Readers Views Literary Contest Winner
http://www.readerviews.com/ReviewWilliamsAnneBonney.html

Pirate Spirit: The Adventures of Anne Bonney

Jeffery S. Williams with Katherine Williams
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9781583484678
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (12/06)


Anne Bonney was born out of wedlock in 1700 to Peg Brannan, a maid, and her employer William McCormac. She lived with her mother and her Uncle Edward. He was kind to her and she loved him. When the schoolmaster thrashed her for beating up the school bully, she learned the hard way that “silence in violence and violence in silence. It left my enemies adrift with uncertainty.” Her unswerving defiance unnerved the schoolmaster. Anne had learned a life lesson, “most people do not have the stomach for direct confrontation.”

At ten years of age Anne and her mother and father left Ireland for the Carolinas. She cherished the sea. She’d found her destiny, on a ship.

Anne came to despise her father. She saw him as a brutal master to the slaves and yet spineless. Her father picked suitors for her but she would have none of them. When James Bonney asked her to marry him she agreed despite her father’s objections. Her father knew that Bonney was a penniless indentured servant out to get the family’s money. Her father disowned her.

James was working for the government accusing men of being pirates. Anne had respect for most of the pirates and despised her husband for betraying them. When Anne set eyes on Calico Jack Rackham he lingered in her mind. She felt he was a man she could respect.

Anne took to wearing James’ clothing and secretly visited the taverns which the pirates frequented. When the opportunity arose Anne joined Rackham on his ship. By day she dressed as a male pirate and by night she lay in his bed. When a shipmate attacked her she killed him. She now had the respect of the crew but they still believed she was male. But their respect didn’t stop her from being arrested for piracy.

Jeffery S. Williams is a talented writer; his perspective on Anne Bonney’s story is fascinating. He captures the feminine viewpoint perfectly. The plot flows smoothly, yet has twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. I eagerly turned the pages reading this book in one setting. I had to see what adventure Anne would face next. The cover is beautifully done. The ship with the beautiful sunset sets the tone of the story. This story contains fiction and nonfiction, action, adventure and romance. I love the ending. I highly recommend “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story” to those who enjoy historical fiction and nonfiction.

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Interview with Jeffery S. Williams
http://www.readerviews.com/InterviewWilliamsJeffery.html

Interview with Jeffery S. Williams

Pirate Spirit: The Adventures of Anne Bonney
Jeffery S. Williams with Katherine Williams
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN9781583484678
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (12/06)















Today Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views is talking with author and teacher Jeffery S. Williams about his award-winning, historical fiction novel, “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story.” Jeffery was awarded 2nd place in the General Fiction category for the Reader Views Annual Literary Awards 2006.

Jeffery has been a high school English teacher for 20 years and recently received the CATE) California Association for Teachers of English) Classroom Excellence Award for 2007. Periodically, he writes educational chapters for classroom publications, and prior to teaching, Jeffery worked as a journalist and copy editor, writing for many national publications such as Leadership Journal, Catholic Digest, Columbia Magazine and Christianity Today. He has published short fiction in literary journals Epiphany and the San Joaquin Review.

Juanita: Welcome to Reader Views Jeffery and congratulations on your award in the Reader Views Annual Literary Awards. How does it feel?

Jeffery: First and foremost, I want to express my appreciation for Readers Views’ recognition of my work. Without a doubt, all writers hope their work will be read, enjoyed and respected for its craft. This award is an encouraging development for Anne Bonney.

Juanita: “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story” is your debut novel. With such a long writing history, what inspired you to write your first book?

