Independent Action

Kinkaid in the North Atlantic

By: Michael Winston

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In this first book of the Jonathan Kinkaid trilogy, our hero finds himself serving as First Lieutenant aboard the American frigate Randolph of 32 guns, blockaded in the port of Philadelphia during the winter of 1776-77. Tasked with orders to undertake “independent action” in the North Atlantic against a mighty British convoy, she manages to elude British warships long enough to transform her crew–from the crusty boatswain’s mate O’Toole to the teenage midshipman Billy Weatherby–into an effective fighting force. The “Lucky Randy” takes a number of important prizes until her luck runs out in a surprise meeting with His Majesty’s Royal Navy frigate Gaspee. After suffering untold horror aboard a rotting prison hulk in New York harbor, out heroes make a bold escape to become involved in the daring Sag Harbor raid and then fight a climactic sea battle against a superior force before winning their right to return home. A story of the fury of the sea and the waste of war, of brave but fallible men and boys who find themselves in dire straights, of history and the building of character, “Independent Action” is fast-paced, old-fashioned high seas adventure at it’s very best, with unforgettable characters. Each book in this trilogy is based on actual events; each takes us to a different theatre of the war at sea during the American Revolution, all are guaranteed to excite, educate and entertain readers of all ages. Cover art by the author. The second book of this series is entitled "Uprising," in which Kinkaid is given command of his own ship, Swift, of sixteen guns. His assignment is threefold: to deliver a diplomat bearing a copy of the Declaration of Independence to the Dutch free port of St. Eustatia in the Caribbean, to assist a major of marines with a mysterious assignment that takes them to the jungle island of Dominica, inhabited by cannabalistic Carib Indians, and to gain information of any pirate activity in the Virgin Islands that may interfere with American shipping from St. Eustatia to American shores. The much-anticipated third installment in the Jonathan Kinkaid historical fiction trilogy, "Tidings of Victory" is now available, in which Kinkaid is sent to Europe to deliver the news of our victory at Saratoga to Ben Franklin in Paris. Filled with spies and saboteurs, intrigue and villainy, this masterfully written tale is another triumph of high-seas adventure in the Winston style, as a more confident and newly married Kinkaid wrestles with his own demons as well as enemies of the cause. A more-than-worthy finale, in this book you will find everything you loved about the first two novels, from the sound of booming cannons in ship-to-ship battles to a bold rescue mission of American seamen from an English prison, and much more. Enjoy! Mr. Winston's latest and most ambitious undertaking yet is "Sunset of the Iroquois," about Washington's 1779 invasion of the Indian country of New York State, a gritty, character-driven, action-packed epic adventure. While based on actual journals kept by the soldiers, this exciting story is told from both sides and is filled with Iroquois lore and tactics and technology of the elite Rangers. Don't have a Kindle? No problem. Amazon provides your FREE Kindle for PC with your first order.