New book, new series, new world!

So, here’s what I’ve been secretly working on through the summer, my Project X of 2023. A completely new story, a new series, a new world – and a new genre. Well, somewhat. I went back to historical fantasy for this one – but it’s such a weird premise that I kept wondering, what the hell am I writing? Well, it’s here now, and I’m rather glad of how it turned out.

What do you even call this? A ‘punk’ set in 13th century Mediterranean – too early for clockworkpunk, not gloomy and dark enough for candlepunk. Galleypunk? Alchemypunk?

There’s working alchemy, and flying ships, but the rest of the setting is as true to history as possible: the Eastern Mediterranean after the Fourth Crusade. The Latins rule the seas and the land of the Greeks, while the remnants of Byzantium hide away, biding their time and plotting their return.

And unto this, Ikaria, daughter of a famous Aether engineer, destined to wear the diadem of the best racing pilota in the Aegean upon her troubled brow… No, wait, that’s not how this goes.

They killed her father. They took her ship and forbade her to fly. But nothing can stop Ikaria’s vengeance.

Forty years since Constantinople fell to the Venetian flying citadels, high-altitude Aether racing is the favoured pastime of bored, wealthy Latin nobles. Ikaria, proud daughter of a legendary Aether engineer and one of the best racing pilots in the Aegean, is determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s mysterious disappearance at the end of the last Grande Regatta of Negriponte.

Driven by the thirst of vengeance and pursuit of engineering excellence in equal measures, Ikaria vows to win the next Regatta herself – and to find out what really happened to her father. But there’s a catch: a new Imperial edict bars her, and anyone not of noble blood, from taking part in Aether races. To her rescue comes Sire Mikhael of Chiarenza – an enigmatic handsome young Greek turncoat in the service of new Latin masters. His motivations unclear, the source of his funds and supplies a secret, Ikaria nonetheless agrees to accept his help: together, they set out to challenge the supremacy of the six Hexarchs, the infamous Flying Barons of Negriponte.

OUT NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON!

The Shieldmaiden’s Throne – Release Day!

Five years after Madron’s return from Frankia, an unexpected visitor arrives at the capital of Britannia Prima: an envoy from Dux Syagrius of Gaul, ruler of the last existing remnant of the Western Empire.

In the ten years since Odowakr the Skir took Rome from the last Emperor and made himself a King of Italia, no usurper, general or politician managed to gain enough support to oust him. That may soon change – as Dux Syagrius announces he is to march on Italia and take the Emperor’s throne for himself. He’s seeking allies in this endeavour – and he’s asked Madron and her husband, Dux Honorius, to join him.

But before they can decide on how to answer this call to arms, there’s trouble closer to home. Utir, brother of the late Dux Ambrosius, is stirring a rebellion in the north, and needs to be dealt with. There’s only one trouble: Utir is not only a seasoned general, perhaps the finest commander in the province – he’s also build himself a loyal and powerful army, and locked himself in the mighty Roman fortress of Dewa.

The final chapter in The Song of Madron saga – The Shieldmaiden’s Throne – a tale of intrigue and survival in the shadow of a looming tragedy – OUT NOW ON AMAZON

PERSONAL NOTE:

This is the final book in the story of Madron – and the NINTH novel in the Song of Britain series. I have many more planned to come – we’re only just now entering the REALLY fun period, as young Caratac of Wenta – known to history as Cerdic of Wessex – is about to come of age as the ruler of a whole new kind of kingdom.

But – I have somewhat ran out of steam on this one. As I tried to start the new manuscript – working title The White Wolf – I found myself struggling more than usual. Apparently there’s only so many books on the same topic one can write before feeling the burn. So, I’m taking a break from following the history of the Lords of Britannia – but that doesn’t mean I’m taking a break from writing (how else am I going to earn a living, anyway?). I just started writing a new book and it’s going fast: but it’s a completely new direction for me, and a rather strange topic, so we’ll see where this one goes. Stay tuned for more updates!

Mini Spring Giveaway

For the next few days, I’m giving away my small back catalog of short stories and non-fiction e-books over on Amazon. All for free until the end of the week. No real reason, other than the end of KDP Select season and having to use up the free promo days. May you find here something you enjoy.

The Shielmaiden’s Song Book Two and Three – New Release and Pre-order

All is not well in Britannia Prima.

