Hi there and welcome to the Latitude14 website. My name is James Marr.
I was formerly the director of a family company managing a fleet of ships deployed in oceanographic research, marine resource management, mine-counter measures and the training of UK Special Forces.
At the turn of the Millennium I cut loose to pursue my love of overland vehicle-based travel. I first caught the bug in 1988, when I ventured into southern Algeria’s Hoggar Mountains in my Land Rover 110. This expedition deep into the Sahara Desert became the trigger for a number of subsequent journeys. While travelling some 170,000 kilometres by motorcycle and 4x4, I have written a number of articles for motoring journals, and produced three books recounting my adventures. These books are currently being updated and will all have been republished by May 2024.
For the moment, my writing has moved to the thriller genre with my first novel Kill at First Light. The idea for this book was conceived while driving through the wilds of West Africa during a period of increasing jihadist activity. Tuareg connections in Mali advised us against certain routes in the east of the country, for which I shall be forever grateful: two weeks later, a group of European travellers had their vehicles ambushed by al Qaeda in the Maghreb. Kill at First Light will be published in May 2024.
For more information on my books please take a look at the BOOKS page of this website.
From time to time I shall be updating the ARTICLES page with new stories, so be sure to check it out. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the website. And, who knows, perhaps one day we’ll meet out on the road.