Alan, your novel Rising Tide is set during World War II, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, whereas your earlier series focused on World War I. What inspired you to explore a new conflict in your writing?

In my previous First World War series I looked at how waging a quick decisive war was seen as an effective foreign policy for nations to settle disputes and assert themselves. There had been peace in Europe for a hundred years, the reality of war had been forgotten and the romance of the cavalry charge was still felt. The generation who fought the Second World War had no such illusions about fighting a modern war but fought anyway to defend their countries. This is the underlying theme that I wanted to explore in my WWII series.

What sort of man is your hero, Lt Daniel Nichols?

Nichols is an idealistic young man who was an active supporter of appeasement up until 1938. This was largely because he saw the effect that the First World War had had on his father, who came back severely shell shocked. However, after witnessing Nazism on the streets of Vienna, Nichols sees no choice but to fight.

Your novel opens with the British surprise attack on Taranto in November 1940. What happened, as it’s not a particularly well-known event?

Yes, it’s a shame the Taranto raid is not better known, as the Royal Navy made history. The Fleet Air Arm attacked the Italian battle fleet at their base in Taranto, with 21 obsolete Fairey Swordfish biplanes launched from HMS Illustrious. They crippled three battleships, leaving them resting on the harbour bottom and out of action, and forced the remainder to withdraw to a less strategically useful base. The Taranto raid is overshadowed by Pearl Harbor, but it was the first time carrier-borne aircraft had been used to attack enemy ships in a heavily defended harbour. Although it did not inspire the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it proved to them that a carrier-borne strike could succeed.

The attack on Pearl Harbor is the major plot point. What is it about Pearl Harbor that fascinates you?

The attack on Pearl Harbor has fascinated me since I saw the old BBC drama Churchill and the Generals back in the 1970s. The newsreel footage of the attack, superimposed over scenes with Churchill and FDR, brought home the feeling that Britain could have “the sleep of the saved and the thankful”. Out of such a catastrophic event sprang the Allied victory, and FDR’s words have stayed with me ever since: “We are all in the same boat now.”

Those images of the USS Arizona and the other great ships burning on Battleship Row are iconic and deeply embedded in the public psyche. However, that also means people are already familiar with the events surrounding the Japanese strike. I have therefore approached the surprise attack from a slightly different angle, focusing on the intelligence war that was taking place in the run-up to the attack and which might have provided advanced warning. I have used a good deal of artistic licence, inventing storylines and characters while remaining true to the historical events that provide the structure.

Ian Fleming makes an appearance – why does he feature?

Ian Fleming worked in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War as the personal assistant and fixer to the Director of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Godfrey. Fleming was very much the power behind the throne: everything passed through him before it reached Godfrey.

Fleming therefore makes a cameo appearance at the beginning of the novel. My lead character, Daniel Nichols, who has transferred to Naval Intelligence, takes advantage of Fleming’s love of the unconventional and persuades him to back his proposed mission.

Was it a challenge to include Fleming, given he’s quite well known as a novelist himself?

Yes, it was certainly daunting! I found the really tricky part was trying to get the tone of his speech right so that he didn’t come across too much like Bond. Fleming didn’t suffer fools and wasn’t shy about putting a bit of stick about, but he also had great generosity of spirit, and I wanted to reflect that in how he deals with Nichols.

I couldn’t find any reference to his views on the threat posed by Japan in 1941, so I had to base his opinions in the novel on what I think he would have thought. However, I was aided in this by a lot of research material; I found Andrew Lycett’s and Nichols Shakespeare’s books really helpful.

Hunter Class is the second novel in your Daniel Nichols Spy Thrillers series. What is it about?

Nichols has been recruited into 30 Commando by Ian Fleming, a unit the Bond creator formed to carry out specialist operations to ‘pinch’ enemy intelligence and technology— ‘loot’. In the novel, Fleming takes on the role of ‘M’, becoming Nichols’ commanding officer and assigning his missions.

The novel begins with Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, where Nichols searches for advanced enemy radar technology and any other ‘loot’ he can get his hands on. However, the real prize comes from Section Officer Prudence Tiverton, a WAAF officer who is tracking a German T52 Geheimschreiber (secret writer), the teleprinter which Hitler uses to communicate with his most senior commanders. Tiverton works in the background, silently pulling the strings, and sends Nichols on a treasure hunt to find a device that can change the cause of the war.