Jeffery: I’ve always enjoyed stories and anecdotes — listening to and reading them. My father was an avid reader and a good storyteller. In college I discovered my own “fire in the belly” to tell and write stories. But my first attempts at writing fiction college were not promising; teachers deemed my writing too cliché and florid. I majored in English nonetheless because I savored reading the world’s literary masters. After a stint as a journalist and editor, I experienced a Hemingway-ian realization: simplify your syntax and word selection. In other words, “half of art is knowing when to stop.” After a couple years of churning out news and features stories, my interests turned toward fiction. I thought had a novel or two in me. Oliver Wendell Holmes principal, “It is the poor man who dies with his music still inside him,” prompted me to return to college, earn my master’s in creative writing in the mid-90s and begin writing fiction. After writing several short stories, I yearned to tackle a novel.

Juanita: Would you describe “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story” to your readers?

Jeffery: Anne Bonney, a strong-willed and reflective young woman, is a historical figure of the early 1700s. The story dramatizes her often-troubled childhood in Ireland and the New World. Her mother dies when Anne is still young, and shortly after turning 15, she is nearly raped by a suitor. When she seeks her aristocratic father’s support she discovers he is more concerned with social reputation than her health and welfare.

In anger, she ventures into Charles Towne where she witnesses a pirate hanging and meets an indentured servant named James Bonney, who plans to turn pirate. After a few weeks of becoming acquainted she capriciously elopes with him and they sail for the pirate-infested waters of the Caribbean. What follows is an amazing adventure of the body and soul, which includes Anne disguising herself as a man and working alongside pirates for nearly two years aboard Calico Jack Rackham’s sloop as the crew pillages ships along the Spanish Main. During her experience as a pirate, she makes a close friend, Mary Reade, struggles with her spirituality and choices and eventually experiences a transformation of the heart that helps her find peace.

Juanita: This book is considered a historical fiction. How much of this story is true?

Jeffery: I plundered the local libraries for every volume on pirate history I could find. The Golden Age of Piracy and the stories of Anne Bonney, Mary Reade and Calico Jack Rackham are well documented, but I found the research is largely broad strokes with few specifics concerning what the principal characters said. So while most of the names and events are historical, what the characters thought or said in my story is a product of the creative process. While the historical documents recount Rackham’s and Reade’s last days, Anne Bonney’s are unknown. I considered various historically plausible theories before I decided which direction to take the conclusion of the novel.

Juanita: How did you originally hear about Anne Bonney? What was it about this story that intrigued you enough to write a book around her?

Jeffery: About a dozen years ago, I was sitting in bed with my son Calvin and reading him bedtime stories. We were reading about the colorful pirates of antiquity and I came across a snippet about Anne Bonney. Curiosity got the better of me. After I tucked my boy into bed, I went downstairs and started web search. Anne’s story captured my imagination and stayed with me for years. I thought it had rich themes, intriguing plot twists and a modern quality. Health issues in my family caused significant delays in finding the motivation and time to write the novel, but each year I would tell the story to my AP Literature students, which kept the story alive for me. They encouraged me to put it down on paper. Meanwhile, my wife nudged me frequently — expressing the idea of finishing the book for the sake of leaving a legacy.

Juanita: Anne was quite an enigma for the 1700’s. Would you give us some background into who Anne was?

Jeffery: Indeed she was. An illegitimate child and misbegotten aristocrat, a teenage runaway who eloped with an indentured servant, a woman who disguised herself as a man and lived as a pirate for nearly two years. She didn’t seem to fit neatly into any particular society, and yet she adapted to a diverse array of stations and situations. After her capture and imprisonment, her life disappears off the historical radar screen. Likely, she was ransomed by her wealthy father William McCormac and returned to a more civil life in America.

Juanita: Where did this story take place, and why was Anne compelled to become a pirate?

Jeffery: She spent the first 8 years of her life in Cork, Ireland before sailing with her family to the aristocratic part of Charles Towne, South Carolina. When she turned 15, she became an object of desire — for her beauty and family background. But after a traumatizing yet empowering incident in which she was nearly raped by a suitor, she decided to search elsewhere for a meaningful life. The death of her mother, tensions with her father, and the social expectations of the aristocratic life prompted her to elope with James Bonney, an indentured servant, who had romanticized visions of becoming a pirate.

