like this story as
> much as men. And although it is a "Part I, " Wolf a complete,
> satisfying story -- another thing rare in a time of endless sagas with
> no beginnings or endings.
>
>Story about what, you ask? Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is a novel of
> action and suspense, panoramic and thrilling, set in First Century AD
> Britain where soon-to-be-legendary Prince Caratacus, a young Celtic
> warrior, struggles to unite disparate interests against an enemy that
> has brought the world to its knees: Imperial Rome.
>
>The prince and his warrior wife Rhian face not only Roman enemies, but a
> treacherous brother who'll do anything to take the throne. This writer,
> Jess Steven Hughes, has a deep and learned understanding of human
> failings and human heroism; in this story's dramatic depths, both are
> crafted by a master hand.
>
>Young and noble Prince Caratacus risks life and limb to save his country
> and the world he knows and loves -- it never occurs to him not to try,
> even against the most fearsome odds. Your pulse will race as this
> wonderful story brings you eye to eye with enemies born of internal
> strife and home-grown treachery, and those who represent the tyranny of
> Rome.
>
>Despite the demands of research, the difficulty of writing about the
> last days of Celtic Britain with a fresh eye, Hughes succeeds in bringing us
> something new in his story of these misty times: an understanding of the
> best and worst of humanity that feels as if it were gained firsthand.
>
>This story is a great adventure, and those are few and far between. I
> look forward to Part II, but found Part 1 of The wolf of Britannia to be
> fulfilling in every way. Five well-deserved stars.