Roger Burnage's Blog
May 17, 2024
Book Eight - The Threat In The Atlantic - Out Now!
From Robin Burnage - the son of the original author - book 8 picks up where Roger left off.
Barely months after returning from the Adriatic, Captain Sir James Merriman is enjoying some rare time with his wife and children. But his nation is exhausted by an apparently endless war and Napoleon’s continental system is denying Britain crucial supplies. Worse still, the French 80-gun ship Hercule has captured numerous British ships near the Cape of Good Hope. Captained by a wily veteran known as the lone wolf, the Hercule presents Merriman with his greatest adversary yet.
Joining his loyal first officer Alfred Shrigley aboard the newly-refitted HMS Thunder, Merriman journeys south to capture or destroy the Hercule. An unexpected diversion leads him onto Portuguese soil and a crucial rendezvous with an old friend – the resourceful double agent, Charles Moreau. With no time to lose, Merriman must meld inexperienced men and hardened veterans into an effective fighting outfit. Along the way, he and his crew encounter slave ships, pirates, disease, storms and numerous allies and enemies before a fateful clash with their elusive nemesis.
https://www.merriman-chronicles.com/t...
The Threat In The Atlantic
Barely months after returning from the Adriatic, Captain Sir James Merriman is enjoying some rare time with his wife and children. But his nation is exhausted by an apparently endless war and Napoleon’s continental system is denying Britain crucial supplies. Worse still, the French 80-gun ship Hercule has captured numerous British ships near the Cape of Good Hope. Captained by a wily veteran known as the lone wolf, the Hercule presents Merriman with his greatest adversary yet.
Joining his loyal first officer Alfred Shrigley aboard the newly-refitted HMS Thunder, Merriman journeys south to capture or destroy the Hercule. An unexpected diversion leads him onto Portuguese soil and a crucial rendezvous with an old friend – the resourceful double agent, Charles Moreau. With no time to lose, Merriman must meld inexperienced men and hardened veterans into an effective fighting outfit. Along the way, he and his crew encounter slave ships, pirates, disease, storms and numerous allies and enemies before a fateful clash with their elusive nemesis.
https://www.merriman-chronicles.com/t...
The Threat In The Atlantic
April 6, 2024
Merriman Book 2 - Updated
For anyone who had an earlier version of the eBook from Amazon, it has now been updated and readers can now update their copy to the newer (and much improved version) using the following link:-
www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/manage
Readers in other regions should be able to change the .com for .co.uk or whatever is relevant.
www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/manage
Readers in other regions should be able to change the .com for .co.uk or whatever is relevant.
December 3, 2023
The story continues… with a new author at the helm.
For fans and followers of The Merriman Chronicles, you may already know that my late father - Roger Burnage - was the brains behind the series. His inspiration for Merriman was found in the novels of C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Dudley Pope and many more. Some of these fine works still sit on his bookcase at home. Alas he wrote his last in 2015 when an illness got the better of him.
It’s hard to think back to those last weeks and days before Dad passed away. We used to sit and chat about his books and especially new story ideas - of which he had plenty. Sadly, it had got to the stage where he knew he would not be able to write anymore. Holding a pen was difficult and he could no longer type. We did manage several sessions recording his ideas – I made notes and used a tape machine – but eight years later, I still can’t bring myself to listen to those tapes. I tried once, but hearing his voice, so weak and feeble, I found it unbearable.
Dad was very insistent that he wanted me to carry on with the series, so I guess that one day… I will have to pluck up the courage and listen to them all. On a positive note, he did leave behind many pages of notes, some part finished manuscripts and title suggestions for at least another 30 novels.
He also left one completed novel which I finally managed to publish late last year. The Fateful Voyage introduces Edward Merriman – the Great Grandson of James Merriman – nearly 90 years after the first book was set. This is a great standalone novel that can be read without any reference to the rest of The Merriman Chronicles. Eventually it should fall into place (say, book 47 in the series!) but maybe I am being a bit ambitious thinking about getting it all done. It’s going to take some time!
