Excerpt Tour + #Giveaway: I'll Go the Length of Meself by Dr. Philip Earle @GoddessFish

I'll Go the Length of Meself: The Story of Newfoundland's Daring Rascal, Captain Guy Earle, North America's Youngest Master Mariner

by Dr. Philip Earle

GENRE: Memoir, Non-fiction

BLURB:

"Guy's life was a living adventure: he was a mariner and navigator of the first order, a character with the bravery of a Viking and the kindness of Robin Hood. Generous to a fault, he could never turn his back on someone in need, and would risk his life in a flash to save the life of another. He was like a godfather to the coastal people.

– Philip Earle

"Guy Earle commanded ships when he was a boy. He had the qualities admired by Newfoundlanders, and created maximum employment in the family business wherever he could. He was truly a Newfoundland hero."

– Geoff Stirling, (1921–2013), founder, CJON-TV (NTV)

"Guy had a mind of his own. He was a terrific leader and he played hard to win at anything he did. He was quick to size up a situation and quick to take action. He never, ever accepted the word 'can't'; if it was possible, it had to be done."

– Fred Earle (1924–1999), Guy's brother and partner in business

"Skipper Guy could take charge on anything. He had no fear and believed in himself. He could make friends with the Queen, as they say, if he wanted, and get anything he wanted."

– Fred Rossiter, (1905–1985), shipmate and friend of Guy.

"It must be a beautiful thing to know you saved someone's life. Guy Earle saved me. I've had a long life, a successful business, and raised a family because of him. He was a great man."

– Ed Wahlen, businessman and friend of Guy

"Guy Earle was the exemplification of courage in everything he did. His trade was with people and his warmth spread as widely as his countless business negotiations. He gave his life to his vision of the fishery; it was his gift to his homeland, a gift few men can claim to better."

– Maurice Quinlan (1910–1983), co-founder, Quinlan Brothers Ltd

"Guy Earle was sent here by God to give to people."

– Pasteur Harold Slade

"Captain Guy was a daring seafarer whose legendary adventures rivalled those of the heroes in such Hollywood films as Captain Blood, Down to The Sea in Ships, and Captains Courageous."

– Gordon Lore, author

"There will never be another Guy Earle; there couldn't be."

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Excerpt:

Guy wasn’t only known in the town for his acrobatic stunts, he was also known for his courage. One morning early in the summer of

1937, a man was having a nervous breakdown (or “went mad” as the saying was at that time) and ran out on Water Street waving a loaded pistol at spectators. He then pointed it at himself saying, “I’m going to kill myself!” This tense situation went on for some time. The people were scared for their lives and afraid the man would shoot himself. No one could move to get away or get close to the man to take the gun away because he kept pointing it at them.

Someone finally thought of getting the skipper. They managed to slip away from the scene, found Guy and told him what was going on. A few minutes later, Guy walked up the street unnoticed and slipped into the crowd. He slowly moved around between the people, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the waving gun and the poor distraught man. He edged closer and closer to his side, closing the space between them until he knew he could make a move, one quick motion, to cover the distance.

Zoom! In a blink of an eye, Guy jumped the man, grabbing the hand and arm that held the gun all in one motion, knocking him to the ground in the process before he knew what happened. No shots were fired, no one got hurt, the man was disarmed, and the situation was defused. People who saw what Guy did said they were startled at his speed; no one could have done what he did. When word of what happened got around the town, he was praised for saving the man’s life.

Some months later, the same man jumped off the wharf and drowned himself. No one could help the distress of this unfortunate individual, but at least on the day that Guy took the gun out of his hand, it gave the man another chance at life and potentially saved the lives of innocent bystanders. This episode occurred over eighty years ago, in a day when there were no specially-trained people to disarm such a dangerous situation like there is today. Who would risk their life, using only their bare hands, in the manner the skipper did? What kind of a mentality does it take to do what the skipper did?

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

My father lived an exhilarating life. With I’ll Go the Length of Meself, my hope is to showcase his legacy as a great mariner, businessman, humanitarian, and exhibitionist, along with many other attributes. There will never be another Guy Earle, there couldn’t be. This is his story, and I’m proud to share it.

CONNECT WITH Dr. Philip Earle

WEBSITE ~ GOODREADS

 

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon or B/N GC

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