Fantasy book a tribute to fisherman

FRIDAY, DEC. 21: The Drummer Boy of Castle Island, J K Aspinall’s new novel, is an action packed fantasy story that combines the author/illustrator’s pen and ink illustrations, photos of Castle Island, and a text that describes the environment and beauty of Bermuda. It also pays tribute, through photos and poetry, to the late Christy Smith, a well-known fisherman who kept his boat in Tucker’s Town Bay.

 Aspinall states that Christy was part of her life, dating back to childhood. “Christy introduced me to Castle Island as a young adult,” she said, “and I roamed over the island photographing every fort, every rampart in the 1970’s.”

At that time, Aspinall was working on a book design of her Castle Island poetry and photographs, but unfamiliar with the publishing business, she abandoned the project. “How fortunate, I had all this material for the novel,” she says. “The original negatives now belong to the National Museum of Bermuda, but I retained a selection of black and white photos.”

“It is a glimpse into a world that has altered greatly,” she said. “It will expose Bermudians, who know nothing about Castle Island, its forts, nor its history, to this incredible part of our island.”

“The book will thrill adults,” she says, “who want to immerse themselves in, or share with friends abroad, the descriptions of nature that surrounds us. Water that shimmers like glass. Skies that explode with pinks and magentas. Hurricane seas that charge with waves of white horses.”

She states the younger set, 11 years to teens, will identify with the young characters and their rollicking adventure in the fantasy aspects

Pirates, demons, ghosts, villains — plus the giant, Indian god of hurricanes-— Uran, who ravishes the islands of Bermuda, destroys the British fleet, and washes down the seafarers with a waterspout — constitute the mixture for this rollicking time-travel adventure in which three twenty-first century children chase the apparition of a drummer boy, Christopher Dock, down the subterranean tunnels of Castle Island and exit in the year 1750.

Wild woman, earth goddess, thirteen-year old Jeannine, who dances on the top of the ancient fortifications, leads her brothers into a world of intrigue and pirate treasure, where they match wits and battle ex-pirate, Skagg. The children survive the horror of the hurricane and witness not only heroic feats, but the anguish of death and drowning. Underlying themes of new puberty, self-consciousness, and sibling conflicts resolve themselves in the end as glorious Bermudian youth triumphs.

As a special gift to anyone purchasing the Drummer at book signings, Aspinall will be giving out her artist signed prints of Castle Island and Christy Smith based on the paintings now held by the National Museum of Bermuda.

This high quality, high gloss page book contains a record of photographs, along with detailed black and white art.

Each chapter is headed by one of her pen and inks. Her art is highly detailed and imaginative.

“It is way beyond being an ordinary, paper back. It is a professionally produced book that could be considered a collector’s item among those who cherish Bermudiana.” Along with the original negatives of Castle Island,  Aspinall has also donated her paintings of Christy Smith to the National Museum of Bermuda.

The book retails for $18.95 and so far is sold by: Bookmart, Robertsons Drugstore, Book Cellar, Bermuda Art Centre, and Craft Market. “The only outlets who truly support Bermudian authors,” Aspinall states.