Book cover. Photograph of Barne Glacier in the Antarctic covers front cover, spine and back cover. The words are: Richard Pierce. Ice Child. The sequel to Dead Men. "They do say you have to be prepared to let your children go because they were never yours to begin with, but that doesn't stop the pain, nor the memories of someone you love no longer being there. I should have seen the darkness coming." It’s over twenty years since Birdie and Adam went to the Antarctic, and barely survived. Their daughter, Emily, has grown up admiring Shackleton, much to her mother’s displeasure. Just out of university, Emily disappears, only to resurface in New Zealand, on her way to the Antarctic, to retrace the route of Shackleton’s forgotten expedition in 1909, when he got to within 97 miles of the South Pole. And now she's missing, presumed dead. When Birdie and Adam illegally go onto The Ice in the desperate hope to find Emily still alive, they discover the US and New Zealand governments have been keeping a secret which could endanger the whole planet. Interspersed with reimagined episodes from Shackleton's expedition, Ice Child asks if adventure and exploration always exact too high a price.

If you want to give yourself a signed #Antarctic #Novel for #Christmas, today's the last day to order #IceChild in time. Or if you want to give a copy to friends or enemies alike. tettig.com/shopping-2

You still have till 17 December 2024 to get your copy of #IceChild in time for #Christmas in the UK. #Writing #Antarctic #HistoricalFiction #Adventure #FiresideReading tettig.com/shopping-2

#PublicationDay for #IceChild. #Antarctica #Shackleton #Antarctic #SouthPole

UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Child-Ri...

US: www.amazon.com/Ice-Child-Ri...

Germany: www.amazon.de/Ice-Child-Ri...

Australia: www.amazon.com.au/Ice-Child-Ri...

ICE CHILD Chapter 1 I didn’t see the darkness coming. We came back from the Antarctic over twenty years ago, our lives barely intact. We’d only been married for a few short months, and Birdie was pregnant when we’d flown down there to search for the root of her obsession, the grave of Captain Scott, Henry Bowers, and Edward Wilson. What we found was more outlandish than any dream or fiction could ever have been. And now, we’ve lost everything. Because an only child is everything. Because our real achievement was our child. But she’s gone, and there’s no trace of her. The Ice gave us our daughter. And now it’s taken her away from us. In reality, I should have known it would end like this. A child born to two obsessives will become exactly that. And that’s what we both are, that tiny blonde-haired ball of energy who decided to marry me, and me, with my lack of self-esteem and my love of computers, and my all-consuming love of her. And that little girl in the middle, asking all the right questions and never getting the right answers, because we were too wrapped up in wasting our lives to understand that she was the most precious thing we’d ever had. A life gone by without us noticing. Actually, three lives. And what is there to show for all that time that’s passed? An empty room, a rucksack gone, a scent lingering. For Birdie, it all started with Bowers because he was her namesake, because her father had named her after Scott’s most faithful companion, because she’d been obsessed by the idea that she might actually be related to that Scotsman with the big nose and the red cheeks. And for me it all started when I met Birdie. I’d been ignorant of Antarctic history before that, ignorant of everything really. Probably still am, because I understand nothing. And for our daughter it all started with Shackleton, Birdie’s least favourite Antarctic explorer. I should have seen the darkness from the beginning.

With less than 72 hours till #IceChild releases, here's the short first chapter, the scene setter. You can order a signed copy from www.tettig.com/shopping-2. #Writing #Antarctic #Shackleton #HistoricalFiction #Romance #Adventure

Book cover. Photograph of Barne Glacier in the Antarctic covers front cover, spine and back cover. The words are: Richard Pierce. Ice Child. The sequel to Dead Men. "They do say you have to be prepared to let your children go because they were never yours to begin with, but that doesn't stop the pain, nor the memories of someone you love no longer being there. I should have seen the darkness coming." It’s over twenty years since Birdie and Adam went to the Antarctic, and barely survived. Their daughter, Emily, has grown up admiring Shackleton, much to her mother’s displeasure. Just out of university, Emily disappears, only to resurface in New Zealand, on her way to the Antarctic, to retrace the route of Shackleton’s forgotten expedition in 1909, when he got to within 97 miles of the South Pole. And now she's missing, presumed dead. When Birdie and Adam illegally go onto The Ice in the desperate hope to find Emily still alive, they discover the US and New Zealand governments have been keeping a secret which could endanger the whole planet. Interspersed with reimagined episodes from Shackleton's expedition, Ice Child asks if adventure and exploration always exact too high a price.

Last chance for UK readers to get a signed copy of #IceChild by publication day on 2nd December 2024. Order today by 14:00 UTC tettig.com/shopping-2 #Writing #HistoricalFiction #Fiction #Romance #Adventure

A man with spectacles and a blue hat with ear flaps, in blue/grey neck gaiter and blue/grey extreme weather gear, in profile, making notes in the interior of Shackleton's Cape Royds hut on Ross Island in the Antarctic. In the background there are shelves (attached to wood-panelled walls) on which there are tins and jars from Shackleton's expedition in 1909.

As we near the #PublicationDay for #IceChild on 2nd December, which is my second #Antarctic #Novel all about #Shackleton and his #FurthestSouth expedition in 1909, here's a picture of me from 2008 in Shackleton's Cape Royds hut on Ross Island on #Antarctica. #Writing #HistoricalFiction #Fiction

Richard Pierce

Not really had any time today to plug #IceChild, due out on 2nd December, & now I'm off to watch footie at Carrow Road (don't judge me). If you want to preorder a signed copy while I'm out, feel free tettig.com/shopping-2 #Writing #Antarctic #Shackleton #SouthPole #FurthestSouth #HistoricalFiction

#writing #HistoricalFiction #IceChild

Stack of books in plain cardboard boxes piled up on a piano keyboard. Pister in background of a picture of a male face with mouth open shouting "Poetry For All."

Some of the #IceChild signed preorders about to go out, inc a multiple copies order. The poetry poster is by Gerald Nason who used to be a member of my writing class.

Box full of paperback books. The book is Ice Child. The cover features the title on top of a picture of an Antarctic glacier.

The first signature copies of Ice Child have arrived. Thanks to all of you who have already preordered signed copies from my web site. They'll be with you by publication day on 2nd December. #IceChild

youtu.be/Wqm251TLoWA?... #IceChild