K.M.Ashman

Author of The Blood of Kings Series, India Sommers Mysteries, The Roman Chronicles, The Medieval Sagas, Savage Eden, The last Citadel, Vampire and many more

[MV Book Cover Design @morevisual]

Jem Calder’s discovery by Sally Rooney proves that submitting your work pays off! Whether you’re pitching to traditional publishers or self-publishing, your voice matters. Need a striking cover to match your brilliant words? Read More here: https://t.co/aHamTSLOcN

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

@morevisual @morevisual

[MV Book Cover Design @morevisual]

The Power of Series Branding. For K.M. Ashman’s ‘Seeds of Empire’ series, we ensured every cover tells a story while maintaining a unified brand. Want your series to stand out on the digital shelf? Visit: https://t.co/O7QUplPCMo #BookDesign #RomanHistory #IndieAuthor

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

If any of my friends or followers are in Belfast, and either have already published a book or want to publish a book, there is an event coming up that I strongly encourage you to attend. Please see below.

FREE EVENT FOR WRITERS.
Achieve Author Success with Kindle Direct Publishing: Publish your book, connect with readers and drive sales on Amazon.

Presented by Darren Hardy, Senior Manager EU Author Community and Jen Barrett, UK Kindle Direct Publishing Lead.
Chaired by Margaret Skea, Scottish and Northern Irish Ambassador for the (not-for-profit) Alliance of Independent Authors.

Date: 9th October 2025
Place: Riddel Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast
Time: 2.30 – 5.00pm (Registration / coffee from 2.00pm)

Learn the processes involved in utilising Kindle Direct Publishing and strategies to maximize the opportunities for the sale of all book formats (inc. Q+A).

Followed by an Author panel sharing their publishing experience, (inc. Q+A).

Dublin-based Gerry Kilby’s first novel, Chain Reaction, is very much an old-school techno-thriller; while his later book series—Moon Base Delta, Colony Mars, and The Belt— have topped the Amazon charts for Hard Science Fiction and Space Exploration.

Kelly Creighton is an award winning author based in Newtownards. Her thirteen books include the DI Harriet Sloane crime series; a thriller State of Fear, short story collections and poetry.

Margaret Skea is Northern Irish by birth, now living in Scotland, and is an award-winning author of 16th century historical novels, contemporary biography and short stories.

In both sessions there will be opportunity for audience Q+A
Places are limited – BOOK NOW: https://t.co/BEa4CZDgGf

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

On top of the rainbow where nobody goes
is a wonderful secret that nobody knows.

A magical kingdom that's nowhere at all,
and guarded by dragons, a hundred feet tall.

The trees are like giants, the apples are sweet,
and pavements of rubies crunch under your feet.

Where unicorns gambol and nightingales sing,
It's Bappadouke Castle, the home of a king.

The Bappadouke king is a fearsome beast,
Who fell from a rain cloud that came from the east.

His eyes are like saucers, his stomach is round
And his mane of spaghetti hangs down to the ground

He has a great army that nobody sees,
who run through the castle and only eat cheese.

You may never see them; you'll have to look twice,
the Bappadouke soldiers are small furry mice.

They stay in the shadows and don't like the light,
so only come out in the darkness of night.

Their job is to slide down the rainbow below,
and though it's quite dark, they all know where to go.

They'll creep into bedrooms without any noise
and try not to wake all the girls and the boys.

And when they are sure that no one's about,
They'll look for the children whose teeth have come out.

They'll climb up the blanket, and creep up the bed,
and blow in your ear till you lift up your head.

They'll circle the pillows and look underneath,
the Bappadouke army are looking for teeth.

Now some say it's creepy and not very nice,
that teeth can be stolen by Bappadouke mice.

They don't leave you money like tooth fairies bring,
just steal all the teeth for the Bappadouke king.

He doesn't have rubies or gold on the walls
and doesn't like sapphires or diamonds at all.

Instead, he likes teeth that are pearly and white
that his soldiers can steal in the dark of the night.

So, when it's been raining and rainbows appear,
remember, the Bappadouke army is near.

But don't have a nightmare or fear the worst,
just hope that the tooth fairy gets to you first.

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

Spider, spider in the shower,
this is not your finest hour.
Why on Earth are you up there,
gazing down on soapy hair?

Are you sleeping tight or is it
just a voyeuristic visit?
If you drop from way up high,
be aware we both may die.

There’s no room in here to fight
so, grab your web and hold on tight.
Stay up there and bathe in steam
and don’t you stress about my scream.

I did not mean to share my fear
but you should not be quite so near.
When I’m done, it’s out you go;
a pointless task for we both know,

that when it comes to scaring me,
you’ll soon be back,
…you’ve got a key!

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

The Time Machine

I am a man of mystery
I’ve witnessed many things.
I’ve graced the halls of history
and dined with fools and kings.

I’ve signed the Magna Carta
and prayed with Saladin.
I laughed with Cleopatra,
and cried with Anne Boleyn.

I’ve sent men to Valhalla
and feasted when they died.
I fought a war at Agincourt
with Henry at my side.

I served with Alexander
and fought with great acclaim,
but still I cried, the night he died
With Empires still to claim.

I’ve pledged my sword to Alfred,
swore fealty to a queen
but can’t forget, when Antoinette
met Madame Guillotine.

I’ve seen the fall of Empires.
I’ve seen the Goths attack.
I saw an Emperor die in Rome,
a knife within his back.

