December | 2012 | gilbertliteraryagencyauthors

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Biography: Kenneth Edward Brewer
JP, AMIRTE (ret), AIMI, Dip Pol

Born in Exeter, Devon, England
Emigrated to New Zealand with wife Shirley and young family in 1973
Lived in Manurewa since then and has three children – one born in NZ
Daughter – Financial Advisor, eldest Son – Squadron Leader RNZAF, youngest Son – Manager Auckland Airport
Background
13 years in the Motor Industry in the UK and NZ – 1961 to 1974
Associate Member Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Associate of Institute of Motor Industries

City & Guilds of London Mechanics and Technicians Certificates, National Craftsman Certificate,Transport Supervisor with responsibility for operating a fleet of 89 mixed vehicles21 years service in the New Zealand Police in South Auckland – 1974 to 1995.

Youth Aid Officer from 1979 to 1988 – Auckland Airport 1990 to 1995
Recipient of the NZ Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and 21 year service clasp.

Recipient of a Commissioner of Police Commendation Silver Brooch
Founder Member and Member of the Friends of the NZ Police Museum – 1984 to 2010
Member of the International Police Association – Since 1989
Honorary Badge & Insignia Curator to the NZ Police Museum – Since 1990
Recipient of the 2001 NZ Police United Nations Year of the Volunteer Medallion.
Assistant Surveillance Shift Manager Auckland Casino – 1995 to 2000

Gambling Inspector – Department of Internal Affairs – Since 2000

Justice of the Peace for New Zealand – Since 2006

Editor of the NZ Section, International Police Association Magazine – Since 2008
Literary Background

Editor of the NZ Section, International Police Association Magazine – 2008 to 2012.
Won the top prize of 2 shillings & sixpence in a school writing competition with an article about R. J. Mitchell the designer of the WWII spitfire
1960.
Whilst serving in the NZ Police Youth Aid section in South Auckland wrote a regular weekly policing full page article in the South Auckland Courier newspaper for a six month period 1982.
Selected as part of team of six to research Auckland’s policing history
Ended up as the only person to complete the project.
Completed Projects
Co-Author of – Without Fear or Favour – The official history of the Auckland Regional Police – 1990 (published)

ISBN 0-473-00784-3
Eight years of research starting with a team of six, whittled down to just Ken, who wrote and rewrote this 345 page, extensively illustrated book five times until he was satisfied with the style and it was then handed to a police senior sergeant appointed as the editor to prepare it for publication. Apart from a full time 3 month stint writing captions for all of the illustrations, Ken had no further input until launch day when he learned the senior sergeant had plagiarized him by naming himself as the author.
At the official launch he received public apologies and acknowledgements as the author from the Police Commissioner, the Auckland Regional Commander, plus the Mayor of Auckland and Governor General Elect Dame Cath Tizard. Whilst Ken could claim to be the sole author, much of the preparatory work was carried out by his early team members and he therefore claims only to be a co-author.
NOTE: Whilst conducting this research Ken Brewer made special note of any reference to South Auckland policing with the express purpose of writing about the police stations there in the future.

Author of – The History of the Waiuku Police – 2000 (published)
ISBN 0-473-06650-5
This small 47 page illustrated booklet was written for the Centenary of that police station in April 2000, with encouragement from Ken’s daughter Toni, whose husband was the resident Waiuku policeman at the time. The launch of this booklet turned into the largest event the township had ever witnessed, with a full police parade, air and ground displays, plus a re-enactment and a formal dinner. A local counsellor paid for the publication with all proceeds going to the local museum.

Author of – “Badge of Honour” – The History of the Otahuhu Police – 2003 (published)
ISBN 0-476-00035-1
This soft back, A4 size book containing 399 b/w illustrations in 136 pages was a publication paid for by the author himself with 500 printed. Only a few copies remain unsold and copies – available only through him – have been sent all over the world. Many regard it as a definitive reference to police equipment and badges, and he has been grateful to have received significant praise for it. It was launched by the Minister of Police at that time, Mr. George Hawkins along with Chief Superintendent Steve Shortland the local District Commander. The title was chosen because of the pride he personally felt when wearing the badge and the uniform during his police service whilst at Otahuhu.

