Writing

You can’t be a reader of thriller fiction and not be familiar with the name Wilbur Smith; I first came across his work as a teenager with the movie Gold, an adaptation of his novel Gold Mine. A titan of the genre, he’s been writing since the mid-sixties and is best known for books like Shout at the Devil and his ‘Courtney’ series. When he generously reached out to tell me that he’d enjoyed my novel Nomad, I was taken aback – praise from Caesar indeed…
 

And so I’m very proud to announce that Nomad had been nominated for The 2017 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize! I’m in some top-notch company here, alongside Frank Gardner (Crisis), David Gilman (The Last Horseman), Graham Hurley (Finisterre), Stef Penney (Under a Pole Star) and Sara Sheridan (On Starlit Seas). The prize is presented by The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, a group devoted to empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing.

Niso Smith, Founder of The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, says: “The Prize is the Foundation’s flagship programme. We are delighted to have received such a high standard of submissions, from both established novelists and writers submitting their debut work of fiction. There are many talented adventure authors writing today and they need to be recognised for their outstanding work.” She continues, “The shortlist really encapsulates the spirit of adventure writing. Each novel allows us a glimpse into different worlds and times, from modern-day to historical settings, and each with clear threats to overcome – whether that’s a fearsome human enemy, societal conventions, or the formidable power of nature.”

You can read more about the prize here, or visit the Foundation website here.

…Marc Dane returns.

I’m very pleased to announce that the sales of my thriller novel Nomad have been exceptional – Thank you, everyone who bought a copy! – and off the back of that success my publisher Bonnier Zaffre books have decided to re-release the paperback in the run-up to the launch of Exile, the next book in the Rubicon series which will be out in June.

The paperback returns from today, first in WHSmith Travel stores as part of their Deal of the Week promotion (ideal for your holiday reading!) and Book of the Week in WHSmith High Street stores. It’ll also be back in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and elsewhere in the weeks ahead. This edition also includes an author’s letter from me and an excerpt from Exile.

Marc Dane is a MI6 field agent at home behind a computer screen, one step away from the action. But when a brutal attack on his team leaves Marc as the only survivor – and with the shocking knowledge that there are traitors inside MI6 – he’s forced into the front line.

But when the evidence seems to point towards Marc as the perpetrator of the attack, he is accused of betraying his country and must race against time to clear his name.

With nowhere to turn to for help and no one left to trust, Marc is forced to rely on the enigmatic Rubicon group and their operative Lucy Keyes. Ex-US Army, Lucy also knows what it’s like to be an outsider, and she’s got the resources that Marc is sorely lacking.

A terrorist attack is coming, one bigger and more deadly than has ever been seen before. With the eyes of the security establishment elsewhere, only Lucy and Marc can stop the attack before it is too late…

A DEVASTATING TERRORIST ATTACK IN CENTRAL BARCELONA.
AN ELITE UNIT FATALLY AMBUSHED IN NORTHERN FRANCE.
A SINISTER ORPHANAGE IN THE HEART OF THE DESERT.
A TRAITOR BURIED IN THE BRITISH SECURITY SERVICES.

Only one man can unmask the conspiracy – but only if he survives long enough…

For more information about Nomad, check out the official website at whoismarcdane.com