Anne and James travel to New Providence, an island in the Bahamas, which is known as a piratical paradise. But the island proved a cesspool of disease, drunkenness and barbarity. Anne felt like a target amidst the pirates and her husband proves spineless among the rogues. One day Anne donned male clothing, wondering if she could effectively pass herself off as a man and free herself from the constant lewd comments and lascivious touches she had to endure. It worked so well Anne began to routinely dress as a man. About this time, Calico Jack Rackham sailed into the harbor. Anne, an impulsive and flighty girl of 17, fell for Rackham and left her husband. James, who worked as a spy for the British government, complained to the authorities and they threatened to arrest Anne if she didn’t return to her husband. Anne convinced Rackham to let her join his crew and sail upon the high seas.

Juanita: What was daily life like for Anne on the pirate ship? How did she manage to fool her shipmates into thinking she was a man?

Jeffery: Besides the sailing and repairing, the cooking and cleaning, the seeking and taking of prizes, Anne would have had a few other challenges to overcome. Going to the bathroom, for example, usually meant standing or sitting on a board, which protruded out over the stern of the ship. Women disguised as men sometimes used a tube when urinating in order to stand and simulate a man. Dealing with menstruation required finding a private place onboard — someplace in the bilge. Women would tightly wrap their breasts and create reasons for not shedding their shirts even on the hottest of days. It had to have been a pretty gritty existence.

Juanita: Jeffery, who are the other characters that are significant to this story?

Jeffery: Mary Reade, Calico Jack Rackham, Woodes Rogers, William McCormac and Edward Brannan. Each character provides texture to the plot, perspective for Anne to consider and interaction for Anne to contend with or relish in. Those who have reader my book often speak with fondness of Edward’s love and support, and the memorable bond of friendship Mary and Anne share in the story.

Juanita: Pirates and pirate themes still captivate audiences today. Why do you think this is, and how real is the true-life version of pirates, as in the days of Anne Bonney, compared to the more romanticized version we associate with today?

Jeffery: One of my intents in writing the novel was to realistically portray the life of pirates. They were bands of thieves on the sea, prone to cruelty, and often quite sadistic towards their victims. Not Robin Hoods. Most were physically maimed through violence or disease. The life expectancy of a pirate was only a couple years. Today, pirate stories are mostly for children, and Hollywood definitely romanticizes their lives and minimizes their cutthroat nature. With that said, the appeal of pirates for us today works on several levels. They are the rock stars of history, the bad boys who rage against the machine, the rebels who stand up to the establishment. They are colorful personalities who bravely battle the social and legal restrictions of the day. We like the idea of rebels with style and attitude.

Juanita: It is interesting that as a male writer, you wrote a story with a strong woman as your lead character. Would you comment about your choice?

Jeffery: To write from the perspective of a 1700s female at first seemed a course fraught with literary peril. But after reading several novels, such as Mary Tremaine’s Restoration and Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring I began to gain confidence in my ability to write convincingly from a woman’s point of view. Of course, I turned to my wife Katherine for honest responses. She helped a great deal in clarifying the female perspective on a wide variety of experiences.

Juanita: Jeffery, how did Katherine assist in writing process? Did you enjoy the collaboration?

Jeffery: Early on I enlisted my wife to assist me in editing scenes as well as providing her perspective. Several times she helped me understand the feminine mystique and the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. I also have to give her credit for helping me with the romantic scenes. After reading my first romantic scene, she set it down and said, “How can you leave me so unsatisfied?” At first I had to make sure she was talking about the book and not me. She shook her head and said, “MEN, THEY JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND ROMANCE” and then proceeded to help me rewrite some of the romantic scenes. Our interactions about what was a female vs. male view of romance got pretty hilarious sometimes. Katherine also has a keen sense for the consistency of character. She has always enjoyed observing people, reading stories and watching movies. She is quick to point out inconsistencies in character and offer suggestions that would have made the book or film better. I don’t believe I’ve met anyone intuitive than her. She contributed a great deal of insight to me as I developed Anne’s character from child to teen to adult. She has also been a source of continuous encouragement and support, not to mention one who has worked behind the scenes as a publicist in getting the word out to friends, family and strangers. It has been an awesome experience working alongside of her. And she has been pitching in a literary hand on my latest project as well.

