Alaric Bond was born in Surrey, and now lives in Herstmonceux, East Sussex. Bond has been writing professionally for over twenty years with work covering broadcast comedy (commissioned to BBC Light Entertainment for 3 years), periodicals, children's stories, television and the stage.
Bond now divides his time between writing and helping his wife run “Scolfe's”, a traditional English Restaurant and Tea Rooms, housed in their 14th century Wealden Hall House home.
Other interests include the British Navy 1793-1815 and the RNVR during WW2. Bond regularly gives talks to groups and organizations, and is a member of various historical societies. He is a keen collector of old or unusual musical instruments, and 78 rpm records. Bond also enjoys sailing, classic cars, Jazz, swing and big-band music, and badgers.
Fireship Press is pleased to have the opportunity to publish "An Unlikely Sea Daddy," and article on Bond's influences and odyssey as a nautical fiction author. This article appears on our website by permission of C S Forester Society for whom the article was originally written.
All the novels of Alric Bond's Fighting Sail Series have been well received and well reviewed.
His Majesty's Ship: "Bond's writing flows easily. It is well crafted and stylish without calling undue attention to itself. I felt completely drawn into the book, into the ship itself, from the cramped and airless gundeck to dizzying heights of the cross-trees. I found myself reading slowly, because I was so enjoying the language, the characters and the real sense of being aboard Bond's HMS Vigilant.."
Jackass Frigate: "Bond shows a deceptively easy mastery of the mainstays of Historic Naval Fiction narrative – ship handling, seamanship, shipboard life (both before the mast and in 'officer country"), gunnery, surgery, and above all, flawless descriptions of both fictional and historic battles."
True Colours: "In addition to portraying intriguing history, the writing in True Colours is simply wonderful.As with the other two books of the series, Bond does not focus on the young captain or a single character but shifts gracefully through the points of view of the officers and men (and in one case, a woman,) from the gun deck, to the cockpit, to the wardroom."
Cut and Run: "What makes Cut and Run such an entertaining read is that it is sufficiently different from fiction focusing on the Royal Navy so that it feels fresh. At the same time, the characters and surroundings are similar enough, to make a fan of Georgian naval fiction feel quite at home."
The Patriot's Fate: The acclaimed fifth novel in Bond's popular "Fighting Sail" series. It is 1798
and Ireland rises up against years of repression and injustice. Rebels,
supported by a mighty French invasion fleet, prepare to claim their land
but find themselves countered by a powerful British battle squadron.
Two friends and former allies, separated by chance and circumstance,
witness developments from opposing sides while storms, political
intrigue and personal dynamics abound. In The Patriot's Fate Bond
maintains a relentless pace that climaxes in thrilling naval action and
noble sacrifice." The eagerly anticipated fifth installment of Alaric Bond's 'Fighting Sail' series is with us at last and it is another corker!"
Please visit the Alaric Bond website for more information on the author and the Fighting Sail Series.
