writerlywitterings

There is always something happening when you have as many books published as I do. Last week Headline contacted me to let me know about two more little ideas they’ve had.

First is a brilliant one, I have to admit. They are putting together THE MICHAEL JECKS COMPENDIUM. This is going to be a collection of all of the first chapters of all of my books, in one group. Obviously this isn’t something they’re doing entirely altruistically, they are hoping to sell a bunch of books as a result. Still, for readers who’ve not yet discovered me, this is a fabulous idea. People can at least get a feel for my writing and for my characters. I love it as a concept, and I’m hoping that the fact that the compendium will be free will entice more people to look and try my stories!

That will be out this week, so keep your eyes open if you want to take a squint

Later, for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading THE MAD MONK OF GIDLEIGH, THE TEMPLAR’S PENANCE or THE OUTLAWS OF ENNOR, there is a special coming that will appeal, I hope. You’ll be able to buy THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR COLLECTION from Headline for a ludicrously cheap £4.99. For those who already have the books – sorry! Hopefully it’ll tempt more folks to try them, though.

As you’ll have noticed, hopefully, the whole of the Templar series has been rebranded now by both Headline and Simon and Schuster. They have these delicious new covers that really do appeal. Well, they appeal to me, anyway! The new covers will be available from both publishers as e-books, but for real books it’s going to be confusing. The simple fact is, none of the titles is out of print. Some haven’t sold so well, but there are stocks of all the titles and reprinting is quick and easy. Putting new covers on printed books is pretty expensive, I’m told, so Headline will wait until there is a massive influx of orders for older books before they’ll consider re-issuing the titles with the new covers.

And now the serious news.

I’ve had so many people asking for new books in the Puttock/Furnshill series, that I’ve decided I’m going to have to try to please people. So, with that in mind, I’m intending to try to write and publish my own follow-up story that will cover the death of Edward II – and what he did next. I have an outline idea for this already (plus six others) which I’m keen to write, so what I’m intending is to look into crowd funding for this story with a view to making sure I have some money coming in while I write it. Otherwise the project will fail while I try to get some cash working in a checkout line in Sainsbury’s. I don’t want that. I think I make a better author than shop assistant. So, keep your eyes pinned to this blog and hopefully as soon as I’ve finished this story, and then the book on Poitiers, there will be good news for all those who’re interested in the idea of more Templar series stories!

All best and happy reading!

NEW COVERS: 

The first in the series from Simon and Schuster:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there were the Headline books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then from Simon and Schuster again:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally the last titles from Simon and Schuster again:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not forgetting the prequel to the series!