With all of Dad’s notes and the papers rescued from behind the fireplace (ahem!) we have lots to work with. We can go forwards from 'The Fateful Voyage' with Edward Merriman, go back 90 years and finish the career of James Merriman, or even start afresh with James’s own son. Back to that in a moment.
Even the least observant reader will have sussed out that something is brewing.
Yes – there is a new novel in progress!
I am not ready to disclose too much information just yet, but I am working on the next instalment for James Abel Merriman which picks up immediately after Book 7 – The Threat In The Adriatic.
The title is a work in progress – The Threat In The ********** is most likely. Sorry, not sorry, you will have to wait and see. I will say it involves HMS Thunder and some of the remaining crew including Mr Shrigley. About anything else… my lips are sealed!
It’s hard to think back to those last weeks and days before Dad passed away. We used to sit and chat about his books and especially new story ideas - of which he had plenty. Sadly, it had got to the stage where he knew he would not be able to write anymore. Holding a pen was difficult and he could no longer type. We did manage several sessions recording his ideas – I made notes and used a tape machine – but eight years later, I still can’t bring myself to listen to those tapes. I tried once, but hearing his voice, so weak and feeble, I found it unbearable.
Dad was very insistent that he wanted me to carry on with the series, so I guess that one day… I will have to pluck up the courage and listen to them all. On a positive note, he did leave behind many pages of notes, some part finished manuscripts and title suggestions for at least another 30 novels.
He also left one completed novel which I finally managed to publish late last year. The Fateful Voyage introduces Edward Merriman – the Great Grandson of James Merriman – nearly 90 years after the first book was set. This is a great standalone novel that can be read without any reference to the rest of The Merriman Chronicles. Eventually it should fall into place (say, book 47 in the series!) but maybe I am being a bit ambitious thinking about getting it all done. It’s going to take some time!
With all of Dad’s notes and the papers rescued from behind the fireplace (ahem!) we have lots to work with. We can go forwards from 'The Fateful Voyage' with Edward Merriman, go back 90 years and finish the career of James Merriman, or even start afresh with James’s own son. Back to that in a moment.
Even the least observant reader will have sussed out that something is brewing.
Yes – there is a new novel in progress!
I am not ready to disclose too much information just yet, but I am working on the next instalment for James Abel Merriman which picks up immediately after Book 7 – The Threat In The Adriatic.
The title is a work in progress – The Threat In The ********** is most likely. Sorry, not sorry, you will have to wait and see. I will say it involves HMS Thunder and some of the remaining crew including Mr Shrigley. About anything else… my lips are sealed!
October 24, 2023
New Historic Naval Fiction Audiobook
I'm really pleased to announce that our first Audiobook is finished and is available from Audible.
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0CKM8TLJ6/
A Certain Threat, written by Roger Burnage and narrated by Nigel Peever has already had some FIVE STAR reviews come in.
Finding the right narrator for the job wasn’t easy. We had over twenty auditions – some good, some not so good. A few stood out as exceptional which made the choice more difficult. In the end, we took the plunge and asked Nigel. He has plenty of experience of audiobooks and has already produced several historic naval fiction audiobooks such as the Hornblower's legacy series by James Keffer.
Despite our initial reservations about having an enhanced audiobook (added music and sound effects as opposed to a straight read) the end result is spectacular. The balance is spot on, with Nigel reading all the parts and developing each individual character with regional accents and idiosyncratic traits that makes each character unique.
From the opening few words of the original author’s notes, you are drawn into the storyline and want to hear more. We absolutely made the right choice and can’t wait for book two!
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0CKM8TLJ6/
A Certain Threat, written by Roger Burnage and narrated by Nigel Peever has already had some FIVE STAR reviews come in.
Finding the right narrator for the job wasn’t easy. We had over twenty auditions – some good, some not so good. A few stood out as exceptional which made the choice more difficult. In the end, we took the plunge and asked Nigel. He has plenty of experience of audiobooks and has already produced several historic naval fiction audiobooks such as the Hornblower's legacy series by James Keffer.
Despite our initial reservations about having an enhanced audiobook (added music and sound effects as opposed to a straight read) the end result is spectacular. The balance is spot on, with Nigel reading all the parts and developing each individual character with regional accents and idiosyncratic traits that makes each character unique.
