RFM Book Talks

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Reedville Fishermen's Museum

This is one of the books to be discussed.

For those book lovers disappointed that last month's Reedville Fishermen's Museum authors' evening was postponed due to weather, there's good news.

Three books–rather than two–will be featured at an event at 6:30pm March 2 at the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department, 119 Main St., Reedville. Admission is free.

The book "Menhaden: A Biologist's Thirty-Two Year Journey with the Fish and the Fishery" by Joseph W. Smith was already scheduled to be featured on March 2.

Also at the event are book talks that had to be postponed: "War on the Inland Sea" by Thomas Briggs and "ABCs of Oystering on the Chesapeake Bay” by Susan Swift (author) and Heather Cockrell (illustrator).

"Menhaden: A Biologist's Thirty-Two Year Journey with the Fish and the Fishery"

Smith, who lives in North Carolina, worked for the National Marine Fisheries Service at NOAA's Beaufort (N.C.) Laboratory for more than 30 years, studying the impact of fishing onthe marine world. He has a bachelors degree in biology from St. Joseph's University and a master's degree in marine science from the College of William and Mary. "Menhaden", his first book, provides factual details about the life history of menhaden and the fisheries that harvest the fish schools. It includes details of the evolution and consolidation of the important players in the menhaden industry and Smith's interactions and interviews with menhaden professionals -- including those in Reedville -- over the course of his career.

"It is somewhat of a memoir of my career working with the fishery," said Smith. "OmegaProtein and the bait fisheries on the Northern Neck figure prominently," he added. Published by Palmetto Publishing, the hardcover is $37.93 on Amazon.

"War on the Inland Sea"

Thomas Briggs's first book, a historical novel set during the French and Indian War, is the saga of the conflict for control of the Great Lakes. Told from three perspectives -- the French, British and Native American -- the principal narrative follows the British attempts to build a fleet on Lake Ontario in 1755. Briggs uses his extensive sailing knowledge, significant research and experience in Afghanistan to describe the realities of building and sailing vessels in the wilderness while engaged in war.

Briggs is a captain of the museum's historic skipjack, Claud W. Somers. He is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.The book, published by Vanguard Press, costs $14.99.

"ABCs of Oystering on the Chesapeake Bay"

Susan Swift (author) and Heather Cockrell (illustrator) will talk about their secondc ollaboration. They take readers through each letter of the alphabet with fun facts and colorful illustrations. Swift is librarian at Northumberland Elementary School. Cockrell is art teacher at Northumberland Middle School.The educators' first book, “ABCs of Crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay,” was published in 2024. They will have copies of both books at the event. They are published by Belle IsleBooks, an imprint of Brandylane Publishers Inc. Each is $16 soft cover and $27 hard cover. A third book, "ABCs of Menhaden Fishing", is planned.

The authors and illustrator will talk about their books and offer them for sale and signing. All those featured are members of the museum.

For more information, call 804-453-6529 or email office@rfmuseum.org.