Author of – An Illustrated History of NZ Police Badges, Insignia and Uniforms – 2004
This illustrated 122 page manuscript was researched and written by Ken as a result of His voluntary service as the Honorary Badge and Insignia Curator to the New Zealand Police Museum. At the time the new Museum Director had no prior police service or knowledge of police history and Ken had merely prepared an illustrated record of what was in the museum badge collection for her. He was then approached by Police National Headquarters and asked if he could take the project further. The result was an in-depth record of all badges, buttons, uniforms, headgear and insignia worn by the NZ Police since 1845. The resultant manuscript was purchased outright by the NZ Police with the intention of placing it onto their official website for public access. Ken is still waiting for that to be completed as funding for it has been cut.

Editor of the NZ Section, International Police Association Magazine – 2008 to 2012.

Literary Background
Won the top prize of 2 shillings & sixpence in a school writing competition with an article about R. J. Mitchell the designer of the WWII spitfire
1960.
Whilst serving in the NZ Police Youth Aid section in South Auckland wrote a regular weekly policing full page article in the South Auckland Courier newspaper for a six month period 1982.

Other
Contributor to more than a dozen official and unofficial history publications
The National Biography of New Zealand – The Alexander Turnbull Library
Policing the Colonial Frontier – by Richard S. Hill. – ISBN – 0-477-01347-3
Policing the Colonial Frontier – by Richard S. Hill. – ISBN – 0-477-01348-1
The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove – by Richard S. Hill. – ISBN – 0-477-01401-1
The Colonial Frontier Tamed – by Richard S. Hill. – ISBN – 0-477-01346-5
More Than Law and Order – by Susan Butterworth. – ISBN – 1-877276-99-5
The New Zealand Police Medal – by John D. Wills – ISBN – 0-477-02911-6
To Guard my People – by John D. Wills – ISBN – 0-477-02910-8
Soaring Bird – A History of Manurewa – by Gwen Wichman – ISBN – 0-473-07114-2
Papakura: The years of Progress – by Robyn Yousef – ISBN – 0-473-04923-6
The Beginning of an Era – Wellington City Traffic Dept. – by Errol A. Bock –
ISBN – 0-473-01349-5
A History of the Waikato Police – by Brian Walters – ISBN – 0-473-00347-3
Capitol Coppers – by Roly T. Hermans – ISBN – 0-908664-02-8
Northland Made to Order – by C. R. O’Hara – ISBN – 0-473-00404-6
A History of Eden Park – to be published in 2011

ABOVE: Some of Ken Brewer’s manuscripts and publications – Many of which are scheduled for Reprints by Seaburn Publishing specifically targeted for the US market.

Current
The National Editor of the magazine for the New Zealand Section of the International Police Association
Distributed throughout New Zealand and 61 countries world wide.

Sole responsible for writing, editing and preparing articles for publicationthree times per year, including photography and the selection of material and illustrations for each edition.
These magazines have received plaudits for their high standard of content and production by the IPA International Committee and it’s President Michael Odysseos of Cyprus.
Such is this success that in addition to normal distribution, Ken has been receiving requests for copies from individual members in Russia, Turkey, USA, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Hong Kong, Chile and the UK.
Ken took over this purely voluntary role when approached by the New Zealand President in 2008 and he has since been somewhat embarrassed by the many plaudits received for reviving and invigorating a dying entity into what the membership now say is a production they have become very proud of.
As a direct consequence of this success, both Ken and his wife Shirley were invited by the Auckland Region of IPA to be their special guests at their coming 2010 Christmas luncheon, in appreciation of his work on their magazine.

Latest Publication out now Available at Amazon.com
in Kindle & Paperback

Publisher: Black Books Plus (Alias Seaburn Publishing & Distribution Group)

Overview – “The Enfield Conspiracy”

Genre: Military Fiction based upon factual events

Word count: 172,686

Number of Pages: 505

Devonshire born Nicholas (Nick) Reede joins the army as a young teenage Ensign and is sent to India where his regiment becomes embroiled in fighting at Lucknow during the Indian mutiny of 1857. He earns a mention in dispatches then is badly wounded undertaking an outstanding act of bravery.

