One of the first quotes I saved from a “Churchill book” is still one of my favorites. During the course of writing Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, Jon Meacham had the good fortune to interview one of Churchill’s former private secretaries.

One morning during his second premiership in the 1950s, he called for
Anthony Montague Browne, his private secretary. “Has anything
happened?” Churchill asked. “No,” replied Montague Browne.
“Then let’s make something happen,” Churchill said with mischief
in his eyes.

* * *

The first copies of this newsletter went out to 37 people on April Fool’s Day in 2020. Today’s email was sent to 1,507 subscribers. Whether you are one of the original 37 or if you signed up yesterday, I appreciate you sticking with me, reading these stories, and following the progress of my book.

The first inkling that I might write a book about Winston Churchill and the Royal Navy’s attack on the French fleet probably occurred 15-20 years ago. It sure feels like I’ve been talking about this for that long.

My dream became a lot more real last February 12th when I signed a contract with the U.S. Naval Institute Press – the perfect publisher for a book about a surprising clash between two navies. I was initially told that my book would be published in May 2026, but its launch date was subsequently advanced to this March - to St. Patrick’s day in particular. (Equally perfect, since my DNA is 74.3% Irish). At the time, publication day still seemed an eternity away.

And now all of a sudden, here we are. Operation Catapult will be published on March 17, a palindromic 71 days from today.

Thanks for your faith, your friendship, your support, and your encouragement.

Let’s make something happen!
Bill

All of a sudden, March 17 is not so far away