Donald Donachie is a Scottish author who is well known for his John Pearce series, which falls under the historical fiction genre. The series is set during the end of the 18th century, and features John Pearce, a Pelican who is forcefully press ganged to join the Royal Navy. Pearce, along with some of his comrades from the Pelican gang, gets placed on the HMS Brilliant, a British frigate sent on a voyage to fight the French. During the voyage, Pearce becomes a natural leader and helps the crew navigate difficult situations, ultimately forming the Pelican gang to look after one another. Donachie began writing the series in 2004 and published the debut book in 2005, with the series still ongoing.
In addition to the John Pearce series, Donachie has also written a thriller series with a Parisian setting. The series features Eddie Grant, a U.S. Special Forces company commander in Operation Desert Storm, who maintains his relations with his college friend and fellow Special Forces officer Icky Grant for CIA favors. Eddie's wife, Aurélie Cabillaud, is a stunning six-foot beauty and professor of French literature and history at the Sorbonne. Donachie's personal experience as a journalist in Europe, particularly in Germany, and his love for Paris, have greatly influenced his writing. He and his wife, Jan, spend several months each year in Paris, where they walk the streets and chase down interesting settings for future books. Donachie is currently working on a fourth book for the series.