Show based on Republic of Pirates airing this winter

NBC has announced that "Crossbones" --the drama based on my work of non-fiction, The Republic of Pirates -- is airing this winter.

The network released its 2013/2014 schedule overnight, with "Crossbones" being released as a mid-season replacement. Since NBC has rights to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the show will probably air after the games close Feb. 24. The network has released remarks suggesting it plans to promote the mid-season debuts during the Olympics. “The overriding strategy this year was to develop enough strong comedies and dramas to take advantage of the promotional heft of the Winter Olympics and devise two schedules for the upcoming season: one for fall and a slightly different one for midseason," NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a prepared statement.

"Crossbones" stars John Malkovich as Blackbeard. It's written by Neil Cross, of BBC "Luther" fame.

[Update, 3/28/14: The series is now premiering May 30, 2014 at 10 pm.]