NEW BOOK ALERT! “The Lost Story of the William & Mary: The Cowardice of Captain Stinson”

“[S]he struck against a reef … the scene which then took place was fearful in the extreme. The passengers came rushing up the hatchways, some in their night-clothes, and all in the greatest disorder, screaming and wringing their hands frantically, while the ship kept rolling from side to side with the greatest violence, sometimes appearing as if she would have gone on her beam ends altogether…” Ebenezer Miller, passenger (Preston Chronicle, Saturday 11 June 1853)

The loss of the emigrant ship William & Mary made news around the world not once but twice in 1853. First when her American captain reported the vessel lost before his eyes in the shark-infested waters of the Bahamas and the death of over 200 left on board, then again when the truth emerged – a tale of abandonment, desperation, and the incredible heroism of a wrecker and his crew. Discover the people involved in this mysterious shipwreck, including:

~   Captain Timothy Stinson, the callous young mariner who attempted mass murder

~   Susannah Diamond, the English 19-year-old hoping for a new life in St. Louis with her family, husband and unborn child

~   Izaak Roorda, one of a group of 87 Dutch emigrants seeking to settle in Wisconsin, who found the lifeboat more perilous than the sinking ship

Over 160 years later, Gill Hoffs reveals the terrifying true events that drove one man to murder passengers with a hatchet and others to abandon their family and friends – and a wrecker to risk his life for total strangers.

 

“A terrific, rollicking adventure” – Simon Garfield.

 

My new book “The Lost Story of the William & Mary: The Cowardice of Captain Stinson” will be published by Pen & Sword in September 2016 in the UK and available elsewhere in the world around new year.  The hardback will retail at £19.99 and is available from the usual suspects online (including http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Lost-Story-of-the-William-and-Mary-Hardback/p/12290) as well as plenty of bookshops – it’s worth seeing if your library has it in stock, too.

I learned about this wreck while researching contemporary wrecks for my first shipwreck book “The Sinking of RMS Tayleur: The Lost Story of the ‘Victorian Titanic‘” (Pen & Sword, 2014, 2015).  The William & Mary sailed from Liverpool and wrecked in the Bahamas while the RMS Tayleur was still being built in Warrington, England.  Both ships were packed with emigrants headed for new lives overseas but the similarities end there.  If the story of the Tayleur made you sad, the tragedy of the William & Mary will make you burn with rage!

There are several talks and events lined up this autumn to help promote this new book; I’ve included the ones I believe are open to the public below so do come along, the more the merrier!  I’m always keen to hear from readers, descendants of people involved with the shipwrecks I write about, or organizations seeking a speaker so do feel free to contact me on twitter via @GillHoffs [https://twitter.com/GillHoffs] or by email at gillhoffs [at] Hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk to discuss availability and fees.  I have quite a hectic schedule at the best of times but if I can help, I will.  Likewise, if you would like a review copy for your publication, an interview, or an article, do get in touch.

Thursday 8 September, 6.30-8pm – FREE – Waterstones, Golden Square, Warrington (official launch including a short talk, Q&A, and CAKE!)

Saturday 10 September, 2.30pm – FREE – Warrington Museum, Warrington

Thursday 15 September, 12.30pm – Liverpool Nautical Research Society, Athenaeum Club, Liverpool

Saturday 17 September, 12 noon and 2pm – FREE – Tall Ship, Glasgow

*as with my first book, please, please contact me if you think you are related to anyone involved – I may be able to put you in touch with other descendants*

Review of 2015: Gill Hoffs

It’s been a helluva year – books, TV, talks, and signing with the Red Sofa Literary Agency! Great to relive it with Vic on her blog 🙂

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Today we have the lovely Gill Hoffs on the blog. Nutella fiend Gill has appeared on BBC’s ‘Coast’ and is a hard-working writer. 

Thanks, Gill, for choosing to review 2015 on this blog!

Vic x

2015 was a great year for you. Do you have a favourite memory professionally?

Joining forces with my non-fiction agent, Jennie, and then soon after signing a contract with Pen & Sword for my second shipwreck book, “The Cowardice of Captain Stinson: The Lost Story of the William & Mary, and How 200 Victorians came back from the Dead” was marvellous.  I can’t wait to hold my comp copies in my hands then cuddle them, take them to dinner, toast them with a pink milkshake, and cuddle them some more…

And how about a favourite moment from 2015 generally?

Appearing on the legendary BBC programme “Coast” in July was beyond brilliant, and doing the publicity…

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Getting to Know You: Gill Hoffs

Tonight the story of the RMS Tayleur (and myself) feature in BBC’s “Coast”! Here’s the multi-talented Vic Watson’s interview with me on her blog to help celebrate 🙂

elementaryvwatson

In honour of her TV debut tonight (BBC2 at 8pm), we have Gill Hoffs on the blog talking about her life as a writer.

