Category Archives: Books

Jun28

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK REVIEW in 48° North Magazine

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Mary Laudien

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK REVIEW in 48° North Magazine

DO YOU HAVE YOUR COPY OF WHO’S the CAPTAIN? ABOARD to SHARE with YOUR KIDS/GRANDKIDS?

It is just too rewarding to see sailing magazines and yacht clubs embracing WHO’S the CAPTAIN? They are always so immediate with their response and wanting to share the book with their boating families. It’s the time of year that young sailors are taking sailing lessons and boarding family sailboats for sailing vacations. What a perfect book to have on board! (Okay, I, the author of this little gem may be just a little biased, but as a former innovative educator I know what an engaging book this is.)

As Cherie Thiessen (Pacific Yachting’s Book Reviewer) stated,

“There’s something to resonate here for every sailor

… Read the rest

Jun27

TENDER TUESDAYS-PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #14

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Mary Laudien

TENDER TUESDAYS-PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #14

Our YACHT CLUB Wants PRAIRIE GIRL to Write Articles for their Website reporting on REGATTAS, SAIL PAST EVENTS, and COMMODORE BALLS! SERIOUSLY?

Imagine Prairie Girl’s reluctance when approached to create articles for their Yacht Club’s freshly updated website. That’s right… horror! If she thought she was getting away with fudging her ability as a sailor on spring cruises, it would quickly come out in the open- once she began writing articles about regattas! What did Prairie Girl know about racing? She had only participated in the CLUB REGATTAS and the JACK and JILL RACES organized to include those cruisers who NEVER race… not even for the less competitive Wednesday Night Fun Races. Now she was expected to review these events … Read the rest

May21

SAILING SEASON START-UP on the PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Mary Laudien

SAILING SEASON START-UP on the PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST

SAILING/BOATING FAMILIES ALERT!

It is the May long weekend (Victoria Day) in Canada and boaters are out on the waters for the start-up of the season. PRAIRIE GIRL is wondering if you have your copy of WHO’S the CAPTAIN? aboard your vessels? Remember what Pacific Yachting’s Book Reviewer (Cherie Thiessen) had to say,

“There’s something to resonate here for every sailor- or sailor wannabe, I’m betting.”

And then there is the endorsement from David Eggert (Director of Development and Relief Captain), SALTS Sail and Life Training Society- “Training Young People, By the Sea, for Life”,

“I loved the book. Great humor and fantastic illustrations. Most certainly to be enjoyed by cruising families.”

Why is WHO’S the CAPTAIN? a must

… Read the rest

Mar20

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES – #12

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Mary Laudien

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES – #12

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE HAVE TO FINISH EQUIPPING OUR NEW BOAT? (…AND WHERE’S THE HEAT?)

Call Prairie Girl naive, but she was incredulously baffled when husband announced that there would be several expensive purchases to be made in order to completely outfit their brand new Catalina 28 Mark 11 Anniversary Edition. Prairie Girl just assumed that their DREAM BOAT was loaded to the max- complete with an anniversary plaque, a wooden hull to mount on their wall at home, a set of Catalina dishes, upgraded upholstery and blinds, a bimini and sunbrella protectors for the windows… What did husband mean when he said it wasn’t completely outfitted with everything necessary?

Prairie Girl can visualize her readers nodding their … Read the rest

Dec20

FREE FRENCHIE SERIES – AN AMAZON KINDLE GIFT SET DEC.26th-30th

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Mary Laudien

FREE FRENCHIE SERIES – AN AMAZON KINDLE GIFT SET DEC.26th-30th

My gift to my followers during the HOLIDAY SEASON (DEC. 26-30) is the opportunity to access the FRENCHIE SERIES (Books 1-3) for FREE on Amazon Kindle. FRENCHIE’S BEST FRIEND- Follow the Blog is definitely a family Christmas read– you’ll understand why when you read this tale with a twist. The Frenchie Series is suitable for kids who aged 8-13 (Middle Grade Readers… TWEENS)! (or anyone who is a doggie person… and loves to laugh) Although the books are VERY reasonably priced (less than a greeting card)- they are available free on Kindle for 5 days. Please download all 3 books of the Frenchie Series and accept my gift to you! (Dec. 26-30)

MARY LAUDIEN’S FRENCHIE SERIES

… Read the rest

Dec6

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #9

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Mary Laudien

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #9

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN STERN TYING!

(Leave the SAMBUCA at home!)

Somehow or other, Prairie Girl and husband had not had the need to stern tie and perhaps weren’t exactly up to speed with all the requirements. As it turned out, they decided to go into Pirates Cove Marine Park on De Courcy Island, as they headed toward home after cruising the Southern Gulf Islands. Upon their arrival, it was apparent they’d found a popular destination for boaters with children. Such a great place for swimming, water sports and hiking- no wonder all the boating vacationers had picked it! The cove was jammed, as most boaters had decided to come in (at least those that didn’t hit the … Read the rest

Nov28

TENDER TUESDAYS

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Mary Laudien

TENDER TUESDAYS

SILVER LINING in WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

BOOK LAUNCH

THE BOOK LAUNCH DAYDREAM VERSUS REALITY

You can imagine it, can’t you? The venue chosen is unique, as the perfect spot for drawing the niche of people for which one’s book was written. (MARTIN MARINE –so ideal as a long established North Shore family business that boaters frequent.) It’s in a community that both the author and illustrator had lived in and sailed from, as contributors for many years. Thus, a full house of familiar faces was anticipated coming through the door to share in the celebration of their book. Perfect! Right? (Reality Check: Perfect on a sunny spring day- YES! Maybe not so perfect on a cold, … Read the rest

Nov23

IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Mary Laudien

IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

HEAD– It’s the BOAT TOILET, okay?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humourous cartoons and a cheeky glossary! Mary Laudien, a fourth time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park, has just released, WHO’S the CAPTAIN? Anyone who has ever sailed or cruised with kids aboard will relate to the cartoons and reminiscing of those adventures on the water will be inevitable!

mary-anim-character

Mary didn’t start sailing until her late forties, missing out on the fun of cruising with her sons, as children. Many of her school families had extraordinary sailing adventures to share with her. As she cruised the Pacific NW on their Catalina … Read the rest