History Said They Couldn't
Why I Write About Women Sea Captains
I’ve always been drawn to the ocean—not just its beauty, but its stories. The forgotten ones. The stories of women who commanded ships when they weren’t supposed to command anything.
For years, I collected these fragments: a pirate queen who negotiated with Elizabeth I. A widow who built a navy from grief. A woman who gave birth on deck and fought off attackers the next day. These weren’t myths. They were real women who sailed, fought, survived, and led—yet history tried to erase them.
That’s why I’m here.
I’m writing Queen of Sea & Iron, a historical novel about Grace O’Malley—Ireland’s legendary pirate queen who ruled Clew Bay in the 1500s, commanded twenty warships, and met Queen Elizabeth I as an equal. But this isn’t just Grace’s story. It’s the story of every woman who was told the sea wasn’t her place and sailed anyway.
Why Substack?
Because I want to bring you along on this journey. Writing a historical novel means diving deep into research, uncovering incredible women, learning about sixteenth-century ships and navigation and clan politics. It means wrestling with how to balance historical accuracy with a compelling story. It means discovering details so vivid they demand to be shared.
This is where I’ll share:
∙ Research discoveries about Grace O’Malley and other remarkable women of the sea
∙ Behind-the-scenes glimpses into the writing process
∙ Historical facts that are too good not to tell
∙ Updates on Queen of Sea & Iron’s progress
∙ Conversations about bringing forgotten women back to life through fiction
If you love historical fiction, strong female characters, sea adventures, or just well-told stories about women who refused to stay on shore—welcome aboard.
The tide is rising. Let’s sail.
—gale
P.S. — Have a favorite woman from maritime history I should know about? Drop her name in the comments. I’m always hunting for new stories.