Author Feature | Martin Ferguson
Name: Martin Ferguson
Featured Book Title: Eagle of the Empire: Relic Hunters Book 1
Genre: YA, MG, Action, Adventure, Historical, Fantasy – a bit of a mix really. To be honest, I just went out and wrote something that I myself would read and enjoy.
Book Status: Released 7th July in eBook and paperback format, published by Little Bird Publishing House.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a UK based author, previously writing under the pseudonym of Edward Drake. I started writing as a way to avoid studying at school (which showed in my grades) but it is only in the last couple of years that I have given this a real attempt. Eagle of the Empire is the first book to be published under my own name (a big leap for me as not a lot of people knew that I wrote). By day I work for the National Health Service and by night I write or train for a few running challenges I have lined up in the near future.
Is the piece a standalone novel or part of a larger series?
Eagle of the Empire is the first in the Relic Hunters series. I am currently working on the second in the series that follows on three months after the first. Each entry will focus on a different period of history, the first being Ancient Rome with the next planned to be the Egyptian age of the Pharaohs.
Do you prefer to outline a plot or just go where the words take you? Tell us your method.
I do outline a certain amount of plot – but only the rough course that the characters will take. Action scenes, conversations and reactions I just write without thinking, letting the characters take over. I find that nothing seems forced in that way and out-of-character – although more often than not I get outcomes I never considered before which really helps tell the story.
What other projects are you working on?
All of my time is currently focused either on Relic Hunters or training to run the Great North Run. Saying that, I have a notebook full of ideas that are just waiting for me to write. One particular idea, about the crazy antics of a local football sports team, won’t go away – mainly as it is based on some of the events I has seen (and been involved in) over the past few years.
Do you enjoy writing/reading any other genres?
I have tried my hand at writing adventure, horror, fantasy and thrillers – so a bit of a range. Reading – I am currently in a bit of true-story phase, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Everest disaster my current book.
Which authors inspire you?
I have always been a big fan of Bernard Cornwall and the Sharpe series. I grew up watching the tv series, Sean Bean playing the hero, and I began reading the books as soon as possible. Timothy Zahn, David Eddings and Michael A Stockpole are also personal favorites, as well as George R.R. Martin for the Song of Ice and Fire.
Tell us more about your main characters.
The main protagonist is Adam Hunter, a disillusioned college student longing to escape and see the world. When he is told his brother Matt is missing, Adam sets out to find him, uncovering that Matt worked for the secret teams of the British Museum in acquiring and protecting valuable and sometimes mythological and powerful artefacts. Adam joins forces with the British Museum team to rescue Matt and stop his captor from securing the powerful Eagle standard of a Roman Legion whose existence has become legend. Among those who help Adam are Emma (fiery, skilled operative who is always eager for a challenge), Dave (former soldier, combat medic and disbeliever of the more fantastical side of their work) and Abbey (historian, linguist and self-titled brains of the team). Together they travel across the world, uncovering the history of the last person to carry the Eagle standard, Marcus Aurelius, the last Centurion of the legion. The Centurion’s story is also told, his final battle with the legion, his days as a gladiator and his attempts to return to his family.
If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?
Definitely Adam. His free-spirit and recklessness, coupled with his journeys around the world sound like the perfect life to me. Adventure and travel.
Where can we find your work?
My works are currently available at the following: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
Do you have an author’s website or writing blog that people could look up?
I do have a Facebook page and website and also a website / blog made by one of the characters too, acting as a prelude to Eagle of the Empire. I am on Twitter too (give me a shout as always available to talk) and my incredibly supportive publisher Little Bird Publishing House has a website too.
Any final words for other authors or readers?
For other authors, all I can say is don’t give up. Even if you never sell a single copy or get knocked back by dozens of publishers (29 was my last count – 28 with typical automated responses), don’t give up on something that you enjoy. You create worlds, characters, adventures, and that is an amazing feat in itself.
For readers, I encourage to have a look on my Facebook page and website, have a read of Eagle of the Empire, leave a review and maybe give me a shout afterwards. I always like getting reactions from people, (hopefully) good or bad, and it is all a part of learning along the way.
A big thank you to Jon for having me – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the interview.
Summary:
As all around me cheer, eager for blood, eager for glory, I realize I have escaped one life of war and bitter struggle for survival and entered another, where the cheers of crowd will decide life or coming death.
The sound of thousands of spectators gasping sounds like soughing reeds. This is the end of my story; this glorious moment. There is no way I can win, whatever I do. Death is the only victory on offer to me today.”
Join the subversive and charming college student, Adam Hunter in his quest to recover his brother and the infamous Roman Relic of The Golden Eagle.
As Adam undertakes the dangerous adventure to find his missing brother, he unearths the secret organisation, which is part of the British Museum, This top secret, classified group are responsible for undertaking extreme treasure hunting, and relic recovery quests, ensuring history’s most prized, dangerous, and sometimes magical, artifacts are secured safely away for future generations.
‘Eagle of The Empire’ is the first in this adventure, action series, and sees Adam Hunter discovering not only the secret double life of his brother, Matt, but also of the Centurion, Optio Marcus Aurelius, who formed part of the legendary, infamous legion, The Legio IX Hispana.
Erased from history, and transformed into the realm of legends, the Legio IX Hispana was fabled to have been involved in an event so miraculous, and to have secured a totem so powerful, that now, the most evil man on the planet will do anything in his power to secure it.
Dash alongside the Hunter Brothers and the British Museum team as they do everything in their power to stop The Eagle of The Empire falling into the wrong hands.
