Redcoat 1812 in Niagara

On Monday, August 5, 2013 I will be doing a reading from my novel at the Niagara Historical Society and Museum at noon as part of the Heritage Festival. The NHSM is located at 43 Castlereagh St.in Niagara-on-the-Lake. If you are in the area stop by and say hello.

1813 in Upper Canada

The Encampment at Burlington Heights, the Battle of Stoney Creek, the Sinking of the Hamilton and Scourge, the"Burlington Races":  all of these events are detailed in the latest edition of the Hamilton Historical Board's magazine, historiCITY.  Have a look.  The City of Hamilton's official history magazine is available on line.  Go to www.hamiltonhistoricalboard.ca , Publications, historiCITY,
Special Edition #2, the Year 1813.

War of 1812 Toy Soldiers

Besides writing Redcoat 1812, as a hobby I collect toy soldiers that portray War of 1812 participants.  This year during the Battle of Stoney Creek Bicentennial re-enactment weekend the collection was on display in the Gage House at the Stoney Creek National Heritage Site.  My 54 mm
military miniatures come from nine different manufacturers: John Jenkins, Mulberry, King and Country, Britains, Queen Victoria's, Tradition, William Hocker, Lemans and Alexanders.

Battle of Stoney Creek Re-Enactment

This weekend marks the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Battle of Stoney Creek.  With a daring night attack
the outnumbered British/Canadian forces stopped an American invasion force in June 1813.  This weekend there will be a re-enactment on the battlefield site and I will be there selling copies of  Redcoat 1812. As well I will be  accepting donations for the 1813 issue of  historiCITY, the city of Hamilton's history magazine. Should you be coming to the events be sure to say hello.

Redcoat 1812 Events in May

During the month of May I will be speaking on a number of occasions about the different types of historical fiction and the differences between historical fiction and non-fiction history.  Everyone is welcome.
On Wednesday, May 1 I will be at the Stoney Creek Branch of the Hamilton Public Library at 6:30 pm.  Two weeks later on Wednesday, May 15 I will be at the Red Hill Branch at 2:00 pm.
If you live in the Toronto area I will be speaking to the East York Historical Society which meets at
the S. Walter Stewart Branch of the Toronto Public Library on Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 pm.
Later in the month I will be the guest author for the McMaster University "Mac Reads" program on Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 pm. at the on campus Alumni Centre.
I'd certainly enjoy meeting you.

David Nevin's novel, 1812

Just read David Nevin's novel 1812 (Forge Books: N.Y. 1996). There are different types of historical fiction. Some authors use historical settings to tell the story of fictional characters. Other writers, like David Nevin, use fiction to bring historical figures to life. This is what I have done in Redcoat 1812.  There are clearly differences between these two novels about the War of 1812.
1812 is written in the third person from the American perspective and tells the intertwining stories of James and Dolley Madison,  Andrew and Rachel Jackson, and Winfield Scott, while Redcoat 1812  is written in the first person from the British/Canadian perspective and brings the story of soldier, James FitzGibbon to life.  For me, these differences make the two novels interesting companion pieces, revealing two sides of the same story.  If you enjoyed Nevin's 1812, I'm sure 
you will find Redcoat 1812 an informative and worthwile read.

War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium

Thanks to the organizers of the War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium for such a great conference in Hamilton last weekend.  Great speakers and resources! For those who've never attended I'd recommend it.
Next year the Symposium will be held in London, Ontario on March 29, 2014.