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Authors on Characters
Penmore Press authors offer a rich and entertaining array of short reflections on characters and how they were created in the novels. READ
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Steve Smith
Fast Moving Military Action/Adventure Novels — Steve Smith is a former British Army officer who specialised in logistics, intelligence and high threat, counter-terrorist, bomb disposal. He served on operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq, and deployed on short-term missions to a number of other hot spots.
On leaving the Army as a colonel, Steve became involved in international aid and development. As CEO/Board member of several charities, he has overseen programmes to reduce armed violence, support refugees and safeguard children, principally in conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East. His second career led him into a range of improbable situations, from dealing with the ramifications of a voodoo witchdoctor’s invisible magical dragon in Liberia and the use of witch guns in Sierra Leone, to minefield clearance in the Sahara desert and addressing the United Nations in New York.
Steve holds Master’s degrees in War in the Modern World (MA, King’s College London) and Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management (MSc, Leicester). He was appointed MBE in 1993 for his work on operations in Northern Ireland. In addition to fiction, Steve is also the author of 3-2-1 Bomb Gone – a history of the fight against terrorist bombers in Northern Ireland during ‘the Troubles’ (1969-1998)
In Better to Die, we follow the struggles of Jack Adair to become an officer in the King’s Royal Rangers, a prestigious regiment in which his father fought and died. But the odds are stacked against him. Unknown to Jack, his father’s name is reviled throughout the Regiment, having falsely been labelled a coward after his death in action twenty-five years before. Jack quickly discovers that there are many with long memories who are keen to see him fail.
Steve’s extensive military experience comes out, not just in his descriptions of the grim realities of modern combat, but also in the vivid portrayal of the characters of all ranks, who often resort to black humour to get them through terrifying situations.
Better to Die
1996: Sergeant Nick Adair defends British Army border post “Hotel 55” from being overrun by the IRA, but the only witnesses to his bravery tell a different tale, with themselves as heroes and Adair castigated as a coward.
2021: After a five-year stint with the French Foreign Legion, Jack Adair is determined to have a career as a Sandhurst officer, preferably in his father’s old regiment, the King’s Royal Rangers. But the KRR considers itself elite, professionally and socially, with scant room for a rough diamond like Adair. Cadet Vyvyan Phillips is more the thing: younger son of General Philips, the decorated hero of the Hotel 55 incident. The General’s reputation shines so brightly, it blinds everyone but Jack to Vyvyan’s incompetence. The rivalry between Adair and Phillips extends beyond the confines of training and field command. Both take a keen interest in fellow officer Gemma Page, of Intel Corps. And then the battalion deploys to Gaziantep.
“Jack Adair is a soldier’s soldier who knows his trade. Steve Smith has written a ripping-good yarn and knows of what he writes. Move over Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith! We have another maverick who brings real adventure spiced with a devil-may-care-attitude that keeps him in trouble with his superiors but at the same time puts the Queen’s enemies on notice. Any ex-squaddie is going to be reminded of the hilarious comments made by their mates as they navigate the overbearing behavior of some of their superiors as well as the grim reality of real soldiering.”
— James Boschert, author of When the Jungle is Silent

Penmore Press Catalog
Explore our online catalog alphabetically by author. VIEW
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About Penmore Press
Penmore Press Staff
Michael James, Senior Editor, has lived in some of the more interesting parts of the world, including Malaysia, Borneo, Iran, and Europe. He joined the British Military at age 15, then went on to become an engineer on a ship in the North Sea, a polo player in Iran, and an editor, a production manager, and publisher in the United States. He enjoys reading—and publishing—the kind of books that bring vivid experiences and events to life.
. . .
Chris Paige, Editor, was the kid in seventh grade who loved diagramming sentences, and who in college was the go-to classmate for anyone who wanted to turn a C essay into an A-grade paper. When she served in the Army, her natural skills as an editor enabled her to help soldiers, senior NCOs, and officers with their compositions. As a civilian, she has taught English at the secondary level and worked as an editor and copy editor for small independent presses.
. . .