The senior British officer trapped at Lucknow when the mutiny erupts is secretly on route from Delhi to London with an urgent dispatch containing vital information that could save the life of the Monarch, reveal a secret plot to end British rule and prevent a major war in the region.

Fuelled by hatred for the British, the mutiny was deliberately triggered to prevent the information leaving India and led to the British troops protecting civilians in the Residence at Lucknow being besieged and outnumbered by well equipped native Sepoy mutineers. When the injured Nick Reede is entrusted with the task of delivering the dispatch to England he and his small escort are hunted down by those intent on stopping it at any cost.

Nothing short of a miracle sees him plucked at deaths door from the middle of the Bay of Bengal and thrust into the brig of a penal ship headed for Sydney where, with almost total memory loss and plagued by nightmares, he is suspected of being a deserter. Placed among the lower ranks of a British regiment in Australia he unwittingly makes an enemy of a bully as fragments of his memory start to surface.

Meanwhile the dispatch reaches London in the hands of the last surviving members of the escort party and a global search begins for a missing hero.

Suddenly Nick’s new regiment is dispatched across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand when the land wars threaten and the nightmares begin again. Nick is then pitted against the world’s most fearsome guerrilla fighters the legendary Maori, but his life is also threatened from another quarter. Attacked, captured and ultimately facing a Courts Martial for murder he finds himself facing the greatest challenge of his life.

This manuscript is based on historic fact but is entirely a work of fiction.

Review
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read! December 9, 2012
By Toniann – See all my reviews
This review is for: The Enfield Conspiracy (Paperback)
As a female reader I’m not usually a fan of war or historical fiction but this book is a must read. The story flowed easily and is so well described that you feel personally involved with the main character, not able to put the book down until you find out what has happened to him.
As the story is set in the 1800’s, the author has obviously done a great deal of research to ensure its’ historical accuracy. Picturing scenes, places and characters is made easy due to the effort that has been put into describing everything in detail.
I would recommend this book to a wide range of people. My husband and I both loved it and our 17 year old son (the same age as the main character of the book) did as well. The book could even be touted as being able to teach the younger generation all about old fashioned respect, morals, work ethics and sheer guts, as the hero of the story is definitely the type of person you would want in your lifeboat!

Looking forward to the sequel!!!

Author’s gratitude expressed:

Hello there and Merry Christmas,

Well, my novel is finally in print having been published by a New York publishing House in record time. My agent tells me it normally takes 6 to 24 months from contract signing to publication and for a book to be published in less than 2 months is unheard of, especially for a first time author. It is being released first in the USA, followed by Europe. There is no date for an official release in New Zealand, or Australia and this will depend on demand for copies from local retailers and libraries.

So far I have been amazed by the comments of those that have read the manuscript – ranging from professionals to teenagers and oldies like me.

On 17 December, less that a month after publication, I learnt it had broken into the worlds best seller list at number 5,000. Probably due to the two copies I bought! No, seriously – I’m told it is a special achievement.

We are still waiting on reviews from the New York Times and the Boston Globe, but the website Amazon.com already has an independent readers review attached to it that indicates it is enjoyable reading for all genders and all ages. My wife at first refused to read it as it was not her kind of book and said she knew she would hate it. She did finally pick it up and then could not put it down until she finished it and she loved it.

For those who are interested I’ve attached a copy of the blurb about the book along with an invitation to a book launch at Manurewa on 20 January.

THREE THINGS TO NOTE
1. Below view the image of the Cover and Promotions flyer as per attachment to this message.

2. The publisher has agreed to a limited pre-release batch of just 30 copies being shipped to New Zealand for a special launch at our cost. These are scheduled to arrive on, or before, the 6 January 2013.

However, in case they are late arriving – we will advise of any postponement of the launch with as much advance warning as we can give.

The cost should be $35 per copy, but we nervously await what additional duty, if any, that NZ Customs might impose.

