Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen

Welcome to author Rebecca Cohen and the Captain Merric blog tour! We’re so pleased to have Rebecca here to chat about the expansion and re-release of the story, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out the prompt question and then leave your answer in the comments by April 20, 2018, to enter.

Rewriting Captain Merric

Sometimes as a writer you have a list of stories clambering to be written. My works in progress file and plot bunny patch gets bigger week on week. In theory I have a schedule of what books I am writing and roughly by when I hope to complete them. Like real life, my writing life doesn’t always go to plan, and when one story is desperate to be written more than the others, I’ve learnt there’s no point trying to shut it out, but instead embrace the noisy beasts and then words will flow.

Towards the end of 2017, which had been another crappy year on top of 2016, I was at a low ebb. I was writing but it was hard, and I really needed something fun and distracting to help me get past the dark clouds. I’d had trouble placing an historical series with a publisher, and I was on the verge of taking an extended break from writing. Self-publishing was an option, but I was leery to jump into a series given the overheads and my lack of experience. I’d received the rights back to my pirate short story which had originally appeared in an anthology and I thought this could be my saviour. Rewriting Captain Merric was fun, playing with the pirate tropes and dangerous and world-weary men was a joy, and knowing it was intended to be a standalone novel meant it would be a perfect pilot for self-publishing.

Captain Merric, the short story, was my first published work, so somehow it feels fitting that the novel-length version would be my first self-published venture. The good captain not only launched my writing career, but he’s managed to keep me from quitting. So I hope you enjoy this tale of swashbuckling, lost love and timbers that will be well and truly shivered.

Drop a comment below to tell me why you love pirates and be entered into the giveaway to win a copy of an ebook from my backlist (excluding the Crofton Chronicles bundle).

About the Book

Universal Buy Link
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design
Length: 55,000 words approx.
Blurb: A tale of pirates, lost love, and the fight for a happy ending.

After he’s set adrift and left to die by his mutinous crew, the last person Royal Navy officer Daniel Horton expects to come to his rescue is Captain Merric. An infamous pirate, Merric is known as much for stealing his victims’ hearts as their jewels. Daniel’s world is about to be turned upside down when he recognises Captain Merric as none other than Edward Merriston, someone he thought he’d never see again.

Edward can’t believe Daniel Horton is aboard his ship. While Edward is willing to do anything he can to get a second chance at their happy ending, Daniel isn’t interested in digging up the past. But Daniel is one priceless treasure Captain Merric isn’t about to let go of without a fight.

Captain Merric first appeared as short story in a pirate-themed anthology. Now completely rewritten and extended he is ready to set sail again.

The Excerpt

“I should not have given up,” said Edward, returning to sit next to Daniel on the bed.

Edward leaned closer, his eyes glinting with expectation.

Daniel put a hand to Edward’s chest and pushed him away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I was going to kiss you.”

The cheek of the man! How dare Edward think he would allow such a thing. “I don’t think so. You thought so little of me, of the devotion we pledged to each other, that you turned your back on us after a single letter. While I am not unhappy you are alive, I will not so easily forgive the rest.”

“Daniel, I was an impetuous youth, thought spurned by the man I loved. I was too proud to see past the hurt and I am sorry beyond words can convey.”

Daniel snorted in contempt. “Tell me, how long did it take for you to forget me? Did you slake your lust with a new willing body within the hour? Or was it the next day?”

“That is not fair. I thought you had cast me away.”

“The hour it is then. And from then on you have continued. From what your cabin boy said, you’re in the habit of defiling your prisoners.”

Edward scowled. “I am tied to no man or woman. I am free to go about my business as I choose.”

“I do not argue with you on that. But you will not bed me with a flippant word. I am not so easy to persuade.”

“I see no reason for you not to let yourself be persuaded. The past is past, and I am regretful. So why not once again enjoy the pleasure of each other?”

“It is not going to happen.” Daniel snorted at Edward’s incredulous look. “There are few souls who have not heard of the reputation of Captain Merric. I have no wish to be one of your long list of conquests that you have left scattered across the islands. You are going to return me to land, preferably somewhere close to a British port, and I’m going to arrange to have my mutinous crew hanged.”

“But….”

“As you said, what is past is past. I am no more in your future today than yesterday before I knew you were alive.”

About the Author

Rebecca Cohen is a Brit abroad. Having swapped the Thames for the Rhine, she has left London behind and now lives with her husband and young son in Basel, Switzerland. She can often be found with a pen in one hand and a cup of Darjeeling in the other.

Social Links: Blog || Facebook || Twitter

Follow the Tour

April 6 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
April 9 – Open Mind For A Different View
April 10 – The Novel Approach
April 11 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Making It Happen
April 12 – Diverse Reader
April 13 – Two Chicks Obsessed
April 14 – MM Good Book Reviews
April 16 – My Booked Filled Life, Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings, Velvetpanic, BooksLaidBareBoys, Bayou Book Junkie
April 17 – Love Bytes