_Although I sing the praises of eBooks, not only did I receive a hardback book for Christmas, I gave one to a friend. It was liberating.

The book I received is called The Little Book of Conspiracies –50 of the world’s greatest theories. I know exactly why my friend bought me the book because often, and usually after large amounts of wine, I turn into a conspiracy freak.

The hardback book I gave to the same friend is The Elvis Presley Cook Book, which has convinced me that not only couldn’t Elvis cook, The King was a nutter! How so? Well, searching for a suitable Elvis quote to write in the book along with ‘love from Gary’, I came across some of his words of wisdom. Nuggets like: “Every time I think that I'm getting old, and gradually going to the grave, something else happens.”

No shit, Sherlock.

Then there’s the food he liked to eat—fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. What! But the guy could rock and roll, I’ll give him that.

As the editor of All At Sea Magazine, I often receive hardback and paperback books to review. Two of the latest are Street’s Guide to the Cape Verde Islands and The Riddle of the Raven by Jan de Groot. Both of these books are about the sea. One is a straight- forward Pilot Book, so no mystery there. The other, however, is the story of a 140ft gaff-rigged schooner haunted by her original owner, and this one has me intrigued.

An eBook that recently came my way is Buy, Outfit and Sail by Cap’n Fatty Goodlander. Fatty and his wife Carolyn have just completed their second circumnavigation, which sort of ended here in St. Maarten. Over dinner aboard their 38ft boat Wild Card, Fatty told me about his latest book, the tenth he has penned. He then gifted me the book for review and the next day there it was on my Kindle. Wonderful … when we both started out as writers, we used battered typewriters or, heaven forbid, scrawled in longhand. Now, at the press of a button, we can download an entire library.

I enjoy reviewing books even though it adds to my workload. But one thing I don’t understand is why, as a marine writer and editor, people send me books about caring for dogs or heart-rending novels about their abusive childhood at the hand of hillbilly grandparents in North Carolina.

If you would like a book reviewed then at least include the magic words ‘sea’ or ‘sailing’.

Here’s how to pitch to get my attention:

Dear editor,

In my latest book, we follow the thrilling adventures of a group of dog-breeding hillbillies as they sail around the world while beating their children and playing the banjo.

That book would definitely get a review.
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