Oh, I must go down to the sea again
To sail o'er the wind and the surf,
Though I'm not all the keen,
If you know what I mean,
But I must get my money's worth.
[Des Sleightholme]
Keeping a boat afloat often requires a good bit of money and hard work, but for people who have salt water in their veins and truly love boating, no amount of money or work can cool their ardor. For others, their best two days with a boat are the day they buy it... and the day they sell it.
Some boaters have great fun coming up with clever names for their beloved boats, but we never bothered. However, it's possible that we may have called that fiberglass canoe a name or two when a certain misguided woodpecker kept tapping his little heart out on it every morning before sunrise. But (ahem) no names appropriate for painting on the side of a boat...
On the other hand, some names are sooooo cool. Like these:
- Seas the Day (My favorite!)
- Pier Pressure
- Campbell's Sloop
- Moor Often Than Knot
- Fish and Chicks
- Nauti-buoy
- Row vs. Wade (for the social activist)
- Dock Holiday
- Knot Paid For
- Now Who's the Loser, Dad? (Wouldn't be terribly effective on a small motorboat or canoe.)
- Bacon in the Sun
- Marlin Monroe
- Seaductress
- Sand Witch
- Aquafart
- Fartbutt
(ahem) I suspect a male came up with those last two name. Just a wild guess...
We once spent a mah-velous weekend with a friend on her houseboat, but the idea of living on a boat year-round never particularly appealed to me. I mean... where would we fit our pool table...?
But some people do live on boats year-round, and they enjoy adventures the rest of us only dream about. Sure, there's lots of routine maintenance and inconvenience involved, (Like no room for a pool table...) but spending part of the year sailing to exotic locations and the rest of the year docked in the home marina with a whole slew of like-minded boat-dwelling fun-loving friends has gotta be pretty darned exciting. Kinda like a perpetual vacation.
 |
| Tickety Boo |
Fellow blogger Ellen Jacobson knows all about this kind of life, because she and her hubby happen to live on a spiffy sailboat named Tickety Boo. Unusual name, huh? It's one of their favorite New Zealand expressions, and it means Everything is all good. Besides being a good conversation-starting name and fun to say, it also reminds them of how much they enjoyed living in New Zealand. Cool, huh? Ellen's blog is lots of fun, and NOW... she's turned her first-hand knowledge about boats and the terrific camaraderie among folks in a marina community into a... BOOK! A really GOOD book. A cozy mystery with terrific characters, a head-scratching whodunit, and a healthy dollop of humor. What's not to like? Nothing, I tell you... absolutely nothing! Better yet? This is only the first book of an anticipated series, so there'll be lots more fun and mystery yet to come.
Super cover, isn't it? Nice alliterative title, too. But what's most special about this book is what you'll find inside its cover. To tell the truth, I'm not generally a huge fan of amateur sleuth tales, but I am if the characters are memorably likable and the writing is top-notch. And humor... there's gotta be humor. And this book? It scores well on all counts.
Yep, I fore-sea a great writing career for this gal. I hope this first book makes a huge splash in the reading world.
MURDER AT THE MARINA BY
ELLEN JACOBSON | RELEASE INFO
Blurb
A dilapidated sailboat for your anniversary—not very
romantic. A dead body on board—even worse.
Mollie McGhie is hoping for diamonds for her tenth
wedding anniversary. Instead, her husband presents her with a dilapidated
sailboat. Just one problem—she doesn’t know anything about boats, nor does she
want to.
When Mollie discovers someone murdered on board, she
hopes it will convince her husband that owning a boat is a bad idea.
Unfortunately, he’s more determined than ever to fix the boat up and set out to
sea.
Mollie finds herself drawn into the tight-knit
community living at Palm Tree Marina in Coconut Cove, a small town on the
Florida coast. She uncovers a crime ring dealing in stolen marine equipment,
investigates an alien abduction, eats way too many chocolate bars, adopts a
cat, and learns far more about sailing than she ever wanted to.
Can Mollie discover who the murderer is before her
nosiness gets her killed?
A Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery #1
Buy Links
Murder at the Marina—A
Mollie McGhie Sailing Mystery #1
Release Date: June 21, 2018
Print ISBN 978-1-7321602-1-7
eBook ISBN 978-1-7321602-0-0
Mystery
eBook ISBN 978-1-7321602-0-0
Mystery
Available at:
Author Bio & Social
Media Links
Ellen Jacobson writes
mystery and sci-fi/fantasy stories. She is the author of the “Mollie McGhie
Sailing Mystery” series. She lives on a sailboat with her husband, exploring
the world from the water. When she isn't working on boat projects or seeking
out deserted islands, she blogs about their adventures at The Cynical Sailor.
