Ask the Author: John Drake
Answered Questions (24)
John Drake
Thanks for the question, and the interest in the book. Kate has not yet appeared in any other Fletcher book, so far, and i have written 8 of them, with the ninth in preparation, and Kate is not in number 9 either. But there are plenty of other ladies in Fletcher's life, so just keep reading! Especially look for his tragic love of the Zulu princess Ulwazi. So sad ... On other matters, if you've read my books you will know that there is not one milligram of woke in any of them, and that is no accident. Regarding the Light Brigade, remember that the Fletcher books are memoirs, dictate by Fletcher in the late 1860s, so he knew all about the famous Charge. Once again, thanks for reading my books and taking an interest. All best, John Drake.
John Drake
Dear Kenneth,
Thanks for your kind words, which are much appreciated. I am not only working on number 8, but have finished it and it is in the hands of the publishers. It should be out later this year and is entitled 'Fletcher and the Constitution'. That's the US Constitution and it's in deadly peril. But Fletcher is on the case. All very best wishes, John Drake
Thanks for your kind words, which are much appreciated. I am not only working on number 8, but have finished it and it is in the hands of the publishers. It should be out later this year and is entitled 'Fletcher and the Constitution'. That's the US Constitution and it's in deadly peril. But Fletcher is on the case. All very best wishes, John Drake
John Drake
Hallo Bill,
All or most of my books are available on Amazon, as print-on-demand paperbacks. No hardbacks I'm afraid. All the Fletchers are certainly available that way. NB I write as John. Drake, so look me up on Amazon. All best, John
All or most of my books are available on Amazon, as print-on-demand paperbacks. No hardbacks I'm afraid. All the Fletchers are certainly available that way. NB I write as John. Drake, so look me up on Amazon. All best, John
John Drake
Dear Bill,
Thanks indeed for that. Your kind words very much appreciated. I do my best and it's always a pleasure to get some response. Yes we were both at ICI Pharmaceuticals, (I can never think of it as Zeneca or AstraZeneca) and I was certainly proud to be a part of that. Especially re 'Nolvadex' 'Diprivan' and others. Meanwhile if you like my stuff, have a look on Amazon, because there are some lovely box-set, read-the-lot, kindle deals for c. £1. All very best, John
Thanks indeed for that. Your kind words very much appreciated. I do my best and it's always a pleasure to get some response. Yes we were both at ICI Pharmaceuticals, (I can never think of it as Zeneca or AstraZeneca) and I was certainly proud to be a part of that. Especially re 'Nolvadex' 'Diprivan' and others. Meanwhile if you like my stuff, have a look on Amazon, because there are some lovely box-set, read-the-lot, kindle deals for c. £1. All very best, John
John Drake
Dear Margaret,
Before all else, thanks for your kind words, which are enormously appreciated. I do my best with my writing, and can't do more than that.. Moving on ... the Londinium series is the work that I am most proud of, and it is especially pleasing when someone gives it praise. I do have at least two more Londinium books in mind : 'Before Londinium', and 'Beyond Londinium'. The former will give back-stories for Ikaros and Morganus, the latter will take them to Rome itself. You are now the first person to know that, and these books will emerge over the next few years, because there are various other ideas and books under development right now. Once again thanks and Jacob Fletcher (standing beside me as I write - honest) sends his regards. All best John Drake
Before all else, thanks for your kind words, which are enormously appreciated. I do my best with my writing, and can't do more than that.. Moving on ... the Londinium series is the work that I am most proud of, and it is especially pleasing when someone gives it praise. I do have at least two more Londinium books in mind : 'Before Londinium', and 'Beyond Londinium'. The former will give back-stories for Ikaros and Morganus, the latter will take them to Rome itself. You are now the first person to know that, and these books will emerge over the next few years, because there are various other ideas and books under development right now. Once again thanks and Jacob Fletcher (standing beside me as I write - honest) sends his regards. All best John Drake
John Drake
Hallo Jesse, thanks for the question and for the interest in my books. In fact both 'Pieces of Eight' and 'Skull and Bones' are available in Kindle. If you go to Amazon, go to the section on books, and type in the book names, you should find the gateway to buying Kindle versions. Best wishes, John Drake
John Drake
Dear Tina, Your comments are very kind. The Londinium novels are my favourites of everything that I have written. Yes I am determined to write a third, though I am now in the middle of writing another 'Fletcher'. You are therefore the first to know that the next Londinium will be 'Gods in Londinium'. Thanks again, and all the very best, John Drake.