Alphabetical by Author
Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat
Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor
Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew
Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War
Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore
Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country
Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean
Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide
Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas
Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood
Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty
Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo
Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood
James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut
James Boschert, Knight Assassin
James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira
James Boschert, Greek Fire
James Boschert, A Falcon Flies
James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath
James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara
James Boschert, Storms of Retribution
James Boschert, A Congress of Kings
James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent
James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm
James Boschert, Midshipman Graham
Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone
Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory
Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman
Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy
Kerry Cue, Target 91
John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet
John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide
John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment
John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar
John M. Danielski, Bombproofed
John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire
Leah Devlin, Vital Spark
Leah Devlin, Spider
Leah Devlin, Forger's Revenge
Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers
Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse
Leah Devlin, The Bends
Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena
Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize
Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette
Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom
Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave
Craig Godfrey, 1814
Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows
Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness
J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man
J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind
J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance
J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald
J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance
Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow
Roger Hileman, In the Blood
Helen Hollick, Sea Witch
Helen Hollick, Pirate Code
Helen Hollick, Bring It Close
Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand
David Hoing, A Killing Snow
David Hoing, In the Blood
J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood
J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King
Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert
M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse
Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella
James Keffer, Brewer's Luck
James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge
James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates
James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home
James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island
Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece
Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies
Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters
Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood
Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders
Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2
Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40
Marc Liebman, Render Harmless
Marc Liebman, Forgotten
Marc Liebman, Inner Look
Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift
Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast
Marc Liebman, Carronade
Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady
Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident
Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp
Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room
Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings
Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet
Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet
John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders
Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards
Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton
Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder
Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel
Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy
Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn
Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax
R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea
Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm
Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun
Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora
Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora
Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate
Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures
Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull
Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea
Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel
Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries
Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit
Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword
Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter
Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes
Ron Singerton, The Refused
Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted
Steve Smith, Better to Die
Jim Stempel, Windmill Point
Jim Stempel, American Hannibal
Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest
Chéri Vausé, Shadows
Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions
D. C. Wales, The Prick
Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City
Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains
Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood
Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King
Bruce Woods, Royal Blood
BruChéri Vausé, Shadowsce Woods, Dragon Blood
Bruce Woods, American Blood
Alphabetical by Author
Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat
Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor
Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew
Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War
Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore
Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country
Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean
Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide
Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas
Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood
Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty
Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo
Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood
James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut
James Boschert, Knight Assassin
James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira
James Boschert, Greek Fire
James Boschert, A Falcon Flies
James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath
James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara
James Boschert, Storms of Retribution
James Boschert, A Congress of Kings
James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent
James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm
James Boschert, Midshipman Graham
Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone
Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory
Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman
Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy
Kerry Cue, Target 91
John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet
John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide
John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment
John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar
John M. Danielski, Bombproofed
John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire
Leah Devlin, Vital Spark
Leah Devlin, Spider
Leah Devlin, Forger's Revenge
Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers
Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse
Leah Devlin, The Bends
Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena
Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize
Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette
Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom
Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave
Craig Godfrey, 1814
Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows
Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness
