Carol Newman Cronin's Blog, page 21

Holiday Book List for 2021

Happy December! I wish you and yours all the best as we settle into winter.

To help you weather the storms to come (and maybe your holiday shopping too), I’ve put together my annual Holiday Book List. I try to include only the most unputdownable books I read and this year, the final list is longer than normal. I’ve made no attempt to rank them, as it’s impossible to compare such distinctive stories. As usual, the list is dominated by (coastal) fiction with a sprinkling of historical perspectives—and one complete surprise. 

I’m always looking for book recommendations, so please add your favorites in the comments below or send me an email. Also, anyone on Facebook is welcome to join the Coastal Fiction Book Club, a growing community where we discuss a wider variety of titles than that group’s name might suggest.

Where do all those links go?

Except for two book reviews, I’ve linked titles to bookshop.org, a site that turns your online shopping convenience into support for independent bookstores. Also, I’ve specified which books I listened to (a different experience); those mostly came from libro.fm, a subscription site that also sends a portion of each sale to local bookstores. 

Okay, let’s get down to it. And before I forget: Happy Holidays!

FictionBook Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea (TJ Klune) “This audiobook provided a lovely escape from a winter of sheltering in place—while also reinforcing the power of metaphor.”The Book of Lost Friends (Lisa Wingate) A historical novel that ties together a young schoolteacher in 1987 who discovers stories from 1875 Louisiana, based on actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War.Love Lettering (Kate Clayborn) Romantic comedy about a Brooklyn woman who hand-letters journals and also reads signs that others miss. The perfect escape, though the characters are charmingly imperfect.The Last Garden in England (Julia Kelly) Historical romance in three different eras, united by one English garden.Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Deepa Anappara) An immersion into the perils and beauty of Indian city life, seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old local boy. (I read the audiobook.)The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (V.E. Schwab) I listened to this incredible story about a woman cursed to never be remembered (but to live forever). Three hundred years of history, with one narrator… recommended for everyone who (like me) has been looking for a book like The Time Traveler’s Wife.The Once and Future Witches (Alix E. Harrow) How do women gain power? The answers are different for each century. This book envisions three sisters in 1893 who use witchcraft to promote the suffragist movement. “The characters live, bleed, and roar.” The Family Ship (Sonja Yoerg) A Chesapeake oyster boat high and dry in the front yard teaches seven kids about balancing family responsibilities with personal ambition. Treasure of the Blue Whale (Steven Mayfield) When a Depression-era boy discovers a treasure on the beach, his sleepy Northern California village is transformed by comical consumerism.The People We Keep (Alison Larkin) A teenager finds success and family in open-mics on the open road—but not without a lot of lies and hardship along the way.The Buccaneer Coast (James L. Nelson) The newest book from one of my favorite authors! A deadly hurricane sweeps through the Caribbean in the 1500s, altering the power structure between Spanish, English, French, and the country-less buccaneers who want to control the beaches and bays of Hispaniola. Non-FictionChesapeake Requiem (Earl Swift); I listened to this history of Chesapeake Bay’s Tangier Island, which is poignantly overshadowed by the island’s expected demise—courtesy of rising sea levels.Book Review: An Embarrassment of Mangoes “I’ve been craving technicolor stimulus. So when a book about A Caribbean [cruising] Interlude surprised me in the post (a present from cruising friends), I instantly pulled back its water-blue cover and dove in. Now that I’ve finished, I strongly encourage you to do the same.”The Path Between the Seas (David McCullough) This is, quite simply, the history of the building of the Panama Canal—something I’d never thought twice about but now realize was an incredible engineering feat. The audiobook saw me safely through many hours of sanding and painting last spring.The Big SurpriseTen Years in the Tub, A Decade Soaking in Great Books (Nick Hornby) This one is well outside my “usual” reading wheelhouse, but I loved it! Based on “Stuff I’ve been Reading,” Hornby’s popular monthly column, the book includes “both an impeccable, wide-ranging reading list and an indispensable reminder of why we read.”

Got a favorite from this year (or last) to share? Add it to the comments below, or send me an email. Meanwhile, enjoy the holiday flurry—and If you’re lucky enough to have the option, please support your local independent bookstore!

