OMDC Gets Port of Seattle Funding

A visitor to Maritime Heritage Network suggested posting these two important Seattle Post-Intelligencer stories about the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center.

Odyssey asks port to keep it afloat
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/305276_museum27.html

Maritime museum to get $3.2 million
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/305442_port28.html

We'd welcome any comments you might have. Click the comments link below to post. Readers can also post comments directly on the article pages.

Wawona Book is Officially Launched!

Nearly two dozen family and friends joined me last night at the Uptown Espresso in West Seattle to celebrate the official launch of Shipbuilders, Sea Captains, and Fishermen: The Story of the Schooner Wawona. Wayne Palsson, a board member at Northwest Seaport, which owns Wawona, gave an optimistic assessment of the vessel's future, and I read several excerpts from the book. And I sold a dozen copies! Woo hoo! There I am, in the photo, signing for a happy customer. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported me! (And thanks to Monica Evans for the photo!)

Bellevue Author Promoting Early Exploration Book

I received a flyer from Bellevue author Dick Blumenthal promoting his books, The Early Exploration of Inland Washington Waters, and With Vancouver in Inland Washington Waters. Blumenthal says both books are for "armchair historians interested in the early exploration of inland Washington waters," adding that "these texts bring Northwest maritime history to life." The books focus on the explorations of Spanish and British explorers, including Capt. George Vancouver in 1792.

Review: HistoryLink Calls Wawona Book "Marvelous"

I've received the first review of my history of the Wawona. HistoryLink, the Pacific Northwest's leading history website, called the book a "marvelous tale." You can read the review at the site's Featured Book of the Fortnight page.

I'm also scheduling more readings. Check this blog frequently for more announcements.

February Readings Scheduled, Preferred Retailers

I've scheduled two more readings for the book:

• February 16: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Squalicum Harbor Marina, 722 Coho Way, Bellingham, Wash.
• February 17: 10:00 AM to noon, Bellingham International Maritime Museum, Bellingham, Wash.

I've also added two preferred retailers to my book's website: Captain's Nautical and Edmonds Bookshop.