Attic Whispers from the Blue Mountains [August 2021 Edition]

Greetings from my attic in the Blue Mountains!

Covid 19 has changed our lives, and all of us had to adapt; me too. In many ways, I have been very fortunate because writing is in essence very solitary and self-contained. That said, we are presently in a strict lockdown up here in the Blue Mountains because we are part of greater Sydney which is fighting a serious Covid 19 outbreak right now. For this reason, I had to cancel all travel arrangements for the rest of the year, which means of course that unfortunately there will be no Hooked on Travel segment for the time being.

However, there’s no ill wind that doesn’t blow some good! In my case, what this means is this: because of the lockdown, I have had more time than usual to devote to planning, researching, and writing the next book.

This has resulted in many wonderful morning walks along the spectacular escarpment overlooking the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park with its spectacular waterfalls and ancient fern gullies which surrounds my home.

I am pleased to tell you that Jack’s next adventure is well underway and will, hopefully, be ready and available to entertain you by the end of the year.

Because more people than ever seem to be reaching for books to help them cope with the Covid 19 challenges, I have received a huge amount of correspondence from dedicated readers like yourself, asking about the next book. Apart from that, the recent USA TODAY Bestselling Author ranking has created a lot of additional exposure and interest in the Jack Rogan Mysteries series, resulting in new readers stepping into the world of my imagination in surprising numbers to explore the adventures of Jack, that incorrigible rascal, and his intrepid companions. And that, my friends is what every writer strives for, and what keeps the lights on late at night up here in the attic.

Usually, I don’t like talking about the next book this early, but these are unprecedented times. So I thought, why not provide a few glimpses of what’s to come, and tantalise the literary tastebuds? For that reason, I’ve decided to put our usual segments to one side, and use this Newsletter to talk about the next book. Interested? I hope so, because you are in for one hell of a ride; promise!

I’m sure you will understand that I cannot reveal the title of the next book which will be book 7 in the Jack Rogan Mysteries series, just yet. But what I can do, is tell you a little about the subject matter generally, and reveal some aspects of the storyline and the exciting new characters you will meet along the way. In addition, I will tell you where the vast amount of historical material for the book was found, and the extensive research carried out.

Apart from Europe, Jack’s previous adventures have taken us to Egypt, Ethiopia and Somalia, to remote Outback Australia, Russia, the US, Turkey and the Middle East to name but a few of the exciting places we visited together as we followed the various storylines developed in the series so far.

This time, however, you are coming with me to South America and the Caribbean to explore the Spanish Conquest and the fate of Pizarro and the rapacious conquistadores, and the tragic murder of Atahualpa, the last Inca king.

To approach this multi-layered storyline in a meaningful manner, it was necessary to delve deep into history in order to bring the exciting new characters to life in a way that is both plausible, and as realistic as possible.

To make sure that all aspects of the complex plot are anchored in documented history, a huge amount of research was required before fact and fiction could rub shoulders in a way that you, the reader, will not only find entertaining and plausible, but enjoy without knowing where one ends, and the other begins. And that is, as you know, one of the hallmarks of my writing, and how I approach the subject matter and characters featured in my books.

Most of the research material for this book was found in the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, arguably one of the most significant depositories of historical documents relating to the Spanish Empire in the Americas.

As you turn the pages, you will again meet familiar characters like Countess Kuragin, Tristan, and the colourful Mademoiselle Darrieux who will dazzle you with her outrageous wardrobe and entertain you with her delightful eccentricities. Claude Dupree and Detective Chief Superintendent Marcel Lapointe—the two intrepid French police officers— will join forces with Chief Prosecutor Grimaldi and Chief Superintendent Borroni of the Squadra Mobile in Florence, as they follow the trail of a villain so vile that his crimes with make the hairs on the back of your neck tingle.

Along the way, you will visit familiar places like the Kuragin Chateau outside Paris, the Palazzo da Baggio in Venice, and the Squadra Mobile HQ in Florence. You will stand in front of Madame Petrova’s memory trees with Rahima, Jack’s mother, and remember departed friends long gone.But that’s not all. You will travel back in time and visit Cajamarca in northern Peru where Atahualpa, the last Inca king was killed in 1533, and fight your way through the dense Peruvian jungle all the way to the Llanganatis Mountains in search of a legendary Inca treasure.

You will stand in front of Morro Castle in Havana, and witness the execution of a feared pirate in 1664, and follow the trail of a cursed artefact that has brought nothing but misery and death to all who set eyes on it.

As you know, all of my books stand alone and can be read as such. However, the Jack Rogan Mysteries are a series, and those of you who are familiar with all of the books in the series will get a lot more out of each one as there are subtle references and connections in the book that relate to past storylines that will enhance the reading experience and add another dimension to the characters that will, hopefully, enhance your enjoyment of the stories.

As you can see, this is another big, action-packed nail-biter with a big story that spans centuries and delves into a fascinating part of history I am certain you will not only find interesting, but also entertaining and exciting.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little preview of things to come, and I have managed to pique your interest. In the next newsletter I will reveal further aspects of the book as we get closer to the release date which, all going well, should once again be just in time for Christmas.

I would like to conclude with the segment I can’t do without: The Reader of The Month.

Most of you will remember that I recently offered The Disappearance of Anna Popov, book 2 in the series for free on Amazon for a couple of days as a promotion. During this time, the book was downloaded several thousand times, and resulted in some wonderful reviews. Here’s one of them I would like to share with you:

Hello Gabriel,

Well, that sure was a fabulous read. Thanks for those precious, extraordinary hours of reading pleasure. I reviewed it on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub. Here is a copy of my review:

Wow, what a ride! Jack Rogan, a journalist and best-selling author likes to follow through on a story. Rebecca, his PR manager, is a New Yorker trying to keep him in line with his commitments and making him dress the part. Two young women intent on finding adventure in the Outback town of Alice Springs. The Wizards of Oz have their own agenda going on. Cassandra, a seer who uses the Tarot and knows things. All these characters find their destinies entwined. This amazing story follows these characters through a maze of murder, violence, superstition and the ultimate adventure of a lifetime. The wonderful depictions of the Australian outback in all its harsh, beautiful and dangerous glory give the reader a taste of this enormous area of Australia. The inclusion of the wonders of the Aboriginal mysticism and knowledge of this land is captivating. This story has so many subplots within the overall plot that it is a smorgasbord of flavors and delight and horrors all in one book. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Regards
Maree

Thank you for this splendid review, Maree. You’ve captured the spirit of the book to perfection! And that is why you are my Reader of the Month. Congratulations!

Finally, my friends, please let me know how this brief outline of the next book resonates with you. As you know, I greatly value your opinion.