J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man
J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind
J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance
J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald
J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance
Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow
Roger Hileman, In the Blood
Helen Hollick, Sea Witch
Helen Hollick, Pirate Code
Helen Hollick, Bring It Close
Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand
David Hoing, A Killing Snow
David Hoing, In the Blood
J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood
J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King
Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert
M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse
Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella
James Keffer, Brewer's Luck
James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge
James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates
James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home
James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island
Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece
Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies
Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters
Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood
Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders
Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2
Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40
Marc Liebman, Render Harmless
Marc Liebman, Forgotten
Marc Liebman, Inner Look
Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift
Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast
Marc Liebman, Carronade
Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady
Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident
Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp
Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room
Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings
Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet
Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet
John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders
Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards
Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton
Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder
Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel
Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy
Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn
Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax
R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea
Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm
Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun
Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora
Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora
Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate
Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures
Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull
Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea
Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel
Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries
Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit
Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword
Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter
Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes
Ron Singerton, The Refused
Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted
Steve Smith, Better to Die
Jim Stempel, Windmill Point
Jim Stempel, American Hannibal
Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest
Chéri Vausé, Shadows
Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions
D. C. Wales, The Prick
Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City
Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains
Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood
Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King
Bruce Woods, Royal Blood
BruChéri Vausé, Shadowsce Woods, Dragon Blood
Bruce Woods, American Blood
Alphabetical by Author
Philip R. Ackman, The Man in the Spider Web Coat
Lou Aguilar, Jake for Mayor
Philip K. Allan, The Captain's Nephew
Philip K. Allan, A Sloop of War
Philip K. Allan, On the Lee Shore
Philip K. Allan, A Man of No Country
Philip K. Allan, The Distant Ocean
Philip K. Allan, The Turn of the Tide
Philip K. Allan, In Northern Seas
Mark K Bois. Ensign James Lockwood
Mark Bois, Lockwoods of Clonakilty
Mark Bois, Lieutenant James Lockwood at the Battle of Waterloo
Mark Bois, Captain James Lockwood
James Boschert, Assassins of Alamut
James Boschert, Knight Assassin
James Boschert, Assassination in Al Qahira
James Boschert, Greek Fire
James Boschert, A Falcon Flies
James Boschert, The Dragon's Breath
James Boschert, Assassins of Kantara
James Boschert, Storms of Retribution
James Boschert, A Congress of Kings
James Boschert, When the Jungle is Silent
James Boschert, North Sea Windstorm
James Boschert, Midshipman Graham
Michael Brown, The Girl Who Was Me Is Gone
Susan Boulton, Hand of Glory
Sandra Camillo, The Journey of an Invisible Woman
Ann Chamberlin, The Book of Wizzy
Kerry Cue, Target 91
John M. Danielski, The King's Scarlet
John M. Danielski, Blue Water, Scarlet Tide
John M. Danielski, Capital's Punishment
John M. Danielski, Bellerophon’s Champion: Pennywhistle at Trafalgar
John M. Danielski, Bombproofed
John M. Danielski, Attaché Extraordinaire
Leah Devlin, Vital Spark
Leah Devlin, Spider
Leah Devlin, Forger's Revenge
Leah Devlin, The Bottom Dwellers
Leah Devlin, Aegir's Curse
Leah Devlin, The Bends
Elena Douglas, Shadow of Athena
Elena Douglas, Warrior's Prize
Diana Forbes, Mistress Suffragette
Patrick Gabridge, Steering to Freedom
Craig Godfrey, Taken to the Grave
Craig Godfrey, 1814
Craig Godfrey, Silent From the Shadows
Craig Godfrey, Coral Moon
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Absent Without Leave
Lee Gold, Valhalla: Into the Darkness
J.G. Harlond, The Chosen Man
J.G. Harlond, A Turning Wind
J.G. Harlond, A Force of Circumstance
J.G. Harlond, The Empress Emerald
J.G. Harlond, Local Resistance
Roger Hileman, A Killing Snow
Roger Hileman, In the Blood
Helen Hollick, Sea Witch
Helen Hollick, Pirate Code
Helen Hollick, Bring It Close
Helen Hollick, Ripples in the Sand
David Hoing, A Killing Snow
David Hoing, In the Blood
J.A. Ironside, An Argument of Blood
J.A. Ironside, A Black Matter for the King
Bruno Jambor, Wildfire in the Desert
M.J. Jones, The King's Corpse
Toni Bird Jones, The Measure of Ella
James Keffer, Brewer's Luck
James Keffer, Brewer's Revenge
James Keffer, Brewer and the Barbary Pirates
James Keffer, Brewer and the Portuguese Gold
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Journey Home
James Keffer, Brewer and The Black Rose
James Keffer, Hornblower and the Island
Sarah Kennedy, The Altarpiece
Sarah Kennedy, City of Ladies
Sarah Kennedy, The King's Sisters
Sarah Kennedy, Queen of Blood
Patrice LaPlante, Follies in Flanders
Marc Liebman, Cherubs 2
Marc Liebman, Big Mother 40
Marc Liebman, Render Harmless
Marc Liebman, Forgotten
Marc Liebman, Inner Look
Marc Liebman, Moscow Airlift
Marc Liebman, Raider of the Scottish Coast
Marc Liebman, Carronade
Marc Liebman, Death of a Lady
Marc Liebman, The Simushir Island Incident
Benerson Little, Fortune's Whelp
Lynda Lippman Lockhart, The Laundry Room
Olivia Longueville, Between Two Kings
Marie MacPherson, The First Blast of the Trumpet
Marie MacPherson, The Second Blast of the Trumpet
John Harmon McElroy, Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Murders
Stephen McGarry, Napoleon's Blackguards
Charles Monagan, Carrie Welton
Steven M. Moore, Son of Thunder
Steven M. Moore, Rembrandt's Angel
Marina Julia Neary, Saved By the Bang: A Nuclear Comedy
Marina Julia Neary, The Gate of Dawn
Roger Paine, Ships and Sealing Wax
R. Kenward Jones. Buried at Sea
Marleen Pasch, At the End of the Storm
Donald Michael Platt, Close to the Sun
Donald Michael Platt, Rocamora
Donald Michael Platt, House of Rocamora
Donald Michal Platt, Bodo the Apostate
Donald Michael Platt, A Gathering of Vultures
Donald Michael Platt, The Sorceress and the Skull
Marshall Riggan, Sulu Sea
Mark A. Rimmer, The California Run
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Orla's Canvas
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, Painting Mercy
Mary Donnarumma Sharnick, The Contessa's Easel
Stephan A. Silva, Heaven Cries
Ron Singerton, Villa of Deceit
Ron Singerton, The Silk and The Sword
Ron Singerton, A Cherry Blossom in Winter
Ron Singerton, A Blossom in the Ashes
Ron Singerton, The Refused
Hale Michael Smith, Religion Reinterpreted
Steve Smith, Better to Die
Jim Stempel, Windmill Point
Jim Stempel, American Hannibal
Amaya Tenshi, Dracula's Guest
Chéri Vausé, Shadows
Rod Vick, The Book of Invasions
D. C. Wales, The Prick
Margaret Walker, His Most Italian City
Margaret Walker, Through Forests and Mountains
Matthew Willis, An Argument of Blood
Matthew Willis, A Black Matter for the King
Bruce Woods, Royal Blood
BruChéri Vausé, Shadowsce Woods, Dragon Blood
Bruce Woods, American Blood
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