Juanita: Jeffery, what is Anne’s legacy?

Jeffery: She is the most famous of female rogues during the Golden Age of Piracy. Mine is not the only novel out there dramatizing her life. Personally, I am surprised there hasn’t been a movie made about her life.

Juanita: As a teacher, what did you learn writing your first book that you could turn into advice for your students?

Jeffery: First and foremost, I exhort my students to read. Among my students, I see them showing more interest and time to their video games and movies than to appreciating the written word. From there, I suggest that their vision and motivation must match the time and energy they devote to their writing. Thirdly, constructive criticism must be accepted in a way that doesn’t rob them of their muse. I tell them to listen carefully to the feedback you receive, keep what is insightful and pitch what is doggerel. There are thousands of writers out there in the world; to be noticed and read requires patience and commitment to honing one’s craft.

Juanita: I understand that “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story” has been taken on as a screenplay project. You must be excited, would you tell us more?

Jeffery: A former student of mine, Tara Pinley, who earned her film degree at USC and now works as an associate producer and director of DVDs, (Double Indemnity and Poseidon), thought my novel had definite cinematic qualities. She felt the characters, time period, events and themes that could catch Hollywood’s attention, especially in light of the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Competition in the film world is extremely tight, but her knowledge of the film industry, her scriptwriting experience and her contacts will hopefully bring greater attention to the Anne Bonney story. Time will tell.

Juanita: Do you have any future projects in the works? How can readers find out more about you and your books?

Jeffery: I recently completed my second novel Redeemer. It is a psychological crime thriller set in Fresno, California where I have lived since 1967. I would describe the story as a cross between the novels of James Lee Burke and James Connelly and the film Se7en. I am currently seeking an agent to represent it. Obviously, it has nothing to do with pirates. Probably the only similarities the two books share is the extensive use of historical and literary allusions for the purposes of plot, and the fact that the main point of view character is a woman. My website is www.jefferyswilliams.com. Feel free to check out my short fiction, nonfiction, satire, plays and lesson plans. And feel free to email me.

Juanita: Jeffery, thank you for talking with us today. We appreciate the opportunity and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your compelling novel “Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story.” Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with your readers today?

Jeffery: What’s it say in Ecclesiastes? “Be warned: the writing of many books is endless and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body”? How’s that as a final plug for my novel? There are literally millions of books readers can choose from. The competition for the eyes, mind and time of the reader is incredibly stiff — so I want to sincerely thank those who invest their time, energy and expense into reading my work. It is flattering and humbling. And I can only hope you enjoy Anne Bonney’s story as much as I loved writing it.
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Interview and Review
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Lively Pirate Tale with a Deeper Message
Author Interview with Jeffery S. Williams, Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story
By Lisa M. Hendey

Pirates are more popular than ever these days, perhaps owing in part to a certain blockbuster summer film. However, most mothers of sons have known for years the male fascination with all things pirate. I’ve sewn at least two pirate costumes, refereed more than my fair share of sword fights and read numerous story books aloud in my best “matey” voice. So I was prepared to enjoy Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story (iUniverse, February 2006, paperback, 236 pages), the inaugural work of novelist Jeffery S. Williams, with his wife Katherine Williams.

