This first book in a new series is set in and around the Portland, Maine, waterfront. It introduces Brandon Blake, a loner who lives on his old wooden cruiser. Raised by his alcoholic grandmother after his mother was lost at sea, Blake learned to depend on himself. During an assignment for a law-enforcement class, Blake gets involved in a fight and is marked for payback by a soon-to-be-released convict. Meanwhile, questions surface about his mother's disappearance.

Collected columns & Reviews. Interesting exclusive interviews with noted authors.

Your Compass to Maritime Mastery As boundless as the oceans, the field of maritime studies has charted the course of human civilization for centuries. It's an ever-evolving realm where the waves of change constantly reshape the contours of knowledge. In this expansive sea of understanding, having a reliable compass is indispensable. The Dictionary of Maritime, with its compendium of 4,645 meticulously curated entries, aims to be that navigational aid guiding enthusiasts, professionals, and scholars alike through the complex waters of maritime terminology. Our journey begins at the shores of basic nautical terms, ventures through the straits of maritime law, navigates the currents of naval architecture, and explores the depths of oceanography. Each entry within this dictionary is akin to a nautical star, guiding readers through the dense fog of maritime jargon towards the clarity of comprehension. The Dictionary of Maritime is far more than a mere collection of definitions; it's a lighthouse illuminating the path for those sailing the tumultuous seas of maritime studies. Whether you are a seasoned mariner, a maritime law scholar, a naval architect, or an oceanography student, this dictionary is designed to bridge the gap between the arcane and the understood, between obscurity and clarity. This book is not merely a passive repository of maritime terms but an active engagement with the rich tapestry of maritime knowledge. Each term, each phrase is a portal into a vast world that has shaped, and continues to shape, the course of human history. The terms encapsulated within these pages are buoy markers on your journey through the expansive waters of maritime understanding. Our endeavor is to foster a shared lexicon, a common ground of understanding that can enhance communication, collaboration, and comprehension across the myriad sectors within the maritime domain. By doing so, we aspire to contribute to the safety, efficiency, and evolution of the maritime world. As you delve into the pages of The Dictionary of Maritime, you are embarking on a voyage of discovery. Each term you encounter is a nautical mile on your journey towards a deeper understanding of the world that lies beyond the horizon. We invite you to hoist the sails of curiosity and let the winds of knowledge guide you through the enlightening pages of The Dictionary of Maritime. May your quest for understanding be as boundless as the oceans and may your exploration through these entries chart a course towards a lifetime of learning in the maritime realm.

Where in the world is Billy Battles? As Book Three of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy begins we know where Billy is. He is in Chicago with his wife, the former Baroness Katharina von Schreiber living a sedate and comfortable life after years of adventure and tragedy. That changes with a single telephone call that yanks Billy and Katharina back into a life of turmoil and peril. Persuaded by a powerful old friend to go undercover for the U.S. government the two find themselves in Mexico during the height of the violent 1910-1920 revolution. There they grapple with assorted German spies, Mexican revolutionaries, devious political operatives, and other miscreants. Caught in the middle of the 1914 American invasion of Veracruz, they must find a way out while keeping their real identities secret. After managing to extract themselves from danger, disaster strikes. It’s an ordeal Billy is all too familiar with and one that will send him plummeting into a painful abyss of despair and agony. Consequently, Billy vanishes leaving family and friends to wonder what happened to him. Where is he? Is he dead or alive? What provoked his disappearance? In Book Three of the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy, those questions are answered, and the mystery behind Billy’s disappearance is finally revealed.

Billy Battles is not in Kansas anymore! As Book 2 of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy opens, Billy is far from his Kansas roots—and his improbable journeys are just beginning. He is aboard an ocean liner sailing to the Mysterious East (Hong Kong, French Indochina, and the Philippines), among other places. The year is 1894 and aboard the S S China Billy meets a mysterious, dazzling, and possibly dangerous German Baroness, locked horns with malevolent agents of the German government, and battled ferocious Chinese and Malay pirates in the South China Sea. Later, he is inadvertently embroiled in the bloody anti-French insurgency in Indochina–which quite possibly makes him the first American combatant in a country that eventually will become Vietnam. Later, in the Philippines, he is thrust into the Spanish-American War and the anti-American insurgency that follows. But Billy’s troubles are just beginning. As the 19th century ends and the 20th century begins, he finds himself entangled with political opportunists, spies, revolutionaries and an assortment of malevolent and dubious characters of both sexes. How will Billy handle those people and the challenges they present?

Investigates nature, causes, and economic impact of structural, seasonal, and chronic unemployment; Oct. 14 hearing was held in Uniontown, Pa.; Oct. 15 hearing was held in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Oct. 26 hearing was held in Altoona, Pa., pt.2; Continuation of hearings on unemployment problems in Michigan, particularly in the automotive and mining industries. Nov. 10 hearing was held in Marquette, Mich.; and Nov. 12 and 13 hearings were held in Detroit, Mich., pt.3; Nov. 19 hearing was held in Duluth, Minn.; Nov. 20 hearing was held in Hibbing, Minn.; and Dec. 17 hearing was held in West Frankfort, Ill. Includes "Depressed Industrial Areas -- A National Problem," by the National Planning Association Committee on Depressed Areas (1683-1757 p.), pt.4;Dec. 10 hearing was held in Harlan, Ky.; Dec. 11 hearings were held in Pikeville, Ky. and New Orleans, La.; and Dec. 14 hearing was held in Baton Rouge, La., pt.5; Continuation of hearings to examine regional unemployment problems. Nov. 16 hearing was held in Welch, W. Va.; Nov. 17 morning session hearing was held in Beckley, W. Va.; Nov. 17 afternoon session hearing was held in Fayetteville, W. Va.; and Nov. 18 hearing was held in Wheeling, W. Va., pt.6; Dec. 1 hearing was held in Evansville, Ind; Dec. 2 hearing was held in Terre Haute, Ind.; Dec. 3 hearing was held in Indianapolis, Ind.; and Dec. 4 hearing was held in La Porte, Ind., pt.7; Nov. 3 hearing was held in Portland, Oreg.; Dec. 14 hearing was held in Rock Springs, Wyo. Includes numerous studies relating to labor and employment in Oregon, pt.8; Jan. 8 hearing was held in Schenectady, NY; Jan. 11 hearing was held in Lynn, Mass., pt.9