Let the Reader Speak! A 12-year-old's point of view

Whom do you think is Ethan's favorite character? I received this well-crafted book review from a young man who is an avid reader of my books. I thought I would share it with all of you. Notice this young scholar's vocabulary (Ethan, no doubt, attends the very best of schools...) Dear Mr. Bond, Did you have stories as good as yours when you were a boy? I am very thankful for your books. I own the Crown & Covenant series and the Faith & Freedom series. I really appreciate your books because they are written full of adventure and excitement. Of the two that I have read, my favorite trilogy is the Crown & Covenant. By far my favorite character is Angus M’Kethe.  All of your books are written extraordinarily. They are so great because you skillfully weave history with fiction into splendid stories. The characters experience history from a real perspective. Also, faith is included in the story along with action. Impressively, you create characters that are strong physically and in the faith. Grandfather Sandy M’Kethe is an example of that. You write excellent stories as good as gold.   The Crown & Covenant trilogy is the best trilogy. I believe it is the best because it is action-packed. Sometimes I feel that I can relate to the characters. They experience trial and hardships. During the trials, they persevere and stay true to each other and God. I admire that. The three books are a story of true manhood. You hit the bulls-eye when writing the Crown & Covenant series.  In my opinion, Angus is the coolest character. He is bright. He is fast. He is brave. His quick thinking entertains me. Adding to that, his bravery saved his siblings and nephew. His skill with the bow impresses me the most. I wish I had his skill. Angus takes first place above all the other characters. Although all of your books are great, the Crown & Covenant series is my favorite set. In that series Angus is the best character. I enjoy your style of writing the most because you weave exciting history and fictional characters into fun historical-fiction. Sincerely, Ethan Ashley, 6th grade  ORDER SIGNED COPIES

DUNCAN'S WAR--the movie: "...an embarrassment of riches"!

Art Director James Chung sees Duncan this way

The script for DUNCAN'S WAR is "...an embarrassment of riches," wrote an independent professional script reader for screenplaycoverage.com.

The producer Phillip Moses submitted the script to two different independent film script reading services for evaluation. 90% of scripts get rejected off the top; 8% get "Consider" and 2% receive "Recommend," the highest ranking they give, which means they think it's a story and script that is ready to be made into a successful movie.

One professional reader gave DUNCAN'S WAR a "Consider," and said this (among other positive things) about it  "There is a lot to like in this script and the historical aspects are very compelling."

The other professional reader (they read independent of each other and without collaboration) gave it an overwhelming "Recommend," and said this about it, "The script combined the two powerful thematic elements of resistance against authority and holding true to one’s faith. Either one would have been sufficient; having two is an embarrassment of riches."

Phillip Moses the producer is a tireless advocate for DUNCAN'S WAR becoming a movie, a really good one. He has recently discovered (or been discovered by) an Australian production company that is enthusiastic about the movie and wants to host filming it and the entire production in Australia. We'll have to follow that one and see how it plays out.

Janie Cheaney WORLD Magazine columnist is doing another interview with me on www.RedeemedReader.com (previous ones can be heard at http://www.bondbooks.net/audiofiles.htm) this one on DUNCAN'S WAR the movie. You can go to their site(s) and follow that interview and like and comment. 

Tour Duncan's Scotland with us June 24-July 4, 2014 for the KNOX @ 500 tour--but hurry. Space is limited and registration closes very soon! 

Reader Jeremiah Lofthus at his own initiative created this movie trailer for DUNCAN'S WAR the movie--thanks Jeremiah!

DUNCAN'S WAR the movie--AFM launch in California

AFM launch poster for the film

The last several days have been an exciting flurry of activity. Duncan's War the movie has been germinating in the imaginations of two film-industry fellows in California. I first met Phillip Moses when I was speaking at a conference in southern California fall of 2010 (his wife was a student of mine years ago at CHS). They drove down from the Bay area, and we chatted about books and film after one of my addresses. Some time later he called me and floated the initial idea of making a big-screen film of Duncan's War. We have had multiple conversations (phone, email, texts, facebook, etc) since.

To be honest, I have vacillated from excited to incredulous, to excited again, to incredulous again--and now to excited. For the first time in more than two years, I actually am beginning to believe these guys will do this, and do it well. One of my big concerns has been that I don't want to dilute the book by turning it into a movie. Novelist John le Carre expressed his chagrin at what film can do to good fiction when he said, "Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bullion cubes." I so do not want to
see that happen to Duncan's War. Neither does the producer.

Many of you have messaged me asking how you can help. A number of you are in the film industry or aspiring to be so. It takes a significant team to produce a quality film. So connect with the producer, Phillip Moses, here https://www.facebook.com/DuncansWar. And if you know talented young actors for the film, especially ones who've grown up in the heather and the moorlands, post their contact information to Mr Moses; he's the man, or to James Chung, art director; he's also the man.

And for those of you who are enthusiastic about this, though you may not be an actor, know an actor, or be involved in film making, all of you can like and share the Duncan's War the movie facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DuncansWar. Film executives and distributors at the AFM conference in LA are watching, sometimes with bewilderment, but they are watching the mounting enthusiasm for this movie. Tell them what you think; they're listening. Like and share today.

Maybe it is not playacting after all!

AUDIO BOOK prototypes of my books by pro voice actor

A while back I received an email from a reader who also happens to be a professional voice actor. He asked if my publisher and I had any plans to do audio versions of my books. I frequently have readers ask this and always forward the requests to my publisher. Contractually I am obligated to work with them on audio books, but the more inquiries they field the more likely they might be to consider publishing audio books of THE BETRAYAL, CROWN & COVENANT TRILOGY, and others.


Click to listen to Bobb Carl's reading of an excerpt from THE BETRAYAL

Click to listen to Bobb Carl's reading of an excerpt from DUNCAN'S WAR

What do you think?

DALRY, ANWOTH, THREVE CASTLE, HADRIANS WALL!

First we visited Dalry, Galloway, where Duncan's War all began. Standing before the Gordon aisle of the old kirk, I read the episode where Duncan and Jamie sneaked into the 'popish' kirk and saw George Henry light himself on fire with his incense. That was one of my favorite episodes to write (ideas from a high church service at York 10 years ago).

From there we (that is, Richard) drove to Anwoth, where Samuel Rutherford preached and from where he was taken and placed under house arrest in Aberdeen. Charles I wanted him silenced and held where no one would listen to him preach. It was during these years in Aberdeen that Rutherford began his incomparable letter writing ministry. I read from a letter he wrote to Earlston the young (connected to the Gordons of Earlston at Dalry kirk yard), and we sang from The Sands of Time are Sinking. Quick rain shower, but other than that, beautiful.

From there we lunched in Castle Douglas, steak and  ale pie, and then Threave Castle by boat, a fortress of the Black Douglas on an island in the River Dee. 1640 the castle was taken by Covenanters from supporters of Charles I who wanted to impose episcopacy on Scotland with Laud's Liturgy.

From there (me snoozing on the coach, kids recording the deed with their cameras) we made our way to Hadrian's Wall, dinner at quaint Saughy Rigg Farm, a 18th century Northumbrian farm turned B&B, and a night hike along the wall. The hearty returning to our rooms after 11:00.

Today: Vindolanda, St Nicholas Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, and more stomping on the Wall.