====================================== S T O P - P R E S S Special contest to mark the US East Coast author tour ====================================== "THE BOSUN'S CHRONICLE" --- emailed to Shipmates each month --- VOL.2 ISSUE 8, August 2002 Avast there - and welcome aboard from the Bosun of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' Network! 1) DECKLOG 2) HANDS TO MUSTER 3) NAUTICAL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH 4) ANATOMY OF A MAN-O'-WAR 5) ON THE STOCKS 6) SIGNALS FROM FOREIGN PARTS 7) DAYS OUT 8) CONTEST ==================== 1) DECKLOG --- events and activities --- Julian and Kathy greatly enjoyed meeting many Shipmates and booksellers during his American author tour, which culminated at South Street Seaport on August 1. The 8-city tour was an opportunity, too, to learn more about the history and maritime heritage of America's East Coast. There is far too much to mention everything, but two areas that were of special interest were Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Nantucket, the 48-square mile island off the coast of Cape Cod, houses America's largest concentration of 18th century buildings and is justly proud of its whaling museum. During the heyday of the industry, Nantucket whaling captains made huge fortunes and built splendid homes, many of which still survive. Settled by the English in 1659, Nantucket was purchased for the princely sum of 30 pounds and two beaver hats! English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold is credited with the name "Martha's Vineyard". He visited the area in 1602; Martha was the name of his mother-in-law, who helped finance the voyage, and wild grapevines grow throughout the island, then as now. Interestingly, of the six towns on the Vineyard, two are officially "dry towns" to this day. On completion of the tour it was off to Halifax, Canada ("the warden of the North"), on location research for an upcoming book in the series, a book-signing at Chapters bookstore and also a presentation of ARTEMIS to Mayor Kelly at a special civic ceremony before returning to the UK. In Halifax Julian was also delighted to be able to personally present the prize to the winner in a recent Newsletter contest, Dr Edgar Gold. Here are some of the highlights of the author tour. * At Mystic Seaport, the world of America and the sea, meeting many readers at a special display of his books and framed Geoff Hunt prints of the covers. The prints are now available in the US from Mystic Seaport (see LINKS in the website). * Julian was asked to sign a chair at the E&E Deli in Martha's Vineyard! Besides authors and literary figures, it's the haunt of famous visitors such as Ted Kennedy and Keith Richards. * Being presented with a half model of ARTEMIS by shipmate Robert Squarebriggs of Canada. Perfectly crafted, and based on "Nymphe" (the actual vessel "Artemis" originated from), the model was made by Robert entirely from scratch. ===================== 2) HANDS TO MUSTER --- Behind the Thomas Kydd series is a great team; each month "The Bosun's Chronicle" goes behind the scenes to talk to one of the Shipmates who have been involved in some aspect of the book --- This month we chat about the supply chain with Tony Bryars, Managing Director of Bookpoint. Tony graduated as an industrial engineer and joined Bookpoint in 1995. Recently relocated to a 7.3 acre site in Abingdon, Oxford, the company has 320 employees and an annual turnover in excess of 140,000,000 pounds - and houses 18 million books. Stretched end to end they would reach from London to Moscow and back! +Bosun. The production and distribution processes for books is something we perhaps take for granted. Can you tell us a little bit about how it all works? +Tony. ARTEMIS was printed at Clays in Suffolk and it took about twelve hours from downloading the digital text files to make the printing plates to producing untrimmed gathered sections of pages. The binding of the page sections into pre-prepared cover cases took 6 hours - that's about 25 books per minute coming off the binding line. Massive forty-foot trucks then deliver them here where they are fed into our system. When orders come in, they are logged into the computer and an appropriately sized box is automatically selected, then pickers collect the books from the shelves and load them onto the conveyor that carries them to packing and shipping. +Bosun. What changes have you seen in the last few years? +Tony. One of the most significant changes is in the customer ordering profile, which has reduced in size but increased in frequency. We now are often delivering to bookshops on a daily basis, instead of once or twice a week. Over the course of the year we prepare 4.5 million orders in 1.4 million parcels. NEXT MONTH: We talk to Copy Editor Hazel Orme about working with Julian's manuscripts. ==================== 3) NAUTICAL WEBSITE OF THE MONTH --- Every month Julian talks about a website with sea links --- HMS GANGES ASSOCIATION Julian attended TS Indefatigable, the tough sea-training school that was situated in Wales. One of the famous Royal Naval establishments was HMS Ganges at Shotley, Suffolk, through whose gates passed thousands of young boys between 1905 and 1976. Some parts of the establishment still stand, including the celebrated mast (to become a "button boy" - someone who climbed to the very top of the mast - was a real achievement, attained by three Shipmates that Julian knows of). The site carries a fascinating history of the training establishment at Suffolk and also the seagoing ships that bore the name HMS Ganges. The first HMS Ganges was a 3rd Rate Frigate, one of three ships presented by the East India Company in 1779 to the Royal Navy. The last Ganges was the Royal Navy's last seagoing sailing flagship. When she was broken up at Devonport in 1930 several items from the ship found their way to Guildford Cathedral, including a cross made from its timbers and a photograph of her under sail. Julian has received letters and emails from Ganges old boys who have enjoyed KYDD and ARTEMIS and he would love to hear from other Shipmates about their sea training experiences. ==================== 4) ANATOMY OF A MAN-O'-WAR --- The sailing ships of Kydd's day were the most complex machines on the planet at that time --- BATTLE STATIONS The raison d'etre of the man-o'-war was to protect the Empire and British interests by engaging the enemy, either singly or in line of battle in Fleet action. Various preparations were made an hour or so before battle - the galley fire was put out and if there was time the men would be served a meal; letters home were written and wills exchanged; clean clothes put on to try to avoid infected wounds. When the Captain ordered "clear for action" everything bar the guns were cleared away from the gundecks. Above decks, boats, which could shower deadly wood splinters if hit were either secured or towed astern; officers' cabins were cleared and their belongings stowed in the hold. The rigging was secured, splinter nets were laid out. Decks were sanded and wetted. Scuttlebutts of water were placed at various points where the seamen could quench their thirst in battle and arms chests were deployed midships for easy access by boarders to their weapons. Below, the surgeon and his mates prepared for their grisly tasks in the cockpit, the midshipmans berth. Instruments were sharpened. ==================== 5) ON THE STOCKS --- News of upcoming books, foreign translations, audio versions, other products --- Ullstein Maritim has acquired German language rights to SEAFLOWER, the third volume in the Thomas Kydd series. ==================== 6) SIGNALS FROM FOREIGN PARTS --- We welcome news and views from Shipmates around the world --- This month's Shipmates are Frank Courtney, Robert Rosenthal and Chuck DeCurtis. Frank is a former Master Chief Petty Officer (Cryptology), qualified in submarines, US Navy, currently employed by a defence contractor in Charleston, South Carolina. Frank says that he has long been a fan of the sea and has read widely in the historical naval adventure genre. In Julian's books he particularly enjoys the character development of Kydd and Renzi - and the fact that the respect of other seamen was based on performance and competence. Robert is a retired lawyer. He's had a busy professional career as well as "having been on dozens of boards". Robert is currently heading up the Spirit of America Tour which brings free country and western concerts to domestic military bases. Chuck grew up on the coast of Georgia and spent his leisure time in or on the water, but regrets his sailing experiences are limited to small Cats and Sunfish. Professionally, Chuck works as an ecologist with a particular interest in aquatic communities and ecosystems. Julian would love to hear from you. Contact ==================== 7) DAYS OUT --- Each month we visit somewhere around the world of special nautical interest --- DARTMOUTH MUSEUM, Devon, England The Dartmouth Museum is part of the Butterwalk, a Grade 1 listed building dating from 1635, built by a merchant in the Newfoundland cod trade. The Museum has a fascinating collection of exhibits reflecting mariners' associations with the area over the centuries. The River Dart is favoured with a sheltered deep water harbour. Between the 12th and 20th centuries seamen from the Dart took part in every major event in British Maritime history. In 1147 an international fleet of 164 ships met there before setting out on the Second Crusade. In the 14th and 15th centuries Dartmouth merchants grew rich on the wine trade with Bordeaux. Raleigh and his half brother Gilbert set off from the Dart to found the first English colonies there. In August 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers in "Mayflower" and "Speedwell" moored there for repairs before setting out to settle in New England. Julian was delighted to be able to experience both these New World connections first hand last month. (+44) 1803 832923 =================== 8) CONTEST This month we are offering special prizes to mark Julian's author tour of the East Coast of America. The first prize is a signed set of the hardback American editions of KYDD and ARTEMIS. In addition there is a signed ARTEMIS post-card from Julian for every contest entrant! Here's the question. Name the two venues for the formal lectures during Julian's tour. The first correct answer out of the hat on August 31 wins the signed two-book set. Don't forget to include your full postal address! + Last month's winner of Magna's unabridged version of KYDD is David Ireland of Oxon, England. ================== Yours aye, THE BOSUN ++ Back issues of the newsletter are now on the website ++ (To unsubscribe this newsletter email )