3. Purchases will be on a first come first served basis until the 30 copies are all gone.

REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL TO ENSURE YOUR COPY IS SECURED AND READY FOR COLLECTION – ONLY IF YOU CAN ATTEND THE BOOK LAUNCH.

ken.brewer@xtra.co.nz> via yahoo.com

We will reply to you to confirm that you are one of the first 30 to respond.

Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2013.

Ken Brewer

Ken Brewer Enjoying his Booksigning Tour in New Zealand

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS ARE ONGOING

From: Sam Seaburn [mailto:seaburnbooks@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 9:29 AM
To: Ken Brewer
Cc: Emerantia Antonia Parnall-Gilbert
Subject: GOOD NEWS

Ken,

We’re writing to inform you that Wheelers Books NZ just placed an order for 10 copies of The Enfield conspiracy. We have offered them a wholesale discount and reasonable shipping cost. I believe we can now drive all local requests to their website: www.wheelers.co.nz

AN EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KEN BREWER

Author of “The Enfield Conspiracy”

© Emerantia Parnall-Gilbert

1. How would you describe “The Enfield Conspiracy” to someone who has not read any of your previous non-fiction publications?
Ken: It is a period military adventure based on a factual historic background and designed to introduce the main character (from my part of the world – Devon) who in sequels, becomes an early New Zealand policeman.

2. Will your next book be written along similar topics or genres?
Ken: Yes, but based solely in New Zealand in the mid 1860s during the height of the land wars and leading to the main character’s ultimate enlistment in the NZ Constabulary.

3. Do you expect to explore other Military Historical events which could be of significance, and become an inspiration to write another fine book?
Ken: Yes, but with a leaning towards describing early NZ Police working conditions in an effort to write of a topic not previously covered in fictional novels. It is intended the story lines will be based upon real events in NZ history and provide a “different’ insight in to them.

4. Which part of researching “The Enfield Conspiracy” was the most personally interesting to you? Were there any facts, specific date or themes that you would have liked to include, but they just didn’t make into the story?
Ken: Learning about the practical and physical details of the weaponry involved and also researching the locations featured.

5. If readers would like to read up on the history of events of WWI about similar events that have happened to real life soldiers would these possibly be books you would recommend?
Ken: “The Last Fighting Tommy” by Richard Van Emden (2007) on the life of Harry Patch.
“Last Post” by Max Arthur (2005), who interviewed twenty one of the last surviving soldiers who fought in WWI and told their stories. He also wrote “Forgotten Voices of the Great War”

6. What are you reading right now? Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as influences?
Ken: I am currently reading three books at the same time.
The 702 page Official Biography of Lord Louis Mounbatten by Philip Ziegler (1985).
“With a Smile and a Wave” by Peter Daybell (2005) on the WWI life of Captain John Aiden Liddell VC MC of the Royal Flying Corps and 3rd Battallion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders.
“Stapme” by David M S Ross on the biography of WWII Squadron Leader B. G. Stapleton DFC RAF

7. What was the book that most influenced your life — and why?
Ken: Alistair McLean’s – HMS Ulysses – probably his best book, described action during a storm on a WWII Royal Navy ship operating in the sub Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Apart from being a great story, his descriptive ability actually made me feel chilled at times whilst reading it and he brought the characters to life in my mind.

8. What are your 10 favorite books —and why?
Ken: “The Biography of Sir Bernard Fryberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO” by his Son Phillip Freyberg. Provided astonishing and previously unknown facts of this man’s background.
“Spitfire Women of WWII” by Giles Whittell. Provides amazing insight into a little known but significant part of WWII.
“Wings on my Sleeve” by Captain Eric “Winkle” Brown CBE DFC AFC MA RN, the man who became Britain’s top test pilot in WWII and flew 487 different types of aircraft a and made 2407 carrier deck landings, both records remain unbeaten.
The Harry Potter Series by J K Rowling. Because they are innovative and inventive.