Previous Holiday Book Lists

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Happy Thanksgiving! From Ritual to Miracle

One of the perils of writing a Thursday blog, at least in the U.S., is that once a year it falls on the biggest holiday of all. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

I’ll keep this one short.

In the before-years, I either created a list of things I’m grateful for or flashed back to childhood—like singing “over the river and through the woods” for an entire five-hour family drive. Last year, unable to gather with family, I imagined what a Cooperation Island Thanksgiving would be like.

This year, my gratitude list is dominated by an item I used to take completely for granted: a worry-free family gathering. In a few hours, once the turkey is cooked, ten of us will sit down around the same table to share an inside meal! What used to be a ritual now seems like a miracle (thanks, science).

Living through a pandemic has made me think more about how lucky we are, every single day. So in some ways, today will be just another chance to express that gratitude. But this year, an annual family event that I used to take completely for granted will feel exceedingly special.

Just as every big holiday should.

Want another helping?

Here’s are three of my favorite Thanksgiving blogs from previous years. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Gratitude: My Top 5

Thanksgiving on Cooperation Island

Over the River, with Gratitude

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Blue Robinson: The Master of Sailor Interviews

When I first brought my recent profile of Dawn Riley to your attention, I failed to include a very important fact: it was part of the 500th issue of Seahorse! Most of the columnists took the opportunity to write something special, and it’s no surprise that one of my favorites, Blue Robinson, covered a completely unexpected topic: how to write a good interview.

Writing advice, in a sailing magazine—could it get any more in my wheelhouse?

About Seahorse

Somehow, since 1969, the oddly-proportioned membership mag of the Royal Ocean Racing Club has become a must-read publication for serious sailors around the world. There are lots of reasons for this popularity, of course, including my favorite: “Seahorse takes the space to delve into the nitty-gritty, so writing for them inspires me to think both more globally and more deeply.” (Read more in Seahorse Byline: Sign of Success)

Apparently I’m not the only writer who appreciates the opportunity to dig deep into sailing’s nitty-gritty; Blue, a Brit now based in Sydney, Australia, is a master at it. I feel like I’ve gotten to know him through his columns, and—along with Rod Davis—I usually read his words first because of their unique voice and distinctive topics. Seahorse editor Andrew Hurst introduces Blue as a “polymath,” which explains two things: how he manages to make even the more technical articles understandable and welcoming; and his surprisingly wide range of subject matter. 

Unexpected learning opportunity

Blue’s column for issue #500 was the biggest surprise of all: a master class in interviews. Inspired by the magazine’s milestone, he says, “I thought it might be interesting to document what is involved in the process of creating a column, and how it all comes together.”

I practically drooled—but also hesitated. What if I learned that my own seat-of-the-pants approach to interviewing sailors (which has so far produced nine profiles, and several shorter pieces) was all wrong?

Fortunately, out of Blue’s seven “keys to a good interview,” I only flunked one: I don’t record on two separate devices (though I do make notes that have saved me a few times). Great idea, though… because “what you have is way too valuable to lose.”  

Small golden flakes

The very first key to writing a column, Blue says, is coming up with the idea. That’s followed by my favorite image of all: 

“Secondly, I need to work on that idea so it is of interest to you. Current stuff is good, but if a story or a person is interesting it should last over time. Thirdly, I need to get the story down early in the month so that I can work on it long before deadline, and every story needs work—a lot of it, going over it again and again, letting it swish around the shallow pan of my brain until the small golden flakes begin to appear through the murk.”

Editing and rewriting is “very much like simmering down a good sauce,” he continues. “Easy reading is hard writing and vice versa.” YES!

Dear Blue

Dear Blue, Thanks for sharing your golden flakes about a writer’s process; you’ve captured the nitty-gritty in such a global fashion that we can all take away at least one lesson. One of these days, I hope to sit down with you for a beverage—and maybe even interview the polymath himself? If so, I promise you: I’ll make sure to record our conversation on two devices. Because it will definitely be way too valuable to lose.

Read a teaser and see the lead photo (you’ll never guess whose hand Blue is shaking) in the Seahorse archive. Meanwhile, a belated cheers to this publishing landmark, issue #500! Many, many more.

