I'm the author of more than 70 books on military or naval history, and while the majority of them are small affairs written for Osprey Publishing, several of them such as "Blackbeard", "Sovereigns of the Sea", "There was a Soldier" and "Naval Miscellany" are pukka books. My latest was "Bannockburn", published by Aurum, and my Haynes title "Battleship Bismarck" is due out this January. I'm currently working on several other projects - both naval and military. I also do occasional TV and Radio work as a talking head, usually speaking about pirates, but increasingly now about other military and naval areas. I also write magazine partworks, including ones on Naval Warfare, Historic Ships, Mutiny on the Bunty and my favourite - the Voyages of Captain Cook. I spend most of my time hiding up in Orkney, where the main house is, but we also have a place in Edinburgh, and I travel a fair bit.

This is where my interest in piracy really began. As the Chief Curator I planned and laid on exhibitions (both static and travelling), and got to play with shiny coins and gold bars recovered from Spanish galleons. How cool was that?!

I played with swords - especially on Friday afternoons. It was like working in an Aladdin's cave of historical arms and armour!

I joined the Royal Navy under a scheme whereby I spent a year at Dartmouth, then went to university. I had to serve with them during my student time, and then again afterwards. In the process I got to see a range of exciting places, from Barbados to Bridlington. I also learned to put lines on charts, coil ropes and pass the port decanter the right way - all useful stuff.