John Drake
Hallo Greg, Thanks for your very kind words. They make me blush. I just do my best to tell the tale. I'm afraid there are no paper copies yet of 'Games in Londinium' or 'Thief Catcher'. Offering them as print is the publisher's decision. However I will chase them on this. All best, John Drake
John Drake
Hallo Neil,
Thanks for your very kind words about the Fletcher books. Your comments are very much appreciated. As regards Jacob Fletcher, you are not the only person who has asked if he is real. But your question is so direct and specific that it deserves a proper answer. So forgive me if I give the answer at length.
So ... Fletcher is not real in the sense that Nelson, Drake, and Guy Gibson were real. But he is very much real in the sense that James Bond, Batman, and Long John Silver are real. By that I mean that Fletcher (and the rest of them) are alive in the imaginations of countless people (yourself very much included!) who read about them, imagine them, join in their adventures, and cheer for them when they win.
So in that sense Fletcher is real, and he stands beside me as I write and sometimes I can almost see him. At least in imagination. Writers are like that.
As for the technical detail in the Fletcher books, that comes from research. My working method is to spend 3-4 months on historical research before I start a book, and believe me that stuffs my head with all the technical detail I need. But thanks again, Neil, for referring to this detail with a kind word.
A final thought. I mentioned Long John Silver - one of the all time great characters of fiction. And you mentioned wooden ships. Well, if you like wooden ship adventures, you might like to try my 4-book series about Long John, starting with 'Flint and Silver'. Have a look on Amazon. They're all there.
All very best, John Drake.
Thanks for your very kind words about the Fletcher books. Your comments are very much appreciated. As regards Jacob Fletcher, you are not the only person who has asked if he is real. But your question is so direct and specific that it deserves a proper answer. So forgive me if I give the answer at length.
So ... Fletcher is not real in the sense that Nelson, Drake, and Guy Gibson were real. But he is very much real in the sense that James Bond, Batman, and Long John Silver are real. By that I mean that Fletcher (and the rest of them) are alive in the imaginations of countless people (yourself very much included!) who read about them, imagine them, join in their adventures, and cheer for them when they win.
So in that sense Fletcher is real, and he stands beside me as I write and sometimes I can almost see him. At least in imagination. Writers are like that.
As for the technical detail in the Fletcher books, that comes from research. My working method is to spend 3-4 months on historical research before I start a book, and believe me that stuffs my head with all the technical detail I need. But thanks again, Neil, for referring to this detail with a kind word.
A final thought. I mentioned Long John Silver - one of the all time great characters of fiction. And you mentioned wooden ships. Well, if you like wooden ship adventures, you might like to try my 4-book series about Long John, starting with 'Flint and Silver'. Have a look on Amazon. They're all there.
All very best, John Drake.
John Drake
Dear Jack,
Thanks for reading the book and I hope that you like it. As regards Hito Island ... Fictional? Fictional??????! I must remind you that in writing my Fletcher books I am merely reporting the authentic memoirs of Sir Jacob Fletcher so it's all true, strike me down if it ain't and trust me Guv, cos every word is shiny bright. So with one more grateful thank you for actually reading the book, I must ask you to refer to a map of Japan and reach your own conclusion. All best, John Drake.
Thanks for reading the book and I hope that you like it. As regards Hito Island ... Fictional? Fictional??????! I must remind you that in writing my Fletcher books I am merely reporting the authentic memoirs of Sir Jacob Fletcher so it's all true, strike me down if it ain't and trust me Guv, cos every word is shiny bright. So with one more grateful thank you for actually reading the book, I must ask you to refer to a map of Japan and reach your own conclusion. All best, John Drake.
John Drake
The instant after Hitler shot himself, he was in Hell and looking forward to strutting about as the baddest boy in town. Then he saw a long line: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Dickens - a big vacant space kept for Greta Thunberg so soon as she arrives - and ten million others who were all ahead of Hitler for the sin of pride.
John Drake
Yes, I am JC Edwards, though I now write as John Drake. The first two Fletcher books were originally published by Hodder & Stoughton, and are now published by Endeavour. Thus the more recent Endeavour books have a publication date of 2015. Thus Hodder published 'Fletcher's Fortune' and 'Fletcher's Glorious 1st June'. Both have been re-published by Endeavour, as have books 3 and 4: 'Fletcher and the Mutineers' and 'Fletcher and the Great Raid.' I working on a 5th: 'Fletcher and the Samurai' which should be out later this year. Meanwhile thanks for your kind words, and I am very glad you liked the books. If you look for my books on Amazon, you will see that there are many more than just Fletchers. With very best wishes, John Drake
John Drake
John, you are a gentleman. Very best wishes, John.
