A novel about the ups and downs of romance after 50.

by Bill Branley, published by One Sock Press, 2006

Links to Sea Changes reviews:

"On an early morning ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, an unexpected romance sparks between Peggy and Raoul, two middle aged commuters who have prematurely lost their spouses. As the pair faithfully watches the sun rise over the Cascade Mountains each morning..." -- Review of Sea Changes by Dana Blozis from ForeWord Clarion reviews.

"Ever wonder what those commuters on the ferry are working on as they tap away at their laptops? At least one of them was writing a “blog” — a story written in 20-minute daily chunks and posted on the Internet for all to see. Now that online endeavor is in print, the debut book for blogger-turned-novelist Bill Branley..." -- Review by Marcie Miller from the North Kitsap Herald, Poulsbo, WA.

"A writing exercise on his blog brought forth Bill Branley’s inner Peggy. She had so much to say, the exercise evolved into Branley’s debut novel, “Sea Changes,” the first title for his One Sock Press publishing company..." -- Interview and article by Rhona Schwartz from the Bainbridge Island Review (includes photo)

"Bill Branley’s debut novel Sea Changes (One Sock Press, 0-9778561-0-0, $14.95) is the story of midlife romance set in the Pacific Northwest. The book is the result of the author’s fiction blog called “Peggy Finds a Friend” which he wrote during the latter half of 2005, while stuck on the car ferry between his home on Bainbridge Island and his day job in Seattle..." -- 2006 ForeWord Magazine Beach Read Selection article.

Read a Sea Changes review by independent book reviewer Shirley Perkins.

"A widow and a widower, in midlife and from opposite ends of the political spectrum, embark on a romance on the ferry from Winslow to Seattle, in this first novel by a local writer-jazz musician..." -- Seattle Times short write-up, Sunday, July 16, 2006

Bestseller List for Sunday, July 16, 2006. Seattle Times reported bestselling books at Eagle Harbor Bookstore on Bainbridge Island. Sea Changes was #1 in paperback fiction.

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A true story from a Sea Changes reader:

Ms. Shirley Crawford, a visitor to Bainbridge Island from Irvine, CA, reported that she missed her flight while reading Sea Changes.

Ms. Crawford had gotten to the airport two hours early for her flight to Seattle. Since her gate was crowded with people departing on the flight before hers, she settled in a quiet section near an empty gate. She started reading Sea Changes, read all the way through to the end, and then discovered that she had completely missed her flight. She went to the gate and explained what happened and they gave her a seat on the next flight.

Ms. Crawford said that when she got to Seattle, where she was met at the airport by her very concerned daughter, she was thrilled to ride on the Bainbridge ferry and find it exactly as described in Sea Changes, to include the motorcycles roaring on and off the boat.

"Everything was described so vividly and wonderfully," she said, "and the trip to New Orleans and all of the Katrina stuff was so unexpected and fascinating."

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Other info...

Sea Changes earned an Honorable Mention in the ForeWord Magazine 2006 Book of the Year Awards, announced June 2007 at Book Expo America.

Here's the text from the ForeWord web site:

"ForeWord Magazine is proud to announce the winners of the 2006 Book of the Year Awards. A panel of judges composed of librarians and booksellers named 216 winners, narrowed from nearly 1,400 entries, representing the finest work from today's vibrant independent publishing community. The winners were announced at a ceremony Friday at BookExpo America in New York City."

You can Listen to Sea Changes, Episode 1 via podcast.

Free download: Read the Foreword to Sea Changes in PDF format

Buy now through PayPal at a special summer price of $9.95, shipping included.