What I wasn’t expecting was to be uplifted and inspired along the way – to emerge from the literary romp with the sense that somehow, amidst the pages of the really entertaining story I’d just read, I’d walk away edified. Jeffery Williams, supported effectively by his wife Katherine Williams, gives voice so convincingly to main character Anne Bonney that you’d swear he’s actually a lusty wench. When I met him in person and learned that he is in point of fact a high school English teacher, I was even more impressed by his writing prowess.

Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story is the tale of a one young Irish woman’s transition into the world of pirates during the 1700s. Inspired by historical accounts, Williams fleshes out Bonney’s tale with great gusto and flair. Readers with a certain sensibility may blush at some of the book’s more spicy scenes, but they seem essential to the book’s characters and their circumstances. You should be forewarned that the book does contain some language, adult themes and violence which may be offensive to some readers. However, Williams does not seem to write gratuitously or for mere “shock value”. I found myself falling hard for Anne Bonney and her comrades, and rooting solidly for her ultimate transformation from strong-willed girl to plundering pirate to graceful woman.

No doubt aided by his incredible font of knowledge of literature, Williams spreads layers of deeper themes and references between the fast paced pages of action and adventure. I recently caught up with Jeffery Williams and am pleased to share his comments on Anne Bonney, spirituality and his writing.

Q: Please briefly introduce yourself and your family.

A: My name is Jeffery S. Williams and Katherine is my bride of 21 years. We have a 17-year-old son named Calvin, who is now a senior at Clovis West High school, where I have also teach English the past 19 years. I am a former journalist and freelance writer, and have a master’s degree in creative writing from CSU Fresno. My wife also teaches language arts at Clovis Adult School.

Q: Please give a brief plot summary for readers who may not be familiar with your book.

A: Anne Bonney, a strong-willed and reflective young woman, is a historical figure of the early 1700s. The story dramatizes her often-troubled childhood in Ireland and the New World. Her mother dies when Anne is still young, and shortly after turning 15, she is nearly raped by a suitor. When she seeks her father’s support she discovers he is more concerned with social reputation than her health and welfare. In anger, she ventures into Charles Towne where she witnesses a pirate hanging and meets a man named James Bonney, who plans to turn pirate. After a few weeks of becoming acquainted she capriciously elopes with him and they sail for the pirate-infested waters of the Caribbean. What follows is an amazing adventure of the body and soul, which includes Anne disguising herself as a man and working alongside pirates for nearly two years aboard Calico Jack Rackham’s sloop as the crew pillages ships along the Spanish Main, but eventually experiences a transformation of the heart.

Q: Jeff, congratulations on the publication of your first novel! Please tell us what inspired Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story and if the book turned out as you first envisioned it might?

A: Thank you. Several years ago I was reading a bedtime story to Calvin. The book was about pirates and told a brief history of Anne Bonney. I am not sure why, but I was intrigued. After putting my son to bed, I got online and discovered a historical account rich in detail by Daniel Defoe. I started to envision an intricate plot with several twists. From there the themes I wished to explore began to emerge more clearly. I also thought that though the main character lived three hundred years ago, her story could be of interest to a mainstream audience, that today’s readers could identify with her dreams, her experiences, and her issues.

Q: I can see your English teacher background shining through in your writing, but what type of additional research did you have to undertake in the composition of this book? Did your interest in pirates and the sea predate your writing of Anne Bonney? How much of the book comes from historical reality?

A: My background in the literary classics seemed a natural to utilize in capturing the ethos of the era as well as for various symbolic purposes. In terms of research, I consumed everything I could find on pirate history. I wanted the reader not only to enjoy a great story, but also walk away with a greater knowledge of the Golden Age of Piracy.

My interest in pirates and the sea pretty much evolved with my study of Anne Bonney. Rather than viewing the novel as a work of historical fiction, I see it more as literary fiction set in the 1700s. My story is inspired by the recorded events in the lives of Anne Bonney, Mary Reade, James Bonney, Woodes Rodgers and Jack Rackham. The majority of the characters in the book were real people, and whenever possible I included their actual words. Obviously I had to conjure and create their thoughts, as well as fill in the gaps of their lives.

