Matthew Palmer

A twisting thriller in which one woman must choose between morality and compromise with potentially deadly consequences. Perfect for fans of Frederick Forsyth and Charles Cumming. Kate Hollister is a US Foreign Service officer recently assigned to Kyrgyzstan. This is no chance assignment: she grew up there and her uncle, the US ambassador, has secured her the position. The US wants to build a huge airbase in Kyrgyzstan to expand the American presence in Central Asia and outpace Russia and China in the competition for regional influence. With the move controversial due to the Kyrgyz regime’s human rights record, negotiations are balanced on a razor’s edge. Amid these events, an underground movement has been sabotaging the Kyrgyz regime's supporters. Kate’s uncle assigns her to infiltrate the movement and discover its aims. Yet nothing in the mission is as it seems. When forced to choose between morality and compromise, will Kate lay her life on the line for what she knows is right? 'A fine read' Kirkus 'A satisfying thriller' Booklist 'Palmer is a rare talent' Gayle Lynds 'A first-class storyteller' Bill Clinton

'Compelling tour of Bosnia by a seasoned diplomat and first-class storyteller' Bill ClintonA diplomat deals with the legacy of the devastating Yugoslav wars in this dynamic thriller from the acclaimed author of The American Mission. Diplomat Eric Petrosian has returned to Sarajevo, twenty years after the horrors of the Srebrenica massacre which took the life of his friend. The spectre of war again hangs over the Balkans. The Bosnian Serb leader is now threatening to pull Bosnia apart in a bloody struggle for control. Pulling the strings from the shadows is a ruthless organised crime figure. As Eric is dragged deeper into the political maelstrom, he uncovers an ambitious plot of blackmail and treachery and faces an impossible choice: use that information to atone for the past – or use it to shape the future. Perfect for fans of John le Carré, Daniel Silva and Ken Follett.'Thrilling' New York Times'Well-written and exciting' Kirkus'Meticulously crafted' Publishers Weekly

New from best-selling author and trusted watercolour teacher Matthew Palmer! Learn to paint impressive seascapes and ocean scenes in watercolour, through 33 quick-and-easy skill-building projects, with full-size tracings included. “You’ll be guided through some simple exercises and on to complete paintings, gaining valuable insights that will develop and improve your skills.” – Artbookreview.net Want to learn to paint but short on time? Matthew Palmer has constructed this beginner’s painting course from a series of 33 quick and easy painting projects, each designed to take 30 minutes or fewer, and structured to build your skills up gradually. Start simple with still water and rippling tides, then move on to creating crashing waves, coastal buildings, boats and sun-bleached sand. • Designed for busy hobby artists who want to snatch moments to paint here or there, each of these compact projects is explained in 10 steps or fewer and is accompanied by a full-size outline on tracing paper. • Covers watercolour basics, building up from core watercolour techniques including preparing paper and paint and blending. • Each of the 33 quick and easy exercises takes no more than 30 minutes and will teach you how to create a new and inspiring subject – including wild waves, lightning on the ocean, yachts, palm trees and rocky shores. • The exercises are all worked at postcard size – ideal for a 6 x 4in (A6) watercolour pad. • At the end of the book discover 3 larger scale finished paintings that demonstrate how to integrate the techniques you’ve learned into vibrant and inspiring seascapes; these complete paintings also have an accompanying actual-size tracing.

Two countries are brought to the brink of nuclear war in this breathtaking thriller from the author of The American Mission. Sam Trainor’s outspokenness left him marginalised in Washington. Formerly a top South Asia expert in the State Department, Sam's knowledge is now being used in the private sector, but he finds profits-driven consulting work difficult to adjust to. When Sam stumbles across the transcript of a phone conversation discussing ways to provoke conflict between India and Pakistan, he knows that conversation can’t have taken place — because he is having an affair with one of the alleged participants. Someone is deliberately stoking the simmering conflict between nuclear-armed rivals. To prevent all-out war, Sam must work out the answers in a deadly game where no one, not even his closest colleagues, can be trusted.'A gut-churning international thriller' Huffington Post'[A] fantastic read' Suspense Magazine'An excellent political thriller' Library Journal

