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Sweetwater Sailors was the first book in this series. It contained first-hand narratives from numerous Great Lakes sailors, some of which dispelled the notion that sailors’ lives are not as romantic and exciting as observers picture them to be. In that first book, I also shared the role sailors’ wives play in doing their part, even though I was unable to get any of them to contribute their real-life stories to the series. Fortunately, however, over time, the wives warmed up to the reception of the first book from the public, and many were willing to share their stories for this second book. I’m excited to share their stories with you because they are eye-opening accounts of what life is really like being married to a sailor. You will find that the ones left behind to hold down the home front may have an even rougher time than the sailors who are gone.

This book also tells the stories of the unusual, non-typical sailors on the Great Lakes, such as those in marine construction and passenger excursion captains. These types of sailors are away from home just as much as the cargo ship and carferry sailors are, but they are never seen by the general public.

Sweetwater Sailors - The Rest of the Story starts by spotlighting two engineers who are women. These engineers have earned the respect of their shipmates by being tough and highly skilled at their jobs, without losing their feminity. And not to be forgotten or overlooked are stories from some of the crew’s most essential members - the cooks. Cooks are key to the survival of sailors onboard ships as they keep the ships’ crews fed and happy. I interviewed two women and a man for this book, and I’m sure you will find their stories quite captivating.

I am hopeful that readers of this second book will gain a greater understanding of sailors and the work they do aboard our nation’s boats and ships, the sacrifices they and their spouses and families make in doing so, and, as a result, gain a deeper respect for them while being thoroughly entertained by their stories.