I will never fully understand the Romans, and that is the challenge.

I have loved the ancient world since I read my first Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. After reading Classics at Oxford, I taught at a boys’ public school for twenty-five years, but then my family moved to Qatar. There wasn’t much call for Latin teachers, so I wrote, and now I am back in the UK, all the questions I have asked myself about the Romans over the years are turning into novels.

I was once accused by a slightly indignant teenager of being in love with Cicero. This is not strictly true…

Alistair Forrest writes historical fiction, so far six novels with a new series set around Caesar’s invasions of Britain on the way. As the son of a Royal Navy officer, it’s hardly surprising he frequently dives into ancient sea-faring adventure.

Alistair was brought up in the Middle East, travelling to school in the UK. He began a career in journalism at the South Wales Echo in the same newsroom as the author Ken Follett, later working for other regional daily newspapers. He then chose a career path of editing magazines before becoming principal of a public relations company.

“I’m delighted to have signed with Sapere Books and look forward to seeing my novels join the works of such an amazing family of talented authors,” he says.

Today, his love of writing fiction is only interrupted by his work as editor of a natural health magazine, as a volunteer with the Alderney Literary Trust, and as media consultant for the States of Alderney, the government of the island where he lives with his wife Lynda and two very large dogs.

Graham Brack has been writing for as long as he can remember, but now concentrates on crime fiction. Three times shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger prize (in 2011, 2014 and 2016) he never quite managed to win it.

Graham lives with his wife Gillian in Northamptonshire and has two children and three granddaughters, who are too young to be allowed to read Grandad's books, so he provides other stories for them.

He trained and practised as a pharmacist and has also written about football, rugby, cricket and medical law. He is an ordained priest in the Church of England.

After a visit to Helmsley Castle at the age of 10, Mark Turnbull bought a pack of ‘top trump’ cards featuring the monarchs of England. The card portraying King Charles I fascinated him.

Van Dyck’s regal portrait of the King and the fact that he was executed by his own people were the beginnings of Mark's passionate interest in the English Civil War that has lasted ever since.

In the absence of time travel, he thoroughly enjoys bringing this period to life through writing. He has written articles for magazines, local newspapers and online educational sites and used to re-enact battles with The Sealed Knot.

Mark is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He also produces a War of the Three Kingdoms podcast called 'CavalierCast - The Civil War in Words'. This was the first (and is is the longest running) podcast solely dedicated to the civil wars. It explores a variety of topics with leading historians and authors.

He is one of the co-founders (with Dr Erica Canela and Andrea Zuvich) of the Stuart History Festival, the world's first-ever festival dedicated to Stuart history.

Jacquie Rogers grew up in Australia and lived abroad for many years before settling back in the UK. She worked in advertising, teaching, and research, eventually discovering that writing suits her best.

Her Roman Britain mysteries begin with The Governor’s Man, published in 2021. The Quintus Valerius series continues with The Carnelian Phoenix (2022), and The Loyal Centurion (2023). More Quintus novels are coming soon.

Jacquie's new Otto Cornelius series launches in 2025. This new series is contemporaneous with the Quintus Valerius books, and is set in Wroxeter Roman city and surrounds.

Linked short stories appear in Roman anthologies Imperium, and Triumphs and Tragedies. Another of her crime shorts was selected by the UK Crime Writers' Association for their 2024 anthology, Midsummer Mysteries, published in August 2024.

In 2020 and 2021, Jacquie was Runner Up in the Lincoln Book Festival story competition.

Jacquie lives in Malvern, England. She walks the hills with her husband and their dog. Jacquie loves to travel by motorbike, and enjoys discussing politics, travel and books with friends and family. She spends a lot of time in cafés and pubs.

Best selling author, Alistair Tosh was born in Dumfriesshire, a place filled with ancient place names such as Torthorwald and Caerlaverock. But it was his visits, as a boy, to nearby Burnswark Iron Age hillfort and its Roman siegeworks that first fired his interest in Roman and Dark Ages history.

On leaving school he began a 35 year communications career, firstly with the Royal Navy, that included covert riverine and seaborne operations during the height of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, before moving into the corporate telecommunications world. Military life is unique, and Alistair aims to reflect an authentic view of that experience and its language in his stories.

His debut historical novel, Siege, the first book in the Edge of Empire series, is set against the backdrop of the Antonine push into Caledonia. Lucius Faenius Felix cheated of his ancestral estates and still grieving the murder of his father, arrives in Britannia as an inexperienced Tribune to command the First Nervana. A cohort drawn from the homelands of the fierce Nervii tribe. With the comradeship of Cai Martis, the veteran cavalry Prefect, he endeavours to uncover the conspiracy of the resurgent Novantae people.

Praise for the Edge of Empire series

"An excellent, exciting debut. Gripping, gritty, and blood-spattered. Fans of Roman historical adventure will love it! Alistair Tosh is a writer to watch." Matthew Harffy, Author of the Bernicia Chronicles.

"A taut bowstring of a story with a climax sharp as a warrior's blade." Alistair Forrest, author of Sea of Flames

"Tosh takes his band of heroes through an ancient heart of darkness. An epic adventure that will leave warriors changed and have the reader's pulse-rate soaring." Fiona Forsyth, author of the Lucius Sestius Mysteries

Book 3 in the series 'Warrior' is now out now

Lucius and Cai will return. In the mean time Alistair is working on an exciting new project.

When not writing or researching, Alistair likes to spend time with family. He and his wife also love hill walking and have spent a great deal of time exploring the mountains of both the UK and Andalucia accompanied by their dog Hurley.

Follow Alistair at:

X (Twitter) - @alistair_tosh

Regular articles posted on the Aspects of History website

Robert Bordas writes historical fiction while taking inspiration from his family’s stories. His debut novel, The Hand We Are Dealt (2022), was based on his mother’s memoirs. Gilded Lies (2024), his second novel, the opening book of a trilogy is inspired by certain family members’ fate.

Robert is interested in history, languages, self-identity, genealogy, and more. If not writing, he is reading on his Kindle, learning another language, traveling, enjoying outdoors or giving invaluable advice to his family.

Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times.

You can find her on Twitter @emswifthook or learn more about the background of Lord's Legacy on her website www.eleanorswifthook.com.