Five years ago Strudwick Marvin Rogers was flying from London to New York when he read an article about an abandoned vault recently discovered in an Amsterdam bank.

The idea of what might be found in it, and how it might affect lives, intrigued him, and he began thinking up his own story of where the discovery of an old document might lead.

Since all stories have to be set somewhere, he began there. The answer came quickly: Bermuda! "I had been here several times and thought it would be a wonderful setting because it is such an interesting and beautiful place,'' Mr. Rogers says.

"Also, I am a Civil War buff and I knew about the blockade running out of St.

George's.'' As an oil and gas attorney, he was also familiar with the floor of the Cotton Exchange in New Orleans, so that became another setting. So too did the Black Belt of Alabama, where Mr. Rogers grew up.

Since he had friends who were serious cotton and commodities traders, and Peter Scott, the president of the Liverpool Cotton Association, was another friend, he wove some of their experiences into the tale.

By the time he reached his destination, the budding novelist was committed to writing a book.

Of course, many people think about writing books and never do, but Mr. Rogers' mother, Nancy Pennington Rogers, was an avid reader of murder mysteries who encouraged her son to pursue his dream, as did his wife Catherine, and many friends.

In fact, his mother, despite failing health, became so involved in the project that at one time they toyed with writing the book together.

Lawyers are known for their analytical minds and meticulous attention to detail, and certainly Mr. Rogers is no exception.

He knew that detail made a good story, but he was also wise enough to know that there is a particular formula to writing a book, so he took a creative writing course even as he began work on the manuscript. He also read many who dunnits and murder mysteries, storing away in his mind the methodology and style that makes a good story.

Eschewing modern technology, the first-time author wrote his manuscript in pencil on ordinary paper because he preferred a system that didn't get ahead of his mind. Slowly but surely the chapters were crafted.

As ideas occurred to him, or he heard an interesting quote, he'd write it down on a scrap of paper. For years his wife Catherine had to guard against throwing out the little bits of paper she found everywhere.

There were, of course, times when Mr. Rogers found the going hard because of his commitments as a full time attorney, but he had also made a solemn promise to his mother that he would not quit.

"She is deceased now, but I promised her I would finish it, and I am very proud of that,'' he says today.

Finally, the time came to approach agents and publishers. Two were interested: one in Alabama, and the other in Bermuda. The late Kevin Stevenson, president and editor of the Bermudian Publishing Company, liked it and gave the author a great deal of encouragement. So too did Mr. Stuart Thompson who succeeded the late Mr. Stevenson as president.

Of course, there were many revisions based on professional advice, but now the book is finally in print, and receiving its world launch in Bermuda book stores this week.

Entitled `The Bermuda Indenture,' it is described as a fast-paced thriller with court intrigue. Partly set in Bermuda during the blockade running Civil War era with action moving to Alabama and New Orleans, the plot centres on the search for a missing indenture which will resolve the dispute over an oil-rich tract of land in the Southern US.

"I think the best thing about the book is that it is a good tale,'' Mr.

Rogers says. "If you don't have a good story you don't have a good book.'' In fact, his friend Peter Scott has dubbed it "the best book I have ever read''.

The author warns, however, that his book "has some colourful language in it, but maybe it is erudite in the right places''.

As befits a Civil War buff, the cover design features a reproduction of a Civil War painting of St. George's harbour now hanging in the US Military Academy. As an adjunct to this, Mr. Rogers will donate a copy of the painting to the Bermuda National Trust Museum in St. George's.

`The Bermuda Indenture' retails for $18.95 and is currently sold in Hamilton at The Bermuda Book Store, the Bookmart and Washington Mall Magazines, and in St. George's at the Book Cellar. Subsequently it will be distributed throughout the Island.

Mr. Rogers is an assistant Attorney General assigned to the staff of the Alabama Oil and Gas Board. He grew up in Choctaw County, Alabama, and now lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with his wife and son.

The author will be present to sign copies of his book at the Bermuda Book Store tomorrow between 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

BOOK REVIEW REV BKS