My work blends fiction with historical and scientific fact. Before investing time to read it, though, you deserve to know a little about me.

Gustave Flaubert (author of Madame Bovary), said: "An author in his book must be like God in the universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere." 

Considerably less skilful than Flaubert, I've often been visible everywhere and present nowhere in my work.  Hiding behind my invented characters and worlds. It's fiction goddamn it and yes indeed, I've been guilty of keeping the kimono tightly belted.

I promise, however, to try to follow Gustave's advice in future. Without any further ado, allow me please to undo my belt a little.

Is it just me, or do you, too, think that our revolutions around the sun have begun to wobble?  7.2 billion of us shoving, striving - our selfish genes forcing our once smooth orbit to lurch. Inching closer to self-destruction each day.

We seem lately to have lost our moral compass. Ethics are scarce, greed, lust and gluttony rampant and our relentless pursuit of personal happiness has us on path to self-destruct.

Or does it?

I'd like to think not. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I still believe in the essential goodness of humanity. Naïve? Certainly. But I'd rather live with hope than despair and my writing reflects that.

If you like history and science, enjoy stories of all kinds, especially ones about sailing and boats and technology, and yes, fortunes in gold and a little romance, be my guest and thank you for reading.

Comments, lewd, rude or critical, are welcome.