One Long Blast - Vessel Getting Underway!

Okay, the Nautical Blog Hop is underway and I'm just 12 hours behind! I've been agonizing over what to write, have thought of and rejected a few ideas, in other words I have, as usual, been way over thinking this whole damned thing!

My latest book is Fin Gall about Vikings in early medieval Ireland.

It would make a lot of sense for me to write a blog about Vikings in early medieval Ireland. That way you, dear reader, would be tempted to click over and buy a copy of Fin Gall. Which is my latest book. But I decided not to do that. Instead, I will give away a signed copy of Fin Gall (latest book - did I mention that?) to a randomly selected person who posts a comment on this blog.

(That kind of business thinking, by the way, is the reason that I am in the financial state that I currently am in, and why I must now get up and wash the dinner dishes, rather than simply instructing my French maid to do them.)

Here's how it will work (the give-away, that is). I'll number the comments #1 to whatever, write those numbers on a piece of paper and have my scrupulously honest wife choose one from a hat. Then I'll give a free book to whoever said the most flattering things about me in their comment.

Just kidding. As far as you know.

So I've been agonizing on what to write. I thought about writing an article on the famous naval battle of the War of 1812 between the USS Enterprise and the HMS Boxer, the most significant naval action to take place off the coast of Maine (it ain't much but it's all we got). And the more I thought about it, the more I thought, Boy, does that sound boring!

And kids, here's an important tip for writers - if you think its boring, it's a good bet your readers will, too. Trust me on this, I'm a professional.

 

Boxer and Enterprise: Not as interesting as you might think...

 

Actually, the story of Boxer and Enterprise is fascinating, but being the 200th anniversary of the event, I have been talking about it nonstop and I don't think I can muster the energy for more.

 

And then I thought, why not write about my favorite subject - me!?

 

Okay I'm not really that egotistical, or at least I would not admit to it. But seeing as this is a Nautical Blog Hop and I've had the good fortune to do some nautical stuff, I thought I would write about some of the ships on which I have sailed.

 

A little backstory (that's what we writers call all the stuff that happened back before the story started)...

 

As a kid I always loved ships. Where other kids were into dinosaurs, for me it was always ships. I would spend recesses looking at pictures of ships. In middle school I built a 12 foot skipjack, my first boat.

Me, pre-beard, with my skipjack

 

Then, in high school, I discovered a) beer and b) girls and that was about it for any other interests. I ended up going to UCLA Film School to be a Big Time Movie Director. One day I was walking across campus where the sailing club had a 12' dingy set up and they were handing out fliers for sailing lessons. I looked at that boat, and it was like the moment in the movies when the clouds open up and a stream of light comes down on the protagonist and heavenly voices sing and you just know a piano is about to drop on his head.

 

I started sailing with the UCLA Yacht Club and all that passion for the sea awoke from its slumber and I developed a serious sailing habit (should have got into drugs - it would have been cheaper and healthier in the long run) Once I graduated and was making (for me) good money I bought a 27' boat and was living aboard it in Marina Del Rey. Then one day I read an article saying that the Golden Hinde, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship from 1577, was sailing in and they were looking for crew. And I thought, Hey, that's what I've always wanted to do!

 

And my life swirled off in yet another unexpected direction.

 

The Golden Hinde II - Who could resist?

 

 

Coming Next - Adventures on the Golden Hinde II 

 

 

Hopefully I have not killed your interest in the nautical Blog Hop, because there are a number of other blogs which actually have real, informative content! Check them out on the right hand side panel of this blog!







Coming Soon to a Blog Near You...

So, I'm taking part in what is apparently called a "Blog Hop", one more aspect of the blogosphere which I only vaguely understand, but yet feel compelled to do. Actually, it sounds like fun. My friend and fellow historical novelist Helen Hollick has organized this deal where a bunch of us who write this kind of stuff (maritime themed fiction) all post some original essay on our blogs, then we all link to one another.

Actually sounds kind of kinky when I put it that way...

In any event, the idea is you can cruise around the various blogs and check out what other writers are up to. Some folks are doing a give-away, which I might as well, though I'm pretty damned cheap.

I'll be posting an essay tomorrow, and hope to do another by the end of the week. I'll also be posting the links to the other authors, who you should check out.

Here's the logo for the blog hop. Stay tuned!

All Boxer and Enterprise (all the time)

This week marks the 200th Anniversary of the battle between the H.M.S. Boxer and the U.S.S. Enterprise off the Coast of Maine. It was another in the series of ship-to ship (in this case brig-to-brig) actions in which the Yankees wiped up the floor with the vaunted British navy. And in this case they Brits couldn't complain that the American vessel was significantly more powerful (though they did). It is also the most significant War of 1812 event to take place in Maine (we were and are still sort of off the beaten track).



Enterprise crosses Boxer's bow near the end of the battle

I'm taking part in two great events commemorating the battle. The first is September 4th at the Maine Historical Society where I'll be part of a panel discussion with three other distinguished authors (or should I say, there will be three distinguished authors and me). That will be 6:00 - 8:00.

Next is a commemoration on the actual anniversary of the battle, September 5, at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Along with my talk, there will be music by Castlebay, poetry, remembrances from eye witnesses and a blessing. Program starts at 3:00. Should be a good time, so please come by if you can!

Wild and Crazy circa 1813

Last week I took part in a fun program at the magnificent Pemaquid Point Light House with my friends Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane, the most excellent musicians of Castlebay. The program was centered around the historic battle between U.S.S. Enterprise and H.M.S. Boxer, Maine's biggest War of 1812 battle, which took place on the waters just off the point. We'll be at it again, back at the lighthouse on September 5, the actual anniversary of the battle. Also on hand will be David Hanna, author of Knights of the Sea, the history of the fight. So if you are around, come by.  You won't be disappointed!

Me, Julia, Fred, Lighthouse (in background)

Funniest Thing in SomeTime

Okay, this really slayed me. Might not be to everyone's taste. My kids didn't think it was that funny, which I take as a good sign. If you have teens or had teens you might appreciate it more. Anyway, I thought it was well wroth sharing.

From that greatest of news sources, The Onion...

One of my Top Five Favorite Activities...

...signing a contract for a new book. I (and by "I" I mean, "my agent") just completed a deal with St. Martin's Press for the first of a new maritime historical fiction series. Alert readers will recall that Isaac Biddlecomb, hero of my first series, lo those many years ago, had a son named Jack. Well, Jack is all grown up (or at least he is in the book proposal) and captain of a merchant vessel as the Quasi War with France begins to heat up. This book will follow Jack's adventures as he, like his father, gets drawn into the naval service.

Signing a contract - one of my favorite activities. Cashing big advance checks is another.
Other favorite activities will just have to be imagined, but you probably don't want to go there.

For those of you with your fingers hovering over the "Buy Now" button on your favorite book web site, be patient. Book will likely have a release date of some time in 2015.

Meanwhile, Fin Gall, my novel of Viking Age Ireland continues to chug along nicely, wracking up all sorts of kind comments on Amazon.com.

Next Stop, Hollywood!

My new book Fin Gall: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland (official motto: "It has ships and swords, what's not to like?") has been immortalized by my 12-year old son Jonathan, who created a Lego depiction of the opening scene, in which the Vikings aboard the longship Red Dragon attack a small Irish ship and battle the crew to the death. In the vividly rendered recreation below, the main character, Thorgrim Night Wolf, discovers a mysterious crown aboard the Irish vessel.

Once the big-time movie producers get a sense from this layout of how visually exciting the book could be, I'm expecting the offers to come rolling in.