A year ago, Georgia-based author Michael Aye embarked on a voyage that as yet has no final destination.
With a manuscript in hand, he sought a publisher for his naval fiction adventure, The Reaper.

The Reaper quickly became a best-seller among Tall Ships Books readers, and has made its mark in the Southeastern U.S.



It has been nearly six months since the release of your debut novel, The Reaper in The Fighting Anthonys series. Has your life changed as a result of the book?

There have been a few changes, but not as many as you might expect. I was visiting family at our local hospital and a lady walked up to me and said, "Aren't you that author guy, Michael A?" I politely corrected her and told her it was Michael Aye. This was a good chance meeting as she was the manager for the hospital gift shop and she agreed to stock The Reaper and scheduled a signing.

My day job is still medicine, and with four clinics across South Georgia I'm usually recognized for treating sneezing and wheezing. Being recognized as an author was much more exciting. I have been on television once, South Georgia Living did a magazine article, and I've had interviews in three different newspapers. This has all been fun, but trying to balance my time between clinic, book and family has at times been hard. I'm lucky that my wife and family have been very supportive. I plan to go into semi-retirement (that gives you an idea of my age) in 2007, so I can devote more time to writing.

Has your approach to writing changed since The Reaper was launched?

Not really ... I have had several critiques and two things stood out: 1) I need to be a little more descriptive of my main characters, and 2) everyone likes the fast pace of my stories. The results will be obvious in future books. I also introduced one of my partners to 'Age-of-Sail' fiction. After he had read a variety of authors, he said what he liked best about The Reaper, as a non-nautical person, a landsman if you will, was that I didn't get bogged down in nautical minutia that deters, rather than adds to the story. He was able to read the book, enjoy the story, and not have to have a dictionary at hand. That was very pleasing.

My publisher wants my next book to be about 225 pages and my third book to be approximately 250 pages. I find it hard to believe I will ever write a book much longer than that, certainly not over 300 pages. I was recently referred to as the Louis L'Amour of the 'Age of Sail'. This was very flattering. Like Louis L'Amour, I like fast-paced exciting stories.

I still write at weird hours, I still write in long-hand and thank God my wife is still willing to convert my scratch into manuscripts that Broadsides Press can read.

How does your experience in the U.S. Navy affect your writing?

I think it authenticates it. Being at sea in all types of weather allows me to describe first hand "The bow dipping in a trough" ... "The crash of a wave over the bow" ... "The sting of ocean spray as the mist hits your face" ... "A rogue wave coming inboard and water running down the scuppers." There are many senses a sailor experiences: the feel of a ship being tossed around as something insignificant in a bad storm; the many sounds, groans and creaks a ship makes, especially when laying wide awake in a canvas "rack" after the 8-12 watch; the sinking feeling of going to General Quarters or battle stations when it's not a drill. And there are the shipboard accidents that occur, the antics of a few jokers, the sea lawyers who are always trying to find a way to get over. A special joy is seeing your wife or girl standing on the pier as your ship anchors after a long cruise. I can't imagine a landsman writing a book about the sea. Alexander Kent wrote in one of his books, "A seaman would know, but never a landsman."

Michael Aye

 Interview July 2007

Where did your interest in the sea originate?

That's a good question. As a young boy I sat in my Uncle T.J.'s barber chair on Saturday nights and listened to the exciting tales of the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. It was those childhood tales that was the deciding factor in my joining the Navy at the age of seventeen. My first ship was the USS Newman K. Perry, DD883. No sooner had I became ship's company than we were haze gray and underway. Over the next twenty-two years I went through the enlisted ranks (E1-E9), the warrant officer ranks from CWO2-CWO4 and the commissioned ranks of Lieutenant JG and Lieutenant. I feel it was this experience at all rank levels that helped me understand the plight of a sailor, regardless if he served aft or before the mast.  

 

 

 

Did you read nautical fiction and naval history as you were growing?

Not really. Growing up in a small rural town in South Alabama , there was little interest in nautical books. I did read a lot, but it was Mark Twain, Louis L'Amour and Sergeant Rock comics. What I'd give to have those back. At any rate, it was while underway on the Perry that I visited the ship's library. My first sea fiction novel was Douglas Reeman's A Prayer For The Ship. My second was Alexander Kent's, Command A King's Ship. Now I have a library full of the well known and not so well known authors of nautical books. I admit to being a nautical fanatic.

 What motivated you to write naval fiction?

An undying love for the genre. When 'Reaper' was published I was humbled by the number of people who bought the book, then returned and bought more for gifts. I get e-mails weekly from readers expressing their desire for the next in the series. One man bought fifteen books and said, This is the best book I've read in years. I want my kids and grandkids to read it. Maybe some of them will get away from the video games for awhile.

I would love to see 'Age of Sail' back on the shelves at Barnes and Nobles, Books a Million, and Borders. Last week I was in Philadelphia and visited all three chains. The only nautical author with a book clearly displayed was James Nelson's Benedict Arnold's Navy. Huzzah for Jim. I look forward to his next book.

I have been hoping with all the success of the Pirate movies we might see resurgence in interest for 'Age of Sail' but so far it continues to be a niche genre. I was very lucky to have Boson Books decide to publish HMS SeaWolf.

What was the genesis of your Fighting Anthony's stories?

I don't know if I can give that one answer. First, I'd written songs with a friend, for a number of years. He has now made it in Nashville .
Second, trying to find new nautical material was becoming a difficult task so on a whim I asked a friend if he'd critique a manuscript if I wrote one and he agreed.

