Author Archives: John Urban

About John Urban

Like his protagonist, John Urban has worked as a college professor and he sails the waters of Southern New England on an old wooden sailboat that he restored. He is a regular contributor to the blog Write On The Water, and his short stories have appeared in the anthologies Seasmoke and Deadfall. The ocean was his desired destination from an early age. As a boy living a landlocked life in Western Massachusetts, nights were dedicated to reading about boats and watching Flipper and weekends were spent boating and fishing, April-to-October, on Long Island Sound. Thoughts of a career at sea ended early after a stint at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, but the circle of life has come around some years later in the form of the fictional world of Steve Decatur. Urban lives just outside Boston and spends his summers near the waters edge of Buzzards Bay and Rhode Island Sound. A Single Deadly Truth, published on Amazon Kindle, is Urban's debut novel. As second Steve Decatur mystery, Masters of Rhode Island, is due out later this year.

Splash-time

Posted on June 19, 2013 by John Urban

by John Urban After a number of spring weekends and late weekday nights, good old Factor X is ready for the water. It’s splash-time. She was built in 1945 and she’ll be heading out of the shed looking as good … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ninety-two in the Shade

Posted on June 5, 2013 by John Urban

It’s early June, the days are long and warm weather is settling into Southern New England. The sailboat’s topsides and decks are painted, the cabin sides and coaming varnished, and the boat will soon be lowered into the water and … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

A Cruiser’s Conundrum

Posted on May 22, 2013 by John Urban

by John Urban (On the water, living the dream) Earlier this week Mike Jastrzebski wrote from the Bahamas, describing that as much as living on the hook in the islands is paradise, it’s harder as your body grows older. His … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

This Old Boat

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John Urban

It’s early May in the boatyard. As a wooden boat owner, sandpaper, paint, varnish, and brushes are my primary springtime tools. Lots of work and lots of time to think about this old boat of ours, one that was first … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Boston Aftermath – Boats to Build

Posted on April 24, 2013 by John Urban

By John Urban (Customs Tower – City of Boston, Massachusetts) With the click of the remote control, CNN and the national networks made it clear that the whole country was watching what was playing out in Boston neighborhoods last week. … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off

What are they really doing?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by John Urban

By John Urban Fans of this post have read that Christine, Mike, and Mary are sailing the Bahamas aboard Talespinner and Rough Draft. Word is, Christine and Mike are working away on new books. Call me skeptical, but I’m thinking … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The e-book Future: Google Glass & Car-readers

Posted on April 1, 2013 by John Urban

By John Urban Google co-founder, Sergey Brin, has been making news with announcements of the company’s prototype device, Google Glass. The product, a wearable computer with a head-mounted display that delivers hands-free Internet search features, will be released in late … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Life On The Hook

Posted on March 27, 2013 by John Urban

By John Urban Have you ever woken up in a sweat after dreaming that the brakes in your car didn’t work? If you’re a boater, you have probably also had the equivalent nightmare of dreaming that you are asleep aboard … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The Water’s Edge

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John Urban

By John M. Urban Daylight savings time, Spring ahead. They are welcome words. Ironically, these signs of the changing season occurred only days after a winter storm left just under two feet of snow in communities west of Boston. That … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off

On Assignment: Jost Van Dyke

Posted on February 27, 2013 by John Urban

By John Urban Jost Van Dyke, a four-and-a-half square mile rise on the northern edge of  Caribbean Sea.  An island that receives an armada of sailors and day boaters who descend upon waterfront establishments such as the Soggy Dollar Bar … Continue reading →

Share on Facebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments