Mark Felton Biography

Being born in the army garrison town of Colchester in 1974, it was perhaps inevitable that Mark Felton should develop an interest in military history. After university and a stint in the civil service he later gained a master’s degree and a PhD at the University of Essex.

After working as a university lecturer he moved with his wife to China in 2005 where he continued to teach.

He has authored over a dozen books, many receiving national and international attention and also writes regularly for several major history magazines on both sides of the Atlantic.

After living and working in Shanghai for almost a decade, he now lives in Colchester with his wife and son."

How I Found the Agency

I discovered the name ‘Andrew Lownie’ after reading Renegades: Hitler’s Englishmen by Adrian Weale. I had already written several military history books, and I wanted to find an agent with a great reputation in my field. After reading some of the fantastic advice articles on Andrew’s website, he seemed very approachable. Encouraged by Andrew’s website, and keen to take my career to a new level, I decided to approach him with a new and exciting project. Andrew contacted me back immediately, asking for a detailed synopsis and a sample chapter. At every stage of an idea’s development Andrew is closely involved, helping the author improve and revise the synopsis. He is so encouraging and responsive, always answering emails quickly and comprehensively, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Author Details:

Author's website: http://www.markfelton.co.uk

Author News

Ghost Riders serialised in the Mail 23 Jul 2018

Mark Felton’s highly filmic Ghost Riders: When US and German Soldiers Fought Together to Save the World’s Most Famous Horses in the Last Desperate Days of World War II was serialised in the Daily Mail
American POW story to Hachette and Icon. 09 May 2018

North American rights in Mark Felton’s Men of Confidence: The Untold Escape of American Prisoners-of-War From Hitler’s Holocaust to Hachette and UK rights to Icon.
Details for Castle of the Eagles film option 07 Jun 2017

Some more details for the the film deal for Mark Felton’s Castles of the Eagles have been released.

Producing for eOne and Moonriver Content is Xavier Marchand, who’s credits include Spotlight (Academy Award Best Picture 2016), Eye in the Sky with Helen Mirren, Suite Francaise with Michelle Williams & Kristin Scott Thomas, and The Woman in Black with Daniel Radcliffe.

Also producing is Brad Luff, who’s credits include upcoming US tv show Siren, and movies Extinction with Matthew Fox and Parker with Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez.

Three-time BAFTA Award winner Jeff Pope is writing the screenplay. His credits include tv drama Cilla with Sheridan Smith, and the movies Philomena with Dame Judi Dench & Steve Coogan (Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations shared with Steve Coogan) and Pierrepoint with Timothy Spall.
Recent Foreign Rights sales 30 Apr 2017

Czech rights in Mark Felton’s Castle of the Eagles.

Russian rights in Cathy Glass’s Will You Love Me?

Italian rights in Christian Jennings’s Flashpoint Trieste.

Czech rights in Danny Orbach’s The Plots Against Hitler.
US & UK rights sold in Ghost Riders 02 Jul 2016

Icon have bought UK and Da Capo North American rights in Ghost Riders, Mark Felton’s filmic account of how GIs joined forces with surrendered German soldiers and liberated prisoners-of-war to save the worlds finest horses from the SS and Red Army in an extraordinary battle at the close of the war in Europe.
Mark Felton on the Jeremy Vine Show 31 May 2016

Mark Felton was a guest on the Jeremy Vine Show last week, discussing whether President Obama should apologize to Japan for the atomic bombs. You can listen again here.
Film rights sold in Castle of the Eagles 16 May 2016

EOne Features have optioned film rights in Mark Felton’s Castle of the Eagles: Escape from Mussolini’s Colditz
Another great review for Zero Night 01 Oct 2015

‘Felton’s book is nothing short of a thriller, where the plot is laid out, preparation progresses stage-by-stage and finally brought to fruition.’ Gulf News

http://gulfnews.com/culture/books/zero-night-review-flight-to-freedom-1.1588871
St Martin's buy Mark Felton's new book 29 Jun 2015

St Martin’s have bought US rights in Mark Felton’s Castle of the Eagles: Escape from Mussolini’s Colditz, the exciting story of the escape of thirteen generals from Vincigliata Castle, a menacing medieval fortress set in the beautiful Tuscan hills above Florence.
Great Kirkus review for Zero Night 11 Jun 2015

‘A page-turner about one particularly daring escape from a Nazi POW camp during World War II… What makes this story particularly absorbing is the author’s use of diaries and interviews to re-create dialogue… The author grippingly tracks the evaders’ trek to freedom, an event that would warrant a book in itself. Even the epilogue will bring a smile. In this exciting book, Felton has captivatingly captured the bravery of the prisoners.’

Full review

Zero Night has also been nominated for a Kirkus Prize for non-fiction.
BBC Radio documentary on Zero Night 18 May 2015

The BBC Radio documentary on Mark Felton’s Zero Night can now be listened to online here.
History of War magazine reviews Zero Night 12 Feb 2015
There’s an excellent review of Mark Felton’s Zero Night in the latest History of War magazine. ‘Fans of the film The Great Escape (and frankly who isn’t?) will love this book… This is undeniably history as it should be told and a thundering good read.’
Mark Felton on BBC Cambridge 15 Jan 2015

Mark Felton was on BBC Cambridge talking about his new book Zero Night. You can listen again here.
ABC Radio interviews Mark Felton 18 Dec 2014

Mark Felton’s interview with ABC Radio (Australia) is now available online here.
Another feature on Zero Night 08 Dec 2014

There’s a new feature on Mark Felton’s new book Zero Night in The Durham Times.

Forgotten DLI heroes involved in the other Great Escape
Mark Felton feature in New Zealand Herald 05 Dec 2014

There’s a feature on Mark Felton’s new book Zero Night in the New Zealand Herald.

Kiwis’ over-the-top World War II great escape immortalised
Mark Felton interview now online 24 Nov 2014

Mark Felton’s interview with BBC Cambridge is now available online here (starting at 02:10:00).
Mark Felton interview in the Telegraph 17 Nov 2014

Mark Felton was interviewed in the Telegraph this weekend about his new book Zero Night.
More coverage for Mark Felton 07 Nov 2014

Mark Felton’s Zero Night is continuing to generate worldwide interest, including lots of newspaper coverage, a radio interview on BBC Cambridge, and this piece on US entertainment channel The Blaze:

Unsung Nazi Prison Camp Escape May Have Been the Boldest Breakout During World War II, Book Claims
More coverage for Mark Felton 03 Nov 2014

Mark Felton’s action-packed new history Zero Night - The Untold Story of World War Two’s Most Daring Great Escape is generating lots of interest, including the following:

Daily Mail - Was this THE greatest escape of WW2?

Western Daily Press

Scotsman

Daily Mirror:
Mark Felton reviewed in the Scotsman 03 Nov 2014

Mark Felton’s fascinating new history Zero Night, The Untold Story of World War Two’s Most Daring Great Escape has had a good review in the Scotsman:

New book reveals even greater WWII ‘Great Escape’
Zero Night in the Australian Daily Telegraph 24 Oct 2014

There’s a great feature on Mark Felton’s forthcoming history Zero Night in the Australian Daily Telegraph (below). Mark also has radio interviews lined up with Sydney’s 2GB on 8 October and Australia’s ABC National Radio on 25 November.
Mark Felton recommended by Radio 4's 'In Our Time' 24 Jan 2014

Mark Felton’s book on the American West was one of only a handful of titles recommended by Melvyn Bragg following a debate on Custer’s Last Stand on Radio 4.

In Our Time