About the Author

Barry Mathias is a writer of novels, plays and poetry. He has directed and appeared in plays presented on the Islands and in Britain. Mathias emigrated from England with his wife and two daughters in 1990, and instructed at Camosun College in Victoria. He retired from teaching in December 2000 and opened a bookstore with his wife on Pender Island. They sold this successful business in January 2007 so Mathias could devote more time to writing. He is available for interviews and dramatic readings. His website is www.BarryMathias.com.

About The Books - The Ancient Bloodlines Trilogy

"Holy Grail trilogy abounds in bold action and accurate historical detail -- Pender Island playwright-director pens novels with engaging plot, compelling characters and quick pacing"

Barry Mathias, former Camosun College instructor, will launch the first two novels of his Ancient Bloodlines Trilogy in June 2008. Exciting historical adventures with 'vivid imagery and dramatic action,' these novels explore the timeless battle between good and evil, against a background of England, France and the Holy Land in the 12th century. The Holy Grail puzzle is given a new twist in Mathias's dramatic story.

The Power in the Dark is the first novel of this fast-moving historical fantasy, set in 1112, thirteen years after the fall of Jerusalem at the end of the first Crusade. The action takes place in Wessex County, England, where John and Gwen, who are in their mid-teens, find themselves the focus of powerful enemies and wonderful friends.

Shadow of the Swords continues the dramatic story in the years 1113 - 1116, introducing new characters and the concepts of nobility, friendship and love. The action moves from Wessex and Stonehenge, to France, Cyprus and eventually the Holy Land. There are romances and deadly battles, and always the unanswered questions: Why do the Knights of The Order want to control Gwen? Why is John called The Keeper of the Grail? And what is the connection between John and Gwen?

All will be revealed in The Keeper of the Grail, to be released in 2009. The final novel embraces the founding of the Knights Templar in 1118, an epic power struggle in the Holy Land, and the surprising truth about John and Gwen's bloodlines.

An earlier version of the first novel is already in use by a number of BC schools. The late editor of The Malahat Review, Robin Skelton, said of The Power in the Dark: "A good story, well told. Moves along with speed and clarity, and with such vivid imagery and dramatic action that the reader becomes excited and possessed, as are the book's characters."

View the press release in PDF format here.

Read an Excerpt

Please go to www.BarryMathias.com to read excerpts, or to subscribe so you are notified as each new chapter is posted.

Buy these Books

• The Power in The Dark, ISBN 978-1-897435-11-3, Agio Publishing House: Victoria, 2008. trade paperback. Available at Munro's, Bolen's and Coles in Victoria, Tanner's in Sidney, Talisman Books on Pender Island, and at Amazon.com
• Shadows of the Swords, ISBN 978-1-897435-13-7, Agio Publishing House: Victoria, 2008. trade paperback. Available at Munro's, Bolen's and Coles in Victoria, Tanner's in Sidney, Talisman Books on Pender Island, and at Amazon.com
• eBook editions:
  • Barry Mathias's The Power in the Dark: Book 1 of The Ancient Bloodlines Trilogy, ISBN 978-1897435-12-0 eBook edition at www.lulu.com/content/2467428
  • Barry Mathias's Shadow of the Swords: Book 2 of The Ancient Bloodlines Trilogy, ISBN 978-1897435-14-3 eBook edition at www.lulu.com/content/2467622

Audio Book

Chapters are being recorded by the author and will be available soon as podcast episodes through Podiobooks.com. You will be able to listen for free to these episodes. As soon as Barry has all the chapter episodes recorded, he'll release the full audio book as an MP3 CD, manufactured on demand and available through Amazon.com.

Watch the Promo

Stay tuned as Barry creates the video trailer.

Listen to the Author Read

Please go to the link above under Audio Book.

Reviews/Appearances

REVIEWS

"Trilogy Gives Intriguing Picture of Middle Ages ... If you like being drawn into another time and place, this is the trilogy for you! Barry has written a well rounded adventure, full of details, and packed with action, but has also kept the historical context clear."
-- Helen Lemon-Moore, reviewer for Island Tides newspaper
Read full review here.

"A terrific tale, fast paced and gripping to the end. Looking forward to the next two books in Barry Mathias's ambitious trilogy, on 12th Century medieval England, the Crusades and the Holy Grail."
-- Mike Harcourt, author and former Premier of British Columbia

"A band of 12th Century characters fan out across southern England, Europe and the Holy Land unraveling a mystery about lost birthright, power and magic. Full of twists, turns and incidents and vivid descriptions of the violence and lawlessness of medieval life and of the medieval landscape, a thought provoking read."
-- Island Tides newspaper

"Crafted with great cunning and flair which makes for a wild and electrifying read"
-- Ann Coombs, futurist and bestselling author

RECENT AND UPCOMING APPEARANCES

• June 4, 2008 Book Launch at Talisman Books and Gallery on Pender Island.

To arrange for Barry Mathias to appear at your event, please contact us. More details and sample interviews in our Speakers Bureau pages.