Think of yourself on the film set of an updated version of Time Bandits. Roman legionaries march by led by a centurion and eagle bearer; knights in full armour launch their horses at each other in the lists; the English Civil war rages on one side, while in a nearby field a group of riflemen gets ready to take on Napoleon. Desert Rats, the Forgotten Army, the Red Berets, Nazi Stormtroopers, Yank GIs with jeeps and half tracks and the Red Army, all living cheek by jowl. Throw in twenty thousand spectators and mix for a kind of T in the Park for people who like armour, guns and swords and you have the Festival of History at Kelmarsh.
Oh, and then there was the Historical Writers' Association. Thirty two of Britain's best writers of historical fiction and non-fiction holding forth in twelve events over two days, magnificently organised by chair Manda Scott and her merry band of helpers, and every event attended by two hundred people or more. It was fantastic to be there and even better to be part of it. It also proved once again that, as a breed, writers are nice people who'll generally do anything for anybody. I hope it's the start of something big that will get even bigger.
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| A Spitfire and Messerschmitt duel |
Apart from being on stage with my brilliant panel of Harry Sidebottom (Warrior of Rome), Ruth Downie (the Ruso series) and John Stack (Masters of the Seas), my favourite memory is of smooth Simon Scarrow and the rather more rustic approach of Robert Low as they battled it out verbally to decide who would have won between the Romans and the Vikings. While they debated what an annoying bed-farting, bottom-scratching partner would have been called before the Vikings came up with the word husband it sounded as if World War Three had broken out a hundred yards away and they didn't turn a hair.
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| Bob Low signs one of many books |
I met dozens of people who are fascinated by historical fiction, including two (Jim and Kate) who've become friends through the internet. It was wonderful to see you all. By some miracle Bantam Press had managed to get copies of Defender of Rome to Kelmarsh, even though the ink was barely dry. And I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when out of the blue a Spitfire and Messerschmitt staged a mock dogfight overhead.
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| Defender of Rome makes it to the shelves |
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| It was a fantastic event for any history lover and if you ever get the chance to go, you really should |
1 comment
Written by Jim Eves on 20 July 2011 at 15:25:00
Hi Doug, it was great to meet you at Kelmarsh and I must raise a glass to you and the rest of the author
s of HWA for a weekend to remember, despite the weather but a festival would not be the same without rain. I attended most of the talks and was not disappointed by any of them,you all came over with the enthusiasm and passion for your subjects that had us glued to our seats and afterwards we were able meet and talk with you all, you must do it again next year. My weekend was then complete when I found that Defender of Rome was sitting there waiting to be brought home. I have just to finish of Rob Low The Lion Wakes and then I can have the pleasure to loose myself in the continuing adventures of Valerius. So again thank you and the authors of the HWA for a great weekend of talk and book`s.