Eleanor Westerley is seventeen and lives with her aunt in seventeenth century England. Upon her aunt's death she learns some startling information from the will. She decides to embark on a dangerous journey to the pirate-infested Caribbean in the ship which she has discovered belonged to her father, presumed dead. Leaving her estate in the capable hands of her trusted retainers, she takes her younger brothers and sister, who are all that remain of her family. Headstrong and impetuous, Eleanor engages Jack Crawford, the young captain she finds in a debtors' prison, to command her ship. Together with the children, whose courage is tested to the limit, they face many life-threatening situations at a time when England is at war with Spain and France and on the high seas it is every man for himself.
This is an exciting adventure story written by a master maritime storyteller blending fact and fiction of the age of piracy for children and the young at heart of all ages.
Michael always wanted to go to sea and at the age of 14 he joined the officer cadet training ship HMS Conway. By the age of 16 he was at sea as a cadet officer and this was the start of a fifty-year adventure taking him to every sea and ocean on all different types of ships in the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy. He was a Captain for 35 years. On retiring from the sea, he began writing books, first seamanship text books and then novels
While writing books for adults he also wanted to write a book for younger people and this is his first book for children and young adults, joining his love of the sea and history. Two more books of the adventures of the Pirate’s children and the Pelican are planned.
He lives with his wife and five dogs in west Sussex and has two children and four grandchildren.
His website is www.michaellloyd-author.com
