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Welcome to the web site of award-winning maritime author James L. Nelson James Nelson, a former professional sailor, is committed to bringing to life, through fiction and nonfiction, America's historical connection with the sea. His writing covers a wide range of America's maritime heritage, from piracy in Colonial Virginia to the naval action of the Civil War. A master of his period and of the English language. Patrick O'Brian on The Guardship It is, by far, the best Civil War novel I've read; reeking of battle, duty, heroism and tragedy. It's a triumph of imagination and good, taut writing... Bernard Cornwell on Glory in the Name, winner of the W.Y. Boyd Literary Award |
Photo: J. Felice Boucher |
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Coming May 16... George Washington's Secret Navy: How the American Revolution Went to Sea "Mr. Nelson takes an episode that occupies no more than a few paragraphs in other histories of the Revolution and, with convincing research and vivid narrative style, turned it into an important, marvelously readable book." Thomas Fleming, author of The Perils of Peace and Liberty!
"A gripping and fascinating book about the daring and heroic mariners who helped George Washington change the course of history and create a nation. Nelson wonderfully brings to life a largely forgotten but critically important piece of America's past." Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America
"The political machinations are as exciting as the blood-stirring individual small-ship actions in this meticulously researched story of the shadowing beginnings of American Might on the seas." Joan Druett, author of Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
This is a rollicking tale of Washington’s seafaring rascals who pricked Britannia’s trident, and set an example of courage and patriotism that would eventually lead to independence. William M. Fowler, Jr. author of Rebels Under Sail For more information and to read the first chapter, click on |
| This picture was recently sent to me, and I loved it so much
it had to go on the home page. If you can't read the sign, it says "James L.
Nelson Reading Club, Fallujah, Iraq, 2007." The man on the far right is
David Nelson (coincidentally, the same name as my father) from Houston,
Texas. He e-mailed me from Iraq to say that he had just read The Pirate
Round and enjoyed it, and was happy for the break it offered from
everything else going on around him. Thinking these guys deserved a break where they could get one, I boxed up a bunch of other books and sent them off. David rewarded me with this great picture of these guys reading my books in Iraq! I particularly love the "No pictures! No cameras!" sign. |
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Here's another great picture sent to me by a reader in Iraq.
This is Sgt. Dean Epley in a place that seems to have a lot of sand.
I offered to send Sgt. Epley some copies of The Biddlecomb Series in Italian,as I seem to have a lot of those and am never sure what to do with them. Unfortunately he doesn't read Italian, but I assured him I'd get some books in English sent his way. I hope he has more free time to read than this picture would suggest. I think this is great! We should get a whole gallery going here. |
| Also: See the new Speaker Page below for information on having James L. Nelson speak at your event. We have revamped out Latest News Page. For the latest publication information and other things of interest, , click on the new and improved The Latest News. Signed and inscribed books are now offered for sale via this web site. Click on Book Sales to find out more. Check the Events Schedule page for upcoming Author Events |
"Many people who want to be writers don't really want to be writers. They want to have been writers.
They wish they had a book in print."
James Michener