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Pirates and Buried Treasure: Secrets, Strange Tales, and Hidden Facts about Pirates (Top Secret Files of History) Series: Top Secret Files Written by Stephanie Bearce Prufrock Press            8/01/2015 978-1-61821-421-8 128 pages       Age 9—12 “Pirates of the Golden Age had to deal with scurvy, fight ferocious battles, and …

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Queen Anne’s Revenge, that is. Queen Anne’s Revenge is the name of Blackbeard Teach’s flagship—though I have to admit I don’t know why he chose that name. Queen Anne ruled Great Britain & Ireland while Blackbeard was alive, so maybe he considered himself to be a privateer on behalf of the Crown? Was he not happy with the War of the Spanish Succession? I’d like it if, in the comments, someone could offer a better reason behind Teach’s name for his ship. Writers Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift & pirate aficionado Daniel Defoe flourished under Queen Anne, so maybe her reign really was culture’s balmiest day—but why did she need to be avenged?

Anyway, he only captained Queen Anne’s Revenge for 3 years before she sunk off North Carolina. And so I had the wonderful opportunity to paint a sunken pirate ship for Eve Bunting’s new book, P is for Pirate. It was also a chance to pay tribute to fantastic illustrator Lloyd K. Townsend. When I say ‘pay tribute to’, of course I mean ‘steal shamelessly from’. I’ve admired Townsend since I was a wee lad, seeing his paintings in National Geographic. One in particular, from 1979, shows the sunken Spanish treasure ship Tolosa. This was my—cough—inspiration for R is for Revenge. Hey, at least I turned the ship around to face the other way!

Herewith, work in progress:

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On this day in 1718-  Edward Teach, who was better known as Blackbeard - was killed. Tired of being terrorized by Blackbeard and his men, the Governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood, put together a party of soldiers and sailors, and he gave them the job of finding Blackbeard. This they did off the coast of North Carolina, and after a fierce battle, Blackbeard was finally killed.
   Like so many other people, I find myself drawn to stories about pirates and their adventures. Over the years I have reviewed many books about pirates, and several of them are about Blackbeard, the man who many consider to be the most famous pirate of them all. You will find my Blackbeard feature here on the TTLG website.

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Har, Har, Har me fine Mateys,

It's I the meanest, most powerful, can't remember when I-last-had-a-bath sea-dog of a Pirate, Darth Bootstrap Bill. I hope all you scurvy seafaring scallywags and flat footed landlubbers remember that this Friday is "Talk Like a Pirate Day." An important day to be sure, right up there with the Forth of July and such!!!!!!! So remember to talk like a pirate this Friday!!!!!!

One of me fine fellows, the great pirate - Captain Jack Sparrow!!!!!!!!

One of the most famous pirates in history - Blackbeard!!!!!!!!!!!

Me personal role model and favorite pirate - Captain Barbossa and his wee monkey a name of Jack!!!!!!

Speaking of sea adventures, I would like to share a little now about the really cool "Undersea Adventures of Captain Eli" event we had last Wednesday here at ImaginOn!!!!!! First let me repeat how much I love this Graphic Novel. To see my original review of it just click: Here!!!! To see the status of the Graphic Novel in the library system click here: The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli.

At the event we placed Capt'n Eli Posters around the library with trivia questions. After the trivia questions were answered, we gave out all sorts of really cool Capt'n Eli stuff (Cups & T-Shirts), cards for the most excellent Capt'n Eli game, let those who participated be the very first people to check out the brand new Graphic Novel (Volume 1; Volume 2 is coming out next month!!!!!!!) and bestowed upon everyone who participated official Seasearcher Membership with all it's rights and privileges. It really was a great time, but enough of me talking take a look for yourself:

Two intrepid Seasearchers figuring out the answers to the trivia questions posted around the library!!!!!!

The same two unstoppable Seasearchers showing off their newly
acquired Cups and the Capt'n Eli Graphic Novels they got to check out!!!!!

A brave solo Seasearcher also collecting a very sweet Cup and getting the Graphic Novel to Check out!!!!!!!

Ah!!!!!!! Another Seasearcher showing off his newly acquired, very cool T-Shirt!!!!! But surly this is not all he obtained?????

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