Maritime Book Series

Blackthorn Winter (Maritime Series Book 1)

Times may change, and pirates may change their tack, but the Monroe boys always seem driven to the sea…

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Young Thomas Monroe was bred for the sea. At his first chance he sets off on a merchant’s ship, but Thomas gets more of an adventure than he’d expected when his ship is captured by the pirates whose treasure map he stole! He somehow must keep himself and his captain alive, and beat the pirates to their treasure. Meanwhile, hundreds of years in the future, Jim Monroe—Thomas’ descendant—is also in desperate need of that treasure, or he and his mother will lose the family land. Embark on this thrilling tale of piracy and derring-do, Douglas Wilson’s first foray into children’s fiction.

Douglas Wilson’s maritime series follows the adventures of the Monroe family from the eighteenth century through modern times. Times may change, and pirates may change their tack, but the Monroe boys always seem driven to the sea…

Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books!

From the Book

If these were pirates—and they were—and this was a map—and it was—then there was likely a treasure to be had. But O’Conner didn’t seem to be sure that this was a treasure. Of course, that may just have been for show so that his two companions did not revolt. If they knew that a vast treasure was at stake, then they would no doubt panic at the prospect of crossing someone like John James. So there probably was a treasure, and then Thomas stopped walking for a moment in his excitement—he could take care of his mother. The only questions were how great the treasure was, and how to decipher the map. –from the book

Susan Creek (Maritime Series Book 2)

Times may change, and pirates may change their tack, but the Monroe boys always seem driven to the sea…

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When John Monroe saves a mother and daughter from the clutches of a rogue English soldier, he is thrust into a world of intrigue and espionage. It’s the height of the French and Indian war. In possession of a letter that exposes British troop movements, John must race to deceive the French before the rogue soldier can catch up to him and provide the actual intelligence the French need.

Douglas Wilson’s maritime series follows the adventures of the Monroe family from the eighteenth century through modern times. Times may change, and pirates may change their tack, but the Monroe boys always seem driven to the sea…

Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books!

From the book

When he had made his way about a mile toward the water, he began asking for directions to The Golden Sextant. The first three people he asked had no idea, and the fourth thought it was somewhere near the “old Presbyterian church.” Every block or so John would ask again, and finally he found someone who gave him some clear directions, somewhat confidently.
John caught a glimpse of a golden sextant hanging above the street before he could make out the words. As he walked up to the front door of the tavern—for it was a tavern—he naively thought that he would meet the women, receive their proper thanks, and then make his way back to the ship, his small adventure concluded. He had never been so completely wrong in his life. –from the book

Two Williams (Maritime Series Book 3)

America and her ships may change, but the Monroe boys are always drawn to the sea.

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Stephen Monroe is a young, zealous patriot, proud of his brother William, who is a distinguished captain in the Revolutionary War. The one thing Stephen can’t understand is how his brother can kill Redcoats but despise the fiery words of other revolutionaries like Thomas Paine. When Stephen meets Lieutenant William Morris, he thinks he has found someone even more patriotic than his brother. Caught between two Williams, Stephen must realize there are two wars going on, and he must choose between his brother’s or Lieutenant Morris’s. 

Two Williams is a thrilling tale of patriotism and rebellion, the third of best-selling author Douglas Wilson’s historical children’s stories. The four books of the Maritime Series follow the seafaring adventures of the Monroe family from the eighteenth century through modern times. America and her ships may change, but the Monroe boys are always drawn to the sea.

Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books!

From the book

The gun ports of both ships were fully opened, and the crews of both ships were at their battle stations. But at that moment the flag on the Constant unfurled clearly, and Captain Monroe put down his eyeglass with relief. He turned to his mate and said, “Americans.” Word traveled fast, and the crew of the Susquehanna all stood back in relief, relaxing.
Turning back to the gunwale, Captain Monroe leaned on the rail and prepared to shout out greetings as they passed. As their bows came even with each other, the ships were very close—only about fifty yards apart. Captain Monroe waited for a moment and then cupped his hands to shout out a greeting. Just then a figure, oddly familiar, stepped out onto the deck of the other ship, and Captain Monroe stopped and pulled his glass back up again. Morris!
Just at that moment a roar came from the other ship, and billows of smoke blew out from her port side. –from the book

Barbary Jihad (Maritime Series Book 4)

 America and her ships may change, but the Monroe boys are always drawn to the sea.

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Once captured and enslaved in Tripoli, Thomas Watson has escaped at last and vowed never to return. Susannah Wilcox secretly longs for adventure, and is thrilled when she is sent to Naples to finish her education. Jules Monroe is freeborn, but longs to prove to himself and the wider world that he is a man, out on the sea with his cousin Samuel. Their stories all meet in 1803 aboard the Philadelphia, a 36-gun frigate. Unfortunately, the ship has fallen into the hand of Barbery pirates, and such a powerful weapon will allow them to decimate the United States’ fledgling navy.

Barbary Jihad is a thrilling tale of naval warfare on the high seas, the fourth of best-selling author Douglas Wilson’s historical children’s stories. The four books of the Maritime Series follow the seafaring adventures of the Monroe family from the eighteenth century through modern times. America and her ships may change, but the Monroe boys are always drawn to the sea.

Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books!

From the book

A Barbary guard was standing in front of a cabin door. The guard had been listening to the fighting topside and was anxious to be anywhere else but where he was. When Thomas took a step toward him, saber uplifted, he bolted in the opposite direction. He needed no second invitation. As he went, Thomas saw the ring of keys on his belt, and in deep anger threw his saber after him. As he told the story afterward, he acknowledged that sabers were not made for throwing, and that he could not do the same thing again in a thousand tries, but the fact remains that the saber struck the guard in the small of the back, point first. He lurched forward into a ladder that went topside, climbed two rungs of it, and then fell backward, dead. Thomas ran forward, rolled the guard over, pulled his saber out, and slashed the keys from his belt. –from the book