Lucy Bellwood’s Baggywrinkles: A Lubber’s Guide to Life at Sea

I have long been a fan of Lucy Bellwood. A tall ship sailor and cartoonist; she is talented, smart and funny. Her  wonderful series, Baggywrinkles, based on the time she has spent working aboard replica 18th-century tall ships, has appeared an issue at … Continue reading

The Shantyman, Quarterdeck Editor’s Choice, Reviewed by George Jepson

Yesterday we posted an interview by George Jepson from the May/June issue of the McBooks Press newsletter “Quarterdeck.”  Here is Jepson’s review of my latest novel “The Shantyman” from the same issue. The Shantyman by Rick Spilman   George Anderson, retired from a … Continue reading

Quarterdeck Interview of Rick Spilman by George Jepson

I am very pleased to have been interviewed by George Jepson in the May/June issue of the McBooks Press‘ newsletter “Quarterdeck.”  If you haven’t run across “Quarterdeck” you should take a look. (A subscription is free.) This issue includes my … Continue reading

Recent Reviews, Old Salt Press Authors, Part 2 — McBook Press’ Quarterdeck, Spring 2015

As we mentioned in Part 1 of this post, two excellent nautical newsletters came out within the past few days — Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction Log Book and McBook Press’ Quarterdeck. Both feature news and reviews of nautical fiction and non-fiction … Continue reading

Recent Reviews, Old Salt Press Authors, Part 1 — Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction Log Book March 2015

Two excellent nautical newsletters came out within the past few days — Astrodene’s Historic Naval Fiction Log Book and McBook Press’ Quarterdeck. Both feature news and reviews of nautical fiction and non-fiction and each also feature reviews of new books by … Continue reading

“Basically, I can kill people” — Joan Druett’s Interview of Alaric Bond

An interview with Alaric Bond by the award winning author, Joan Druett. Reposted with permission from her World of the Written Word blog. Congratulations on the launch of your eighth Age of Nelson novel, The Guinea Boat, an edge-of-the-seat thriller in … Continue reading

Eleanor’s Odyssey by Joan Druett — a Review

In 1799, Eleanor Reid was only 21 and newly married to Captain Hugh Reid, commander of the Honorable East India Company extra ship Friendship. It was her husband’s first command and he was under orders to carry a cargo of Irish convicts, the … Continue reading

Britannia’s Shark by Antoine Vanner — Review by David Hayes

David Hayes reviews Antoine Vanner’s Britannia’s Shark on his excellent Historic Naval Fiction blog: Britannia’s Shark by Antoine Vanner continues the adventures of Commander Nicholas Dawlish, serving in the Royal Navy as the Victorian Era draws to a close. The series so … Continue reading