Okay, I know that this has taken a lot longer than I said it would, but the sequel to Roman Mask is almost here. The release date is set for 18th October, and it is even available for pre-order today – Hooray!
The name of my new novel is Bedrock of Empire, and it follows the story of Cassius after he returns to Rome from the Teutoburg forest. Here is the full blurb:
Bedrock of Empire is the much-anticipated sequel to the highly acclaimed novel, Roman Mask – Winner of the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal award for Fiction/Action.
Cassius returns to Rome, intent on restarting his life after escaping death in one of the greatest military disasters of the ancient world, the loss of three legions in the Teutoburg Forest. Hopes of a hero’s homecoming are soon dashed as he discovers that a shaken Rome now scorns the returning survivors of the battle, believing them stained and tainted with ill luck. Worse is to follow, as he once again becomes entwined in the machinations and court-intrigues of the imperial family. Cassius seethes with anger as he discovers that the man behind the betrayal in Germany – his former best friend Julius Arminius, may be endangering another Roman province. Once again, Cassius must travel far from Rome, this time to Spain, and find the one man who may hold the answer – the younger brother of Julius Arminius.
It has been a long journey writing this sequel. I always had the seed of a story, and a clear idea of what lay in store for Cassius and Marcus after they left Germany. I was very clear that I wanted to show the impact of the battle of Teutoburg upon the wider Roman world, and I was always intrigued by the story of Arminius’ younger brother. However, turning any historical period into a novel, is never a straightforward process and this one proved to be no exception. Once again, I tried to stick as closely to the historical locations and events as possible, blending real historical figures into my account where possible.
The cover was once again developed for me by Design for writers who have done a great job in working with me, producing the cover I wanted.
If you wish to pre-order the Kindle version, you can here:
I am still finalising the last details for the paperback of the novel, but rest assured this will be ready for the 18th October.
Sorry about the wait….
Historical Novels and Epic Fantasy 
What was it the emperor said? “Quintilius Varus give me back my legions” (or words to that effect). When I was knee high to an electric typewriter I was told about the venture these Roman legions set out on in what became North Germany. It appeared in a documentary on the Yesterday channel a while back as well. Barbarians – 3 Romans 0. I think the programme was called something like “The Perfect Storm”, and that it affected the whole of Northern Europe. The Teutons made use of it. Yours should be a good story. The Romans didn’t know what hit them on that forest track!
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Hi Alan, Nice to hear from you. Bedrock of Empire concerns the aftermath of the battle, and how it impacted the rest of the Roman world. It is such a fantastic period of history, so rich with exciting events.
I hope all is going well for you?
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Hello again Thomas, it might’ve been the pointer the Romans didn’t want to know about, that the ‘Barbarians’ were more than they could handle – like the Picts in northern Britain. Saw ‘The Eagle’ again on TV. Great story, well handled about a Roman who wants to retrieve the eagle taken by the Picts from his father’s legion or cohort when they ventured north of Hadrian’s Wall. Seen it? Could the Romans have handled the Danes if they’d hung around another four centuries? In my last book, ‘FENMAN’ there’s lycanthropy and shape-shifting for the Normans to handle when they lay siege to Ely over winter, 1070-71. I think the Romans had a big thing about wolves, didn’t they?
Cheers,
Alan
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I’ll be ordering the paper-back as soon as I can.
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