Skip to main content

The Day I Finally Pressed Publish — and Introducing The Boathouse Gang

 


For years I’ve written stories quietly at home — some for myself, some for my family, and some that never made it further than a notebook or a forgotten computer folder. Writing has always been something I’ve done in the background of life here in Saundersfoot, a private pleasure rather than anything I imagined sharing widely.

But today, something changed.

I pressed Publish.

My first children’s mystery adventure, The Boathouse Gang and the Tale of the Jewels at Monkstone Point, is now officially out in the world as an ebook. It still feels slightly unreal to say that. After more than forty years living and working in this village — many of you will know me as Steve Duckworth — I’ve stepped into a new creative chapter under my writing name, David Baxter.

The story itself is rooted in the places I know best. Saundersfoot Harbour, the beach, the caves, the narrow paths and hidden corners that have always sparked the imagination. I wanted to capture that sense of possibility — the feeling that a single summer’s day could turn into an adventure.

So let me introduce you to the Boathouse Gang.

Tom, Megan and Rhys spend their holidays in a secret hideout behind the Marine Centre. What begins as an ordinary day quickly becomes something far more unexpected when they discover stolen jewellery hidden in a cave at Monkstone Point. Their search leads them through the harbour, into the village, and eventually to a long‑buried secret connected to Saundersfoot’s past.

It’s written for readers aged 8–12, but anyone who enjoys local settings, seaside adventures and a touch of nostalgia may find something to enjoy in it.

If you’d like to explore the adventure — or share it with a young reader — you can find the ebook here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H4NF19PM

Publishing something after keeping it private for so long is a strange feeling… but a good one. And it feels like the beginning rather than the end. More Boathouse Gang adventures are already in the works.

If you’d like to hear more about the characters, the real locations behind the story, or the writing process, just let me know — I’m happy to share more in future posts.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Woman At The Window

A Short Story  She insisted on a window seat as she bustled into the café from the damp, cobbled streets. Even though the only unoccupied table was laid for four covers, she quickly made her way over to it. After removing her dripping raincoat, she placed it on the back of the corner-most chair and sat down. Barely visible from the dreary street, she sat turned in towards the café, yet continuously glanced through the picture window at the busy road outside. Waiting for someone, maybe. Could they see her? Maybe she wanted them to pass by. Why? She wasn’t what you’d call a pretty woman, but certainly not unattractive. She had olive skin and was smartly dressed in black trousers with stylish calf-length leather boots. Her rust-coloured jumper was a little baggy, but the colourful scarf was a well-considered accessory, giving a much-needed splash of colour. Her wavy, shoulder-length dark brown hair hadn’t fared well in the damp weather — slightly tousled and wet. The glasses she to...
2 comments
Read more

Funchal's Hidden Gardens: A Photographer's Quiet Morning in Madeira

  A few days ago in Funchal, Madeira, we were wandering through the gardens with no real plan, just following the paths to see where they led. It was warm, the sort of easy warmth you only seem to notice when you’re away from home, and the place was full of the sound of running water. We came across a small pool with a waterfall dropping straight down into it, the water falling in a constant white sheet from the rocks above. It was louder than you might expect, but not in an unpleasant way. In fact, it made the whole place feel calm, as if the noise drowned out everything else. Out on the water was a single swan, moving slowly across the pool as if it had all the time in the world. It didn’t seem bothered in the slightest by the waterfall crashing down behind it. If anything, it made the scene feel even more peaceful. I took this photograph without thinking too much about it at the time. It just felt like one of those moments worth keeping. When I look at it now, what I rememb...
2 comments
Read more

The Tides We Bury

 I’m currently working on a novel set on the Welsh coast — a place of routine, community, and unspoken understanding. The Tides We Bury is a story about reinvention, loyalty, and what happens when the past decides it’s done waiting. More to come. You’re very welcome to follow the blog for future posts and stories
Post a Comment
Read more