Below Deck

Below Deck is the highly anticipated debut novel from author Sophie Hardcastle. A heartbreakingly poetic and haunting story about the vagaries of consent, about who has the space to speak and who is believed.

From the star of Bravo’s hit reality show Below Deck comes Running Against the Tide, the “Stud of the Sea’s” first-ever memoir recounting his journey from landlocked Saginaw, Michigan to the high seas, where he has spent more than twenty-five years as a superyacht captain. The cast members of Below Deck are known for their catfights, scheming, personal attacks, and long-held grudges, but what keeps viewers coming back week after week is resident hero Captain Lee, the only cast member to appear in all five seasons. But you don’t have to be one of Below Deck’s 1.5 million weekly viewers to appreciate Captain Lee’s story, which offers a glimpse behind-the-scenes at the luxury yachting industry and one of Bravo’s biggest franchises. From having to reclaim his drunk captain's lost papers in the Dominican Republic to unwittingly crewing a drug boat out of Turks and Caicos to navigating the outrageous demands of the super-rich in New York City, Captain Lee's tales from the high seas run the gamut, proving time and time again why he’s a fan favorite: he’s occasionally profane, he’s often surprising, but he’s never dull and, for the first time, he’s here to tell all.

Since 2006, The Insiders’ Guide to Becoming a Yacht Stewardess has been a must-read guide for hopeful, young travelers and those intrigued by a career path in the super-yacht industry. Hundreds of yacht crew in the industry today used Julie’s book to get started---and succeed---working aboard yachts. Entertaining and educational, this book not only covers who owns luxury yachts, where they travel, and what taking care of their eccentric owners is like, but it describes the awe-inspiring benefits of the job, the skills required, and a clear-cut roadmap for how others can do it, too. If the terrific pay and benefits that come from accompanying celebrities and dignitaries on their private journeys around the world appeals to you, consider Julie Perry your new career coach. Let her guide you to the sea of opportunity that awaits young travelers in one of the world’s most adventurous and mind-boggling industries: LUXURY YACHTING.

Declan McGillis can't stand rich people. But working as a deckhand on a luxury charter yacht, he also can't escape them. Declan has spent years kissing their ass and doing their bidding...whatever it takes to make his dreams come true, and nothing will get in his way of being the captain of his own yacht one day. Mackenzie Armstrong knows what people think when they look at her. She knows from the outside looking in, it seems like her family has it all and doesn't have a care in the world. Things aren't always what they seem, and not only does Mackenzie have the weight of her family's struggles on her shoulders, she also needs to prove to Declan that she's not the spoiled princess he believes her to be. Declan can't ignore the sparks of lust between them, even though Mackenzie is completely off limits and absolutely out of his league. Mackenzie thinks a vacation fling is just what she needs to forget about the mess her life has become, and Declan is the perfect man for the job. Will this be a quick romp in the water, or will it turn into something more when Mackenzie finally gets below Deck?

Blissfully shallow and carefree, Kate Chastain was your typical twenty something college co-ed. Well, until reality gave her a wake-up call in the form of a diploma, that is. At a crossroads after graduation, a serendipitous coincidence convinced Kate to abandon life as she knew it and jump feet first into the world of working on mega yachts. At first, she stumbled her way through life as a stewardess, just trying to adjust to her new surroundings and clumsily 'learning the ropes' via trial and error. Like shit-tons of error. But now, nearly ten years and a hit reality show later, Kate is finally ready to share the good, the bad, and the downright shocking details about her life at sea with the world's most rich and famous. It was 2008 and we were anchored off of St.Tropez. I had only been a yachtie for two seasons at the time when I turned to the Captain's wife, and said, "You know, I could write a book about all of insane things we see working on these boats.....the sex, the money, the celebrities...." My older, more experienced coworker rolled her eyes and laughed then was quick to dismiss my silly idea, "Kate, of course we could all write a book about what we see on yachts. We've all said it for years.....but, if you actually did that, you would never get hired on another yacht again. " She went back to polishing the crystal wine glass in her hand and I was confused for a second. "But Stacie, if so many people knew about the book that I couldn't get a yacht job, would I still really need one?"