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Unexpected Interview: 3 Life Lessons

In a world seemingly dominated by yelling, it’s so nice to find a refuge where two of my passions—writing and boats— are woven together in a calm voice. Windcheck Magazine is “a monthly magazine devoted to sailors, boaters and people who enjoy the waters of the Northeast.” What’s not to like? 

Windcheck recently interviewed me for their Off Watch column, seemingly for no reason at all. Supposedly my name had come up during a recent dinner conversation. Perhaps they’d run out of more prominent options? Anyway, it was strange to be on the receiving end of so many questions for a change, especially right now when I’m “between” book publicity events. So, instead of giving any of those questions much thought, I rattled off a string of seat-of-the-pants answers.

The result? One of my best interviews, ever. So here are three life lessons from this unexpected interview.

#1: Impulse answers can be much more appealing than carefully thought-out replies.

With the right editing, of course. 

Chris Szepessy wove all of my answers together into a seamless whole, smoothing out the rough patches while keeping my voice intact. The piece concludes with my favorite answer of all:

“Sailing is all-consuming, the best distraction from worry, and an important provider of perspective about what really matters,” Carol asserts. “If more people could experience the mesmerizing power and beauty of wind-whipped whitecaps, I believe the world would be a nicer place.”

All true!

#2: Sometimes putting off a response is best.

The interview request arrived in my inbox during the final and most important regatta of 2021, and my first instinct was to say “No, I can’t fit that in right now.” Instead, I put it aside overnight—and then replied, “Yes, but not until next week.” 

FYI this could serve as a timely reminder to all of you wondering how long this “between books” phase is going to last… everything worth writing, even those seat-of-the-pants answers, takes more time than expected.

#3: Building trust brings long-term success.

If I hadn’t already known Windcheck’s drama-free approach, I would’ve hesitated to send along such raw, off-the cuff answers. It’s all too easy for media outlets in search of a sound-bite to “trap” an interviewee, taking words out of context. That’s a short-term approach, though; any future requests for an interview will likely be met with “no comment.” 

The October issue of Windcheck also includes a history of UK Sailmakers and an interview with sailing powerhouse Joan Porter. Even if you don’t live in the U.S. Northeast, and even if you haven’t recently struggled with the annual dilemma of when to pull docks and boats out of the water (like Windcheck’s publisher), you should check it out. There’s no yelling—just great writing about fun people and boats. Like I said already: What’s not to like?

Read the interview

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Eight Bells: Laurie Ann Cronin

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to my sister-in-law (and Oliver Series illustrator) Laurie Ann Cronin. She never rushed into anything, but by now I hope she’s dancing on that great beach in the sky.

I always enjoyed hanging out with Laurie, who was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. We would talk about her work as a graphic designer, and my love of writing stories. About the prettiest dinner plate patterns. About regattas and teammates, siblings and cats. Over years of visits, our house filled up with her thoughtful gifts—though her own joyful presence was always more than enough, all by itself. 

In 2008, I had a hare-brained scheme to turn a story I’d written for my nephew into my first published fiction. I asked Laurie if she’d like to bring what eventually became Oliver’s Surprise to life in pen and ink, which would be a total leap of faith on her part; a family favor, rather than a professional engagement. A week or so later, some lovely drawings arrived in my inbox that made me think—YES! This is what the schooner Surprise, the fictitious Oliver, and his skiff Sparky really look like. 

And then, just as I thought we were “almost” ready to self-publish, Laurie broke her leg. At the time, it seemed like a huge setback. But I forced myself to take a deep breath and be patient, since there was no other option. And while I waited, I did a little more editing. Which is why that two-month pause turned out to be such an important step in my publishing journey. 

By the time Laurie was able to finish the drawings, I’d ferreted out the true story I was trying to write—partly inspired by her beautiful pen-and-ink schooner. That led to a publishing contract with GemmaMedia, which added another layer of both energy and professionalism. And Laurie, who’d signed on initially as a volunteer, ended up getting paid for her work! 

A year later, she completed more drawings for the sequel, Cape Cod Surprise, which came out in 2010. I get a ton of compliments on her sketches; more than a decade later, they’re a big part of why the books continue to sell so well. 

A few weeks ago, I learned that her college major was actually in illustration.

Patience is a very valuable addition to any publishing plan, and most projects get better with time. Laurie helped teach me that, both by accident and by example. I’m so glad I got to share so many happy conversations with her, both as sisters-in-law and as creative collaborators. 

