Salt and the Sea Venture

The shipwreck that saved America. Join Salt, a scruffy, white alley cat on his journey to the New World. Based on actual events.

In 1609, the passengers of the Sea Venture are sent to resupply the starving colonists of Jamestown. But they must survive the tempest that wrecks their ship to make it to the New World in time.

The shipwreck that saved America. The year is 1609.  Salt is a scruffy, white alley cat looking for a new life. When he hears that the Sea Venture is sailing to the New World, he knows this is his chance. Life on the Sea Venture is full of fun and excitement, even though Salt has to deal with the aristocratic Angoras, the exclusive Feline Guild, and the territorial ship’s cats. But then a huge tempest threatens to sink the ship. The passengers labor for days to keep the ship afloat and Salt expects the ship to sink at any moment. Luckily they wreck off the island of Bermuda.

The island holds many new adventures, but Salt is determined to get to the New World, so when the humans build two more boats, he joins them. They make it to Jamestown, but find a horror there that none of them expected.

Eventually the story of the shipwreck reaches England and inspires William Shakespeare to write his play, the Tempest.

Salt and the Sea Venture is a middle grade, historical fiction novel, suitable for children 8-12.

I have always loved cats. Their independent nature, combined with their unconditional love speaks to my own personality. In school, my favorite subject was American History. Add to that the fact that I have been a fan of juvenile literature since I first read, “Little House on the Prairie,” and it seemed natural to want to write something that combined my love of cats, American History, and juvenile literature. When I read the story of the Sea Venture, by Kieran Doherty, I knew I’d found a topic for my first juvenile historical fiction novel. I found Salt, a scruffy alley-cat to be the perfect point of view. He acts as an unobtrusive observer to the little known, but world changing history, unfolding under his paws.

I am developing a website with more information about Colonial America. You can find me at melissalgill.com. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at mgill0627@aol.com.