Thank you to the EES PTO for sponsoring a wonderful author visit for our 4th and 5th graders!
A big shout out to Sara Wolf for arranging this!
Be sure to ask your children what they learned about the writing process.
Here is Mr. Mone's bio:

A history major at Harvard (class of 1998), Mr. Mone's authoritative, detailed descriptions of the sights, the stench, the sounds, routines, and the governance aboard the old pirate sloop are the results of almost three years of research.

A practiced researcher, Mr. Mone is a contributing editor for Popular Science, and author of the novel, "Wages of Genius," and the science and technology spoof, "The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots, and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve." He says, "A lot of times, when doing research for a novel, it puts a damper on your enthusiasm, but in this case, the histories, the research about Ireland and pirates — there were pirates all over Ireland — it backed up all my wild ideas and enthusiasm."

The author, who has duel citizenship in the United States and Ireland, worked briefly as a banker after college, then moved to Ireland where he worked as a paralegal. Now at home in Canton with his wife, Nika, and three young children, he says, "I didn't think I'd wind up doing historical fiction, but doing this book brought me back to my training."

He has a confident, straightforward writing style, infused with humor that moves the story along quickly. The ship's crew includes the vicious and deceitful Scab; the mute, Oxford-educated, giant Moravius; and Fish's allies: Nora, the savvy young cook, and his shipmates Nate and Daniel. Captain Cobb and his wife Melinda, although both hardened and tough, bring a degree of integrity to their larceny.

Fish himself turns out to be rather surprising. Once among the taunting, hazing pirates, Fish takes a stand as a pacifist. He will swab the decks and do all manner of disgusting jobs aboard ship, but he will not fight, despite the goading and provocation. But with help from his friend Daniel, he manages to save both his face and his hide.

"Fish" reads too well to not have been enjoyable to write. Mr. Mone, a full-time writer for the past five years, admits to having a fine time doing it. He drew inspiration from the Vineyard, where he wrote the book while staying with his in-laws, Nick and Nina Thayer.

"The Vineyard Haven harbor inspired my book," he says, noting that his feelings as the ferry approached its slip, the smells and sounds in the harbor, informed his work.

He also personal experiences to draw on: Years of listening to the family stories about Ireland, the pirate games he invented for his nieces and nephews, and like Fish, his own prowess as a swimmer; once New York state champion, he competed in national events. (Mone is also an avid surfer, a regular presence at Long Point.)

Fish is the first in what Mr. Mone hopes will be a series of three books. We can only anticipate more gently doled out life lessons; great adventures, and an entertaining cast of fascinating characters.

Mr Mone signed copies of his new book, Fish, for our students!