I have a number of favourite authors – Stephen Coonts, Dale Brown, Tom Clancy, Alistair McLean, Harold Coyle, Bernard Cornwall, Len Deighton, Douglas Reeman (aka Alexander Kent), J K Rowling, Paul Brickhill.

9. Favorite films?
Ken: The Dam Busters, Patriot Games, Hunt for the Red October, the Harry Potter series, The Battle of Britain, The Jason Bourne series.

10. Favorite music?
Ken: The Shadows, Santana, Mark Knoffler, Dave Brubeck, Frank Sinatra, Phil Madsen

11. If you had a book club, what would it be reading — and why?
Ken: Books on human achievement, especially through adversity.

12. What are your favorite books to give — and get — as gifts?
Ken: I usually give bookstore gift cards, but like to select my own choice of reading.

13. Give us three “Good to Know” facts about you. Be creative. Tell us about your first job, the inspiration for your writing, any fun details that would enliven your page.
Ken: Born in Exeter, Devon and an aircraft “nut” since childhood. At the age of 12 flew in a WWII De Havilland Mosquito.
Hated school, except my last year when they made me a prefect and I became head boy, following a test of honesty. Won a school writing competition with an article on the life of Reginald J Mitchell the designer of the Spitfire.
Became a motor mechanic/technician on a 5 year apprenticeship, studying for 7 years to gain qualifications. My first job was to rebuild a 10 ton truck from scratch. Went on to become the most qualified person in the field of transport in the UK Rank Organisation.
Wanted to join the Royal Air Force but a sporting injury prevented it. Instead joined the Royal Observer Corps, a volunteer organisation and got “called up” for emergency service at the height of the Cuban missile crisis when the world was on the brink of nuclear war and spent a scary 30 hours manning an underground bunker miles from anywhere.
13 years in the Motor Industry in the UK and NZ – 1961 to 1973
Associate Member Institute of road Transport Engineers, Associate Institute of Motor Industries

21 years service in the New Zealand Police in South Auckland – 1974 to 1995
Recipient of the NZ Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and bar
Recipient of a Commissioner’s Commendation Silver Clasp

18 Years in the Casino Industry – since 1995

Founder Member of the Friends of the NZ Police Museum – 1984 to 2010

Member of the International Police Association – since 1989

Honorary Badge & Insignia Curator to the NZ Police Museum – since 1990
Recipient of the 2001 NZ Police United Nations Year of the Volunteer Medallion

Justice of the Peace for New Zealand – Since 2006

14. Tell us about your other life in the New Zealand Police Force for many years and what events in your earlier young life brought you to choose this profession and become part of the Police Force?
Ken: Despite prophetically playing the role of a policeman in a school play, the decision was a sudden and last minute one, having just driven past a recruiting poster in Papakura. It was one of the best decisions in my life. I had become fed up with being constantly dirty and greasy in the motor trade, with blackened fingernails and grubby clothing.
A photograph of me during the swearing in ceremony appeared on the front page of the Auckland Star and I was interviewed on the national TV news that night.
During training at Ardmore I got handcuffed to a chair for a day when my handcuff key broke.
Served for 21 years in total, in South Auckland. This included 9 years in the Youth Aid Section, where I was stabbed twice and the last five years at Auckland Airport, where I met some amazing people, international stars and traveled several times on duty to Tonga, Fiji, Argentina and Chile, plus Australia multiple times.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and bar, plus a Commissioners Commendation brooch.
Wrote a series of regular police related articles for the South Auckland Courier newspaper and became involved in researching and writing the official history of the Auckland Police from 1982. From this evolved the police history books and articles I have written since.

15. What else do you want your readers to know? Consider here your likes and dislikes, your interests and hobbies, your favorite ways to unwind — whatever comes to mind.
Ken: I seem to have become something of a specialist in NZ Police history, uniforms and equipment and queries made to the NZ Police Museum are often referred on to me.
I have a passion for aircraft, particularly warbirds and older machines.
I love to attend air shows and visit aviation museums.
I have a desire to one day fly in a warbird and my one regret in life is not obtaining a pilots licence.
I suffer from arachnaphobia – a genuine fear of spiders.

