Giles Kristian Books

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Giles Kristian is an English author that writes historical fiction. Born in 1975 in Leicestershire, England, Kristian’s mother is Norwegian. They had a family home on the West Coast of Norway. The author remembers the many holidays he spent around the fjords.

No other place on Earth gives him more joy. Although, it took a visit to the Oslo Viking Ship Museum in 2003 for Kristian to fully appreciate his heritage. The Oseberg and Gokstad ships entranced him. He couldn’t help but think about the men that manned the vessels a thousand years ago, sitting on the benches and pulling on the oars.

Thoughts of the adventures they must have undertaken, forming friendships along the way, and imbibing ale swept him away. The experience was life-changing. Kristian went home and penned the first lines of his debut novel (Blood Eye).

Before making his mark in publishing, the author perceived the industry as a secret club, one he couldn’t hope to infiltrate. After all, he had no formal training as a writer. And unlike some of his peers, reading was not part of his childhood.

However, he had an unquenchable thirst, a fiery desire to succeed in publishing, that tortured him. He remembers walking around Lower Manhattan, wandering through local bookstores, and dreaming of the day his books would finally appear on those shelves.

Kristian’s idea of fun at the time was attending weekly author talks and basking in the aura of the professionals tasked with explaining their careers. He worked for a marketing company back then, and Kristian’s co-workers were kind enough to create mock-up book covers with his name, which he wrapped around Bernard Cornwell’s novels.

This allowed him to imagine what it would feel like to hold his hardbacks. The author was so desperate to write fiction that it hurt. He started reading publishing guides but quickly realized that writing had no secret formula.

There were no rules for him to follow, no hidden code for him to crack. His only hope was to write a story good enough for a publisher to buy. Although, the author eventually realized that writing his manuscript was the easy part.

By the time he moved to New York, ‘Raven: Blood Eye’ was complete. But every publisher he approached rejected the manuscript. His big break came when a prestigious literary agency signed him.

However, Kristian’s agent couldn’t find a willing publisher for the manuscript. At the time, publishers in the United States had little to no interest in historical fiction. Later, he approached A.M. Heath, a prominent UK literary agency that took him on as a client.

He still remembers the day his agent called to tell him that Transworld had accepted his manuscript. Because Kristian told them ‘Blooe Eye’ was part of a trilogy, they wanted him to deliver two more books. So the author started writing in earnest.

Giles Kristian Awards

Kristian is a recipient of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

Best Giles Kristian Books

Kristian is a talented individual. Before writing fiction, he was the lead singer for ‘Upside Down,’ a pop group with multiple hit records. Kristian’s best novels include:

Blood Eye: Osric was luckier than most. First, a mute carpenter took him on as an apprentice when he should have cast him out. When the Norsemen came from across the sea, Osric should have died when they destroyed his village.

But they took him prisoner, and their chief, Sigurd, took an interest in the young man. Before long, Osric was reborn as a ferocious warrior with a new family. But his luck was finally at an end.

Things took a turn when Ealdorman Ealdred of Wessex came calling, and Osric, now called Raven, accepted a mission to retrieve a holy book from the King of Mercia. Now, the warrior doesn’t know who he can trust.

Lancelot: ‘Lancelot’ is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend. As the title suggests, Lancelot takes center stage. The novel covers the events that brought him to Merlin and Lady Nimue, the training he underwent to hone his talents, his initial encounter with the wild and beautiful Guinevere, adventures with the dazzling Arthur, and more.

The setting is 5th-century Britain. Lancelot must survive in a fractured land besieged by enemies.

When Does The Next Giles Kristian book come out?

Giles Kristian doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Arthur and was released on June, 6th 2024. It is the newest book in the Arthurian Tales Series.

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