Vic x

Tell us a little about yourself…

I have the tastebuds of a four-year-old and the skin of a teenager, a cat that drools on my face while I sleep (thanks, Coraline – no, really), and an interest in the macabre, unusual, and grisly side of history.  I spend my writing-time researching forgotten shipwrecks, writing about all sorts, and giving talks and interviews, some of which are available on YouTube.  I recently started a new job as a carer in a residential home for women with dementia, which I love, and I grew up on the Scottish coast but now call Warrington home, though my son would prefer it if we travelled the world in a cruise liner/skyscraper combo instead.

Do you usually write in…

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Here is my interview with Gill Hoffs

Delighted to announce via this interview with Fiona Mcvie that my nonfiction work is now represented by Jennie Goloboy of the Red Sofa Literary Agency. Huzzah!

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Name Gill Hoffs, but I also answer to ‘Mummy!’ and ‘Miaoooooow’

Age 35

Where are you from

I grew up on the Ayrshire coast in Scotland but now consider Warrington in the north west of England home.

A little about yourself e.g. your education, family life etc.  

After gaining a BSc in Psychology from the University of Glasgow, I worked in children’s homes until I had my son.  I’m married to a scientist and owned by Coraline Cat.  I’m also the world’s worst vegetarian – I loathe fruit and veg – and would happily exist on chocolate, Nutella, and deep fried pizza and chips if I didn’t have to set some kind of example for my son.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I recently signed with the Red Sofa Literary Agency and I’m delighted to now have my nonfiction work represented by Jennie Goloboy.  It’s really exciting to…

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Meet Gill Hoffs

I won’t be blogging so often this year as I’m conducting research for my next shipwreck book, but it’s always lovely to take a break to chat about writing, especially with someone as pleasant as Nicole. If you’re curious about whether I have a messy or super-neat writing area, or ever read my work aloud while channelling William Shatner, read on!

WordMothers - for women writers & women’s writing

Interview by Nicole Melanson ~

Gill Hoffs grew up along the Scottish coast and now lives in Warrington with her family, Coraline Cat, and never quite enough chocolate. After gaining a degree in psychology she worked with children with a variety of needs throughout the UK before having her son in 2007. She is the author of The Sinking of RMS Tayleur: The Lost Story of the ‘Victorian Titanic’ (Pen & Sword, 2014) and Wild: a Collection (Pure Slush, 2012), as well as over a hundred short stories and articles published online and in print. Gill is currently writing her next novel and another non-fiction shipwreck book so (more) chocolate is extremely welcome.

Gill Hoffs’ blog

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

Migraines. They’re the “silent” type but personally I think mine should be called “smelly migraines” as they usually announce themselves with hallucinations that stink. Vomit, faeces…you name…

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Guest Blog: The “I” in internet by Gill Hoffs

Somewhat grim guestblog for the lovely Paul D. Brazill including mention of Sandra Bullock, Nutella-flavoured maggots, my shipwreck book, a message in a bottle, and why I don’t want to disappear.

Interview with author Allen Miles on ‘This is how you disappear’ and the Cheshire Cat

Allen Miles has a new collection of short stories out soon (available as a print edition or ebook), so instead of asking him about that I thought I’d quiz him on the title.  Somehow this led to discussion of Paul Daniels and the Cheshire Cat.  Do feel free to ask him your own questions in the comments.

Allen Miles, authorly bloke

Q: The title “This is how you disappear” suggests you’ve either given some thought to disappearing yourself or to how you would advise someone else to disappear, so prepare to be grilled on that.  How and under what circumstances would you ever disappear, or wouldn’t that appeal as an option to you?

It is an option that appeals to me at roughly 6:58 each morning, which is the time I arrive at work. (Mr Miles’ colleagues wish to point out that the above is a blatant lie, as he is late pretty much every day.) The idea of disappearing is incredibly romantic to me, from Richey Edwards to Reggie Perrin, I’ve always admired the idea of simply vanishing off the face of the Earth. It started at the fag-end of my first co-habitation with a female in my nineteenth year; we were officially separate although still living together, a amazingly hostile atmosphere had been brewing and one tea-time we’d had a horrific falling out over whose turn it was to clean the hamster cage out. I took beverages with some friends that night in order to relieve the stress and ended up in a fleeting romantic tryst with a girl called Lauren who had a tattoo of a Ribena berry on her left shoulder. I stood admiring her collection of boxing videos in the small hours of the morning as she prepared us some Ovaltine and I realised that she was the only person in the world who knew where I was. Oh, how I enjoyed that feeling! I left as the sun rose feeling somewhat the worse for wear, hoping to see her again soon. Sadly, I’d taken her number down wrong and when I rang it I got through to the local branch of Heron Frozen Foods. I was made aware of a fabulous discount on Findus Crispy Pancakes though, so all was not lost.

