Seaspell

Cape Hatteras Chronicles is a series of historical fiction books focusing onthe Outer Banks of North Carolina and the surrounding mainland. Each bookhas been published previously. These novels are now being brought togetheras a freshly redesigned collection to offer the contemporary reader a glimpseof life on the North Carolina coast in days gone by.Remote doesn't begin to describe Cape Hatteras, the island off the coastof North Carolina, where Mariah has taken a teaching job. Murfreesborois not that far, as the crow flies, from Hatteras Island. But in the late 1800sthe trip means a train ride, followed by several boat rides. And the windsweptisland might as well be on another continent as far as the culturegoes. The accent sounds like another language and the lack of electricitymakes the night sky light up with stars as if it were a planetarium.For all the rugged discomfort, Mariah is soon charmed by the locals.Walking the sand paths becomes a pleasant way to explore the village.The ocean turns out to be far less frightening when the pounding waveslay down. Wading in the clear water is a cool balm on beastly hot days .Return to the days when the majestic Cape Hatteras Light was fueledby kerosene, hauled up the 268 steps in 5 gallon containers. Whenstorm tides regularly washed over the flats and inundated houses.Where animals were fenced out, not in, and wild ponies roamed free.