Maybe someday soon, Laurie will take her joyful presence out for an afternoon sail on the schooner Surprise. Meanwhile, I’m so grateful for her great leap of faith in my stories. And wishing her well as she takes her own fresh leap, right into the middle of that dance party in the sky.

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Rubbing Elbows with Sailing Excellence

A few weeks ago, I attended (in-person, yay!) the very first U.S. Sailing Hall of Fame induction ceremony to take place in the future home of The Sailing Museum. Formerly known as “the Armory,” this iconic brick building in downtown Newport was built in 1894, to house the local militia. 

For sailors of a certain age, it is best remembered as the home of stormy America’s Cup press conferences. Slightly younger folks like me remember frostbiting Lasers out of its dirt-floored basement, until the incredibly competitive fleet outgrew that space and moved over to Sail Newport. Now, thanks to long-term vision and an impressive renovation, it will soon be a true home for American sailing excellence. 

The induction ceremony gathered together many of our sport’s heroes, while also providing a surprising reminder of their accessibility and humility. I’ve raced against several of the inductees, and I’ve also profiled a few for Seahorse and other projects; I know they all share the solid self-belief necessary to win sailboat races. But even on this most head-swelling of occasions, our casual pre-ceremony chats focused on something besides their own accomplishments. 

The best example was Carl Buchan, known as a “quiet” guy both on and off the water. Carl began his speech by saying that he’d been asked to talk about sailing and himself, adding with bone-dry humor; “two of my favorite topics.” He then proceeded to focus on sailing and family, and how wonderfully intertwined the two have always been for him. 

We all strive for excellence in our own way, and though most of us fall short of Hall of Fame-level accomplishments, our best usually happens when we focus on something beyond ourselves. That “something” might be nothing more globally significant than winning a sailboat race, but somewhere along the way all of these heroes have realized: it’s not really all about them. Even on a day that was, actually, all about them.

Congratulations to the class of 2021, and to all who’ve worked so hard to make The Sailing Museum a reality. The official opening is not until May 2022, but the Armory has already started a new chapter; once again, it will be an excellent place to rub elbows with sailing excellence. 

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Input Needed: Vote for Your Favorite Character

Greetings, friends! I’m reaching out today because I need and want your answers to a simple question: who’s your favorite character from Ferry to Cooperation Island?

As you devoted blog readers already know, I’m deep into writing the next book. It’s a sequel to FERRY, though the main character was barely a footnote in the first book. I look forward to introducing her to all of you!

Right now, I’m trying to figure out which subplots are worthy of inclusion. All of the characters listed below are lobbying hard on their own behalf… so which ones do you most want to follow into their fictional future? You can vote for as many as you like in the comments below, as long as you explain why. Bonus points if you have an opinion about what should happen next!

If you need a refresher on FERRY (or haven’t read it yet), here’s a preview (in your choice of audio or text) of Chapter 1. 

Vote for your favorite character(s) in the comments below:

CourtneyJamesAnna the artistParkerWill the WriterMavisOther

Thanks for your input, and for reading!

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Dawn Riley: Setting the Standard

Toward the tail end of last winter, I got to interview Dawn Riley for a Seahorse Magazine profile—and it was, as all these profiles have been so far, an eye-opener into what makes a successful sailor and human. Dawn’s kryptonite is her unique ability to both develop a long-term vision AND handle the dirty-hands details, something that turned out to be quite valuable when the pandemic first arrived in the U.S. (That’s when she added “designated grocery-shopper” to her long list of responsibilities at Oakcliff.)

Seahorse has kindly granted me permission to share the article with you—and there’s also a special offer for my readers, if you subscribe for a year: 3 months of the print publication for $1! There are also fantastic deals on print+digital and digital only.

Now without further ado, here’s Setting the Standard

Previous Seahorse profiles

Clicks of Chance: Onne van der Wal

Just Say Yes: Stan and Sally Honey

Rod Davis: Why You Need His Wisdom in 2021

Rod Johnstone: An Amazing Legacy of Yacht Designs

A Final Conversation with Harry Anderson

Life Lessons from Dave Perry

Vince Brun Profile in Seahorse

Only One Jud (Smith)

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What’s in a Novel Synopsis?

