====================================== S T O P - P R E S S SHIPMATE FROM AMERICA WINS ARTEMIS COMPETITION Read the winning entry in this newsletter ====================================== "THE BOSUN'S CHRONICLE" --- emailed to Shipmates around the world the first week of each month --- VOL.1, ISSUE 7, NOVEMBER 2001 Avast there - and welcome aboard from the bosun of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' Network! Do you have any suggestions for new features for the newsletter? There are signed copies of the paperback edition of KYDD waiting for the two most interesting ideas. 1) DECKLOG 2) HANDS TO MUSTER 3) NAUTICAL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH 4) THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 5) ON THE STOCKS 6) SIGNALS FROM FOREIGN PARTS 7) DAYS OUT 8) REPORTS ==================== 1) DECKLOG --- events and activities --- Last month Julian spoke to a packed audience at the inaugural conference of the Historical Novel Society, held in London. Founded in 1997 by Richard Lee, the HNS covers historical fiction coming out in the UK, US/Canada and Australia and publishes magazines and a newsletter. Julian also gave a talk at the Guildford Book Festival in the historic Guild Hall, which was already 200 hundred years old in Kydd's day! Visitors to Guildford can see the Guild Hall and many of the other extant buildings and features from the eighteenth century and earlier. [see "Thomas Paine Kydd's Guildford" in Series -> Features] This month the paperback edition of KYDD has been selected for the November Fresh Talent promotion by leading UK books retailer chain WH Smith. Look out for special in- store displays! ===================== 2) HANDS TO MUSTER --- Behind KYDD is a great team; each month "The Bosun's Chronicle" goes behind the scenes to talk to one of the Shipmates who have been involved in some aspect of the book --- This month we feature Rupert Lancaster, Audio and Media Publisher at Hodder & Stoughton. Rupert began he career as a bookseller, then joined Random House and became MD of Random House Enterprises, which was responsible for all the lines imported from the States. Eight years ago he was invited to join Hodder & Stoughton to set up their audio list. +Bosun. Can you tell us a little about the history of audiobooks and who are the main buyers? +Rupert. EMI brought them out 25 years ago. They appeal to both men and women in roughly equal proportions and they're mainly listened to in cars. +Bosun. When you're making an audiobook how much is actually cut from the original manuscript? +Rupert. We have specialist editors who handle this; it's a very skilled job - our scripts are 20,000 words long, because that's the amount that can be read aloud in two hours. [As is the case with many modern novels, Julian's manuscript ran to well over 90,000 words]. +Bosun. The music in KYDD was very atmospheric. Was it specially recorded? +Rupert. Yes. Because KYDD is the first of a series we decided to commission and record enough original music to be used not just on the first one, but on subsequent volumes as well. We were very pleased with how it worked out. +Bosun. Why did you select Jack Davenport as the reader for KYDD? +Rupert. We wanted someone of a similar age to Kydd and who would "grow up" with him, so we could use him for all the recordings - and he is a very good reader. [Jack is probably best known for his portrayal of Miles in the BBC series "This Life"; he has also appeared in "The Wyvern Mystery" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley".] +Bosun. What are the plans for ARTEMIS? +Rupert. We'll launch alongside the hardback and our dedicated audio publicist Lucy Dixon will be targetting the media for special audio coverage. We have had excellent feedback about KYDD. In fact KYDD and ARTEMIS are perfect books to turn into audios - clearly defined characters, good plots and loads of action! [Unabridged versions of KYDD are being produced by Books on Tape in the U.S. and by Magna in the U.K. See ON THE STOCKS for further details.] NEXT MONTH: The Bosun catches up with Jamie Hodder-Williams. Jamie was the Marketing Director when Hodder & Stoughton were the successful bidders in the auction for the first four books in the Thomas Kydd series. He is now the Managing Director of Hodder & Stoughton - so Shipmates can look forward to a "view from the top"! ==================== 3) NAUTICAL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH --- Every month Julian talks about a website with sea links --- THE WAR TIMES JOURNAL. The War Times Journal is an on-line magazine that covers all periods of military history. Of special interest to Thomas Kydd Shipmates is the Archives section, in particular the letters and dispatches of Horatio Nelson. It is widely acknowledged that Nelson had an unusually clear mind, a keen intellect and an insatiable thirst for glory - and these qualities are evident in his papers. The letters and dispatches are divided into The Atlantic and Tenerife, 1797; The Battle of the Nile, 1798; and the Trafalgar Campaign. The latter section includes a photo of Nelson's last letter to Lady Hamilton. ==================== 4) THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY --- Julian takes a look at an aspect of life at sea and ashore in the Great Age of Fighting Sail --- THE BOSUN'S CALL. Byron, in "Childe Harold" wrote 'Hark to the boatswain's call - the cheering cry...' There are references to this device from Medieval times - the Bosun's Call provided a very effective method of communicating at sea; its distinctive whistle could cut through the din of the noise of loud voices, cannon blasting and storms raging. The badge of office of the Boatswain, it was operated by the Boatswain's Mates when passing orders to the seamen, ranging from lowering a boat to bending and setting sail. With its 3 distinctive tones (straight whistle, warble and trill) a great number of combinations are possible; around 50 orders were conveyed in this way in Kydd's day. The names of the components of the Whistle reflect its nautical associations - the tube is known as "the gun", the part which makes the sound is "the buoy" and the flat plate that holds the device together