You can connect with Ellen
on:
How about you? Think you'd like to live on a boat? If so, what would you name her?
Just as it always has, the sea still calls to me, but nowadays, I'm afraid I have to tell it to leave me a message. (sigh) Well, time for me to sail off into the sunset. So to speak. (I'm afraid waddle would be a much more accurate description.)
Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.
P.S. Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade will be on sale next week... Monday through Friday... for the paltry sum of ninety-nine cents. Haven't read it yet? Here's your chance to get it on the cheap.
Dear Susan, I just read your post after an awful day trying to clear a $10,000 bill with Medicare and Humana. Getting older is not for the timid or the un-argumentative. However, your post-opening with the adjusted John Masefield(?) poem perked me up and I remembered a line from Mad Magazine when I was just a kid: "I must go down to the sea again, to the Coney Island sand, and all I ask is a traffic jam backed up to Disneyland." Thanks for that and smooth sailing.
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, dude. After that awful day, I sure hope you were successful. It's bad enough getting older and having medical issues, but having to argue with an insurance company about coverage is an exercise in madness.
DeleteIt's funny the things we remember from good old Mad magazine, isn't it? I still remember all their silly parodies of school fight songs, and I think the only poem Smarticus can recite is the one from Mad that starts, "One bright day in the middle of the night..."
Smooth sailing to you, too, Geo.
I love watching the boats here on the Rhine and going for a river trip here and there, but apart from that, I am not fond of being on boats, especially when the water gets choppy! Loved all of the inventive names for the boats, except perhaps the last 2 - they do sound rather masculine, yes! The new book sounds good. If I had a boat I would give it a bird name, like Heron. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteOh, I bet you do! You've shared some wonderful photos of the Rhine on your blog.
DeleteHeron would be a good name. (Get HER ON the boat...) :)
You have a super weekend, too. Hugs back atcha.
My hubby and I did a cycling trip along the Rhine many years ago. It was so much fun and such a great way to experience the country.
DeleteHeron is an excellent name for a boat. I love Susan's spin on it too. Might have to work that into a future book :-)
Cheers - Ellen
Live on a boat? No thanks. I did once entertain thoughts of living on a houseboat and cruising up and down the river, but not now. Where would I keep my hundreds of books and dvds? What if I can't get internet connections? What if I run out of chocolate???
ReplyDeleteI'll keep that new book in mind, but can't promise to buy any time soon.
Internet can be such an issue aboard a boat. And running out of chocolate - unthinkable :-)
DeleteI bet you saw the movie "Houseboat" when you were young, didn't you? It made me romanticize the idea of living on a houseboat for a while, too. (Once I found out Cary Grant wouldn't be part of the deal, I wasn't interested...)
DeleteLord, yes! The books! I have so many books around here, they probably weigh nearly as much as our inch-thick slate-topped pool table. Chocolate, on the other hand, doesn't weigh all that much, so I'm sure there'd be plenty of room for a good stash of it on board.
P.S. I enjoyed Explosive Beginnings, but felt sad by what happens in the final chapters.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Explosive Beginnings too - such a great book!
DeleteThanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry if it made you a little sad, but I hope you got a few laughs along the way, too.
DeleteHuge congratulations to Ellen. And hopes for success and fair winds.
ReplyDeleteI love the water and if ever I come into money (unlikely) I will buy a home beside it. However I get appallingly seasick, so home on the waves won't be a happening thing.
Seasickness is the worst. I have sailing friends who suffer through it. I'm so glad I haven't (knock on wood) experienced it.
DeleteCheers - Ellen
Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear about the seasickness. That'd kinda suck all the pleasure out of being out on the water. My grandmother was seasick her entire 1922 voyage from Scotland to the United States, and she never stepped foot on a boat again.
DeleteBig Congrats to Ellen.
ReplyDeleteYeah, me on a boat with two cats, probably wouldn't fly haha or float. We'd sink before leaving the dock. I've seen a few boat names I snickered at though. The Wet Dream comes to mind.
Oh, that's such a bad boat name :-) I've seen some real bad ones too.
DeleteWe've got friends who have boat cats and they love the water and watching the fish. So maybe yours might like it too?
Cheers - Ellen
UGH! Whatta name!
