Well, it took a while. Eagle-eyed individuals wandering through Lochwinnoch will have noticed that paperback copies of Underworld – Part 1 were on sale way back in May. But I only got around to organising a launch event in August!

Okay, that was remiss of me. But in the end it did turn out to be excellent timing, as the launch, held on Saturday 26th August 2026, took place just days after Underworld – Part 1 was released as an e-book on Kindle.

A big ‘thank you!’ to everyone who turned up for the launch. And an even bigger ‘thank you!!’ to the staff of Lochwinnoch Library and OneRen who enabled everything to happen and helped it all run smoothly. As well as presenting a couple of readings, I gave a talk on the Ancient Spartans and shared my love of Laconian metalwork and Laconian black-figure ware. I had a few members of Lochwinnoch Writers – many of whom have followed Lysander’s adventures from an early stage – tell me later that they felt they knew him a lot better now they’d seen something of the world he came from.

Work is now continuing apace on Underworld – Part 2, with a release date in Spring 2027 anticipated. In the meantime, I will be re-releasing Fire and Sword as a similar two-volume set with larger font size (I’ve had a few complaints about the microscopic font….) with Part 1 hopefully coming out before the end of the year. I’m working with Sacha McKenzie, who produced the very striking cover of Underworld – Part 1 for new cover art, and it’s planned to use a similar ‘look’ to the Spartan series but with medieval and gothic motifs derived from the Sempill coat-of-arms and other late medieval artwork.

Which will, I suspect, require a wee bit of negotiation with the Office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Anyway, watch this space…..