The rear view mirror - saying ‘Thank you’

Do you ever look back and wish you’d thanked someone but didn’t or couldn’t for one reason or the other? And now it’s too late? I certainly have been in that position. I can think of some teachers who changed the course of my life or added to it immensely. But did I thank them? All I can do is thank every teacher I meet and say they might have pupils who also would have liked to thank them when it’s too late.

One thing I can do as an author is to thank people, long dead mostly, for their contribution to all our lives, including mine. In Under a Dark Star I have used the names of codebreakers and the engineer who developed the ‘Colossus’ computer, you know the one - the World's First Programmable Computer which helped win the Second World War by decoding enemy communications. His name was Tommy Flowers and I have used his name for one of the Revenue men tracking down the awful Dark Star. Other code-cracking heroes with honourable mentions are William Tutte and Jane Fawcett (Janey). There are others too. I ought to thank Jeff Bezos for starting up an online bookshop. - the mighty Amazon. Most of my books have a scattering of honourable mentions of people for all sorts of reasons and most are those I wish I’d thanked but can’t.

It’s such a pity that they’ll never know. But it might make us think that we each leave a legacy in the lives of other people and we don’t always know what changes we have made to people and history.
~

Historical romance set in the times of smugglers.

Here’s what reviewers have said:

“A great historical fiction with all the elements of a classic”, “ Dark romantic mystery on a knife edge throughout”, “Romance, danger, adventure, mystery, excitement and so much more”, “A gripping tale”, “A cracking good book”, “Highly Recommended”.


Set on island off the south coast of England where there were those who wrecked ships for their cargoes. And heartbreak haunts our hero.

Here’s what reviewers said:

“ All the fervour of a Poldark-style-adventure”, “Brilliant Read”, “A beautifully written historical filled with rich characterizations”, “Fascinating reading”, “Descriptive characters with great plot”.


Can the darkest of souls be forgiven? Here’s what reviewers said:

“Wow, really loved this series”, “Great to be re acquainted with favourite characters”, “I felt transported into another world”, “Intrigue, suspense, accurate historical setting”.


All are 0.99 in US and UK from Friday 26th May through until 31st May. And always FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Interestingly, for an author, more people are buying paperbacks this year than last – is it a trend?