Q: Anne's character goes through such a spiritual evolution in the book. Without giving away the ending, did you intentionally address her spiritual development as a theme in the book or was that simply a byproduct of telling the story? How has your own faith journey impacted on your writing?

A: Yes, her spiritual catharsis was intentional. The prodigal story, though an ancient one, remains contemporary. The search for adventure and happiness, the subsequent disillusionment, the transformation of the heart and the redemption of the soul — it is still an intriguing archetype to plumb. So, yes, taking Anne (and James and Mary for that matter) through spiritual journeys was paramount to the story.

For myself, I experienced a spiritual discovery during my senior year in high school. I embraced faith in God and accepted Christ’s offer of salvation through His sacrifice and gift of grace. Since that time I have continued to seek a greater knowledge of and connection with God and His Scripture. Virtually everything I write flows out of my faith in some way.

Q: What are some of your favorite books and which authors have influenced you as an author?

A: I am a bibliophile and I love all kinds of books.

The classics? Les Miserables, A Tale of Two Cities, Treasure Island, Moll Flanders, The Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy, Candide and Shakespearean plays.

Modernist/Realist authors? Twain, Crane, London, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Faulkner, O’Neill, Huxley, Chopin, and Wharton. I have to include Lewis and Tolkien.

Contemporary? Among my favorites include Thom Jones, Tim O’Brien, Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, Robertson Davies. Raymond Carver. Ethan Canin

Influences?

Steinbeck and Hugo in terms of character and story. Steve Yarbrough and Liza Weiland were two of my creative writing professors. They had a significant impact on my writing. Being a journalist and editor for three years was also important in my maturation as a writer.

Q: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about your collaboration with your wife Katherine on this project. How did Katherine's perspective help you in framing and giving voice to Anne's character?

A: In the “author’s note” of my novel, I “call it a genuinely absurd venture for a man to consider writing from a woman’s point of view.” Early on I enlisted my wife to assist me in editing scenes and providing her perspective. Several times she helped me understand the feminine mystique and the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. I also have to give her credit for helping me with the romantic scenes as well. She would frequently shake her head and say, “MEN, THEY JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND ROMANCE” and then proceed to help me rewrite those particular scenes. Our interactions about what was a female vs. male view of romance got pretty hilarious sometimes.

Katherine has a keen sense for the consistency of character. She has always enjoyed observing people and contributed a great deal of insight to me as I developed Anne’s character from child to teen to adult. She has also been a source of continuous encouragement and support, not to mention one who has worked behind the scenes as a publicist in getting the word out to friends, family and strangers. It has been an awesome experience working alongside of her.

Q: By the time the book came to its conclusion, I did not want to say goodbye to the characters. Would you ever consider writing a sequel to the book and if so, have you thought about how the story of Anne and James might continue? Do you have plans for future writing projects?

A: Presently I feel the Anne Bonney’s story is finished. There isn’t any other documentation about her life, so any sequel would be completely fictional.

So for now I will take inspiration from Steinbeck. His first novel was a pirate story. After he wrote Cup of Gold, he concentrated on other settings and subjects. The novel I am working on now is a mainstream psychological thriller set in Fresno/Clovis area — where I have lived since 1967.

Q: Jeffery Williams, author of Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story, thank you so much for your time and for an excellent read! Are there any additional thoughts or comments you'd like to share?

A: In Ecclesiastes, the writer says: “…be warned: the writing of many books is endless and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.” There are literally millions of books one can choose to read. The competition for readers’ minds is stiff so I wish to sincerely thank those who have invested the time, energy and expense to read my book. It is flattering and humbling. I can only hope you enjoyed Anne Bonney’s story as much as I loved writing it.

For more information on Anne Bonney: My Pirate Story visit Amazon.


Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com and an avid reader. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.