Copies of On Wahoo Reef, the newest Blacktip Island comic misadventure novel, were available for sale Friday morning at the island’s Cracked Spines independent bookstore. (photo courtesy of Ann Bouquin / Cracked Spines)
Local award-winning author Tim W. Jackson today released his third Blacktip Island novel, On Wahoo Reef, via all major book distributors, his personal website and Cracked Spines, the small Caribbean Island’s independent bookstore.
Jackson summarized the novel as:
‘Wally Breight’s a miserable-in-his-job P.R. executive who dreams of escaping to happily-ever-after in the Caribbean. When he stumbles across a run-down scuba diving operation for sale on Blacktip Island, he snaps it up and settles into paradise. But paradise has other ideas. His dive boat’s a lemon. His business partner proves the age of piracy isn’t dead. Scuba guests are scarce. And a free-spirited dive mistress might party him into an early grave. If Wally can’t get a handle on paradise, pronto, he’ll be leaving Blacktip Island faster than a coconut in a hurricane.’
“It’s a comic misadventure for anyone who’s ever dreamed of trading the nine-to-five rat race for an idealized life of hammocks and palm trees in the tropics,” Jackson said. “If Northern Exposure hooked up with Margaritaville, their love child would be On Wahoo Reef.”
The International Review of Books called On Wahoo Reef, “A great story with good pace and dialogue, enigmatic characters who are easy to like, and a refreshing feel-good element. Recommended.”
The Manhattan Book Review described it as, “Lighthearted, with interesting characters and funny dialogue. Jackson has done a great job. Once you start reading, you can’t stop.”
Local reaction was not as appreciative.
“If it’s anything like his last two books, I’m gonna hurt him. Badly,” divemaster Alison Diesel said. “‘Cause of that grommet, the world thinks we’re a bunch of bat-shit yahoos. It’s total crap, him slagging us down to get cheap laughs from total strangers.”
Others echoed that sentiment.
“He calls me ‘sasquatch’ again in this one, I’m gonna launch a book, too. Upside his head,” handyman Dermott Bottoms said. “Then rip his arms out their sockets and beat him with ‘em. The boy can run all he wants, but ain’t no place to hide on this little rock.”
The novel’s first chapter is available as a free download via The Blacktip Times.
On Wahoo Reef is available for purchase at:
timwjackson.com for paperbacks.
Jackson will host a launch party Friday night at The Last Ballyhoo bar, with free drinks and live music by island bands The Social Morays, Effing Zeagles, and Young Jacques and the Double Hose.
A portion of the proceeds from all Blacktip Island novel and short story sales goes to the Coral Reef Alliance.
The Blacktip Times 