insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 14

NEWS LOCAL AUTHOR AND CRIME WRITERS' AWARD NOMINEE HAS SECOND BOOK PUBLISHED September sees the release of The Exile, the second volume in Kent author Mark Oldfield’s acclaimed Vengeance of Memory trilogy. Discussions are currently under way with various production companies interested in turning the high-octane thriller into a film. His first volume, The Sentinel, received rave reviews and was shortlisted by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) for its prestigious Steel Dagger award for Best thriller of the Year 2013. The judges described it as ‘A very dark and chilling account of Spain under Franco: intensely atmospheric and a truly substantial work’. The Exile alternates between two time periods. In the present day, forensic scientist Ana María Galíndez of the Guardia Civil continues her investigation into the crimes of secret policeman, Leopoldo Guzmán, committed in the years following the Spanish Civil War. In 1954, Guzmán arrives in the Basque country on a mission to kill dangerous bandit, El Lobo. But his plans are disrupted by encounters with a deranged military governor, a beautiful heiress and a pair of Basque witches, one of whom bears an uncanny resemblance to a woman long dead. The Guardian said the book was ‘Polished, impressive and propulsive,’ while the Daily Mail thought it ‘A sprawling, striking debut, superbly told and with a fine villain at its heart’. The Spanish version, Muerte en Madrid, was a number one best seller in Spain. "Writing this second volume was always going to be a challenge after such glowing reviews," says Mark. “I really hope that readers of The Exile will think it’s been worth the wait and that they enjoy returning to the contrasting worlds of Guzmán and Ana María." The Exile is published by Head of Zeus and is available from amazon.co.uk and leading booksellers. The hardback costs £18.99. ONGOING DISRUPTION TO CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY AND RAIL SERVICES LEADS TO UPTURN IN DEMAND FOR AIR CHARTERS, SAYS WORLD EXECUTIVE AIRWAYS Jonathan Gordon, ABA Group With no end in sight to the cross-Channel disruption, which has led to a 'summer of misery' for hauliers, tourists and businesses alike, a Kentbased air charter company is reporting a major increase in demand for services. Managing director, Jonathan Gordon, says that the company, which operates a fleet that includes jet, turbo-prop and piston-type aircraft seating up to nine passengers, has seen a significant increase in traffic across the English Channel. World Executive Airways has seen enquiries and business soar at a time when rail and ferry services linking Kent with Calais have suffered long periods of paralysis. This has included a myriad of stranded holidaymakers and businesses executives, rush cargo, support for car production lines, stranded air and boat crew, as well as a Channel 4 film crew racing across to cover the chaos in Calais and shipping an urgently needed aircraft part to a commercial passenger jet in the South of France. The double whammy of militant French seafarers and thousands of migrants attempting to get into Britain via Eurotunnel and the ferries has resulted in the frequent imposition of Operation Stack – and gridlock on the county’s roads. Now World Executive Airways, which is based at London Ashford Airport at Lydd, has revealed that more customers are turning to its services in a bid to avoid the cross-border transport misery that has so far cost the British economy tens of millions of pounds. “Unfortunately 2015 will be remembered as a summer of misery for so many people caught up in this awful transport mess. And while we have massive sympathy for everyone affected, it has generated a considerable amount of extra business for us,” says Jonathan. “We offer highly competitive charter rates to anyone in the UK who needs to cross the Channel 14 during this time of traffic disruption and chaos. Our service is highly flexible and we can tailor our charters to meet any requirements.” WEA’s aircraft have wide access doors and can be reconfigured quickly in order to accept small packages or larger-sized freight shipments. World Executive Airways is fully approved to transport ‘dangerous goods’ cargo on short notice throughout the UK and the rest of Europe. For more details about the range of charter services available from World Executive Airways call 01797 322207, email [email protected] or visit www.worldexecutiveairways.com. London Ashford Airport, at Lydd, is easily accessible from the M20 and 20 minutes’ drive from Ashford International Station, which offers high-speed rail services from London St Pancras in just 38 minutes.