Comments for Seelőwe Nord

Comment on PROJECTS UPDATE by Author

Author — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:49:30 +0000

Writing like mad and trying not to let Christmas slow me down too much! Aiming to have this one out for the early summer 2012. Giving the Guards a rest for this one, with all the glory going to some well deserving county regiments this time! Will release the title end of February’ish or there abouts, once the manuscript has gone off to the publisher.

Comment on PROJECTS UPDATE by Sparker

Sparker — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:58:45 +0000

NW Europe ’44 – That’s fantastic news Andy! Normandy, Market-Garden, the Reichswald? Can’t wait…

Photos look good too. I would say they look as smart as Guardsmen, but not quite!

Comment on PREQUEL IS COMPLETE! by Sparker

Sparker — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Great news Andy – Title sounds good. Publication date June/July? That’ll be something to cheer up the Aussie winter!

When’s the third volume due! (legs it fast!)

Comment on WARGAMES SCENARIO – THE AMBUSH OF DICKIE SMITHSON’S CARRIER PLATOON by Author

Author — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:51:58 +0000

Am fairly new to Flames of War. I generally prefer 28mm figures, but trying to put together bigger forces with the correct vehicles can be difficult and time consuming. Flames of War caught my eye about six months ago as it is very easy to build up a bespoke force very quickly, and also allows bigger battles because of the scale. Basically using the Blitzkreig supplement as my guide as I start to play-test the rules, but also doing some of my own inventions to cover unusual forces such as the composite force commanded by Jackson at the Holme Box, a mixture of civilian WWI veterans, RAF ground crew and Home Guard. Also using an excellent book I got from Helion Order of Battle series which gives detailed ORBATs for British and Commonwealth Armies between 1939 – 1943. So, like most people in wargaming (and I’m very much a novice gamer) I am getting by using the established rules, coupled with some trial and error. Actually, I’ve found that the experimenting is the really fun part.

Comment on FACT OR FICTION? by Author

Author — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:43:23 +0000

A good question! The simple answer is, as this was my first novel and I was covering a period still on the edge of living memory, I was wary about the sensibilities of those who were a part of the events of 1940, and their relatives. In addition to this, it did become very difficult to pin down certain units, ships and squadrons, and I was of course aware that some readers who adopt the ‘rivet-counter mentality’ might protest if I was to deviate too far from accepted fact. To that end, I took the coward’s way out and played it safe by making quite a bit up. In some case too, to use the original facts would have been slightly inconvenient if I was to make the idea of a German invasion believable, so I just had to go for it and invent some stuff where I needed to make the novel work. Having said all of this, due to the fact that the novel has been so well received thus far, especially amongst the military and veterans community, I have been much bolder with the prequel. Around 60-70% of the characters in the prequel really existed and about 85% of the units mentioned are also the original units. One of the great things about writing a novel based on the Dunkirk campaign is that there is a wealth of information available so it has allowed me to dramatise the events with (I believe) a fair amount of accuracy. Mind you, even with such a well documented campaign, there is no shortage of contentious points and conflicting accounts, so where that has occurred I have tried to steer a middle course through it, or else resorted to my favourite trick of just making it up! Now spending several weeks going back through it all to double check all the facts, times, places, etc and make sure there is a balance between action and narrative as the novel covers a 24 day period, 6 countries and half a dozen armies. Very difficuly to squeeze the story into 200,000 words but think I’ve managed it quite well. Finally, in the foreword to this novel, I will emphasise that the novel is designed to honour the memories of those who were a part of these momentous events. In fact, there is only one part of the novel where any character, German or British, is viewed from a negative angle, and that is during a passage on a well known and proven war-crime. Other than that, I hope it will make people appreciate the tremendous feats of military skill and personal courage accomplished by all the protaganists back in 1940. As ever, each new piece of writing becomes a learning experience. My biggest decision now is whether to continue with a WWII theme for book three or try something different. I have no shortage of ideas ranging from English Civil War, to Bronze Age Fantasy, to Near Future Dark Fiction, along with a whole range of WWII options of course. We shall have to see.

Comment on WARGAMES SCENARIO – THE AMBUSH OF DICKIE SMITHSON’S CARRIER PLATOON by Sparker

Sparker — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:45:28 +0000

Great news about the prequel. And please keep the scenarios coming. Do you use the FOW orbats in ‘Blitzkreig’ or do you tweak them or use your own?

Comment on FACT OR FICTION? by Sparker

Sparker — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:41:59 +0000

Is there any reason why the Regimental names and Ships names are fictional? I could understand if they were stuffing up in the novel but most of them seem to be doing fine. It seems a good opportunity to air some of the fine old regimental names now so sadly lost with all the amalgamations… Just a thought, I hate to nit pick such a great read!

Comment on Author’s update March 2011 by Sparker

Sparker — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:46:15 +0000

‘End of June’ – Bonza!

Comment on Author’s update March 2011 by Author

Author — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:17:49 +0000

Thank you so much for your kind comments. Really pleased so many people have enjoyed the book; it’s spurring me on with the prequel. That said, it also puts the pressure on to make it a good one! Just recieved a thank you letter from one of the charities I’m supporting for this year’s donation so it’s definately worth writing, if only to help out some great causes. I’m planning on the prequel hitting the market around end of June – if the publisher approves it of course! Many thanks again – AJ

Comment on Author’s update March 2011 by Sparker

Sparker — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:47:31 +0000

Well just finished the book, am suffering withdrawal symptoms so please crack on with the prequel!

Excellent writing, if I may say so, really fast paced yet with what seems to be an authentic feel. As a ‘former naval person’ I was thrilled that the Royal Navy’s role was so well interwoven into the plot.

I liked the German comment about the Swordfish torpedo bombers being ‘absurd little biplanes’ or somesuch. How true! Yet in the hands of the Fleet Air Arm, quite devastating.

As a recent serviceman, one of the greatest priviledges was meeting and talking with some of the vets who flew and crewed these ‘stringbags’, to get an inkling of what it was that allowed them to succeed with this kind of gear!

Great book – more please!