The Bleeding Land (55 page)

When all is said and done, this is simply a story, a tall tale and nothing more. My very greatest hope is that you have enjoyed it.

One final pleasure remains and that is to thank some very important people. Firstly I want to acknowledge Mr Transworld himself, Larry Finlay, for wholeheartedly backing this book even before my first novel,
Raven: Blood Eye
had been published in mass-market paperback. Since the very beginning, Larry has shown me unstinting support, giving me the freedom and confidence to get on with the job, and for that I’m tremendously grateful. Likewise, I want to say a huge thank you to my editor, Simon Taylor, whose brisk enthusiasm is only matched by his astute understanding of the craft. He is also great fun to work with, all of which makes my job the easier. My agent, Bill Hamilton, deserves wholehearted thanks for putting up with me. Bill, you know all that sensible and well-considered advice? Well, keep it coming! And while I’m at it I must tip my three-bar pot helmet at Stephen Mulcahey who
designs
my covers. Steve, if I hadn’t written them, I’d buy them for the covers alone. That’s good enough for me.

I’d also like to thank a good friend and film director with whom I’ve twice had the privilege of working, first for a short film and book trailer for my
Raven
saga, and recently for the trailer to the
Bleeding Land
series. Phil Stevens and the fantastically talented team at Urban Apache Films have gone above and beyond to produce two stunning pieces of work that, in my opinion, put even some Hollywood multi-million-dollar movies to shame. Talent always rises to the top, and my heartfelt gratitude goes to Phil and the team for all their support.

As I have mentioned, this novel presented its own set of challenges, particularly the research side of things. Fortunate for me then that in 2010 at English Heritage’s Festival of History at Kelmarsh Hall I met a group who have been only too happy to share with me their passion for keeping history alive. The Fairfax Battalia of the English Civil War Society have invited me into their ranks, put me in full kit, and given us fantastic photo opportunities. Ken Clayton deserves special mention for being incredibly helpful and for introducing me to Fairfax Battalia’s CO, Simon Frame. Simon very kindly agreed to read this novel in draft form and share with me his prodigious knowledge of the period. Many of my original errors are not present in this book as a result of Simon’s eagle eye. Thanks, Simon! Any remaining mistakes are of course entirely my own.

I would also like to mention re-enactment societies in general. Groups such as the English Civil War Society and the Sealed Knot campaign tirelessly, sharing their passions with the general public at events up and down the land. I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say that these men and women provide an essential public service by educating, entertaining and bringing the past back to life in all its noise and glory. If you get the chance this year, do yourself a favour and go along to a re-enactment event. I promise that you’ll come away with
a
whole new level of understanding as to how our ancestors lived and died.

As ever, I would be floundering without the support of my inspirational wife, Sally, and the love of my little girl, Freyja. Thank you both, you are wondrous beings.

Finally, I want to thank you for reading this novel, for galloping into the fray with me. I have said it before but without your imagination this book is just so much printed paper. I’m enormously grateful that you choose to immerse yourself in my tales. If you have any comments or questions about my books, stop by my website
www.gileskristian.com
or my Facebook group, which is often buzzing with banter. You can find me on Twitter too:
@gileskristian
.

So, until next time, keep your powder dry. We’ll be marching together again before long, you and I.

Giles Kristian

Thurcaston

February 2012

About the Author

Family history and his storytelling hero, Bernard Cornwell, inspired
Giles Kristian
to write his first action-packed Viking series.
Raven: Blood Eye
was published to great acclaim. Two further highly praised novels,
Sons of Thunder
and
Oðin’s Wolves
, complete the bestselling trilogy.

Giles has long been fascinated by the English Civil War – from absorbing the vibrant illustrations in school text books to appreciating the cold efficiency of Cromwell’s New Model Army, admiring the flair of the Cavaliers and revelling in the romance of the doomed Royalist cause – and it is this complex and brutal conflict that provides the backcloth to his new historical series,
The Bleeding Land
.

He lives in Leicestershire, a county that was wrenched apart during the Civil War. To find out more, visit
www.gileskristian.com

Also
by Giles Kristian

Raven: Blood Eye

Sons of Thunder

Oðin’s Wolves

For more information on Giles Kristian and his books, see his website at
www.gileskristian.com

TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
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A Random House Group Company
www.transworldbooks.co.uk

First published in Great Britain
in 2012 by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers

Copyright © Giles Kristian 2012

Giles Kristian has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library.

Version 1.0 Epub ISBN: 9781409011972
ISBNs: 9780593066140 (cased)
9780593066157 (tpb)

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