A Discerning Sea

by Kellie Reed

During the War of 1812 Catherine Roark and Molly Sutton are hurried to sea from their home in Baltimore after the attack and burning of Washington, D.C. They step aboard a privateering ship owned by Catherine’s father and on a voyage that wafts them far from home. Adventures at sea buffet and confound, exposing their divergent natures, as the War of 1812 wears on. Captain Hamilton, the ship’s captain, looks to prove his ability as a naval commander, but while advancing his country’s fight against Great Britain he is caught up in Catherine’s and Molly’s conflict. In the end, much is discerned at sea that none of the three envisioned.

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2021

About the author

I love a good story – one that whisks me into the action, pulls at my heart, melds words into sensory experiences, and leaves me with splashes of insight and knowledge. That is what I want to read and what I strive to write. Come, slip into one of my stories and join me.
NOVELS
• A DISCERNING SEA
This story was sparked while reading about the intriguing lives of privateers during the War of 1812. The minuscule American Navy and undermanned Army made winning another war with England all but lost—save for privateers. Into that historical quagmire I threw two young women, Catherine Roark and Molly Sutton, allowing their experiences at sea to unravel their opposing natures and diverse paths. Intertwining romance into the messy mix at sea allowed me to dig deeper into Catherine’s and Molly’s hearts while uncovering the impact of both love and war on the ship’s captain and young privateer Thomas Hamilton.
• FROM THE GOD ROOM
I am eager to share my first published novel with readers. The mystery and visual narrative of Machu Picchu, as well as its Incan history, provided a rich setting choice. The story idea came to me as I considered where our modern world is headed along with the idea of an external conscience that encourages moral and healthy living. I only got as far as planning for the shift to appreciate the paradoxical dilemma and the weight it would hang around the necks of those involved. I hope readers will enjoy riding along as the protagonist, Rachel Barton, is swept down that path.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS
• MARY ELLEN EATS DOG BISCUITS
Writing about Mary Ellen's unusual dependence on dog biscuits was fun. I was inspired by my own picky eaters, who couldn't imagine that new foods would taste better than their usual fare. One daughter passed on a plate of fragrant apple fritters that didn't look like anything she had seen before. Through powdered sugar-covered lips, my husband and I told her how yummy each fritter was to no avail.
• MARY ELLEN SLEEPS WITH SPIDERS
Seeing that my daughter’s revulsion of spiders had spread to my grandson led me to throw quirky Mary Ellen into another dilemma in this second book in the Mary Ellen Series. Spiders are a little creepy, but they are also helpful and interesting. I wrote this story to encourage little ones to rethink their initial (or mimicked) reaction to spiders and see them more realistically. Knowledge is power and fears may scurry away with a better understanding of arachnids.