WHEN you've written as many historical novels as Simon Scarrow has, there's a lot of research.

But don't feel so bad for him - because more often than not that means a lovely trip abroad.

"There's a lot of leg work involved," he tells me. "Reading books and various documents I can get my hands on but yes it's not all bad because I do get to go to the places I write about. You have to really to get that sense of place, the smells the sights."

Which for his latest novel just happened to be the Greek Islands.

"A tough job," Simon jokes, "but someone has to do it."

In Hearts of Stone Simon brings to life the fierce courage of the men and women of the Greek resistance during World War Two.

Opening in 1938 it's a perfect summer on the Greek island of Lefkas as Peter, visiting from Germany, becomes close friends with locals Andreas and Eleni.

Five years later when Peter returns, Andreas and Eleni have joined the partisan forces resisting the German invasion, while he is now a dangerously well-informed enemy intelligence officer.

Hearts of Stone is Simon's 27th book, although even the author himself cannot be quite sure of the figure.

"There's quite a few," he admits. "I'm actually slowing down now. I used to write about four a year but now it's around two."

The Sunday Times Number 1 bestselling author spent his childhood travelling the world before pursuing his great love of history as a teacher.

Now based in Norfolk he arrived in the region in 1982 to study at UEA in Norwich and stayed.

Simon began writing at university and continued in his spare time while teaching.

"In the end I had a couple of books in my bottom drawer," he says, "one of which was Under the Eagle. I thought may be it would stretch to three books and the publisher reckoned six or seven but we were all wrong because there's now 14 in the series."

His Roman soldier heroes Cato and Macro made their debut in 2000 and have subsequently appeared in many bestsellers in the Eagles of the Empire series. The books follow the exploits of centurions Macro and Cato across the Roman Empire – most recently in Britain holding the line against the native tribes under Kings like Caratacus and inspired by the legendary Druids.

Simon is also the author of the novels Young Bloods, The Generals, and Fire and Sword chronicling the lives of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte, and of Sword and Scimitar, the epic tale of the 1565 Siege of Malta.

"You could say I have the best of both worlds now," he adds. "Travelling and finding these lovely stories from history which I can then incorporate into my books. I'm very lucky."

Simon Scarrow is at Red Lion Books, High Street, Colchester, on Tuesday, May 31, from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Tickets are free but numbered as spaces are limited. To book call the bookshop on 01206 578584.