About The Book

IF BY SEA is the definitive history of the founding of the United States Navy. It charts forty tumultuous years of false starts, failures and triumphs, as the fledgling republic sought to establish its place in the world. From the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 to Yorktown in 1781; from the Quasi-War with France and the War with Tripoli, and from the great naval battles of the War of 1812 to New Orleans, the need for and prospects of an American navy were very much in question. During the Federalist Era (1789-1801), in particular, even as other national institutions were moving from the words of the Constitution to the reality of a workable republican government, the founding fathers were embroiled in a vicious partisan fight over the navy's very existence. Indeed, the political bickering went on and on, well into the next century, ending only when the navy, through its undeniable record of achievement during the War of 1812, proved indispensable to the country's defense and to the peace that followed.
* WINNER OF THE 2008 SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD *

*THE FRAUNCES TAVERN MUSEUM BOOK AWARD: HONORABLE MENTION FOR 2009 *

* SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BEST SELLER *

* MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM BEST SELLER *

Friday, November 28, 2008

San Francisco Chronicle


I was in the San Francisco area last week for the book tour. "If By Sea" was number 5 on the best-seller list for the San Francisco Chronicle. This is a photo of me with my grandson Alex at the Book Passage event.
Posted by

Saturday, November 8, 2008

California

This week I'm in California. Check the events page for the full schedule.
Posted by

Friday, October 24, 2008

Samuel Eliot Morison Award

I'll be traveling to New York to receive this award on Monday, Nov 3. For more information on this event click on the events link.
Posted by

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

October 19

I'll be speaking at the Scarborough Library, Scarborough, Maine on Sunday, Oct 19 at 2PM. This will be the last event in Maine until January. (I'll be on the west coast for the months of November and December.) If you have the opportunity please stop in. See the events page for details.
Posted by

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Next Event

My next event is in Portland, Maine at the Maine Historical Society, Tuesday Oct 7. Hope to see lots of history buffs there at noon. More information on the events page.
Posted by

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Marblehead, Mass

This week I'll be signing books on Saturday, September 27 at the Spirit of 76 Bookstore in Marblehead, Mass. I'll be there with 2 other authors from noon to 2. Hope you'll be able to stop by.
Posted by

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Darien Connecticut

My next event is in Darien, Ct on September 15 at 7PM at the Darien Community Association. It will include a 30 minute talk and time for Q & A. See the events page for the particulars. Come early for refreshments and a chat.
Posted by

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Last week of August

This is the last week of summer in Maine. It's hard to believe. I have 2 events this week. Thursday I'll be at the Rye Library in Rye, NH and on Saturday I'll be in Camden, Maine at the Owl and Turtle Bookstore. See the events page for details. Hope you can stop by.
Posted by

Friday, August 22, 2008

Maine Maritime Museum

This week's event is Saturday, August 23 at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine. I'll be speaking at noon. For more information go to the events page.
Posted by

Friday, August 1, 2008

Newburyport, Mass August 15

I'll be speaking in Newburyport, Mass at 7PM on August 15 at the Jaberwocky Bookstore. Details are on the events page. Hope some of the Massachusetts maritime enthusiasts will be able to come.
Posted by

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Best Seller

This week If By Sea was on the Maine Sunday Telegram best seller list for non fiction hardback books.
Posted by

Friday, July 4, 2008

July 15 Portsmouth, NH

The next event is July 15, 7PM, at the River Run Bookstore, 20 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH. Hope to see some of my old UNH friends there.
Posted by

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

CSPAN, Borders & NPR

My next event will be Tuesday July 1 at 7PM at Borders near the Maine Mall in South Portland, Maine. Hope some folks from the Portland area will stop by to talk about and discuss "If By Sea".

CSPAN BookTV (CSPAN2) will rebroadcast my talk at the National Archives on Sunday June 29 at 8:15PM. This is a much better time for most viewers.

NPR will broadcast an interview about "If By Sea" early in the day of July 1. Listen to "Morning Edition" on your local (Maine) NPR station. See the events page for more details.
Posted by

Monday, June 16, 2008

June 16-21

This week I'll be in Tuxedo Park, NY. For information on that event check the events page. Also be sure to check the news and review page for the newest review from Roland Green at Booklist. On the weekend CSPAN BookTV will air my talk at the National Archives. The times are listed on the events page.
Posted by

Monday, June 9, 2008

June 9-14

This week I'll be in Salem, Mass and Damariscotta, Maine. Check the events page for details. Also be sure to check the schedule for CSPAN BookTV for the time that the National Archives event will be telecast.
Posted by

Thursday, May 22, 2008

This Week's Events

I'll be in Newport News, Va and Washington, DC next week, May 26-30. May 31 -June 4 I'll be in the Boston area and then will go on to Newport, RI and Mystic, Ct. For more information click on the link above to go to the events page. Hope to see lots of old friends and new at these events.
Posted by

Saturday, February 23, 2008

If By Sea update

If By Sea is now in the bookstores. The book tour will begin on May 20 in Maine and New Hampshire. Then I will go to the Washington DC area the following week. For the complete list of events and to see an event in your area click on the link above. I hope to see you at one of these events.
Posted by
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)