If the Shoe Fits: The Adventures of a Reluctant Boatfrau

by Rae Ellen Lee

While living in landlocked Montana and renovating an old mining town brothel, Rae Ellen Lee and her husband started writing a novel. On a research trip to the Virgin Islands, they fell in love with the sand and the sun, and upon their return to Montana they sold their house and relocated to Washington. There they bought a 37-foot Alberg-designed bluewater cruiser that they dubbed THE SHOE because living in its damp, cramped quarters reminded them of Mother Hubbard. Now the particular shoe we live in is like a very large sneaker, but one not nearly large enough, and it smells like mold in some corners, and like a poodle lifted its leg in others. With a marvelous sense of humor, Lee recounts the many ups and downs of her life aboard, including a circumnavigation of the San Juan islands, a voyage to the Caribbean, and a cold snap during which she and her husband narrowly avert a disasterous end to their relationship.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2001

About the author

Rae Ellen Lee grew up on a stump ranch in northern Idaho. She worked for the U.S. State Dept. in Washington, D.C., Switzerland, and (then) Yugoslavia before attending the Univ. of Idaho, where she earned a degree in Landscape Architecture. Employment with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho and Montana followed, until 1997, when she resigned and moved to a sailboat, The Shoe, with new husband, Tom. She wrote about that experience, in I ONLY CUSS WHEN I'M SAILING, first published in 2001 as If The Shoe Fits by Sheridan House).

Her first novel, THE BLUEBIRD HOUSE, first published by Five Star in 2002, is a paranormal, historical, romance-adventure romp with a mystery and some mountain man recipes, set in and around that old Montana mining camp brothel she lived in and renovated. This book was a readers’ choice selection of Salt Lake Public Library patrons.

Her second memoir, published in 2012, is set on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. In MY NEXT HUSBAND WILL BE NORMAL – A St. John Adventure (indie published in early 2012), Rae Ellen shares the funny side of events when, soon after unpacking their flip-flops, Tom realizes he is really a she. Told with a generous heart and a tragicomic style, you’ll find added heat from a cast of colorful cats, customers, and Caribbean personalities. Toss in a few sex toys, some steel pan music, a pinch of voodoo. . . and stir.

She has also published POWDER MONKEY TALES - A Portrait in Stories, by Wesley Moore alias Post Hole Augerson, a geezer of some renown in northern Idaho. A farm boy from Illinois who headed west in 1941, Wes became a woods worker and powder monkey, which means he used dynamite to help build roads for the logging industry in the 1940s and 1950s. This booklet captures the history and humor of her father, as told to her. One story was performed in the Idaho Centennial Play, IDAHO TALES, TALL AND TRUE, in 1989.

Rae Ellen is currently writing a novel set in 1999 about the lives of a few good women working in a north woods sawmill A geezer enthusiast, she is also working on a guidebook to geezer species.

Rae Ellen now lives and writes in Bellingham, WA, in the company of her porch doodle, Sudsie, and as often as possible, she hikes, bikes, and sketches with her Montana granddaughter, Madison.

Reviews

[Mary Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about excitement. Once I got on board the story, I had to stay on board. The events were too fascinating to set the book aside. And, I'm glad I was reading about the events, not living them. I don't know what is more difficult, operating an ocean-going sailboat or coping with a partner who isn't happy with your skill level. Kudos to the author for getting through it with honesty and great humor, and for giving me some chuckles. And, I might add, for giving me opportunities to nod my head in understanding when the emotional fur started to fly between the two of them. Wouldn't have missed it!

[C.J. Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was only when I was invited to dinner that I realized Rae Ellen was one of the hostesses. Rae Ellen had just finished her latest manuscript. I was intrigued, got ahold of a copy of the book. Her style is engaging, humorous and I keep wanting to find out what happens next! What else makes a good book?

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would be great for someone with an interest in sailing. Author's voice is humorous and at times zany.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Only Cuss When I'm Sailing