16. The Enfield Conspiracy was inspired how? What interest in the military genre prompted you to write such a story? Can you tell us how epiphany (of sorts) this came to you?
Ken: This stemmed from my police history research and a desire to write fictional stories – based on fact – about the trials and tribulations of early NZ policing. Traditional histories tend to understate the stark reality of the harsh lifestyle in early New Zealand, especially the draconian regime of the early policeman.
I hope to level the field somewhat, whilst recreating some of the more historic events of the time in an exciting crime-thriller storyline.

17. We know you have written many other publication (non fiction) during your most auspicious career in the New Zealand Police Force, would you mind listing those titles for us?
Ken: Co-Author of Without Fear or Favour (The official history of the Auckland Regional Police) 1990
The following police history manuscripts were written simply because I had the information and believed that if I failed to commit it to paper it could be lost forever.
Author of The History of the Waiuku Police 2000

“Badge of Honour” The History of the Otahuhu Police 2003

An Illustrated History of NZ Police Badges, Insignia and Uniforms 2004

The History of the Tuakau Police 2006

The History of the Papakura Police 2008

The Enfield Conspiracy 2009 – Fictional Novel – Published in 2012

400 page illustrated family history of family in NZ, UK, USA and South Africa

Other
Editor of the NZ Section, International Police Association Magazine 2008 – 2012

18. Your novel and all military novels always raises the question of whether technology will save us from some future more widespread terrorist attack in which nuclear capability is going to be used by some rogue country and destroy us. Wars it seems, will always be a part of our human failings, so what are your views on this Ken? Which do you believe?
Ken: Technology is constantly changing and today the rate of change seems to be accelerating at a speed our forebears could not dream of. Unfortunately, through a multiplicity of electronic media, nuclear technology is freely available to everyone, everywhere, so the risk of misuse by unscrupulous groups, or rogue states is constant. This only limited to a degree by the capability of those intent on misuse, in obtaining or manufacturing such weaponry, but it does not eliminate the threat even from the larger, legitimate states.

19. The characters in “The Enfield Conspiracy” battle with some tough moral issues…which brings me to ask what your thoughts are on the contest between Science or Religion? Which do you think will ultimately win this war manifested not only in previous wars throughout our human history, but in the very fabric of the societies and cultures of the world, the discrimination against one culture by another, and the ills these generate on our spiritual wellbeing and religious convictions? Have you any thoughts to offer?
Ken: Conflict between politics and religion have been the bane of humankind since man first had rational thought and been responsible for more conflict and death than any other cause. Despite this, their very existence has been the foundation of the modern world and each has played a major role in all our lives to varying degrees, shaping the future of whole nations.
An ancestor of mine, Bishop William Brewer who died in 1244, was one of the Crusaders and was instrumental in returning Jerusalem into Christian hands. He was also friend and confidant to King Henry III and as a result he had a foot in both camps, gaining huge political influence being directly involved in the creation of the Magna Carta, the Great Charter of the Liberties of England enacted in 1215.
The problem as I see it lies in the inability, or reluctance of religion to embrace change in the way politics is required to and over the centuries this has created conflict of the most brutal form.
No matter the umbrella humanity elects to shelter beneath, politics or religion, human weakness for power, greed, blind ambition and even ignorance, will continue to plague our lives as long as one group has a desire to impose their own will upon others in the name of politics or religion. Peace comes at huge cost.

20. We would love to know – are you writing anything new? Equally as compelling? Or are you exploring an entirely different genre? Come on tell us….
Ken: I am working on a sequel but finding long full time work hours and shift work make it difficult to find the time or get into the right creative mood.
I have also commenced on the skeleton of an autobiography of my time in the NZ Police.

21. What inspired you to write your first book?
Ken: This was a small booklet on the history of the Waiuku Police Station. My son in law was transferred there as the local policeman and I mentioned to my daughter that the house she was living in had been the first police station and would be 100 years old the following year. I had most of the information already and she encouraged me to assemble it. It printed locally and was released during the Centenary celebrations.