Leadership lessons from Captain Sandy Yawn, a renowned superyacht captain with over 30 years of international maritime experience, and star of the reality show Below Deck Mediterranean. Everyone experiences a moment in life when they need to lead. Sometimes it's a team, sometimes it's a company, a classroom, a patient ward, a family, or simply your own individual self. Based on the leadership lessons she's gathered from her resourceful and resilient life, Captain Sandy, a superyacht captain and star of Bravo's Below Deck Mediterranean, shares the leadership skills and critical thinking inherent to being a captain that can empower anyone to navigate their way to a successful life. Among some of the stories/lessons she'll share: How she selects and sizes up her crew even before embarking on a charter, deciding who to invest in and how to bring out their best. Things happen at sea. No matter how much you plan and train, so much can go wrong so she'll discuss the level of persistence and faith that's required in solving an especially knotty problem. Authority and discipline are required to lead, but they must be leavened with compassion, understanding, and a desire to see your crew succeed. She describes the seamless flow that happens in great teamwork and how she loves seeing the way her deckhands pitch in with the stews when needed. For Captain Sandy, this represents leading with empathy, figuring out who your teammates are and what motivates them, then communicating in a way that motivates and makes them feel understood. As a captain, Sandy is constantly upgrading her knowledge and skill set, which is as much a part of her job as steering a vessel. Sustaining excellence requires constant effort, whether you find yourself at the end of a journey, halfway through or at the start of a new one. And the learning never stops. Woven throughout her stories are Captain Sandy's optimism and abiding faith that, given the right tools and opportunities, individuals are capable of so much more than they realize, especially when they can find someone to believe in them.

From the author of Below Deck: Hell or High Water The Below Deck series of books, from horror author Matt Shaw, are stand-alone tales of horror. The characters are the same in all of the stories but the stories are separate from one another. Therefore, you do not have to have read any of the other books within the series to understand what is going on, or who the people are. Synopsis: As Captain Lee navigates the crystal blue waters, taking his guests out to some of the most fabulous locations, he and his crew come across an injured mermaid. Entranced by the mythical creature's beauty, they listen as she tells of a secret island of sheer paradise, which is known to but a few. In exchange for helping her get home, the creature promises to show them the way to the island so they can experience the paradise for themselves. However, once onboard, they realise she wasn't quite as injured as she made out and, she wasn't alone in those tropical waters... Something bigger and hungrier is also lurking beneath the waves, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and feast on the blood of the freshly dead.

As whitewater rafting guides down the New River in Fayetteville, West Virginia, sixteen-year-old Tia and her twin brother, Finn, hope to find a way to escape poverty after the recent deaths of their parents. When a Hollywood film producer offers the siblings acting roles in his movie, Tia sees the vision of her golden ticket she has prayed for God to provide. How can she refuse? From Chile's exotic Río Futaleufú, to her captivity in the Amazon Rainforest and the slums of Buenos Aires, Tia's deep faith touches everyone she meets . . . . . . but will her faith be enough to survive the darkest pits of humanity? Praise for The Girl and the Golden Leaf "An unforgettable journey, full of adventure, suspense, mystery, and despair to triumph, The Girl and the Golden Leaf, will forever touch your heart, as the book uniquely touches on many injustices and social issues that span the globe - namely children in poverty and slave trafficking." (10/10 stars) -CBM Christian Book Reviews "Combining an intriguing, engrossing story with a salutary message of hope and charity for deprived innocents, The Girl and the Golden Leaf by June N. Foster is both riveting and revelatory." -Chanticleer Reviews "Foster's deft writing can generate tension by mere suggestion." "...rewarding tale of a kidnapped teenager's resilience." -Kirkus Reviews