The name Anthony comes from Mark Anthony of Anthony and Cleopatra's fame. I also have a grandson-who is Mark Anthony. As far as the storyline, it just comes to me. I often wake up with a chapter in my head. I will admit to influence from such great authors as Kent, Pope and more recently James Nelson.

Had you written fiction before The Reaper?

No, not unless you can count papers for high school and college.

What most appeals to you about the historical period in which your stories take place?

Very few era's of the past are more fascinating, enchanting, or daring. It was a time of honor, loyalty, and romance. A time when the world was changing, old ideas were being challenged and at times with powder smoke.

Whenever I go to Boston , Philadelphia , Charleston , or even when I had the opportunity to visit both Plymouth and Portsmouth England , I'd visit the historic sights. Then for a moment, just that one fleeting moment, I was there at the place in time. I could feel it, see it, and taste it, then like a vapor it's gone and I'm left with a hunger for more.

 How do you name your characters?

I guess I got ahead of myself as I've just mentioned where the Anthony name came from, my grandson and Cleopatra's fame.

I named the flag captain in HMS SeaWolf after a highway sign that grabbed my eye.Gilbert was an uncle I dearly loved, and James was my Dad. I was an only child but my Mom and Dad said if I'd had a brother he would have been Gabriel (Gabe). My wife named Gabe's love in HMS SeaWolf. I've named characters after people I knew when on active duty in the Navy and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that some of the names come from authors of books in my library. When thinking of Nathan Lavery's character I'd just read a piece on Nathan Hale and I looked up from reading and saw Brian Lavery's Nelson's Navy, hence Nathan Lavery. The name Lum came from my childhood. He was an old black man who helped around my Dad's store. He was over 104 years old when he died.

 Please describe where you write?

I have an old roll top desk with a lamp sitting on it that I built. On top of the desk I have the Oxford English dictionary, the Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, A Sea of Words by Dean King and others plus an English/French pocket dictionary. To my right, I have on the wall a clock designed like a ship's anchor and above it a silhouette of a frigate underway. The clock was originally a gift for my Dad when I graduated from boot camp.

Further to my right is my library of over one hundred twenty-five reference books and several hundred nautical novels and movies. I have three large Geoff Hunt paintings. I also have an array of maps in my left hand desk drawer. These are from the University of Georgia and cover the thirteen colonies, Florida , the Keys, Cuba , the West Indies and Europe .

I frequently use the maps as well as the reference books to make the stories accurate. I couldn't do without my Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor, Ships and Seamanship, Arming and Fitting, Seamanship, Navies and the American Revolution, Sailing Navies 1775-1854 and Revolutionary War Medicine, just to name a few.

Do you plot out your novels before beginning to write?

Yes, I get the idea, then do a rough outline and at that point do the research for the background. I try to be historically correct, but will admit to have taken liberties at times.

As I previously mentioned it's not uncommon for me to wake up from a sound sleep with a thought or a whole chapter in mind so I go down to my desk and write. I write in long-hand and my wife, who is also my literary partner, turns my scratch into manuscripts. She corrects, makes suggestions, and never allows me to get away with mediocrity. I try to write when I have a three hour window without disturbances and that frequently starts at three or four a.m.

 What can you tell our readers about HMS SeaWolf, without spoiling the plot?

Gil Anthony has been promoted to Admiral. Gabe has been given command of a captured brigantine, HMS SeaWolf. Admiral Anthony's squadron has been ordered to protect shipping between New York and Nova Scotia . I begin the book with the very first submersible attacking British ships in New York harbor.

While delivering dispatches Gabe is placed in charge of a convoy from Antiqua transporting gunpowder and other much needed supplies to the British forces in America .

A traitorous captain has other ideas and causes much havoc, the results of which almost cost Gabe his life.

Once united the Anthony brothers face invasion fleet aimed at occupying Nova Scotia . This book is full of adventure, intrigue, humor and powder smoke!!!

What is on the horizon for the Anthonys beyond HMS SeaWolf?

I have tentatively titled book three, Barracuda. I'm over half-way through with it and should have it at the publisher's by end of year. This book finds Lord Anthony being transferred to St. Augustine , Florida . We will see some old friends return to England while other return to the spotlight. I have included a new character for this book, Sir Raymond Knight. For those of you in the baseball world this character is named in honor of Ray Knight. He was MVP of the 1986 World Series Champions Mets. My grandson who was an all-star baseball player in his own right had an accident on a four-wheeler this past January and he is now paralyzed. Ray and his wife, Nancy Lopez, have been very supportive of Michael and I thought it only fitting to include the two in this book.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Since Reaper was published I've discovered there is a market for nautical fiction. It may not be as big as other genres but there is no reader more loyal than the nautical fiction reader. Thanks for all your e-mails. I continue to respond to e-mails as quickly as I can but please remember I have a day job that frequently takes me out of town for a few days at a time.

The Reaper was published by Broadsides Press and I am extremely grateful for their willingness to publish the book. However, the owner has his sights set on other horizons. Therefore, I found myself looking for another publisher. After being turned down on what I thought was a sure bet I became very disillusioned with the publishing process. However, I continued to get e-mails wanting to know when SeaWolf would be available. Then a break came.

Thanks to Boson Books out of Raleigh , North Carolina , the series will continue. Boson Books offers both hard copy and e-books. They have published many different genres and now they are taking a chance on the 'Age of Sail'. I look forward to a long relationship.

You can find them on the net at www.bosonbooks.com.

I am considering doing a new series based on American privateers during the American Revolution. I have tentatively titled the series, 'Birth of a Nation.' The main character will be a North Carolina native, Malachi Mundy.

A special thank-you to McBooks Press for providing the nautical material we all love to read.

 

 

Fair Winds,
Michael Aye