22. Do you have a specific writing style?
Ken: Having read many books I decided it should “grab” the reader right from the start and be an easy, uncomplicated read from beginning to end. Occasionally I have given up on reading a book because I found it difficult to follow, or over complicated in detail. One of my favoured authors – Harold Coyle – is a case in point. He writes “techno thrillers” which on occasion can be lost in the clutter of too much detail which overwhelms the story, yet alternately he is a master of research and getting it right.

23. How did you come up with the title?
Ken: Amid a plethora of cultural, political and religious unrest, the Indian mutiny was triggered by a belief that the paper ammunition for the new Enfield Rifle was covered in pig fat, when it was actually beeswax and linseed oil. As the paper had to be broken open with the teeth to load the rifle – the mutineers refused to “bite the bullet.” The rifle also played a pivotal role throughout and also ended the life of the main villain. The conspiracy aspect was the reality of political sabotage by vested interests and threats from other nations to take over India.

24. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

25. How much of the book is realistic?I hope it comes across significantly so, as much of the story is factual.
Ken: The 32nd Regiment did fight during the mutiny at Cornpore as well as Lucknow, exactly as described. The relief column did arrive at Lucknow as described, but in the form of another Regiment.

26. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Ken: Sorry, but no.

27. What books have most influenced your life most?

28. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Ken: Bernard Cornwall and Alexander Kent

29. If any, What book are you reading now?
Ken: I am currently reading three books at the same time.
The 702 page Official Biography of Lord Louis Mounbatten by Philip Ziegler (1985).
“With a Smile and a Wave” by Peter Daybell (2005) on the WWI life of Captain John Aiden Liddell VC MC of the Royal Flying Corps and 3rd Battallion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders.
“Stapme” by David M S Ross on the biography of WWII Squadron Leader B. G. Stapleton DFC RAF

30. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Ken: JK Rowling

31. What are your current projects?
Ken: Working on a sequel.
Commenced a story about myself in the NZ Police
Constantly updating the 400 page illustrated family history that I wrote.
Trying to complete a 1/72 scale WWI airfield diorama.

32. Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

33. Do you see writing fiction as a future or even retirement career?
Ken: Whilst I consider myself very much an amateur, it is a definite possibility as a retirement career, which is due to commence in September 2014.

34. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Ken: Yes, I would shorten the prologue and remove the reprise towards the end, plus triple check for spelling errors!

35. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Ken: I put it down to a certain English teacher at school called Mr. Gill who every day encouraged us to find a new word in a dictionary then incorporate it into a written class project.

36. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Ken: Not just yet. Be Patient.

37. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Ken: Yes – Time and motivation at the moment, although motivation is returning.

38. Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
Ken: For my first novel – No, but for the sequel – Yes. A trip to New Plymouth where it is based was necessary and proved to be invaluable.
Extensive travel was required for my non fiction books from Wellington to Whangarei to speak with descendants of early police and a few elderly survivors.

39. Who designed the covers?
Ken: I did in all cases.

40. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Ken: The proof reading. It seems I am not the most reliable at it.

41. Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Ken: The whole process was a huge progressive learning curve.
My first significant publication was “Badge of Honour” the History of the Otahuhu Police Station, which included over 400 illustrations. Whilst initially acceptable to the publisher they proved at the last minute to be incompatible with their print shop computer system and the whole lot had to be re-scanned in a single 24 hour period as the launch deadline was not negotiable. This taught me to be better prepared in both layout and quality assurance.

42. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Ken: Yes. Give it a try. Re-read a book you like and copy the writing style. Don’t forget to be descriptive of even the smallest feature, but don’t go overboard with detail. Make it a simple but enjoyable read and the characters believable.

43. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Ken: I am somewhat disappointed with the spelling and grammar issues some people have raised in my novel. Much of it will be due to the European variance of American spelt words, but I had three keen family members proof read it and I am led to believe an editor was also briefly employed and still errors managed to sneak through. This could possibly be due to changes that occurred at the publishing end, but in the final analysis, I have to take responsibility for them.

44. What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
Ken: It pushed the boundaries of personal knowledge and ability, but mostly it created some family issues with me spending so much time on the computer.