Septimus

by Paul Anthony

AD 78: It’s taken the Roman invaders over thirty years to reach the Lake District and the lands now known as Cumbria. Surrounded by high mountains, deep valleys, and a multitude of lakes, tarns and sheep, the Romans speculate on whether the inhabitants are an illiterate band of semi-neolithic individuals or an affluent tribe of significant status. Perhaps they will prove to be rich in gold, silver, and other treasures mined from the rocky environment where they live. Or do the locals survive on the edge of starvation existing on a daily diet of basic nourishment that is below normal living standards? Where is their army, the Romans ask? Will they run and hide in the caves with the first flight of an arrow? Are the natives naïve or cultured? Can they be trusted? How long will it take to destroy them?The way ahead for Rome is simple and uncompromising – to conquer and move on. Once this minor obstruction is dispensed with, they will journey further north where the Picts, Caledonii, and a scattering of smaller tribes live out their humble lives. Yet the natives intend to preserve their identity, safeguard their culture and beliefs, and deny the Roman Conquest.A cohort of the Ninth Roman Legion under the command of Sextus Maximus is on the shores of Ullswater. They are the unwanted intruders. One man stands alone against them. His name is Hallin, King of the Hallinii, leader of the Vitaminic tribes, and a member of the Carvetti Alliance. This is his story. The story of Hallin, his battle, his beliefs, and how war and peace are often entangled in a complex web of love, hate, jealousy, loyalty and treachery.

246 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2020

About the author

Paul has written 7 full length fictional novels - crime fiction - plus a collection of poetry, a book of short stories, a non-fiction self help book regarding an authorship, and a children's fantasy book which was co-written with Meg Johnston. These books are in both print and Kindle. Four books make up the Boyd detective series and three are in the Davies King series. They are all stand alone books. In the past he has been published by a Vanity House and a Traditional Publishing House. He is currently an independent self publishing author with a store front on the 'Lulu' website as well as amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. He has written over 20 screenplays for both television and film either on his own, or with the award winning screenwriter, Nick Gordon. Our author is also a writer for Broowaha: an online newspaper based in America, but he is also a Linkedin Influencer where many of his articles, memoirs, short stories and non fiction articles appear. Paul Anthony is the pseudonym of a man born in Southport, Lancashire. The son of a soldier, he settled in Carlisle before joining the Police as a Cadet. Joining Cumbria police at the age of 19, he served throughout Cumbria. As a detective, he served in Cumbria CID, the Regional Crime Squad in Manchester, the Special Branch, the anti-terrorist branch, and other national agencies in the UK. He is the holder of an Honours Degree in Economics and Social Sciences, a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Office Management. Paul is also a supporter of the Dyslexia Foundation UK who selected 'The Fragile Peace' to be the first book in their audio library. He is also a keen promoter of 'United Artistes', a casting agency operating from Carlisle, Cumbria, providing supporting artists (extras) for the television and film industries working in the Midlands, the north of England, and the whole of Scotland. The agency specialises in providing ex armed services and police personnel with 'specific' military and police skills required by film and television production companies. His blogsite and further details of his books can be found at paulanthonys.blogspot.com When not writing, Paul Anthony enjoys reading a wide range of works, reviewing same, and playing guitar badly. His favourite genre to read is 'non-fiction' and 'thrillers'. He also enjoys running, kettlebells, athletics, keeping fit, pilates, walking the Cumbrian Fells, dining out and dining in, keeping Koi carp, and following politics, economics and social sciences. He is married and has three adult children and five grandchildren. He is a member of the Independent Authors Network and a former winner of the featured authors contest. Paul is also a member of the League of Writers and a former featured author at the the 'Books Without Borders' event in Yonkers, New York, and a featured author at the Frankfurt Book Fayre.