From the opening few words of the original author’s notes, you are drawn into the storyline and want to hear more. We absolutely made the right choice and can’t wait for book two!
How it came to be.
I’ve got quite a vivid recollection of Dad sitting at his desk (which typical of Dad was antique, leather topped and lovingly self-restored) typing away at a computer which looked just as ancient as the desk. He typed with just two fingers - none missing – he’d just never mastered touch typing.
The shelves of books behind him had mainly one theme – history and ships, predominantly the age of fighting sail and the Napoleonic wars. Fiction books by O’Brian and Forrester sat alongside pamphlets from HMS Victory, academic works on fighting sail and a dictionary of British Ships and Seamen.
I can’t recall exactly, but he had taken to writing his own series of novels sometime in his late 60’s or early 70’s with the dream of being published, as of course authors do.. and was looking for an agent and / or publishing company to represent him. The years went by and the folder of rejection letters got fatter. Worse still were the replies that he never received – letters, manuscripts and carefully crafted synopses that never even garnered a response. No “Thanks but no thanks”, “not our thing” or even a “Sod off and don’t bother us again”. Still, he kept plugging away.. until he didn’t.
That something had changed was apparent during one of my fly-by visits, sometime in 2010. I’d call in for a brew and a butty now and then, have a quick chat and head off to another appointment. (I was a Letting Agent, so obviously VERY important!). This particular time, Dad wasn’t his usual chirpy self. He’d had enough of writing and decided to quit! Like many things in Britain, such dramatic news called for a cup of tea. Kettle on, teapot warmed, PG Tips at the ready. (Other brands are available. I myself only use Yorkshire Gold in leaf form but accept that Mum & Dad always made a decent brew, even if it was using teabags which is a whole other topic of conversation).
Anyway, the biscuits came out and I asked the obvious questions – what’s wrong dad, what’s happened?
The short answer was that he’d had enough of rejection, nobody was interested in his work. There was no point in continuing as he didn’t think he would ever see one of his books published. I said I’d take a look and helped myself to some chocolate biscuits.
Sometime later… a bit of digging around on the internet and I came across info about self-publishing. Some of it sounded quite dodgy with upfront payments and paying to print books that you then have to promote yourself. I wonder just how many budding authors have boxes of books in the loft? I was intrigued by the online “print of demand” model – no upfront costs, books listed for sale and individually printed when someone bought one, plus the eBook download option – what could go wrong? Well, I fell down a rabbit hole right there. I smugly informed my Dad that I was going to sort it out… and get him published…. Tada! I did.
They started selling.
He wrote another. That started selling.
He wrote another – book 3 which should have been book 2 – so I had to re-publish in the correct order. He wrote another…. You can see where this is going.
The problem for me was having time to deal with everything – which is the part of self-publishing that you don’t think about. Books really don’t sell themselves. Anyway, that’s going to be another blog post… sometime.
The shelves of books behind him had mainly one theme – history and ships, predominantly the age of fighting sail and the Napoleonic wars. Fiction books by O’Brian and Forrester sat alongside pamphlets from HMS Victory, academic works on fighting sail and a dictionary of British Ships and Seamen.
I can’t recall exactly, but he had taken to writing his own series of novels sometime in his late 60’s or early 70’s with the dream of being published, as of course authors do.. and was looking for an agent and / or publishing company to represent him. The years went by and the folder of rejection letters got fatter. Worse still were the replies that he never received – letters, manuscripts and carefully crafted synopses that never even garnered a response. No “Thanks but no thanks”, “not our thing” or even a “Sod off and don’t bother us again”. Still, he kept plugging away.. until he didn’t.
That something had changed was apparent during one of my fly-by visits, sometime in 2010. I’d call in for a brew and a butty now and then, have a quick chat and head off to another appointment. (I was a Letting Agent, so obviously VERY important!). This particular time, Dad wasn’t his usual chirpy self. He’d had enough of writing and decided to quit! Like many things in Britain, such dramatic news called for a cup of tea. Kettle on, teapot warmed, PG Tips at the ready. (Other brands are available. I myself only use Yorkshire Gold in leaf form but accept that Mum & Dad always made a decent brew, even if it was using teabags which is a whole other topic of conversation).