Though Princess Madron had helped her husband Honorius defeat the four-year-long revolt, and was blessed with a second child – a son – dark clouds are still gathering over the Dux’s throne. The rebellious nobles remain unplacated, the borders are still aflame, and a new menace of the Gewisse Saxons threatens the lines of trade and communication with the rest of Britannia.

Worse still, the old Dux Ambrosius is dying. Before he leaves this mortal world, he wants to ensure his legacy, and secure the inheritance of his son, Honorius – and the newly-born grandson – against the rebels and barbarians.To this end, he agrees to an alliance with the Bishop of Lindocoln on the eastern coast – a coast ravaged by a mysterious, newly arrived pirate fleet.

Madron joins her husband and his warriors on a expedition to aid the Bishop – but as she ventures into the inhospitable marshes around Lindocoln, she’s about to discover a conspiracy of vast proportions, stretching far beyond the Narrow Sea, all the way to the Imperial Gaul and Frankia.

Return to the Britannia of the Arthurian Age, and travel to Frankia of the Merovingians, in this new adventure in the best-selling The Song of Britain saga – second book of the The Song of Madron – OUT NOW ON AMAZON.

Five years after Madron’s return from Frankia, an unexpected visitor arrives at the capital of Britannia Prima: an envoy from Dux Syagrius of Gaul, ruler of the last existing remnant of the Western Empire.

In the ten years since Odowakr the Skir took Rome from the last Emperor and made himself a King of Italia, no usurper, general or politician managed to gain enough support to oust him. That may soon change – as Dux Syagrius announces he is to march on Italia and take the Emperor’s throne for himself. He’s seeking allies in this endeavour – and he’s asked Madron and her husband, Dux Honorius, to join him.

But before they can decide on how to answer this call to arms, there’s trouble closer to home. Utir, brother of the late Dux Ambrosius, is stirring a rebellion in the north, and needs to be dealt with. There’s only one trouble: Utir is not only a seasoned general, perhaps the finest commander in the province – he’s also build himself a loyal and powerful army, and locked himself in the mighty Roman fortress of Dewa.

The final chapter in The Song of Madron saga – The Shieldmaiden’s Throne – a tale of intrigue and survival in the shadow of a looming tragedy – OUT ON PREORDER ON AMAZON

The Shieldmaiden’s Honour – Map Reveal

The Shieldmaiden’s Honour is done and dusted, ready for release. I’ve moved it a week ahead, so it’ll be available for purchase a week from now. About time, then, to show off the map created for the book.

It’s the coasts of the English Channel and the North Sea this time: the marshes of the Ikens, and the swamps of Frisia, beyond the Empire’s borders – Netherlands and Belgium, from the dunes of Southern Holland to the Charcoal Woods of Wallonia.

BRITANNIA AND NORTHERN GAUL, CA. 480 AD

New Pre-order! What, already? Yes!

But it’s only been a week since “The Shieldmaiden’s Pride” Release!

Sure, I hear you. However! The writing on “The Shieldmaiden’s Honour” has been going so well – so far – that I can already announce the pre-order going live today, as an Amazon exclusive. The tentative release date is December, which should give me plenty of time to polish the manuscript, but I may be able to launch it even sooner than that.

So head over to Amazon and click that Pre-order button!

All is not well in Britannia Prima.

Though Princess Madron had helped her husband Honorius defeat the four-year-long revolt, and was blessed with a second child – a son – dark clouds are still gathering over the Dux’s throne. The rebellious nobles remain unplacated, the borders are still aflame, and a new menace of the Gewisse Saxons threatens the lines of trade and communication with the rest of Britannia.

Worse still, the old Dux Ambrosius is dying. Before he leaves this mortal world, he wants to ensure his legacy, and secure the inheritance of his son, Honorius – and the newly-born grandson – against the rebels and barbarians.To this end, he agrees to an alliance with the Bishop of Lindocoln on the eastern coast – a coast ravaged by a mysterious, newly arrived pirate fleet.

Madron joins her husband and his warriors on a expedition to aid the Bishop – but as she ventures into the inhospitable marshes around Lindocoln, she’s about to discover a conspiracy of vast proportions, stretching far beyond the Narrow Sea, all the way to the Imperial Gaul and Frankia.

Return to the Britannia of the Arthurian Age, and travel to Frankia of the Merovingians, in this new adventure in the best-selling The Song of Britain saga – second book of the The Song of Madron.

The Shieldmaiden’s Pride – Release Day!

The third trilogy in the Song of Britannia saga – Madron’s story starts here!