10th Anniversary edition ‘If you want to learn to paint, but don’t know where to start, start here.’ Artbookreview.net The ultimate guide to watercolour painting for the complete beginner, from expert teacher, Matthew Palmer. This is a revised and updated edition of his beloved bestseller, which has now sold more than 100,000 copies. Best-selling artist and tutor Matthew Palmer is renowned for his beautiful, detailed paintings and his ability to teach effective painting using simple, friendly, step-by-step techniques. This revised and updated anniversary edition celebrates ten years since this best-selling book was first published. In addition to the time-proven instruction of the original it includes three brand-new projects, over a dozen new or updated exercises and techniques, over 30 brand-new finished paintings plus fresh tips that Matthew has learned over the past decade. The book contains: Key advice for every beginner, including a guide to paint and paper and a handy brushstroke comparison guide. Essential techniques including drawing (from life and from photographs), composition, easy perspective, using light and shade and mixing colour. Watercolour techniques including washes, layering, wet-into-wet, lifting out and using masking fluid, plus in-depth step-by-step projects for painting a variety of skies, trees, reflections and figures. Six simple step-by-step painting exercises, and six further step-by-step projects, including a seascape, snow scene and a mountain landscape. Pull-out outline drawings for all the step-by-step exercises and paintings (Matthew shows step by step how to transfer these onto watercolour paper) The original edition of this book has already taught 100,000 complete beginners all the skills necessary to enjoy watercolour painting, and this revised edition includes plenty of new techniques, tips, and exercises to inspire many more.

Global headlines come to life as intrigue and international politics collide in this electrifying debut thriller from Matthew Palmer.'Detailed and atmospheric, The American Mission is an exciting, grown-up spy thriller packed with insider knowledge. Highly recommended.' Charles CummingAfter a devastating experience in Darfur strips Alex Baines, former rising star of the State Department, of his security clearances, he is faced with two choices: spend the rest of his career in visa-stamping limbo or move to the private sector. On the verge of resigning, he receives a call from his old mentor with an incredible opportunity to start over with a role in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet the job isn’t quite what Alex imagined it to be, for he finds a shady U. S.-based mining company involved everywhere he turns. As violence in the political climate escalates, Alex struggles to balance the best interests of the United States with the fate of the Congo and its people. His loyalties are put to the test as he races to determine the right course of action.'A thrilling read with razor-sharp prose and a haunted, memorable hero... Left me breathless and thinking long after the last page.' Dreda Say Mitchell, CWA Dagger-winning author'A thriller of great integrity and intelligence…I highly recommend it.' Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author‘There's the mission the public knows, and the mission we'll never see. Matthew Palmer knows both, which is what makes The American Mission crackle with complexity and authenticity. What a debut.’ Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The gripping debut international political thriller from diplomat Matthew Palmer, set in the US and the DRC.

The quick way to watercolour success is here! If you have ever wanted to learn to paint animals, then this is for you. Step-by-steps and clearly explained techniques will guide beginners through the methods needed to easily and effectively paint a variety of domestic and wild animals. Matthew expertly demonstrates how to paint realistic eyes, mouths, noses, fur markings and feathers in watercolour, and clearly explains all the techniques needed for the projects, including wet into wet, lifting out, adding shadows and the all-important dry-brush blending. Full-size, fold-out outline sketches are provided for all projects, allowing you to simply trace the sketches onto watercolour paper and start painting with ease. A clear and comprehensive colour-mixing section is included to allow you to confidently choose and mix the colours you need. Three starter projects - a simple bird, dolphin and penguin - are the perfect introduction to the basic techniques before moving on to six larger projects, each set in a simple scene: a parrot, cheetah, panda, giraffes, sea turtle and polar bear. Matthew includes many handy hints and tip for beginners and improving artists alike to fill you with confidence to create your own stunning watercolour animals.

