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John Drake

Goodreads Author

Born

London, The United Kingdom

Twitter

JohnDrakeAuthor

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

Influences

Hobgoblin Strong Ale, mainly

Member Since

January 2016

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Just in case anyone's interested ... my latest Fletcher (Flying Machine) is up and running and selling well. Happy days.

I have just finished the third of my Londinium books (that's Roman London AD 100) and it should be out later this year: 'Gods in Londium'. My usual mixture of bloodstained savagery, plus authentic period detail.

Moving further on ...

'The Fletcher Companion' (all you need to know about Fletcher and his world), will also be available some time this year.

Beyond that, the next Fletcher for March 2023 (if the Lord spares me) will be 'Fletcher and the Constitution'. That's the US Constitution, and it's in deadly peril.

Mind how you go.

John Drake

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I loved your Londinium series & your style of writing! Totaling engrossing and non-put-downable. I always feel loss when finishing such great stories, please don't stop using your writing gift. Can continue with more stories of our dear Ikaros of Apollonis/Morganus stories? Historical fiction is my all time favorite. I love history. I'm so glad to have found your books! Most Sincerely, Margaret PS: starting Fletcher

John Drake Dear Margaret,

Before all else, thanks for your kind words, which are enormously appreciated. I do my best with my writing, and can't do more than tha…moreDear Margaret,

Before all else, thanks for your kind words, which are enormously appreciated. I do my best with my writing, and can't do more than that.. Moving on ... the Londinium series is the work that I am most proud of, and it is especially pleasing when someone gives it praise. I do have at least two more Londinium books in mind : 'Before Londinium', and 'Beyond Londinium'. The former will give back-stories for Ikaros and Morganus, the latter will take them to Rome itself. You are now the first person to know that, and these books will emerge over the next few years, because there are various other ideas and books under development right now. Once again thanks and Jacob Fletcher (standing beside me as I write - honest) sends his regards. All best John Drake (less)

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I bought Fletchers fortune by pure chance over 20 yrs ago in early 1990s; softback, slightly promoted (as they do with dozens of books) on one of the many prominent tables dotted around in a book shop. I read it, loved it; I immediately bought 1st June (loved it too). In goodreads, Fletchers Fortune has a published year of 2015. All very confusing, misleading - it is the exact same book though? You are JC Edwards? Thx

John Drake Yes, I am JC Edwards, though I now write as John Drake. The first two Fletcher books were originally published by Hodder & Stoughton, and are now publ…moreYes, I am JC Edwards, though I now write as John Drake. The first two Fletcher books were originally published by Hodder & Stoughton, and are now published by Endeavour. Thus the more recent Endeavour books have a publication date of 2015. Thus Hodder published 'Fletcher's Fortune' and 'Fletcher's Glorious 1st June'. Both have been re-published by Endeavour, as have books 3 and 4: 'Fletcher and the Mutineers' and 'Fletcher and the Great Raid.' I working on a 5th: 'Fletcher and the Samurai' which should be out later this year. Meanwhile thanks for your kind words, and I am very glad you liked the books. If you look for my books on Amazon, you will see that there are many more than just Fletchers. With very best wishes, John Drake(less)

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John Drake’s books

Average rating: 4.29 · 11,375 ratings · 575 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Fletcher and the Samurai (Fletcher #5) 4.44 avg rating — 1,080 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fletcher and the Great Raid (Fletcher #4) 4.41 avg rating — 1,054 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fletcher and the Mutineers (Fletcher #3) 4.24 avg rating — 954 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fletcher and the Blue Star (Fletcher #6) 4.43 avg rating — 815 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fletcher and the Flying Machine (Fletcher #7) 4.28 avg rating — 681 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flint and Silver: A Prequel to Treasure Island 3.62 avg rating — 618 ratings — published 2008 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Death in Londinium (Londinium #1) 4.39 avg rating — 495 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Traitor of Treasure Island 4.26 avg rating — 490 ratings — published 2019 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fletcher and the Constitution (Fletcher #8) 4.39 avg rating — 418 ratings — published 2024 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Londinium Mysteries, Books 1-3 4.57 avg rating — 398 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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22 posts
John Drake's Blog

Sophomoric!?

Wow! Go immediately to Amazon and look at the 31st July review of 'Fletcher and the Flying machine'. Wow! Wow! And thrice Wow!

A learned reader has described the book as 'Sophomoric' and I never heard that one before.

It means juvenile, ill-informed, and arrogant. How about that? And all in that one word? Gosh. I wish I could write like that.

So, to the person who said that, I ask "Have you consider Read more of this blog post »

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Published on August 02, 2023 00:41 • Tags: sophomoric

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Series by John Drake

Londinium (3 books)
by

John Drake (Goodreads Author)

4.47 avg rating — 1,472 ratings

A Prequel to Treasure Island (3 books)
by

John Drake (Goodreads Author)

3.76 avg rating — 983 ratings

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John’s Recent Updates

John Drake answered A L's question: Does the character Kate feature in all the Fletcher series books or is she killed off (hopefully) ? I only ask as I have nearly finished Fletchers Fortune and I greatly fear that there will be a romantic angle intruding into the series and it felt a bit woke having her onboard too. Also there was a reference to the 1854 Charge of Light Brigade which I thought was a bit weird as the book was set in 1793 ! Thanks for the question, and the interest in the book. Kate has not yet appeared in any other Fletcher book, so far, and i have written 8 of them, with the ninth in preparation, and Kate is not in number 9 either. But there are plenty of other ladies See Full Answer
Apr 24, 2025 04:50AM · 1 like · like
John Drake answered Kenneth Thompson's question: Just binged through all seven if the “Jacky Flash” books, purchased as a Kindle set of seven. Loved them all! But #7 ended terribly abruptly, though with a teaser. SURELY, you’re working on number eight! Too many loose ends! Is #8 forthcoming? Dear Kenneth, Thanks for your kind words, which are much appreciated. I am not only working on number 8, but have finished it and it is in the hands of the publishers. It should be out later this year and is entitled 'Fletcher and the Constitution'. T See Full Answer
Apr 23, 2024 09:47AM · like
John Drake rated a book it was amazing THE DEATH RAY a gripping alternative historical thriller by John Drake	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 26, 2024 08:20AM · like

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Quotes by John Drake (?)

“In addition, to fetch cartridges up from the magazine, we had a shrivelled child of uncertain age, by the name of “Nimmo”. He was one of about twenty ship’s boys that lived in dank corners of the vessel down below the water-line. Phiandra’s boys were all street urchins that had been “saved” by the Marine Society, who caught them, cleaned them, fed them a bit, gave them the scrapings of an education and parcelled them off in batches to serve afloat. Captain Bollington approved of this scheme and took his ship’s boys from no other source.”
― John Drake, Fletcher's Fortune

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“action, Mr Seymour always had our guns laid point blank. Contrary to what I thought, this does not mean “very close” but to level the gun at zero elevation so the shot would skim flatly across the water to its target. That way there was no need to judge distance. Within its point blank range, what a gun pointed at, got hit - in theory, at least. And for our eighteen pounders, that range was 300 yards.”
― John Drake, Fletcher's Fortune

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“So if ever you’re on a ship where they rig the hand-lines, then take my advice: go below, get the largest bucket you can find, and stand by to heave.”
― John Drake, Fletcher's Fortune

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