Madron knows she’s destined to fame and renown. In her veins runs the blood of Wortigern, the great Dux of the eastern Britons, and of Eobba, the mighty warchief of the Iutes. Wars have been fought for her hand. Her union with the western Dux’s son brought peace to the divided land. Their child is the hope for the entire nation’s future.

But there are many who don’t want to see that future. Bands of paid warriors strike at her and her husband, forcing Madron to seek safety in the place she left many years ago, but still calls home: the greatest city in Britannia, Londin. Here, she will stumble upon an even greater conspiracy – one that threatens not only her family, but to engulf the whole island in flames of a new war.

And her only clue to discover who’s behind it all is one half of a golden solidus…

A new heroine – a new band of comrades – a new mystery – and a whole brand new story in the best-selling series The Song Of Britain – The Song of Madron!

I admit I’m a bit worried about how this one will be received. It’s my first time writing from a woman’s POV – never an easy task for a male writer – and it’s the first book in the saga that is less focused on war and battles – though there still are some! – and more on a kind of detective, introspective work, a sort of Dark Age-Noir story. We’ll see how it goes – too late to stop now, I’ve already got half of the next book plotted out! I like it – hope you will too!

– James Calbraith

The Shieldmaiden’s Pride – Map Reveal

“The Shieldmaiden’s Pride” – Book One of the new trilogy, The Song of Madron – is now in the final editing and proofreading stages, with the release scheduled for July 1st – but I can’t wait to show off the maps that will be in the book. Keen-eyed readers will recognise I used one of the earliest maps from Saxon Might as base for this one, but with added detail and some changes in political geography in the 25 years since the period of that book.

BARBARIAN SETTLEMENT IN BRITANNIA, 475 AD

PRE-ORDER LAUNCH: THE SHIELDMAIDEN’S PRIDE!

Today’s the day!

When I first started jotting down plot ideas for this book, the main event in the news was the refugee problem on the Polish border, so I set up some of the plot around refugees fleeing from a distant conflict. Little could I suspect that by the time I start writing the manuscript, the crisis will be replaced by an actual *war*, and a refugee catastrophe of proportions unseen since the 2nd World War…

It’s not an easy time to write any book, but perhaps especially one that is so distant from what’s happening around us. Escapism is difficult when reality is chasing you down, pins you to the ground and demands to be heard from. When checking Twitter and news sites replaces all other activity. Still, work can’t wait. Books won’t write themselves, despite the progress in artificial intelligence!

So, here it is. Only a month behind schedule, but going strong. The first novel in the new trilogy, the Song of Madron. A lot is going to be different this time – not least of which is an attempt to write a female heroine. I’m happy with how it’s going so far – hope you’ll all be happy too, when it’s finished!

---

Madron knows she’s destined to fame and renown. In her veins runs the blood of Wortigern, the great Dux of the eastern Britons, and of Eobba, the mighty warchief of the Iutes. Wars have been fought for her hand. Her union with the western Dux’s son brought peace to the divided land. Their child is the hope for the entire nation’s future.

But there are many who don’t want to see that future. Bands of paid warriors strike at her and her husband, forcing Madron to seek safety in the place she left many years ago, but still calls home: the greatest city in Britannia, Londin. Here, she will stumble upon an even greater conspiracy – one that threatens not only her family, but to engulf the whole island in flames of a new war.

And her only clue to discover who’s behind it all is one half of a golden solidus…

A new heroine – a new band of comrades – a new mystery – and a whole brand new story in the best-selling series The Song Of Britain – The Song of Madron!

mybook.to/shieldpride

The Song of Madron, Book One – Cover Reveal

These are not easy times, for anyone. But somehow, between bouts of plague, frantically refreshing Twitter for news of war, and general mental chaos of it all, I’m managing to keep only a month behind shedule for the next book. I’m hoping to put a pre-order in motion in a week or so – so it’s time to reveal the next book’s cover and title.

It’s a beginning of a new trilogy, the third in the saga, and a different type of story this time, which is reflected in a slightly different title style. Think more Sharpe than Uhtred; more secret missions, conspiracies and subterfuge than battles and grand campaigns… Can I pull it off? Who knows, but I’ll give it a damn good try!

Introducing: The Song of Madron, Book One: The Shieldmaiden’s Pride

(photo credit: Yuriy Seleznev, via Shutterstock)

Keep safe everyone – and long live free Ukraine.