Anyway, the biscuits came out and I asked the obvious questions – what’s wrong dad, what’s happened?
The short answer was that he’d had enough of rejection, nobody was interested in his work. There was no point in continuing as he didn’t think he would ever see one of his books published. I said I’d take a look and helped myself to some chocolate biscuits.
Sometime later… a bit of digging around on the internet and I came across info about self-publishing. Some of it sounded quite dodgy with upfront payments and paying to print books that you then have to promote yourself. I wonder just how many budding authors have boxes of books in the loft? I was intrigued by the online “print of demand” model – no upfront costs, books listed for sale and individually printed when someone bought one, plus the eBook download option – what could go wrong? Well, I fell down a rabbit hole right there. I smugly informed my Dad that I was going to sort it out… and get him published…. Tada! I did.
They started selling.
He wrote another. That started selling.
He wrote another – book 3 which should have been book 2 – so I had to re-publish in the correct order. He wrote another…. You can see where this is going.
The problem for me was having time to deal with everything – which is the part of self-publishing that you don’t think about. Books really don’t sell themselves. Anyway, that’s going to be another blog post… sometime.
March 14, 2023
1 Million Pages
I know that people tend to prefer to own a "real" book. We love a page turner, especially when we turn actual pages. But eBooks are a thing. A real thing - if you see what I mean.
I can tell you that hardly anyone buys a physical copy of The Merriman Chronicles".
As of 23rd February this year:-
8 books in the Merriman Chronicles
896 physical books sold
24,000 eBooks books sold
over 4 million pages read via Kindle Unlimited that equates to about 16,000 books
So far in 2023 there has been a huge increase in interest, so much so that sales in the first three months are already ahead of the whole of last year.
Thanks for reading.
I can tell you that hardly anyone buys a physical copy of The Merriman Chronicles".
As of 23rd February this year:-
8 books in the Merriman Chronicles
896 physical books sold
24,000 eBooks books sold
over 4 million pages read via Kindle Unlimited that equates to about 16,000 books
So far in 2023 there has been a huge increase in interest, so much so that sales in the first three months are already ahead of the whole of last year.
Thanks for reading.
February 26, 2023
Thank you
A huge thank you to everyone who entered the competition to win "The Fateful Voyage" eBook.
There were 615 entries in total with 50 winners picked by Goodreads.
If you missed out, this and all the Merriman Chronicles are available on Amazon as eBook, paperback and hardback. You can also read as part of Kindle Unlimited subscription.
We would love to read your comments and especially like to see some reviews here and on Amazon.
Click here for link to the first book on Amazon USA
There were 615 entries in total with 50 winners picked by Goodreads.
If you missed out, this and all the Merriman Chronicles are available on Amazon as eBook, paperback and hardback. You can also read as part of Kindle Unlimited subscription.
We would love to read your comments and especially like to see some reviews here and on Amazon.
Click here for link to the first book on Amazon USA
January 27, 2023
Giveaway up and running
Well, very exciting news - we listed our first ever giveaway here on Goodreads (link below).
We have 50 eBooks up for grabs and already over 200 requests. Competition ends on 25th February, so best enter for a chance to win.
Of course you can still download or order a hard copy from Amazon.
If you are in the UK and want a copy to review, send a message and we shall see what we can do.
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
We have 50 eBooks up for grabs and already over 200 requests. Competition ends on 25th February, so best enter for a chance to win.
Of course you can still download or order a hard copy from Amazon.
If you are in the UK and want a copy to review, send a message and we shall see what we can do.
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
January 24, 2023
Latest book giveaway
I am pleased to announce that we are running a giveaway of our latest book - The Fateful Voyage by Roger Burnage.
Starting on 26th January, we have 50 eBooks up for grabs from Amazon.
It has been a long time coming, but we are really pleased with how this last book turned out. Roger would have been proud.
Starting on 26th January, we have 50 eBooks up for grabs from Amazon.
It has been a long time coming, but we are really pleased with how this last book turned out. Roger would have been proud.
