PRLog (Press Release) -
May 10, 2012 - About the Book:
It is May of 1863 and the Civil War in North America has entered its third year. Facing a range of enemy threats, southern commander General Robert E. Lee proposes an invasion of the northern states to supply his army, relieve pressure on other imperilled fronts and to seek decisive victory on enemy territory that could end the war. Irish immigrant Daniel Ryan serves with his comrades of a Georgian regiment as the campaign unfolds, with Lee's army manoeuvring northwards through Virginia and across the Potomac River into Maryland and Pennsylvania, moving towards a fateful encounter with the Union army around the market town of Gettysburg.
About the Author:
Martin Hicks lives in Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He began writing after a career in education and "Mirage of Victory" is his sixth book, based on the experiences of Daniel Ryan in the American Civil War of 1861-65.
His other Civil War novels include
A Gathering of Soldiers, Hard Passage North, The Rappahannock Line, A Season for Killing and
A Deepening Twilight. Excerpt from the book:
““Ready!”
Ballard’s shout came again.
“Fire!” the second volley thundered out with the same cloud of choking smoke upon which the reloading immediately recommenced.
“Give ’em one more shot, independent,”
Ballard called, “then get the hell outa here.” Around Daniel Ryan the ramrods clattered on hot musket barrels as the smoke thinned and began to clear. The Yankee fire was growing heavier still, with more and more slugs buzzing past or thunking into the trees around them. He finished reloading and peered out through the remains of the smoke, seeking another target for his final shot. Out in front, the smoke from the enemy fire was obscuring everything, so it was a case of best guess as far as aiming was concerned. He sighted down towards the orange muzzle flashes of the enemy carbines and squeezed the trigger, feeling the recoil punch into his shoulder once more. Then he was pushing hurriedly to his feet and starting for the track, aware of Ballard and Fitzpatrick following him, with Winder just ahead. He glanced around towards them, seeing the figure of Jenkins just beyond them, and almost stumbling as a result over the inert shape of a fallen brown-clad figure that lay almost hidden among the grass and foliage. Daniel struggled to regain his feet, feeling his ankle strain as it took his off-balance weight. Then he was at the track and moving back uphill once more, as the dust rose around the hurrying men again, and still more Yankee bullets whizzed past.”
MIRAGE OF VICTORY can be ordered from Amazon.co.uk at: www.amazon.co.uk/
Mirage-Victory-
Martin-Hicks/
dp/19... (
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mirage-Victory-Martin-Hicks/dp/19...)
Media Contact: Publisher:
New Generation Publishing
Tel.: 01933 665 340
Contact:
daniel@newgenerationpublishing.info
