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I am the author of the Jack Christie Series, which has a time travel theme, involving the characters in real historical events. I’ve always enjoyed writing but never thought I could make a go of it until recently. I grew up in the very beautiful border country of Scotland (the Tweed valley) and studied history at Cambridge University. I still cling on manfully to a day job—but love writing and talking to young people about writing and history.
The Jack Christie books are an action/adventure series for ten- to fourteen-year- olds (and many adults!) that have a time travel theme involving contemporary characters in real historical events (the assassination in Sarajevo in 1914, the defeat of France in 1940, Elizabethan England and the Armada in 1588, etc.). This backdrop is used to explore key points in history and associated moral choices and “what if” scenarios.
My original purpose for the series was to get my kids off the PlayStation by writing an action-packed book! But I also want to encourage interest in history among young teenagers both because of the skills it develops and because of its importance for us today and the choices we make for the future. If you read Jack Christie you’ll have a great read—but also might learn something by mistake.
Day of the Assassins is the first in the series and is based in the build up to World War I. Day of Deliverance is based in the late Elizabethan period. Day of the Assassins has been lon- listed for two awards in the U.K. and short-listed for the BBC History/History Association Young Quills Award.
Three Things You Might Not Know About Me:
1. I have a day job in which I work for a range of sinister global corporations.
2. I own eleven sheep.
3. I live in a small house that was built in 1599. It has a well on the inside. This is a hazard during parties.
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