The Moon Dancers - John Pitman

@jpitmanauthor.bsky.social

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Retired publisher and author of 'The Moon Dancers', a series of swashbuckling historical novels full of bodice-ripping pleasures, murder, intrigue and a dash of the briny deep - a bit like Hornblower but with a lot more spice!

Petrified tree stump High Ongar
Bookcase with Roman helmet and weapons
Scottish poet, Robert Burns, asking for a haggis
Book cover image featuring gothic church interior
18th century lady lying on bed with fan
The cover of The Devil in the Detail: A Collection of Devilishly Good Short Stories by John Pitman showing a young girl with black wings crouching on the steps of a church. From gothic horror to urban myth, from dark fantasy to vengeful spirits, this collection of twisted tales from the author of The Moon Dancers offers an intriguing blend of the real and the supernatural that will keep you reading well into the night. In the pages of this slim volume you will meet a London publisher who literally will do anything for love, a pair of metal detectorists who dig up more than they bargain for, a student intent on having the time of his life, and a cat who is not quite what she seems. And that’s not to mention the ghoulish calcéophile and the Demon King himself. So, settle yourself down in your favourite chair and prepare for a bumpy ride! Ebook only £1.80 or FREE on #KindleUnlimited https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCDCPLX4
A couple embrace in front of a burning bonfire
The lounge at the Hotel d’Inghilterra
TEXT: “I don’t like it, Sal,” Nate said ominously. “Yon gennelman ‘ad the stink o’death about ‘im to my mind, ‘an I fancy ‘is purse ‘eld as many worms an’ maggits as it did coins. Y’know, if ‘e shows up tomorra fer the uvver boot, I’m resolved t’foller ‘im ‘an see where ‘e goes.” Well, at dawn the next mornin’ the stranger did come a’rappin’ at our door once more. ‘E took the remainin’ boot an’ ‘anded over anuvver gold coin in payment before takin’ ‘is leave. Nate waited a few moments before slippin’ out the door ‘imself and followin’ in the man’s footsteps. “Be careful ‘usband,” I whispered. “Pray you don’t do anyfin’ stupid.” I fink I must’ve bin waitin’ about an ‘our or so before Nate returned to the ‘ouse. ‘Is face was as white as a sheet an’ ‘e was all cranky an’ shakin’. “Bring us a jug, Sal,” ‘e croaked, fallin’ into a chair beside the fire. “I dunno what I just saw, but it weren’t o’this world that’s f’certain.” “What in ‘eavens’ name was it, what did you see?” “I crupped along be’ind that fing all the way up the lane to the churchyard, Sal. It was constantly lookin’ all about so I ‘ad to keep outta sight by duckin’ down amongst the stones. Any’ow, at last it found what it was a’lookin’ for.” “What did it find, Nate, tell me…”
A screenshot of John Pitman's Moon Dancers website.
The racehorse, Bow Street, winning at Newcastle.
Poster advertising that The Complete Moon Dancers Kindle edition is free this weekend. It shows an image of a woman in the woods wearing a flimsy dress. Offer ends 12:00 AM PST tonight (8.00 AM GMT tomorrow). The two novels that make up the Moon Dancers series - The Moon Dancers and The Moon on the Water - are brought together here in one volume. They see the shy and studious young naval lieutenant, Roger Ellis, return to his home village of Canewdon in the Essex marshes where he is drawn into a world of superstition and sexuality that unlocks certain feelings within him so that as time passes he becomes more and more inclined towards the pursuit of life’s sensual pleasures. Years later, however, his riotous behaviour catches up with him and in the wake of a royal scandal he finds himself ordered ignominiously to assist the Revenue in patrolling the Essex coast, thus triggering a chain of events that plunge him into a dangerous world of criminality and perceived supernatural influence that threatens his very existence.
Poster advertising that The Complete Moon Dancers Kindle edition is free this weekend. It shows an image of a woman in the woods wearing a flimsy dress. Offer ends 12:00 AM PST tonight (8.00 AM GMT tomorrow). The two novels that make up the Moon Dancers series - The Moon Dancers and The Moon on the Water - are brought together here in one volume. They see the shy and studious young naval lieutenant, Roger Ellis, return to his home village of Canewdon in the Essex marshes where he is drawn into a world of superstition and sexuality that unlocks certain feelings within him so that as time passes he becomes more and more inclined towards the pursuit of life’s sensual pleasures. Years later, however, his riotous behaviour catches up with him and in the wake of a royal scandal he finds himself ordered ignominiously to assist the Revenue in patrolling the Essex coast, thus triggering a chain of events that plunge him into a dangerous world of criminality and perceived supernatural influence that threatens his very existence.
Poster advertising that The Complete Moon Dancers Kindle edition is free this weekend. It shows an image of the book, a girl's bare shoulder and hip, and a length of naval lashing. The image includes the following text: 1795 The shy and studious young naval lieutenant, Roger Ellis, returns to his home village of Canewdon in the Essex marshes where he is drawn into a world of superstition and sexuality. Years later, his riotous behaviour catches up with him to trigger a chain of events that plunge him into a dangerous world of criminality and perceived supernatural influence that threatens no only his own life but also the lives of those dearest to him.
Poster advertising that The Complete Moon Dancers Kindle edition is free this weekend. It shows an image of the book, a flintlock pistol two brass candlesticks, and a broadsword resting on an eighteenth century smuggling notice. The two novels that make up the Moon Dancers series - The Moon Dancers and The Moon on the Water - are brought together here in one volume. They see the shy and studious young naval lieutenant, Roger Ellis, return to his home village of Canewdon in the Essex marshes where he is drawn into a world of superstition and sexuality that unlocks certain feelings within him so that as time passes he becomes more and more inclined towards the pursuit of life’s sensual pleasures. Years later, however, his riotous behaviour catches up with him and in the wake of a royal scandal he finds himself ordered ignominiously to assist the Revenue in patrolling the Essex coast, thus triggering a chain of events that plunge him into a dangerous world of criminality and perceived supernatural influence that threatens his very existence.
A group of rather wanton young ladies pose in an 18th century drawing room
Photograph of a tortoiseshell cat sitting facing the camera
Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are sitting on a log. ‘Is it summer yet?’ asks Pooh. ‘No it’s still February’ says Piglet. ‘For fucks sake’ says Pooh.
The racehorse, Bow Street, in his stable
Father Jack (from the TV series, Father Ted) clutches his copy of John Pitman's novel, Hempen Fever, to his chest and exclaims "I love my book!"
The tower of St Nicholas' Church in Canewdon under the light of a full moon. The moon casts shadows around the churchyard as figures move slowly around a fire at the base of the tower.
A copy of Flashman's Lady by George MacDonald Fraser
400 year old tree at Hylands House
Nelson and Emma
Benfleet Conservative Club
Women on board ship during the age of sail
'The death of Achille' by Joseph Feely
A female sailor
An unfortunate young woman is rescued from the sea during the battle of Trafalgar
Three Regency ladies talking. One says ‘The other day this guy asked me if I wanted to stroke his cocker spaniel. With hindsight I should have chosen the spaniel’.
Woman pointing at man’s ear