David Ebsworth tells stories from history that he wishes somebody else had already written but which seem to have been overlooked – until now!
If you love true stories that are stranger that fiction, you’ll find them a-plenty in the pages of these novels. The characters may sometimes be fictitious but the historical episodes through which they wander are meticulously researched.
David Ebsworth is the pen name of writer, Dave McCall. He was born in Liverpool (UK) in 1949, growing up there in the ‘Sixties. Dave has lived, since 1981, in Wrexham (North Wales) with his wife, Ann – who also happens to be his “ideal reader” and main mentor.
Since their retirement in 2008, the couple have spent about six months of each year
in southern Spain. They have also been keen travellers to other parts of the world. These include various other countries of Europe, China, Nicaragua, Colombia, the United States, Canada and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Dave believes strongly that you should never write about a place without having visited and checked out the locations.
He began to write seriously in 2009 and maintains a strict daily writing and marketing routine. Though he still manages to find time for a regular morning swim, as well as for sailing. You can find him writing, most mornings, in one of Wrexham’s independent cafés, or his favourite among Guardamar del Segura’s pastelerías.
Dave is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the International Brigades Memorial Trust, the Anglo-Zulu War Historical Society, New Writers UK, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Maybe it was his journey as a union organiser. Maybe his separate journey to become a full-time writer of historical fiction. But something in life gave him a passion for open debate about the darker corners of history. For shedding light on some of history’s stranger than fiction episodes. For bringing justice to those airbrushed from history’s pages. And for telling the stories from history that he wishes somebody else had already written, but which seem to have been overlooked – until now!
Live Appearances
The author has frequently done successful interviews and presentations…
- with BBC local radio stations across the UK, with Talk Radio Europe, and local newspapers both in the UK and in Spain;
- at Waterstones, Foyles and independent bookstores in Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Formby, Edinburgh, Brighton, Heswall and Wrexham – in fact, all over the UK and frequently in Spain as well;
- in speaking engagements with the Historical Novel Society (in the UK and USA), Harrogate History Festival, Bristol Literary Festival, Nottingham Labour History Circle, Wrexham Carnival of Words, the History Faculties of various universities, Gedling Literary Festival, the UK Society for Co-operative Studies, the Historical Association (Essex Branch, etc); and
- as a guest speaker with not-for-profit organisations like the Rotarians, U3As (University of the Third Age) in UK and in Spain, Women’s Institute, local history societies, libraries (also in UK and Spain), and many others.
David Ebsworth has built a reputation for lively and “not to be missed” stories about the untold background to his books, with subjects that include…
Murder & Mayhem with David Ebsworth An hour-long performance in which the author reveals some of the “stranger than fiction” true stories which inspired the background to his fourteen historical thrillers and crime novels. Paternoster homicide. The women who put Sharpe to shame. Bullet magnets. Conspiracies galore. Nero the deadly lion. Prepare to be amazed!
Visit the War Routes of Spain In a remarkable addition to his existing talks about the Spanish Civil War, David Ebsworth now takes us on one of Franco’s real-life 1938 battlefield tours. Join him – and 1930s Coventry school-teacher Mary Walker, an ardent supporter of General Franco – as we meet some of their actual fellow-travellers, hear from the tour guides, encounter a few new heroes and villains, visit some of the astonishing sites and works of art along the routes and the coastal Camino, and reveal completely new secrets of history’s most audacious propaganda exercise.
The Zulu War – Ten Things You (Almost Certainly) Didn’t Know: Takes a look at the 1964 film, Zulu, and then examines some of the mythology and lesser-known facts of the 1879 conflict.
Waterloo – Ten Things You (Almost Certainly) Didn’t Know: With all we think we know about history’s most famous battle, Bonaparte’s final campaign is still shrouded in myths and misunderstandings.
My Era is Better Than Yours: David Ebsworth will put up a spirited defence for any of the periods he writes about – Georgian Britain; the Spanish Civil War; Dark Ages Britain: the Napoleonic Wars; or Victorian Imperialism.
Britain’s Missing Century: The joys and miseries of writing about Sixth Century Britain and the curse of the Arthurian legends.
What Did The Georgians Ever Do For Us? A light-hearted romp about the joys of the Georgian period for novelists. Everything from coffee houses, sedan chairs, prime ministers, magazines and Bonnie Prince Charlie, to The Beggar’s Opera, German monarchs and the age of exploration.
Pathways to Publishing: A one-and-a-half hour presentation on comparisons between different forms of publishing – trade publishing and the various forms of independent and assisted publishing, as well as community publishing.
Benefits and Economics of Self-Publishing: An honest examination of the pros and cons of independent publishing, the skills required by authorpreneurs, and Top Ten tips for selecting services needed for self-publishing.
Never Too Late to Start: Writing in the Third Age and Writing for Wellbeing: The entertaining experiences of beginning a writing career after retirement.
Dave is normally happy to appear in return for travelling expenses and overnight accommodation (where appropriate). He will often waive fees in favour of a charitable donation, where available. He’s also happy to appear, as well, in livestream online events or pre-recorded sessions.
ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT AUTHORS
David Ebsworth is a member of the Alliance and details of their activities can be found here…
and the easiest way to contact him is by email: davemccall@davidebsworth.org