A two-part historical fiction series by Cynthia Elder
Holand Press, 2025
A novelized true story about three generations of a 19th century seafaring family from the farming village of West Barnstable, Massachusetts, author/historian Cindy Elder’s Tales of the Sea was compiled from more than 100 pages of their letters, unpublished ship’s logs, journals, and the research of local historians over the last 175 years.
Book One: The Journey Begins: A novel of family, love and a life at sea…
The first book takes the reader to 1830, through the eyes of lighthouse keeper Joseph Nickerson and members of the Fish and Jenkins families, whose livelihoods are closely tied to the sea. James Jenkins chose a sailor’s life, becoming a merchant ship caption transporting guano, tea and coal to ports around the world. He meets Ruth Fish, who is the daughter of a ship’s captain and passionate about escaping her small New England town to explore the world.
At sea for years, James maintains a connection to his family through a series of letters. Meanwhile, discord over slavery rumbles through every part of life in the Commonwealth. With tension between North and South escalating, James and Ruth are united in a vision to sail the globe together.
Book Two: The Drumbeats of War: A novel of love, loss and a nation divided…
The second book finds Ruth, James and their daughter Minnie aboard the Hoogly as they cross oceans and meet sailors, soldiers and freedom seekers, endure unimaginable loss, and see America ripped apart by brutal conflict. After taking on a ship’s cook who fled slavery through an abolitionist network, the couple sacrifice everything for each other before realizing the life they’d left is now calling them home. These highly recommended books are available on Amazon and at local bookstores.
Cynthia “Cindy” Elder is a novelist, poet and nonprofit leader. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and career writing from Roger Williams University and a Masters of Public Affairs from Brown University, and is working with both universities to research a former slave who worked as a ship’s cook, as portrayed in The Drumbeats of
War. ■
The Hoogly
Cindy’s poetry has appeared in such literary magazines as The Last Stanza Poetry Journal, Frost Meadow Review, Blood & Bourbon, Blue Heron Review, and many others. She serves as executive director of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving open space and educating folks about natural resources. She and her husband Bob have sailed the waters of Narragansett Bay and beyond for thirty years, along with their children Emily and Elizabeth. They live on the edge of Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, Rhode Island. To join Cindy for one of her upcoming presentations, see CynthiaElder.com/Events.
