Authors

Ed

I’ve been working for Osprey Publishing for the last 4 years. I started out as a Production and Design Controller and moved to my new position of Web Project Manager quite recently. I will be managing the all new improved Osprey website when it gets launched in the spring of 2008.

I originally joined Osprey because of my keen interest in military history and it’s the perfect place for me to work with a constant supply of good books to borrow! My main area of interest is contemporary warfare, everything more or less after WWII, though I am partial to reading the odd WWII book now and then. At the moment I have a keen interest in global terrorism and how this has led to the current insurgencies going on in Asia and the Middle East but I also love my weaponry!

Like Simone my favourite tank is the Merkava MKIV, though as you’re probably aware it didn’t gain that much praise in last year’s war in Lebanon. The best feature of the tank is the position of the engine. Having it in the front as opposed to other conventional tanks where it is in the rear leads to a higher survivability rate for the crew especially if hit from the front. The engine in the front design is apparently because Israel has a greater supply of tanks than trained tank crews.

Joe

Born near the site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, to a family steeped in military tradition, it is not surprising that I developed an abiding interest in military history. At university I majored in history with a minor in Peace, War, and Defence. Thus, when I moved to England to get married, I jumped at the chance to work for Osprey.

Apart from my regular duties in Production and Design, I also serve as Osprey's Gamer-in-Residence. Miniatures, board games, role-playing games, I love them all.

My favourite tanks are the little plastic hover tanks that came in Fortress America , one of the greatest board games of all-time.

Hopefully my enthusiasm will be apparent as I post news and reviews about the hobby side of military history – from models to medals. I also couldn't resist the opportunity to share some of the weird, interesting, and macabre stories from military history that I have come across, and I hope it will encourage others to do the same.

John

Kate

I've been obsessed with history for as long as I can remember. I got my first history book aged 6 and my older sister used to earn pocket money by agreeing to take me on museum trips. Very uncool I know...

I studied military history at university specialising in the World Wars with research papers on the battle of Delville Wood, Arnhem and the Battle of the Britain so Osprey is the perfect place for me to work. I've been here for three years now and I am happily knee-deep in the nuts and bolts of New Vanguard as well as commissioning the Warrior, Essential Histories and Duel series. I'll be keeping you up to date on new series books as well as chatting about some of the all-time greats.

As a Battle of Britain obsessive so it would be easier to choose a favourite plane (Spitfire, naturally) but if I have to go for a favourite tank then it would be the T-34. Solid, reliable, it might not be as "pretty" as the Panther but it got the job done so it gets my vote!

Mike

I am the youngster of the office having left university two years ago and joining Osprey in my first ‘real job’. With a history teacher for a mother I grew up immersed in historical facts and tales – conversations around the dinner table would invariably turn to discussions about the Russian Civil War or something equally obscure. However, rather than put me off history this nurtured a deep and genuine interest in all things historical. It was a hard decision to study English, rather than history at university – but my time was not totally wasted. Having recently watched a program counting down the 100 greatest war movies of all time it appears that I watched about 80 of them in the three years I was a student. Now all I need to do is come up with a plausible excuse to watch the other 20 at work in the name of ‘market research’…

My favourite tank would have to be a Tiger 1 – because last year a group of Dutchmen let me ride on their Tiger around a military show. I was thrilled that I had seemingly been singled out for this honour, but it emerged that they had given me a lift because I was wearing an Osprey t-shirt and they had used Osprey books as a reference for the markings on the tank- all they wanted was some free books.

I am going to be blogging on the military and military history in the news – picking up on some of the quirky stories and websites that emerge from time to time. The parameters will be rather loose – some posts will be serious, but most of us get enough ‘serious’ military news everyday, so as much as possible I am going to be looking out for interesting stories or things that will make you smile!

Enjoy!

Phil

I’m the new blood at Osprey, having started in July 07. I’ve been interested in military history since I was a kid, growing up on the mean streets of Derby with toy soldiers and Asterix, and that interest was developed through school and university. As Editorial Assistant, I get to dabble in nearly every book that is published – great fun and very interesting – and perfect for someone whose interests range from Ancients to Ultramodern. While Joe may be Gamer-in-Residence, I have a strong claim to the title of Geek-General – I’ve never really grown out of comics, wargames and cheesy action movies – nor would I really want to! I’m not a huge fan of tanks, to be honest – I much prefer the common infantryman, but if I had to pick one, it’d be something cheap, mass-produced and probably Soviet – the T62 being a prime candidate.

Richard

Early last year I landed what can only be described as my dream job in which I get to immerse myself in history books whilst practicing the ‘dark arts’ of marketing. And I get paid to do it.

Being able to remember my own childhood, which did include Osprey books, and comparing it daily with the lives of the two semi-feral monsters I fondly refer to as ‘my children’ means I am prone to random acts of nostalgia, rants about historical inaccuracy in films (not made like they used to be) and generally grumbling about how Military History should be more popular.

I don’t have a favourite tank. If you can’t whack it with a sword what’s the point? Give me a ‘thin red streak tipped with steel’ over camouflage any day of the week.

Ruth

Having enjoyed every minute of my degree course studying ancient and modern history, I left university wanting to be able to combine my love of history and books. I was very lucky to be offered a position at Osprey, where I quickly felt at home, so at home in fact that five years later I'm still here. I have worked my way up and I'm now commissioning editor, commissioning and managing new books for our generals list. Though I'm sure I'll suffer from my colleagues for saying such a sacrilegious thing, I'm not really one for military hardware, I'm more interested in the human experience of war, and also the comparisons and parallels that can be drawn through the history of warfare, and across the globe. Interests and information which I'll be sharing with you over the coming months, as each new book I work on tells me something new.

William

I've been with Osprey since 1998 after thirty years in educational and academic publishing. One of the joys of my earlier time with the company was work on the Osprey Military Journal, our heroic but commercially doomed attempt to compete directly with Military History etc. In the Journal we could explore with our contributors, or occasionally on our own, characters and stories and other kinds of topic that could generally only receive a brief mention in Osprey books, or that simply weren't appropriate, like recipes (I cooked and photographed a mean Chicken Marengo) and film and book reviews. I'll be making that kind of contribution to this blog.

Military history, in broadest terms, has always interested me. As a boy, I read a lot about knights, collected various Britains figures, enjoyed war comics and made a few kits (my Black Prince was superb, and also my Lanc, until my air rifle shot it out of the apple tree). Over the years Hornblower, Sharpe, Flashman and other warlike historical fiction have provided infallible entertainment with occasional volumes of narrative military history or biography and the monthly fix of new Osprey titles to add bulk. 

Tanks?  I'd prefer to stretch a point and go for the CSS Hunley.  Otherwise, still appropriately vintage, the British Mark IV ….

Simone

I’ve been working at Osprey for over 6 years, and have grown to know and love our books and customers over that time. Despite all those who know me still being rather surprised at quite how much I enjoy the subject of military history - don’t remember it being on my ‘what I want to do when I grow up’ list - I admit it, I’m hooked. I’ll be updating you on Osprey news, which will include company news, previews on new books and projects we’re doing, and anything else we’re up to. If there’s anything in particular you want to see, I’m the girl to ask, so

Known as tank girl in the office, I used to work as a commissioning editor on the New Vanguard and Warrior series, and now work in business development. Don’t tell anyone, but I have a secret love of Israeli tanks, particularly the Merkava IV - which is a damn impressive tank if you ask me. Oh and helicopters. Just because they’re cool.

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