Q: Who would you like to help disappear – can be a real person or a fictional character – either to protect them from the harsh and unpleasant realities of their world or to just get them to bugger off?

I would like Piers Morgan and Simon Cowell to disappear, both of whom are fictional characters, because my mate Dunham is determined to murder them both with his bare hands, and he’s a double-hard bastard. I don’t care if he kills them, they’re ghastly, I just don’t want him to go to jail because he lends me money from time to time.

Q: You work as a perioperative support worker when you aren’t writing or dadding or sleeping, but if you’d been a magician or conjurer, what kind would you have been and why?  Top hat, rabbit, fake flowers, doves or the street magic type or someone sitting in a Perspex cube looking mournful?

I wanted to be a magician when I was about eight. I had a Fisher Price magic box and a cape, but it never worked out for me because of Thatcher. I met Paul Daniels and the lovely Debbie McGee once in my former life as a barista. Daniels never spoke to me and seemed deeply unpleasant, but the lovely Debbie was extremely friendly and I was able to buy a slice of her face with which I was able to repair a hole in my favourite winklepicker.

The sleeping is something I haven’t really taken to as an adult, possibly as a result of the dadding. I find myself up at seven most mornings, the blood barely moving in my veins, hoping that my intravenous caffeine starter pack that I ordered from Betterware sometime ago will arrive. An interesting bi-product of this is that I have become fascinated by a pop act on Nick Jr called Go!Go!Go! My daughter loves them and despite the fact that the nineteen year-old-punk in me is howling in anguish, I have found myself becoming a fan. I know the words to all the songs and I know all their names. Ten years ago I would have probably hated them but these days I find myself imagining going for a pint with Steve, getting married and settling down with Holly, then ruining it all by having an affair with Jade. Don’t start watching them, I think they may be some sort of Orwellian mind-control experiment for knackered parents.

Q: If you were the Cheshire Cat would you be tempted to make only your tail appear, like a furry snake, and freak people out, and if so, who would be top of your shock list?  Or would you make another part of its anatomy the focus?

I don’t care. I loathe cats. I loathe both of my own cats. They are sinister calculating bastards who exist solely to make me unhappy. When the aliens land they’re gonna come into my house and see me on my hands and knees cleaning their litter tray out while they sit in my place on the settee, leaving hairs all over it and preening themselves. Who are these aliens going to think rule the world? The cats, obviously. They have to be stopped.

Oh, incidentally Hoffs, I have a book out soon. It is called This Is How You Disappear and it is a collection of short(ish) stories and prose. It is being published by Abrachadabra Books, who are the coolest imprint on the planet, the literary equivalent of Factory Records. It is hilarious in some places, upsetting in others. It contains loads of drinking and smoking, a jazz fan who watches Dangermouse, a pub chef who’s obsessed with Bruce Springsteen, a kindly middle-aged hippy nurse who ends up living with a helpless young pisshead, a computer geek who gets seduced by a stunning Scottish sales rep who’s not all that she seems, and a shambolic punk band who have a rather intense night in East London. There are lots of trenchcoats, lots of rain and lots of blood. It is neo-noir at its finest. It is available on both Kindle and paperback formats and the cover art is utterly superb, due to the almost supernatural talent of my good buddy Kenny Crow. Please buy it, my daughter is going through shoes like nobody’s business.

Allen Miles is a six-foot three anaemic stick insect with a bit of a cold. He lives in Hull with his wife and daughter and annual purchase rates. When he’s not writing he’s either watching old footage of Matthew Le Tissier on YouTube at one in the morning while drunk or moonlighting as an Ellen Degeneres look-a-like. His rants, along with those of Hoffs herself and other ludicrously talented writers such as Paul Featherstone, Andi Ware and Martyn Taylor, are to be found at http://www.sittingontheswings.com

You can buy This Is How You Disappear at http://www.tinyurl.com/disappear2014

Lovely Lambay

Last week I was lucky enough to fulfil a dream I’ve had since I started researching the RMS Tayleur a couple of years ago: I was able to visit Lambay.  This beautiful island lies off the coast of Howth, a little to the north of Dublin, and I was taken over on a speedy inflatable called a ‘rib’ (I’d like to make some kind of Adam/Eve joke but my brain is still too giddy, do leave one in the comments section if you’re up for it).  I saw a sleeping seal bobbing straight up and down like a cork in the water, all sorts of seabirds that I won’t even attempt to (mis)identify, jellyfish, and a minke whale.  It was BRILLIANT.  I absolutely recommend contacting Eoin Grimes of Skerries SeaTours on [Irish code] 0863043847 if you’re in the area.

