Roger Burnage (1933-2015) had an eventful life that ultimately led him to pursue his passion for writing. Born and raised in the village of Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire, UK, he embarked on a journey of adventure and self-discovery.
His life took an intriguing turn when he served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during his national service. He was stationed in Ceylon, which is now known as Sri Lanka, where he worked as a radio mechanic, handling large transmitters.
After his release from the RAF, he went on to work as a draughtsman at Vickers in Manchester. Through dedication and hard work, he eventually climbed the ranks to become a sales engineer. His job involved traveling abroad to places like Scandinavia and India, which exposed him to new cultures and experiences.
It was during this period that Roger stumbled upon the Hornblower novels by C. S. Forester. The captivating tales of naval adventures ignited a spark of interest in the historical fiction genre within him.
Eventually, Roger settled in North Wales, where he focused on building a business and raising a family. Throughout his professional and personal life, the desire to write for himself never waned. However, it wasn't until retirement that he finally had the time and opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming an author.
Despite facing initial challenges and enduring multiple rejections from publishers and agents, Roger persevered. He refused to give up on his writing aspirations. Even when he underwent open-heart surgery and had an operation for a brain haemorrhage, he continued to work diligently on his craft. Typing away with only two fingers for months on end, he crafted "The Merriman Chronicles."
In 2012, with the support of his youngest son, Robin Burnage, Roger self-published his debut novel, "A Certain Threat," on Amazon KDP, making it available in both paperback and Kindle formats. His determination and talent began to bear fruit, as his fan base grew, and book sales remained strong.
Despite facing health challenges, his creativity and passion for writing remained steadfast. He had many ideas for the future of "The Merriman Chronicles" series and left several unfinished manuscripts at various stages of development.
Unfortunately, Roger's life journey came to an end in December 2015, following a short illness. However, his legacy lives on through his writing, and the adventures of The Merriman family is to be continued”.
AOS Naval Fiction |
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| Series: The Merriman Chronicles | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| A Certain Threat | Merriman is ordered to the Irish Sea to assist the principal Treasury agent | |
| 1793 | The Threat in the West Indies | Merriman has been sent to the West Indies as captain of HM sloop Aphrodite |
| Merriman and the French Invasion | Merriman is promoted Captain and given command of the frigate Lord Stevenage | |
| 1798 | The Threat in the East | Merriman has been ordered to Bombay |
| 1800 | The Threat in the Baltic | Merriman joins Nelson in the Baltic |
| 1801 | The Threat in the Americas | Merriman is despatched to South America along with a small flotilla |
| 1809 | The Threat in the Adriatic | Merriman is despatched to Gibraltar to take command of a seventy four |
AOS Other Nautical Fiction |
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| Series: The Merriman Chronicles | ||
| Year | Book | Comment |
| 1879 | The Fateful Voyage | Army Captain, Edward Merriman is fighting for his life |
The Merriman Chronicles Series has been continued by the author's son Robin Burnage
The author's official web site is merriman-chronicles.com