I’ve marched with Martin Luther King,
watched soldiers cross the Rhine,
and wondered as a mortal man
turned water into wine.

So how is this all possible,
to travel through the years,
and witness tales to stir the heart
from kings to cavaliers?

The secret is to find a book
that sets your mind alight,
and drags you into tales of yore
that keep you up at night

So, if you love your history,
just seek the path within,
and discard all reality
…. your quest can now begin

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

Faerie Queene

Oh, Faerie Queene.
Did your heart break?
Was the pain real?
Did your grief burn destructive,
unrelenting, timeless?

Did you stop loving, unhappy mama?
Did you neglect us, Grandmama Europe?
Of course not.
You were Victoria.
You were Britannia.
Your country needed you.
The empire needed you.
We needed you.

Forge ahead, Windsor’s Widow.
Cry, but lead.
Grieve but rule.
Your clothing, black.
Mourning black.
Penny Black.

You were young.
Beautiful.
Perfect then.
Perfect still.

The splendour of grace.
The blackness of pain.
Frozen in time.
Immortal

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

Our Vera

The magic filled the air that night,
on Kentish cliffs of chalky white,
a thousand bluebirds rose in flight,
... in tribute to a Dame.

And far away in Berkeley Square,
they say they’ll put a statue where
they saw a songbird shed a tear,
... in memory of a Dame.

And sweethearts clad in Chelsea red
with midnight boots and golden thread
recalled the songs still in their head,
... with fondness for a Dame.

But as the bluebirds fly away,
the promise of that sunny day,
makes all the heartache fade away,
�� as promised by a Dame.

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

Stardust

The gift of love midst daily life,
no matter where that path may lead,
is held within from birth’s first cry
oft wasted as the minutes fly
until we hear the reaper's cry
and souls like doves are freed.

Each lifetime lived from birth to death
though born of blood or passer-by
are nought but leaves on autumn floors,
existence but a moment’s pause
amidst a soul's celestial cause
ere to our gods we fly.

Yet as the precious minutes pass
we spurn the love and garner war
to battle for a common word
to label God, a thought absurd
to shout, ‘my choice should be preferred,’
in lieu of cosmic awe.

For are we not from stardust born
and did we not that moment share?
No matter what your saviour’s name
or hue of skin, or whence you came
or choice of path, or hale or lame
there are no seconds spare
for lashing out at other hearts
whose gods are just as real as mine,

though strangely called with different names,
their dreams are coloured just the same,
we share the stardust whence we came
yet waste this gift called time.

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

The Price of Freedom

I never was a soldier,
so have no tale to tell
of cloying mud and seas of blood
and trenches into hell.

I didn't get the call up,
so how am I to know
of ghosts who stand on scarlet sand
where angels fear to go?

I didn't serve my country,
so missed the pained goodbyes
of men who cried as brothers died
beneath those leaden skies.

I never fought for freedom,
so, couldn't understand
the metal rain of searing pain
that ripped across the sand.

I didn't have the calling,
so, where do I begin
to understand exploding land
that tears them limb from limb.

I never had to comprehend
the pain of mothers' cries.
The tragic price of devil’s dice
when rolled to see who dies.

So why should I remember?
How could it ever be
those gallant dead, spilled poppy red
and gave their lives for me?

I never was a soldier,
and never went away
like those who tried, and cried, and died,
but marched so I could stay.

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

⚔️ The Birth of the Crusades and the Rise of the Knights Templar ⚔️

In 1095, Pope Urban II stood before nobles and clergy in France with a fiery plea: restore peace at home, then take up arms for God. Christians in the East were being slaughtered, churches desecrated, and the Holy Land, he claimed, was crying out for help.

The response was electric. By 1096, tens of thousands—peasants and princes alike—marched east. After years of hardship and bloodshed, Jerusalem fell to the crusaders in 1099 in a storm of brutal violence.

Godfrey of Bouillon refused a crown, claiming Christ wore only thorns, but Christian rule was established. Pilgrims soon flocked to the Holy City—many never reached it.

Then in 1119, nine knights vowed to protect them. Granted quarters on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, they became known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon.

The world would come to know them by another name: The Knights Templar.

A holy war. A blood-soaked victory. And the birth of one of history’s most legendary orders.

#Crusades #KnightsTemplar #HistoryUncovered #MedievalLegends #Jerusalem #HolyLand #KMAshman #KMAshmanBooks

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

https://t.co/EJ5qYKjevh

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

No connection. No ability to access OTP numbers. Can't access accounts. Disgraceful service

[K.M.Ashman @KMAshman]

@SMARTYMobileUK what sort of company takes 3 weeks, 3 sim cards, 2 formal complaints, hundreds of chay messages, many advisors, and still can't port a number?

[Canelo @canelo_co]

📚 COVER REVEAL! 📚

#ThePromisesOfAKing is the gripping next step along the road to Hastings from @KMAshman! 👑⚔️ Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden.

Publishing on 19 May and available to pre-order now 👉 https://t.co/EqbMA2Ih5c
#HistoricalFiction #histfic #newbook #books

[Canelo @canelo_co]

Some promises should never be broken...

Don't miss our cover reveal today at 3pm for #ThePromisesOfAKing, the gripping next step along the road to Hastings from @KMAshman! 👑⚔️

#HistoricalFiction #histfic #newbook #books