Below is a ballad composed by one of our authors, Stephen A. Carter, for the Galway Sailing Club located in Galway, Ireland.
Stephen is also the author of the four‑book Matari Series, a fact‑driven historical fiction saga that explores the U.S. Civil War and highlights the pivotal contributions of Black Americans to the conflict.
THE GALWAY HOOKER
Sleek fishing boat, red sails full blown
In foaming wake she cruised alone.
Upon her deck a lad did sway,
Kept looking back across the bay.
From Claddagh town his tearful bride,
Upon a dock stood tall and cried.
White hanky danced upon the wind,
As em’rald eyes upon him pinned.
To starboard bow Clare Hills rose high,
Through spray the hooker scudded by.
All sails lay taut before the blast,
Aboard a groom clung to a mast.
The Galway hooker flew away,
Across North Sound that fateful day.
From Inishmore to Rossavail,
That night o’er surf heard widows wail.
At dawn a body washed ashore,
Found by a pregnant paramour.
Today her ghost still haunts the scene,
And in the wind one hears her keen.
Refrain:
A Galway hooker sailed away,
And took her love across the bay.
A widow waits upon the shore.
Will she be pining evermore?
A young John Saxton looks on helplessly as brutal slavers on the slave ship Wanderer throw their human cargo overboard to avoid capture by the American Naval Patrol. From then on the Boston shipping heir and his giant Maasai mentor Matari (Marcus Brown become implacable abolitionists.
A supporting cast of unforgettable characters are caught up in a web of murder, dark secrets and political intrigue. Arrayed against them are two arch villains Horatio Garrow and his hapless henchman Harley Blackstone.
Saxton and his beautiful black bride Virginia survive a dangerous milieu of Confederate espionage, high treason and the siege of Fort Sumter all brought to the fore by one man…..President Abraham Lincoln.
Book Review of BATTLEGROUNDS (Book One of the MATARI Series)
By Veronica Dale Owens author of NO INTERMISSION.
Having read all four manuscripts of the MATARI series, I must say that Book One sets a standard of excellence for all historical/fiction writers who delve into the US Civil War and especially the role of Black Americans who were involved in it before, during and after the event.
Book One BATTLEGROUNDS is a literary blockbuster of major proportions wherein characters both fictional and factual collide on a political and societal stage ever shifting and unpredictable. Mr. Carter’s extensive research provides realism of the first order. The essence of the times (1854-61) comes alive through the use of colloquial language and illustrations of the day.
An unrelenting tension comes in many forms through conflicts not only evident in ‘white’ but also in ‘Black” societal circles. Throughout there are pauses for comic relief that adds a welcome respite.
Therefore, my overall impression as a female African American author is that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Book One, finding it to be an incredible page turner the likes of which compares favorably to ROOTS by Alex Haley
If you vote for Trump and his MAGA GOP members you may indirectly start World War III.
If Trump and his MAGA GOP take control of our Congress, they will cut off support for Ukraine. They already cut support on the advice of Trump when the Congress was ready to approve the spending bill with support for Ukraine.
What will happen next?
said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. “This is supposed to be the party of conservative principles, of tradition, of respect for customs and rules that make society governable.
“The idea that the law does not apply to Republicans is something that has now become part of the mainstream of the Republican party. We see it in terms of the approach to elections. We see it in terms of the treatment of immigrants. Some of the actions with regard to abortion may approach that level. The Republican party appears to consider the law and the constitution to be optional and to have lost legitimacy.”
From The Guardian
Republicans’ lawless leaders at odds with midterm law and order message | Republicans | The Guardian
If you vote Republican you are supporting:
– 19 GOP red states have pending laws suppressing voter’s ability to vote. Historically, dictators and Fascists have suppressed votes to stay in power.
– The GOP has come out in support of QAnon, The Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys
– You may lose a loved one, a relative or a friend in a train crash, a bridge collapse or a plane crash as Republicans strip funds from President Biden’s infrastructure bill.
– The Texas abortion ban if left to stand will be passed in several other GOP states. Idaho will pass an anti-abortion law based on the Texas law. 16 states have “trigger” abortion ban laws.
by the US Supreme Court.
https://cnn.it/3RaW1zm
https://nyti.ms/3IcANNo
With the recent Supreme Court banning EPA authority from polluters
https://bit.ly/3IfQ1Bf
on Gun Purchases – will never get passed.
Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional plea to improve gun purchase background checks
https://cnn.it/3AnRweO
– will never go up leaving 18 states still paying $7.25 an hour.
– the last thing America needs are conservative leaders, especially some Republicans who want to keep America from progressing. The last thing America needs is backward-thinking leaders in the 21st Century.
– Republicans have turned to cheating to stay in power or to get back into power…and nothing is getting done by them for the American people.
The enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
and everything America stands for: Truth, Justice and Liberty for all? Look what is happening in Ukraine.
*Of course, not all Republicans are like those described above. Here is a list of those who should stay in office.
House of Representatives – those who voted to impeach the former president
Senate – The Republicans who voted to convict the former president after impeachment:
YOUR VOTE COUNTS. It’s a lie to think otherwise.
Paid for by Jake Stone for American Democracy
VOTE like your freedom depended on it…because it does.
Books of the NY Times
