I’ll bet, like me, you’ve stood listening to seals or sea lions point their snouts into the air and let out a series of barks.  Perhaps you’ve witnessed an entire herd or them racing frantically around creating a cacophony of sound.  They almost seem frantic to deliver a message.

Thanks to outdoor projects.com

There is a spot on the Oregon Coast called Simpson’s Reef where hundreds of seals, sea lions, and other pinnipeds stop to rest while on their migration journey.  If you roll down your car window as you approach, you can hear the barking.  Seeing and hearing them is an awesome experience.

I decided to come up with a story that gives my explanation as to why they do this.  You may or may not agree with me, but, hey, that’s why they call it “fiction.”  I hope you’ll read my first novel, With Which the Waters Swarm, then let me know what you think.  With Which the Waters Swarm is an easy read, for middle-grade readers as well as young adults and adults.

Finally! One of my novels is complete.  With Which the Waters Swarm  has just been put up on Amazon.com and will be available other places as well.  It’s available in both print and as an e-book.  I’d love to get some feedback on what you think of it.

It’s the story of a herd of North Pacific Fur Seals who are threatened by sealers facing a recession. The men therefore ignore all international rules regarding how many seals they can take.  In other words, the seals are being wiped out. During their Great Migration, the seals, absent their protective leaders who were taken by the sealers, must come up with ways they can fight back.

Each seal has an adventure during its Journey that contributes to the knowledge base of the herd.  A grand battle ensues upon their return.  I’ll leave you to read it to learn the outcome.

I started this novel while riding the bus into Boston many years ago.  I’d start writing when I got on the bus for the hour’s ride into the city and not stop until I got off.  Then I would hurry out of work at the end of the day, hop aboard, and continue.  I’ve been “massaging” it ever since. Hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

I think the book will be of interest to everyone from middle school through adult.  But you tell me.

The rugged Oregon coast

One day I realized that I have seldom lived more than a couple of miles from an ocean in my entire  life.  Growing up in a fishing village on the Oregon Coast, I never gave a thought to it.  Our home overlooked the ocean; I worked on my father’s salmon fishing boat during summers; while in college, I had a flagman’s job on a bridge that fishing boats crossed under; I worked at the Sunset Beach State Park.

Then, in the Navy, after boot camp on San Diego Bay, I was surrounded by ocean while stationed on Guam.  I even flew on seaplanes down to many of the small islands in the Mariana Islands, islands where water/land battles were fought during World War II.

Now I live in Massachusetts, on the South Shore below Boston.  One of the contiguous towns to me is Marshfield.  Why I bring this up is that, in Oregon, I lived for a while in Coos Bay, a town that changed its name from Marshfield.  My Oregon history book tells me that settlers there came from Marshfield in Massachusetts.

All of this is a way of saying it’s no wonder that the novel I’m just ready to publish, With Which the Waters Swarm, and the others I’m working on, all involve an ocean or two.  No matter how I’ve tried to steer my writing elsewhere, that darned water won’t let me.  Is that a bad thing?  Of course not.  But what it means is that you readers will have to put up with my infatuation when reading my books.  Of course, that’ll be easy for those of you who also love the ocean.  If you aren’t water fans?  I hope I can convert you.