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Christchurch novelist thrills with true story

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Christchurch novelist thrills with true story 20 January 2016

New Zealand author Peter D Campbell has always believed that the truth makes the best fiction. In his latest novella, Stepping into the Unknown, the Christchurch based journalist delves into the little known world of private security contracting in the Indonesian archipelago.

“The novella is based on the experiences of Brad Shaw, a former Royal Marine Commando, who spent a number of years working as a security contractor in Indonesia. His life has all the components of a great thriller. This guy was working independently in some of the most isolated and dangerous places on Earth – he had no backup and was living by his wits,” Campbell says. “When I met him, I just knew I had to write his story.”

While names, dates and places have been changed to protect confidentiality, the story narrated in the book is essentially what happened to Shaw. The novella, published by Herodotus Press on Wednesday and available on Amazon Kindle, retells Shaw’s first contract where he is employed to prevent the theft of pearl lines at an isolated pearl farm in Sumbawa. Alone, Shaw soon finds himself surrounded by potential mafia informants and killers, while he tries to work out who is behind the theft of the pearl lines.

“The book was written in close collaboration with Shaw so that it is a realistic as possible. In most thrillers, the plot or the actions of the hero can be implausible. In Stepping into the Unknown readers are thrilled by a daring, true life adventure.”

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While many might think of Indonesia as simply being the tourist island of Bali, the nation consists of over 18000 islands and has a population of 262 million people with over 250 different dialects of the Indoneisan Language. It is the world’s most populous Muslim country. Commanding a strategic position at the gateway of the Pacific Ocean and Asia, Indonesia nonetheless suffers from extreme poverty and a high crime rate feeding global problems as people smuggling, drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism.

“Readers will see a side of Indonesia few ever imagined,” Campbell says.

Shaw, who served several years with the UK Royal Marines, began working as a security consultant after a terrorist campaign by Jemaah Islamiyah led him to lose his tourism business.

“I had never planned to go into security consulting but there was such a need in Indonesia that it seemed like the best way to use the skills which I had learnt with the Royal Marines,” Shaw says.

The book is also unique in its use of military vernacular which enhances the authenticity of the authors’ voice.

“This isn’t some fantasy of some wannabe Rambo. This is written using Brad’s words and Brad’s language, making it one of the most authentic accounts you’ll come across.”

Stepping Into the Unknown mixes Brad Shaw’s real life experience with Peter D Campbell’s ability to tell a compelling story, the result of working as a journalist and novelist.

The collaboration between the Shaw and Campbell has been highly successful.

“For a long time people have been saying I should write a book about my experiences but where do you start? I was lucky to meet Peter. He has a great sense for what makes a good story and knows how to tell it,” says Shaw.

“In writing this book I couldn’t have asked for a better partner,” says Shaw. “Peter’s feel for the subject matter, the sense of place, the fear, adrenalin and the sheer kicks of the experience really capture what it was like to be there on the ground.”

The book, published by Herodotus Press on Wednesday (Eastern Standard Time in America), is available on Amazon Kindle (www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY9VML1/).


About the Authors:

Brad Shaw joined the British Royal Marine Commandos in the early 1990s. On earning his green beret at Lympstone, Devon UK, he then joined 42 Commando RM and served in Northern Ireland before joining an amphibious force that facilitated the security of the Hong Kong Handover in 1997, as well as jungle training in Brunei, Borneo which entailed working with the local Armed Forces. He was a keen sportsman and represented the Royal Marines in a number disciplines. On leaving the Royal Marines Brad returned to civilian life and was drawn back to the Far East, in particular, Indonesia, which led him to a new chapter in his life…

Brad Shaw is contributing 50c to the Royal Marines Association and 50c to St John NZ for every book sold. Thank you for your support.

Peter D Campbell is a journalist and translator. He spent six years living in Russia and has travelled extensively in Central and Eastern Europe. Almost killed several times in Russia, Peter was severely injured and evacuated to the United Kingdom for surgery, before returning to Russia to continue his work. A keen sportsman, Peter has competed at a national level. He is now a member of New Zealand Land Search and Rescue. Peter’s other writing includes The Prostitute and the Beggar, The Prodigal Son and In My Brother’s Shadow – all currently available on Amazon.com.


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