DeleteI'm with you. I don't think our two cats would appreciate life on a boat, either. And if THEY'RE not happy, they make sure nobody else is, either. :)
I am reminded of that old joke, “A boat is a hole in the water where you throw all your money”.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most memorable days in my life was being on a sailboat in the Pacific, off the coast of Santa Cruz, CA. Her name was Chardonnay. As we cut thru the blue water on that beautiful sunny day with dolphins following along the side, the music of Jimmy Buffett played and the ten or so of us felt life could not get better. I have had other occasions to sail, all lovely, but none can compare to that day. It was magic.
I wish Ellen much success with her book and smooth sailing with her series.
Sadly, that isn't really as much of a joke as reality :-) One of my favorite expressions is that BOAT stands for "Break Out Another Thousand." So true.
DeleteThat sounds like such a magical boat ride you went on. Those kind of days are the best.
Cheers - Ellen
Oh wow. That day sounds absolutely idyllic. It kinda captures the whole feeling of youth, doesn't it? (Based on mindset and circumstances, not years!) I hope you have some photos from that day to help you capture the feeling, but then again, it sounds like the memory is still fresh and vibrant in your mind.
DeleteI like Sand Witch. No interest in owning a boat though.
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations to Ellen!
I like Sand Witch too. But, of course, nothing tops Tickety Boo. :-)
DeleteThat is a good name. Reminds me of another riddle I liked as a kid: How did the man survive on a desert island? Easy. Because of the sand which is there. :)
DeleteI love friends who own a boat. That's the way I enjoy a good sail. Ellen's book sounds quite intriguing. Good luck to her.
ReplyDeleteHave a super good weekend.
That's a very smart approach to sail on other people's boats. Saves you the hassle and expense of always having to fix them :-)
DeleteCheers - Ellen
Smart lady! (As if I didn't already know that.) Boat-owning friends are definitely a good thing to have... all the fun without the responsibility. The only ones we know with boats now live in different states. (sigh)
DeleteYou have a super weekend, too.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Susan!
ReplyDeleteBoat names are an endless topic of discussion at the marina. I love hearing why people chose certain names. There are some great ones out there.
Cheers - Ellen
My pleasure, Ellen! Keeping up with all the blogs hosting you today is gonna make you one busy lady. Have fun!
DeleteCheers back atcha.
I've never been a boater, but do love the beach ! I could sit for hours watching the waves go in and out....
ReplyDeleteI agree, sitting at the beach watching the waves is so relaxing.
DeleteOh, me, too. I've had a lifelong love affair with the ocean, and nothing makes me happier than watching the waves roll in.
DeleteSome of those boat names are so clever!
ReplyDeleteI love being by the sea, walking on the beach, etc but on the water? Not sure....
Yeh for Ellen! I think the cover of the book is so cute and absolutely screams cozy! :)
Being by the sea and walking on the beach sound heavenly to me, but there's something exhilarating about being out on the water. To visit... not to live there. I still like my comforts of home too much.
DeleteYES! Isn't that cover just PERFECT???
Aww...thanks, ladies - I'm glad you like the cover :-)
DeleteHi Susan and Ellen - good luck with the sleuthing ... sounds like a few more in the series coming up. I don't think I could do 'a boat' ... I'm happy on the land. Fun names you've come up with ... 'puddle duck' might do for a tiny play boat?! Good luck for you both with your books - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, Hilary. So you're strictly a landlubber, are ya? As resilient as you are, I have a feeling you'd adapt to wherever you were living. Puddle Duck would be a great name for a little boat. (You've got the name... all you need now is a little boat...)
DeleteThanks! Cheers back atcha.
I love the name Puddle Duck - that would be a great name for a dinghy :-)
DeleteI'm no sailor, but I love all those names for boats.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
They're great names, aren't they :-)
DeleteJanie, something tells me you could come up with a real doozy of a name. :) Here's to a weekend of smooth sailing and sunny skies. (Maybe not quite so HOT, though.)
DeleteGiven the right company (*smile*) I think I'd adore living on the sea. (I think) one of the best feelings in the world is laying in bed while the waves rock you gently back and forth.
ReplyDeleteThese are great names! I've no suggestions, but the cutest one I've seen was a client's yacht, the 'TICA.' (Acronym: This, I Can't Afford!)
It definitely works best if you have the right company on board. If you're going to live in a tiny floating house on the water with not many places to escape to (other than overboard), you really need to get along with the rest of the crew :-)
DeleteI love TICA - great name!
Gentle rocking back and forth is comforting and wonderful. It's the BIG waves, high winds, pelting rain and not-so-gentle rocking that'd make me think twice about the idea of living on a boat. I can enjoy my right company (*smile*) on dry land just fine. :)
DeleteTICA is a hoot of a name! Must've been a great conversation-starter, too.