is "the keel". It is suspended on a silver chain. Apart from its working uses, the Bosun's Call had an important ceremonial role for Piping Aboard, reserved for a Captain of a ship. The Piping Aboard ceremony was always led by the Bosun. Today, the Bosun's Call remains a much-loved part of the customs and practices of The Navy and is still used to attract attention - through the loudspeaker system. The Piping Aboard ceremony (with its distinctive low, high, low call) is also retained. (The Queen, due to her rank as England's Lord High Admiral, is accorded this honour.) ==================== 5) ON THE STOCKS --- News of upcoming books, foreign translations, audio versions, other products --- PAPERBACK EDITION OF KYDD. The British edition of the paperback of KYDD is published this month. It also carries the first chapter of ARTEMIS. ISBN 0 340 79474 7. œ6.99. In Australia publication date is December 6. US publication is scheduled for June 2002. ISBN 0 7432 1459 5. $13.00. ARTEMIS. ARTEMIS is published in hardcover in the UK April 2002. ISBN 0 340 79475 5. The US publication date is July 2002. UNABRIDGED AUDIOBOOK. Magna's unabridged audiobook of KYDD, read by Geoffrey Annis, is due for release in July 2002. ISBN 185903 5388. ==================== 6) SIGNALS FROM FOREIGN PARTS --- We welcome news and views from Shipmates around the world --- Shipmates come from all countries, and all walks of life. This month's Shipmates are Richard Clark, Graham Davenport and Ken Lamprey. Richard Clark, of Cincinnati, Ohio, served in the USNR, on active duty 1952-54. He writes that having had just a taste of white hat life he can appreciate a little of what Thomas Kydd was up against. Now 72, Richard remains very active; he is a member of a history book club, enjoys DIY and has just bought a Cessna. He is also treasurer of the Tristate Ferret Connection. Graham Davenport, 51, heads up a business group covering the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia and travels extensively. He enjoys reading naval novels, particularly in airport lounges! Graham told Julian he especially liked chapter 10 of KYDD - and has read it twice. A keen golf player, Graham maintains it uses up the calories involved in one of his other great joys - cooking and eating. Ken Lamprey loved the feeling of authenticity in KYDD. His one claim to the sea, he writes, was being transported to Egypt as a private in the REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) in 1947 and then on to Palestine. The memories of that voyage have always remained with him - the great loneliness and magic of the open ocean. Julian would love to hear from you. Contact + PERSONALISED CHRISTMAS CARD FROM JULIAN + To receive a personalised Christmas card from Julian featuring Geoff Hunt's original cover artwork for ARTEMIS, "HMS Artemis in the Great Southern Ocean", just drop an email to the Bosun with your name and full postal address. ==================== 7) DAYS OUT --- Each month we visit somewhere around the world of special nautical interest --- ENGLISH HARBOUR, ANTIGUA. Now sympathetically restored after falling into disrepair in the late nineteenth century, Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour is the only remaining original Georgian dockyard in the world. It is part of a 15-square mile National Park, which includes partially restored army fortifications and lookout trails. For nearly a hundred years from 1713, the Caribbean was the scene of struggle for naval supremacy in which Britain, Spain, Portugal, France and the United Provinces were competitors. English Harbour's importance grew in the eighteenth century not only as a port but also as a hurricane refuge and for careening His Majesty's Ships in the deep water against the shore. By being able to repair, victual and water ships in the West Indies, Britain was able to keep a squadron of ships continually in the Caribbean, thus maintaining naval superiority. Well-known admirals who used the harbour include Nelson, Rodney and Hood. Nelson arrived in 1784 at the head of the Squadron of the Leeward Islands. He spent almost all of his time in the cramped quarters of his ship, declaring the island to be "a vile place" and "a dreadful hole". Serving under Nelson at the time was the future King William IV, for whom the altogether more pleasant accommodation of Clarence House was built. Today, yachtsmen from all over the world flock to Antigua during Sailing Week. =================== 8) REPORTS Since its launch in April KYDD has attracted a great deal of notice - and many column inches in publications all around the world. These published reviews are on the official Julian Stockwin website But this month, we are featuring excerpts from some of the recent "reports" written by Shipmates themselves. "I am a great fan of sea stories and your KYDD series promises to be among the best..." JD "I appreciate how you've woven explanations of things nautical into the book by having your character learn the ropes as a landlubber..." BW "I located KYDD in the Broken Hill Library [Australia] the other day and read it one hit..." DH "Thanks for a great read...I have added you to my favourite author's list..." CC "KYDD is told from an incredibly interesting and unique perspective...I will buy everything you put out!..." JM "KYDD was unputdownable. I felt as though I was with him all the way..." HA [See a larger selection of comments from readers of Julian's debut novel - www.JulianStockwin.com SERIES -> KYDD -> REVIEWS] COMPETITION WINNER In the September issue, the Bosun asked "What one thing about KYDD, Julian's first book, did you most enjoy?" Many Shipmates entered this competition, and choosing the winner was difficult! David Roth's entry was awarded the prize of a signed advance proof copy of ARTEMIS. His answer was: "The love of the wind, the sea and sailing ships which emerges despite the dangers, privations and hardships encountered by the common sailor." David has promised to write a review of "ARTEMIS" for this newsletter. Look for it in the New Year! [We will feature more competitions in the coming months. Watch this space for details.] ================== Yours aye THE BOSUN (To unsubscribe this newsletter email )