Sally Copus's Blog

Enter for a chance to win one of 20 author-signed paperback copies of KEYS TO ATLANTIS, Bk 2 (The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair series), including a signed BONUS COPY of BLACKHEART’S LEGACY, Bk 1: awarded Kirkus Reviews Best of 2012.

Step back in time. Leave your worries behind in this Time Travel Fantasy Adventure. Travel with fifteen-year-old Jon Sinclair, his grandfather and allies as they once again travel back to the 17th century to connect with swashbuckling Captain BlackHeart in a quest to g...

An excerpt from the young adult fantasy book KEYS TO ATLANTIS, Book 2ofThe Odyssey of Jon Sinclairtrilogy:

Struggling to shake the dazed feeling from his head, Jon wondered where on earth he could be. The sky was a strange pink color. He looked around and saw ropes curled in a circular manner, like those on a ship’s deck. But this was no ordinary ship.

He stared up into the eyes of a long-necked, golden sea serpent riding high at the prow of the ancient ship, its metallic gold sparkling in th...

Privateering in the late 1600’s and 1700’s was an exercise of economics for the British and other governments, as they watched the Spanish and, to a lesser degree, the Portuguese take home massive wealth from the New World. The era was a time before England firmly established a Royal Navy separate from a Merchant Navy. Attacking Spanish ships, even during peacetime, was part of a policy of military and economic competition with Spain (pre Anglo-Spanish War). They used their much earlier estab...

In the late 17th and early 18th century Caribbean Sea, the Frigate was the “Man-O-War” of its time, weighing in at 360 tons and 110 feet. It took a crew of 195 men to man the 3 masts of sails; 26 big guns (cannon) on one level, and various other smaller guns scattered about the raised quarterdeck and forecastle. As part of the British Navy’s fleet, some frigates carried up to 48 guns and more men. Because of her size and equipment, she was a warship next in size to the “ship of the line.” The...

The two excerpts about sloops below are from the young adult fantasy bookKEYS TO ATLANTIS, Book. 2, The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, by Sally Copus:

Advantages of a Sloop (Excerpt One):
With his days as a privateer chasing down pirates being a thing of the past, Captain BlackHeart had put his well-merited earnings into a new endeavor: trading. He found that dealing in small items took up less space on his ship and paid off handsomely in higher profits. But cargo of this type attracted the attenti...

Note: This is a guest post.

As readers and fans of the pirate-themed YA fantasy series The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, I thought you’d be interested in hearing about some other YA pirate books out there. Below is a list of recommended reads that was compiled by Lisa Parkin (of the Read.Breathe.Relax young adult fantasy/sci-fi book blog), and she has kindly allowed us to share it here. If you’ve read any of the suggested books, chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

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The As...

Jon and Captain BlackHeart walked toward the end of a long pier where a tall, imposing black ship was docked. Jon eyed the ship with admiration. The two tall masts had a crow’s nest atop each of them. Rolled white canvas sails, which were tied up at the yards on both masts, and the white sail tied at the bow stood in stark contrast to the rest of the ship, which was tar black. Gold swirls that looked like waves decorated the top of the ship’s wooden side rails and polished brass could be seen...

First, let me say, “ANY PIRATE TALK IS BETTER THAN NONE!”

But if you want to talk like a true pirate, “Arrrrr, Matey!” just won’t cut it. I doubt any pirate ever said that. They were coarse, rough, dangerous men whose might was to be respected if only for their dauntless courage and daring. They knew death could come at any moment with the slice of a cutlass, a cannonball in the chest, or at the point of a sword. The fact that they were ruthless thieves, plunderers, murderers and worse is one...

Jon Sinclair, from the YA fantasy fiction seriesThe Odyssey of Jon Sinclair,continues his interview with author Sally Copus.

Jon Sinclair:Hey, Sally! Where ya’ been?

Sally Copus:Cleaning up my desk to get back on Book 3 in The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair.

Jon: Well, at least you were thinking of me.

Sally: I’m always thinking of you, Jon, and writing your story in my head even when I’m not at a computer. How goes it?

Jon: Good! Nikos is out this week—one of his special clients—a guy involved in...

Jon Sinclair, from the YA fantasy fiction seriesThe Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, visits author Sally Copus via Skype for his second interview session:

Jon Sinclair: Yo, Sally! Ready for some more questions?

Sally Copus: Indeed, Jon. I have all my answers ready.

Jon: But how do you know…oh, I forgot. The author is clairvoyant. (Sally chuckles.)
Then you know we’re going to talk about some of the weapons we used in the books—my favorite topic. I know you know all about weapons.

Sally: Actually not,...