Book talks – all part of being an author in 2017

I’ve commented before on how the modern author has to be a marketer as well as a researcher and writer. For me that phase is still building momentum as I get more invitations to speak about my book, Fighting for the Empire, the amazing story it contains and the extensive research that went into pulling such a complex story together.

As well as invitations to speak to specialist groups such as the Brentwood Military History Book Club, I have decided to be bold and put on a public talk next month. This takes place on Tuesday 7 March at Brentwood Cathedral Parish Hall, starting at 7.30pm. I’ve entitled it From Galway to Empire as an audience drawn partially from the many people I know in the congregation at Brentwood Cathedral should be particularly interested in Kelly’s Irish Catholic routes.

However, it will also look at the extraordinary range of conflicts and adventures he was involved in, many of them illustrated by unique photographs and documents from family collections. For those interested in the artifacts from the Kelly story I’ll be bringing along some of the albums, his wife’s fascinating collection of autograph books from WW1 and his ceremonial sword worn at the famous Delhi Durbar in 1911.

I’ll also be happy to answer questions about the research, how you build an authoritative story from a fragmented, largely oral, family history and how you go about getting it published.

Admission is free and 25% of the money from all books sold on the night will go to the Cathedral’s charity for 2017, Bridge2Aid.

If you are interested in the the two world wars, India, Ireland, Empire history, military medicine and the Merchant Navy they’ll be something in the talk for you.

If you would like me to come and talk to your organisation have a look at the range of topics I can cover.

Fighting for the Empire is available direct from the distributor Casemate and Amazon. It is also available through all bookshops.