Psst, I have a secret to share: I’ve written a synopsis of the next book! And I like it…

First, let’s pause for a quick definition:

SynopsisA brief summary or general survey of something. An outline of the plot of a book, play, movie, or episode of a television show.

Why is this worthy of a blog post? Because it feels—strange. With previous books, nothing could induce me to write a synopsis until I was ordered to by my agent. It’s basically a form of outlining; something I’m really quite bad at. I write novels by creating scenes and then seeing how characters develop. And in the beginning, I always try to include every thought, idea, and conversational gem that seems at all relevant. Then, to make it readable, it must be whittled down to a clear-cut story: something with a beginning and middle that leads not off into the weeds, but to a logical and satisfying ending. 

Dare to Fail

Devoted blog followers may assume I’m just making good on my 2018 pledge, in which I promised to try a more organized and less seat-of-the-pants approach with this book. Honestly? I’d forgotten all about that pledge. But deep into the first draft, I was struggling to see which of the characters vying for my attention really mattered.

Thanks to last year’s class on novel planning, I had already figured out the story I really wanted to write… so I decided to write a synopsis based on the scenes I’d written so far, if only to figure out how far off course I had drifted. I managed to finish a draft of the synopsis just before I left for my final big regatta of 2021—which was, as usual, the perfect, all-engrossing way to clear my head. When I returned, physically exhausted but mentally refreshed, I could clearly see what was missing—and which beloved pieces needed to go. The definition of “done” is clear once again.

Is that all of it?

Mind you, this does NOT mean I’m even close to finished… there is still much connective tissue to create and details to whittle out (or beef up). I’m not even quite ready to share my two perfectly polished pages, even though I’m proud of them—and even though my agent has been asking for a glimpse of what’s next. I’m still wondering if this is really the whole story, or if I’ve whittled it down a little too much? And I’m also still hoping for a few more “A-Hah!” moments to come out of the writing fog that always lies ahead.

Regardless of whether this synopsis is the “final” version or just a step toward “done,” I feel like I’ve made good on that forgotten 2018 pledge to work toward a less crazy, less random approach to writing novels. Only by stepping back and looking at the story’s arc can I see what characters really matter—and that’s when things start to get really, really good.

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4 Tips for a Terrific Team

September has been a busy and successful month of competitive sailing. In just three weeks, Kim Couranz and I finished fourth and ninth at two very challenging Snipe regattas—our best finishes yet at an international level. We also qualified for the 2022 Snipe Worlds, so we’ll be able to put what we learned to use next year. And photographer Matias Capizzano was at both events to capture our entire range of racing expressions!

On the short drive home from Boston, I got to thinking about everything Kim and I have learned in eleven years of sailing Snipes together. I’ve already captured more boat-specific details in the article I wrote for SnipeToday, but there’s a lot to be said about building and maintaining a long-term team that can be applied to any endeavor.

Photo courtesy Matias Capizzano1. Write it down

After every regatta I make notes on what I learned, what we did well, and where we need to improve. It’s a brain-spew of information, unformatted and unedited and definitely for my eyes only, but it does immediately bring it all back when I read it again (even years later). Writing things down also helps to separate out the details from what was really important.

2. Know your own strengths

The best teammates bring out the best in each other, and there are several conversations Kim and I don’t even bother having anymore about me hiking harder or starting better or crossing the boat more smoothly in tacks. Instead we talk about going fast, how the boat feels, and what our next tactical move should be. 

3. Work on your weaknesses

This is SO HARD because it’s so much more enjoyable to do what we’re already good at. But the only way to get better is to try to fill in the cracks in the program. Which is why I went to a starting clinic over the summer…

4. Make it fun

When I interviewed Buddy Melges recently, he said, “I strongly believe that when you have to think three, four, or five steps ahead… you do that better when you’re laughing.” I completely agree, and much of the Snipe fleet can recognize Kim’s hearty laughter even from the other side of a boat park or starting area. Taking our sailing seriously doesn’t mean we have to take ourselves (too) seriously. 

As I’ve watched other Snipe pairings come and go, I’m increasingly grateful for the ability to build on what we’ve already learned over the past eleven years. On or off the water, there’s no substitute for a strong teammate. So thanks, Kim. I can’t wait for our next regatta.

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