John Drake
Hallo John,
First, thanks for reading them. All kind words are much appreciated. Regarding the grammar: it's all mine, for good or bad and no editor is responsible. Such phrases as 'off of the boat' and 'on board of the ship' may well be current US usage, but they were also current usage of the 18th Century, and early 19th. I therefore gave them to Jacob Fletcher, who was born and bred in the 18th Century, and who thought and wrote in this fashion. It is, by modern standards an over-usage of prepositions, and of the locative mood, as seen even more strongly in such phrases as 'all on board of us, gave three cheers' where we might say 'everyone on our ship gave three cheers'. Thanks again for your comments, and watch out for Fletcher 5 late in 2018. You are now the first to know that it will be entitled 'Fletcher and the Samurai.' All best, John Drake.
First, thanks for reading them. All kind words are much appreciated. Regarding the grammar: it's all mine, for good or bad and no editor is responsible. Such phrases as 'off of the boat' and 'on board of the ship' may well be current US usage, but they were also current usage of the 18th Century, and early 19th. I therefore gave them to Jacob Fletcher, who was born and bred in the 18th Century, and who thought and wrote in this fashion. It is, by modern standards an over-usage of prepositions, and of the locative mood, as seen even more strongly in such phrases as 'all on board of us, gave three cheers' where we might say 'everyone on our ship gave three cheers'. Thanks again for your comments, and watch out for Fletcher 5 late in 2018. You are now the first to know that it will be entitled 'Fletcher and the Samurai.' All best, John Drake.
John Drake
Forgive me if I answer slightly sideways, by which I mean the film world of 'Lord of the Rings'. My choice would be to join the Rohorrim at the siege of the Hornberg fortress at the moment when the first Orcs break through the outer gates and are hacking their way through the hole in the doors to get inside. I would like in that instant to appear with a belt-fed, Vickers heavy machine gun, assisted by a loader to keep the belt feeding. I would then open fire through the hole, until the Orcs give up or go somewhere else. Yes I know that this would spoil the plot, but it would give me great satisfaction. Rat-a-tat-tat. All best to everyone except the Orcs.
John Drake
First I have to make a confession. I have to do so because truth is not only morally righteous, but invincible. So I have to admit that I never read fiction, I read only history and factual books, and therefore, even though it may bore you to know it, I am currently reading 'Gladiators, 100 BC - AD 200', by Steven Wisdom, published by Osprey and after that I shall start on 'Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply' by A.Trevor Hodge, published by Duckworth, and then - probably - 'Womens' Life in Greece and Rome' by Leftkowitz and Fant, published by Bristol Classical. I read books like this because I am convinced that nothing any writer invents is as gripping, bizarre and fascinating as real life, and also because the need for immersion in a fictional world which makes normal people read fiction, is - in my case - satisfied by inventing the stuff as I write it. All best, and thanks to you for reading this all through. John Drake
John Drake
Thanks for the question, but I have lived a plain and ordinary life except in my imagination. The mystery is that there are no mysteries. So how about a novel about a plain and ordinary man, who was happy, got married and had children and grandchildren, and didn't do booze or drugs, didn't break the law, didn't chase loose women. You name it and I didn't do it. My God this is boring. Are you still reading this stuff? You must have something better to do, like staying connected to an auto phone line for half an hour after they have assured you that they really do value your call. That's it folks. Thank you and goodnight.
John Drake
Dear David, Thanks for the kind words about the book, and no, Mem Tav does not exist except in the imagination, but I hope the fake biochemistry is convincing. All very best, John Drake
John Drake
Sorry but I can't help. I never have it, and I offer my sympathy for those that do. In my case, I think I don't get it because before starting to write, I do intense research for c.3 to 5 months. Then I write the book. The only problem I then have is how to cram into each chapter all the things I want to say. After that, as far as I know, there is no Magic Fairy that slides down a moonbeam to whisper in your ear, telling you what to write. Or if there is, then she's never been anywhere near me (do tell if I've got this wrong, and you've actually met her). So I'd strongly advise against waiting for her, and to get back to the research.
John Drake
Control of the little world that you create, and the joy of following a craft skill.
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