I have had a longstanding passion for the English Civil War and the fascinating world of the 17th-century soldier. My interest has extended well beyond books, having been a member of the Sealed Knot, the historical battle re-enactment society. I have experienced the excitement and chaos of battle first-hand in the re-enactment field: facing charges by Parliamentary cavalry, being shot at by ranks of musketeers and even finding myself on the receiving end of a charge by some decidedly unfriendly pikemen! These experiences have helped fuel my enthusiasm for bringing the period to life through the character of Matthias Hawkeslade, a 17th-century mercenary Captain whose military adventures span both the Thirty Years’ War and the English Civil War. I live in Maidstone with my wife and our enormous Newfoundland dog, who, fortunately, has so far shown little interest in taking up arms for either side!