Author Feature | Martin Ferguson
Name: Martin Ferguson
Featured Book Title: Eagle of the Empire: Relic Hunters Book 1
Summary:
As all around me cheer, eager for blood, eager for glory, I realize I have escaped one life of war and bitter struggle for survival and entered another, where the cheers of crowd will decide life or coming death.
The sound of thousands of spectators gasping sounds like soughing reeds. This is the end of my story; this glorious moment. There is no way I can win, whatever I do. Death is the only victory on offer to me today.”
Join the subversive and charming college student, Adam Hunter in his quest to recover his brother and the infamous Roman Relic of The Golden Eagle.
As Adam undertakes the dangerous adventure to find his missing brother, he unearths the secret organisation, which is part of the British Museum, This top secret, classified group are responsible for undertaking extreme treasure hunting, and relic recovery quests, ensuring history’s most prized, dangerous, and sometimes magical, artifacts are secured safely away for future generations.
‘Eagle of The Empire’ is the first in this adventure, action series, and sees Adam Hunter discovering not only the secret double life of his brother, Matt, but also of the Centurion, Optio Marcus Aurelius, who formed part of the legendary, infamous legion, The Legio IX Hispana.
Erased from history, and transformed into the realm of legends, the Legio IX Hispana was fabled to have been involved in an event so miraculous, and to have secured a totem so powerful, that now, the most evil man on the planet will do anything in his power to secure it.
Dash alongside the Hunter Brothers and the British Museum team as they do everything in their power to stop The Eagle of The Empire falling into the wrong hands.
Name: Martin Ferguson
Featured Book Title: Eagle of the Empire: Relic Hunters Book 1
Genre: YA, MG, Action, Adventure, Historical, Fantasy – a bit of a mix really. To be honest, I just went out and wrote something that I myself would read and enjoy.
Book Status: Released 7th July in eBook and paperback format, published by Little Bird Publishing House.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a UK based author, previously writing under the pseudonym of Edward Drake. I started writing as a way to avoid studying at school (which showed in my grades) but it is only in the last couple of years that I have given this a real attempt. Eagle of the Empire is the first book to be published under my own name (a big leap for me as not a lot of people knew that I wrote). By day I work for the National Health Service and by night I write or train for a few running challenges I have lined up in the near future.
Is the piece a standalone novel or part of a larger series?
Eagle of the Empire is the first in the Relic Hunters series. I am currently working on the second in the series that follows on three months after the first. Each entry will focus on a different period of history, the first being Ancient Rome with the next planned to be the Egyptian age of the Pharaohs.
Do you prefer to outline a plot or just go where the words take you? Tell us your method.
I do outline a certain amount of plot – but only the rough course that the characters will take. Action scenes, conversations and reactions I just write without thinking, letting the characters take over. I find that nothing seems forced in that way and out-of-character – although more often than not I get outcomes I never considered before which really helps tell the story.
What other projects are you working on?
All of my time is currently focused either on Relic Hunters or training to run the Great North Run. Saying that, I have a notebook full of ideas that are just waiting for me to write. One particular idea, about the crazy antics of a local football sports team, won’t go away – mainly as it is based on some of the events I has seen (and been involved in) over the past few years.
Do you enjoy writing/reading any other genres?
I have tried my hand at writing adventure, horror, fantasy and thrillers – so a bit of a range. Reading – I am currently in a bit of true-story phase, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about the 1996 Everest disaster my current book.
Which authors inspire you?
I have always been a big fan of Bernard Cornwall and the Sharpe series. I grew up watching the tv series, Sean Bean playing the hero, and I began reading the books as soon as possible. Timothy Zahn, David Eddings and Michael A Stockpole are also personal favorites, as well as George R.R. Martin for the Song of Ice and Fire.
Tell us more about your main characters.
The main protagonist is Adam Hunter, a disillusioned college student longing to escape and see the world. When he is told his brother Matt is missing, Adam sets out to find him, uncovering that Matt worked for the secret teams of the British Museum in acquiring and protecting valuable and sometimes mythological and powerful artefacts. Adam joins forces with the British Museum team to rescue Matt and stop his captor from securing the powerful Eagle standard of a Roman Legion whose existence has become legend. Among those who help Adam are Emma (fiery, skilled operative who is always eager for a challenge), Dave (former soldier, combat medic and disbeliever of the more fantastical side of their work) and Abbey (historian, linguist and self-titled brains of the team). Together they travel across the world, uncovering the history of the last person to carry the Eagle standard, Marcus Aurelius, the last Centurion of the legion. The Centurion’s story is also told, his final battle with the legion, his days as a gladiator and his attempts to return to his family.
If you could be one of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?
Definitely Adam. His free-spirit and recklessness, coupled with his journeys around the world sound like the perfect life to me. Adventure and travel.
Where can we find your work?
My works are currently available at the following: Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
Do you have an author’s website or writing blog that people could look up?
I do have a Facebook page and website and also a website / blog made by one of the characters too, acting as a prelude to Eagle of the Empire. I am on Twitter too (give me a shout as always available to talk) and my incredibly supportive publisher Little Bird Publishing House has a website too.
Any final words for other authors or readers?
For other authors, all I can say is don’t give up. Even if you never sell a single copy or get knocked back by dozens of publishers (29 was my last count – 28 with typical automated responses), don’t give up on something that you enjoy. You create worlds, characters, adventures, and that is an amazing feat in itself.
For readers, I encourage to have a look on my Facebook page and website, have a read of Eagle of the Empire, leave a review and maybe give me a shout afterwards. I always like getting reactions from people, (hopefully) good or bad, and it is all a part of learning along the way.
A big thank you to Jon for having me – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the interview.