Lambay isn’t just a stunning bird reserve full of deer and wallabies (yes, really), it’s also where the RMS Tayleur wrecked 48 hours into her maiden voyage for the White Star Line 160 years ago.  290 survivors climbed the treacherous cliffs to safety despite horrific injuries and shock, and stayed there for a couple of nights (most of them out in the open) until they could be transported to the mainland.  It was gloriously sunny when I was there, with barely a breeze, but I couldn’t help but look on those near-vertical cliffs in horror.  They’re menacing even on a late summer’s day, let alone in a winter storm.

I took my copy of “The Sinking of RMS Tayleur: The Lost Story of the ‘Victorian Titanic‘” (Pen & Sword, 2014) and read the names from the back of the book aloud, all 700+ of them.  It took ages and really drove home just how many people were directly involved with this horrific shipwreck.  I felt incredibly privileged to be there, and to be able to leave as I chose.  Many hundreds of those on board the RMS Tayleur that day did not.

If you have any questions or information on the Tayleur do feel free to leave a comment or to email me at gillhoffs@hotmail.co.uk

 

Sickly Sea Travel

In the UK the summer holidays are now upon us (or at least upon lucky colleagues and school children), so if you’re in the Warrington/Cheshire area and fancy hearing about the plight of Victorians venturing overseas in a time before plentiful lifeboats, buoyancy aids, and loos, where even in a luxury cabin you could well be sharing your bed with a manky great rat, this talk might be for you.  http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/11413779.Tayleur_talk_at_Waterstones_in_Warrington/?ref=twtrec

I’ll be appearing at Waterstones in Golden Square, Warrington, on Saturday 23rd August at 11am with a reproduction chamberpot, plastic rat, and genuine Victorian clothing including corset and bloomers – NB: I won’t be wearing them, they’d never fit – to talk about crinolines and crapping, being sick in a storm, and why you might be glad of rats on your vessel (they’re a more edible meal than putrefying pork).  Everyone’s welcome, it’s free, lasts about half-an-hour, and questions are encouraged – whether on Victorian sea travel in general, or Warrington’s own Titanic, the ill-fated RMS Tayleur.  If you can’t make it but want to know more, please feel free to contact me on twitter (@GillHoffs) or via gillhoffs@hotmail.co.uk.

Waterstones has excellent wheelchair access (and parking above and below the mall).  If anyone with mobility or communication issues such as mutism/autistic spectrum disorder would rather ask about it in an online chat or as a one-to-one in person then do let me know.

If you want to read more, the new issue of Discover Your History includes my article “Travels and Tribulations” (downloadable here for £1 http://www.history-hub.com/dyh/article/307/Travels-and-Tribulations) – you can have a nosy at the first page by clicking on the link.

Yes, I’m using a cockroach to pimp my book. His name’s Colin and he’s a cutie.

In short, Ireland was brilliant! (More to come…)

Although I was only in Ireland for a few days, I managed to pack a lot in, thanks mainly to the incredibly generous people I met there.

windy on the ferry – not going for the Morrissey look, honest

Too much happened to cram it all into one big fat blogpost, so I’ll let it out over the next few weeks or so, bit by bit.  I’ll definitely be going back over for talks and visits (and signings) sometime this summer so do feel free to get in touch with me on twitter (@GillHoffs) or at gillhoffs@hotmail.co.uk to let me know if there’s anywhere in particular I should get in touch with or if you’re a descendant of someone involved with the wreck and fancy meeting up for cake.

Hodges Figgis in Dublin, Manor Books in Malahide, and FeelGood Scuba in Howth all stock “The Sinking of RMS Tayleur” so if you fancy a look, that’s where to go.  Alternatively, you can ask your local Eason’s or independent bookseller to get it in – some libraries have it too – or try here http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Sinking-of-RMS-Tayleur/p/6053/

The best bit of the trip, the indisputable highlight amongst a ton of brilliant things, was sailing to the wrecksite itself on a gloriously sunny day.  Many thanks to Howth Sailing & Boating Club for making this happen, and to Harry Breslin for his tales of danger and discovery on the wreck itself, spanning over 50 years.

Thank you again to the people who made all this possible, including the O Duills for adopting me for the duration and feeding me pasta and icecream, Mike Medcalf for taking me out on Yacht Taurus and feeding me cheese and tomato sandwiches and soup, and John Craddock and his mum for escorting me round the anchor memorials and feeding me toast and fancy hot chocolate.  Can’t wait to go back!