Author:
Alex McGilvery has been reading since before he can remember, and writing almost that long. He has published 18 books and is author and editor at his imprint Celticfrog Publishing. He lives in Kamloops with his dog and the stories clawing their way out of his head.

They’re chasing a myth in the name of science.

Calliope works for her explorer father as an artist, recording what he brings back from his journeys in her sketchbooks. When she’s given a chance to go along on a trip to capture a sea serpent she doesn’t hesitate.

Life at sea isn't what she expected, and she ends up fascinated by the engine room of the steamship HMRV Peregrine. A tragedy makes her assistant engineer, but Pentam, her father’s protégé, is even more determined than her father to make Cal a fine lady. That means protecting her from danger, even if it drives her crazy.
When science and legend collide, Cal is the one who must take up the challenge of survival, even if it means risking her new-found feelings for Pentam.

Calliope

The conversation with her father came back to her. There will be a time... It had sounded so easy at home. What had he said at the end? Stay the course.


Would Father continue his work if it had been me? Cal sat up in her bunk. He would; she'd want him to. Grief was all very well, but moping in her berth was no fit memorial for Sam.


Cal got up and dressed with extra care. She replaced the water damaged sketchbook, but left the knife in the satchel. Time to get to work. 


The deck hummed with activity. Captain Cully had determined the water was safe enough for the boats, but no more sounding ropes. They filled sample jars with fish, crabs and other things Cal couldn't identify. Shells and bones were cleaned and packed away, skins dried before they too were stowed below deck. Cal found a place out of the way and began recording the activity in her sketchbook.


Chapter 31: Staying The Course Part 1