Fun list of boat names! Ellen's book sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteSusan put together a great list :-)
DeleteHer book is a fun read. I think you'd like it. :)
DeleteLove those boat names! And I don't think Tickety Boo is restricted to NZ. I've always known it in British usage too.
ReplyDeleteIt is used in Commonwealth countries, but Americans always seemed perplexed by the name of our boat when they see it as we don't really use that term.
DeleteThat's right... you've kinda got a thing for boats. I bet you could come up with some super names. :)
DeleteLoved your poetry remake. If her book is anywhere near as good as yours it's a winner.
ReplyDeleteWOW! What an absolutely fantastic thing to say. Thank you. :) You made my day.
DeleteI can only dream as being as talented as Susan :-)
DeleteI did live on a boat for many years from the age of 8 to about 20. They were big vessels though.
ReplyDeleteI married a man who's last name is Wake. Everywhere you go on the waterways in NC you see signs "No Wake Zone" so we called our runabout boat Wake's Own.
Wake's Own - What a fantastic name for a runabout!
DeleteWow! That must have made for a very interesting childhood, Jo. And what a clever name for your runabout. Shows a great sense of humor.
DeleteLiving on a boat sound great for about 2 seconds and then reality set in.
ReplyDeleteThe blurb sounded really fun hope all goes well for Ellen.
I have your book Susan but I would love to send it to you for a autograph.
cheers, parsnip
Living on a boat can be difficult at times, that's for sure :-)
DeleteYou could never live on a boat, Gayle. Winston wouldn't like it. :)
DeleteHow sweet. I'd be happy to sign your book, but maybe it'd be easier if I signed something else and mailed it to you? Like a sticky label you can put right into the book...?
The book sounds very interesting! But first it have to get to yours, Susan. I'm not sure if I'd be cut out for living on a boat. But it sounds interesting when other people do it.
ReplyDeleteI prefer walking along rivers and harbors, taking pictures of funny boat names. Miss Stress? Ha.
One of my friends has a boat and he, too, says it stands for "break out another thousand."
Yeah, there's a lot of difference between having fun on a boat and living on one full-time. A houseboat is pretty awesome, but alas, still not enough room for our pool table. :)
DeleteHA! I love your Miss Stress name. Very clever.
Pixel - You'll love Susan's books! Miss Stress is a great boat name :-)
DeleteI got the opportunity to beta read Ellen's story. It's a wonderful read. Lots of laughs mixed in with the mystery.
ReplyDeleteWe sure do get to read a lot of good books before they get published, don't we? (Lucky us!)
DeleteYeah, it's definitely a good read. I think her series is going to be a big winner.
Thanks guys - I'm blushing now :-)
DeleteMy favourite small boat name is Unsinkable II.
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE for Bazza’s less-frequent Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Cute name. Kinda makes ya wonder what happened to Unsinkable I. (But it's better than calling it Titanic II...)
DeleteBazza - I laughed out loud when I read your comment :-) Unsinkable II - love it!
DeleteMy daughter and then boyfriend used to live on his docked boat in the Victoria Harbour< BC for a whole year while going to university … Washroom facilities were near by in the visitor centre and laundry was done at a laundromat … She is quite "house bound" now with her degree under her belt and a good job in Edmonton, AB … My son and daughter in law just finished travelling North America since Sept 2017 by van and motor bike and the cat … and are kind of stationary in Nelson, BC at this time … he came out to AB to pick up his tools in order to try out a new job in BC … I have a feeling they will not be returning to AB … as they like the mountains … o, well ... never say never ... as once a gypsy always a gypsy ... Really enjoyed the ship names, friend Sue ... Son's van name is Morrie (named after Van Morrison) ... Anyway ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a year was more than enough time for your daughter to live on a boat, eh? But I bet it was a fun experience for her.
DeleteI love, love, love that your son named his van. Perfect name! :)
I decided to take an LOA from blogger as me find as no longer its not worth it to put in the effort and time … wishing you well, friend Sue … but feel I must leave and must leave ASAP as right now … sorry … Love always, nonetheless, don't forget me, hmmm? cat.
DeleteLove, cat.
DeleteI hate to hear that. The blogosphere won't be the same without you, dear cat. I'll miss you and your wonderful poetry. Be well.
DeleteOne of the things I miss about living on land is being able to take showers in my home rather than at the marina shower block so I can definitely relate to your daughter's experience.
DeleteI love watching boats. I love being by water … sea, lake, canals, but I've never been a boater!
ReplyDeleteBut I love the list of boat names.
All the best Jan