Let this innovative and indispensable book be your painting companion: simply dip in and out whenever you need advice and guidance from best-selling author, Matthew Palmer. Start with watercolour basics and learn to plan successful pictures, then select expert guidance, tips for success, and beginner-friendly troubleshooting from within the sections on flowers, trees, buildings, water, people and wildlife. Discover how to make your moonlit sky really glow; learn how to paint lush, realistic foliage; add believable figures; and create driving rain and sparkling water. Unique to this book are Matthew’s key mix swatches. These allow you to achieve perfect results every time; explaining the colours you need and in what proportion. The paint mix is shown both wet and dry, so you can compare your palette with the wet mix, and know what it'll look like once applied. The dry swatches stretch to the edge of the page, so you can also simply hold the book up to the object you’re painting, find a colour match and create the right mix with ease. The book also includes a pull-out picture finder, which will help you create the best composition from the scene in front of you, isolate and identify a colour, try different picture formats and help with proportion and size. Designed to aid you whilst painting either indoors or out, the small format and hard cover make the book easy to transport and to store with the rest of your painting kit.

In Watercolour Landscapes for the Absolute Beginner, artist and teacher Matthew Palmer guides beginners through their first steps in watercolour and shows what incredible landscapes can be achieved in this exciting medium. Step-by-step exercises, mini projects and six longer projects help you to build essential skills and allow you to produce a range of landscapes you will be proud of. Vital drawing skills are explained and demonstrated, along with key techniques such as how to use resists; colour mixing; painting natural-looking foliage; using the dry-brush technique to create intricate detail, and using scratch-out techniques to add sparkle and movement to water. The exercises are ideal for beginners and the main projects will also build skills for improving artists. Matthew has an accessible style, with plenty of tips and tricks for beginners to make things easier. A huge wealth of finished paintings provide ideas and inspiration for your own future watercolour landscapes. Full-size pull-out outlines are provided for the final projects. Includes material previously published in Matthew Palmer's Step-by-Step Guide to Watercolour Painting (2018), but with the addition of three brilliant new projects, many new illustrations and extensive textual revisions.

Learn to paint colourful watercolours using only three colours in this collection of projects, tips and techniques from the innovative Take Three Colours series. Each of the 25 projects explores a variety of watercolour techniques and walks the reader through a sequence of clear steps using a selection of three pure colours and their many mixes, and only three brushes to complete the work. Project themes include landscapes, seascapes, flowers, mountains, lakes and rivers and snow scenes. There is also a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book, exploring some of the most commonly used terms and techniques featured in the book.

This complete beginner's guide to painting animals and birds is ideal if you want to learn to paint in watercolour but are short on time. Broken down into 32 quick and easy paintings measuring just 15 x 10cm (6 x 4in), this basic course will teach you all the skills you need to paint domestic and wild animals and birds, in home settings or in nature. Best-selling author Matthew Palmer shows you how to paint a diverse range of animals and birds, including a parrot, cat, dog, zebra, stag, cow and swan, and teaches you how to paint realistic markings, fur and feathers, and how to create faces filled with character and personality. Tracings are provided for all the paintings, including the three projects at the end of the book. Simply trace them off onto your watercolour paper and paint with confidence, without the need to make an initial drawing. Each painting takes just 30 minutes to complete and teaches you a different technique, so by the end of the book you will be equipped with all the skills you need to complete one of the three full-size projects: a King Charles cavalier spaniel, a snow leopard and a hummingbird.

'There’s no grandstanding or showmanship, just solid, honest instructions and demonstrations that produce solid, worthwhile results.' Artbookreview.net Paint convincing watercolour mountain scenes using just 3 colours, 3 brushes, a palette and a pad of paper. From only 3 affordable watercolour paints in red, blue and yellow you can mix a huge range of colours and paint beautiful landscapes you’ll be proud to hang on your wall. Starting from the simplest of mountain scenes, Matthew builds your skills as you progress through the 9 easy projects in the book, and by the end you’ll be amazed at what you have achieved. Clear instructions and step-by-step photographs show you how to add detail, shadow and distance to a scene, and there are numerous handy tips and helpful ‘jargon busters’ to help you learn the basic watercolour techniques. Before you know it, you’ll have acquired all the skills you need to paint your own wonderful mountain scenes in watercolour. Matthew uses French ultramarine, cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson and sizes 12, 6 and 2 round brushes.

Delving into an important constitutional issue, this thorough examination details the up-to-date legal arguments involved in the indigenous-rights debate around the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Uniquely combining conceptual academic theory with grounded and realistic suggestions for improving the ways the New Zealand government deals with the Maori, this comprehensive account outlines the significance behind an unresolved controversy that affects New Zealand’s identity and culture, as well as their constitution, law, and economy.