Oh what a beautiful morning on Topsail

Really cool high tide this morning.

This morning around 7. High tide.

My dog Joey noticed that the sale on THE DAYS OF HAIRAWN MUHLY does not start until Nov. 20. Sorry for the oops! I should listen to my dog more - he's usually right.

This is a photo of my sister, Mary Ellen, brother John and myself in the early 1970s when I worked as first mate on my father's boat CLOUD NINE.  The boat was docked at the marina across the road from the Dolphin Pier next to Buddy's Pirate. The Pirate was an old World War II PT boat, Buddy Mizzell was the captain. Wow! what a great time in the history of Topsail Island.

 Topsail still has lots to offer. In fact, this weekend Autumn with Topsail is taking place with lots of vendors, food and live music. I'll be there with my Topsail Island trilogy - it is complete and makes a great Christmas present. But there are so many gifts and treasures to be found this weekend - local artists abound with an eclectic array of "stuff". Come check out Autumn with Topsail this weekend at Topsail Beach.

This photo was taken at Swan Point Marina in Snead's Ferry by Laura Hackney, a wonderful artist and crafts person. She is one of the artists that will be at Autumn with Topsail. I'll be there too with my Topsail trilogy. Hope you will come and enjoy the festivities. Lots and lots of vendors, food, games and musicians will be there, Oct 18th and 19th. Come on and join in the fun.

This photo (above) along with several others and an article about the lifestyle at the marina can be seen in the magazine LIVIN' OUT LOUD -  it celebrates the active lives of seniors and boomers in the southeast coastal area of our lovely state.Check out this publication, I think you'll enjoy it and find it very informative.

This is what was left of Scotch Bonnet Fishing Pier a couple of years ago.  Oh if only those pilings could talk.

 At one time there were nine fishing piers on the island. Starting at the north end of the island there was McKee's Pier, then Paradise, Ocean City, Scotch Bonnet, Barnacle Bill's, Surf City Pier, Dolphin, Jolly Roger and then the Sound Pier.

THE BRIDGE TO PARADISE  is ready!! I hope you like the cover and hope you enjoy the final book in the Topsail Island trilogy. This has been a project very near and dear to my heart especially since the bridge that has been such a part of Topsail is due to be destroyed 2020.

This series has been my way of preserving the wonderful way of life that existed on Topsail and in many ways still does.  The island is unique, low key, family oriented and friendly - there is no other place like it. Thanks so much to my childhood friends and thanks to those of you who have expressed interest in my books - believe me, it is food for the soul. 

This last book is available on Amazon, but if you would like a personalized book from me I will be at the Holly Ridge Sampler, Sept. 20 and at Autumn with Topsail in Oct. You may also contact me via facebook or phone to order one. 

(an aside to a purchaser - please contact me- I've lost your address - you know who you are- thanks)

Next Spring I have a new series of books beginning - the first is titled  WATERLOGGED.  This is a modern day murder series that takes place on our lovely island. Ooooh! I am presently working on it and it is lots of fun - chock full of sinister tourists and nefarious locals.

Thanks to all!! 

 

1963 - me and one of the several dogs I had when I was a kid on Topsail. My first 2 piece bathing suit. Momma bought it for me at the PX at Camp Lejeune. I wore it all summer and even slept in it. 

GOOD NEWS! TOMORROW AT 3 PM THERE WILL BE A BOOK SIGNING AT THE QUARTER MOON. 

Please come and purchase a book if you have not already. Y'all know the Quarter Moon has a vast collection of books - come check them out. ALSO - I have 10% coupons to give for THE BRIDGE TO PARADISE which should be out in a couple of weeks.

This is the cover - the one chosen for THE BRIDGE TO PARADISE. The book is now at the editors and should be out in a couple of weeks. I have been overjoyed with the response and hope that my followers and readers will enjoy this last installment of the Topsail Island trilogy. I'm going to miss my characters.

I will post as soon as the editor is finished and the book is available. As the others, it will be available on Amazon, Quarter Moon, Surf Side, The Mermaid's Purse. Of course you can always reach me on facebook. Thank you. Carol Ann Ross

I haven't decided just what to do with my cover for THE BRIDGE TO PARADISE but I know and from what I'm getting from my readers - a picture of the bridge is a MUST! Any suggestions are appreciated, but No promises.  I really want some feedback. Thanks.

Our beautiful old bridge. Nothing quite like coming across and hearing the hum of tires and the clackity clack as you finally make it to the island. Please come on down to the Surf City Summer Market - right across from the Trailer Bar on the Pender-Onslow county lines. All sorts of neato stuff from soap to jewelry and tomatoes to leather goods. Of course, I'll be there with THE DAYS OF HAIRAWN MUHLY  and THE TRILL OF THE RED WING BLACKBIRD. Still plugging away at THE BRIDGE TO PARADISE - daggone hard drive crashed, but I was able to save the book! Yippee! Looking for about 4 to 5 weeks before it will be ready. Thanks for being patient.

Not long after my family moved to Surf City in 1955 my father bought one of the World War II barracks. It aptly was called Ross Apartments. This is a photo of my sister and myself probably around 1957 or so. Growing up in the barracks and on the island during the 50s and 60s was a unique experience. I would not trade it for the world. You can see how desolate it was back then, but we had the ocean, the dunes and the marshlands as our playground.

What a pretty beach!

What do you think - 1970s? Surf City when it was the Fisherman's Paradise and all we young'uns were footloose and fancy free. Check out Surf City Summer Market on Facebook - all the cool stuff will be there this summer with only locally made arts and crafts. There will be a farmer's market there as well. Can't wait till the summer!!!

There she is - our little bridge. The Bridge to Paradise

By the way - that's the name of the third book.

Oh what a beautiful morning! Now if only everything would go my way!!

Wild looking sky! huh?

A rough and following sea.

The beach is not always sunny and warm - Today I took a stroll along what tiny bit of sand Mother Nature was leaving for me to walk on and was reminded of how powerful, beautiful and majestic the Atlantic is - In the above picture the two pilings standing in the mist are what is left of Barnacle Bills.

Really like this picture. Wish the sun would have been out.

Okay - here it is. The cover for the brand new book THE TRILL OF THE RED-WING BLACKBIRD.  This is the second in the trilogy of the continuing saga about our beloved Topsail Island. This book opens in 1954 with Hurricane Hazel (remember that witch?) and travels through time to around 1960 - when all of us who grew up on the island were coming into our own. It is available on Amazon, but you can always reach me and I can send you an autographed copy OR I will be at the Women's Expo in Surf City March 8 - or come to the festivals this summer. There will be one on South Topsail on Tuesdays and one in Surf City on Thursdays. Thank you, thank you for your interest.

This is a picture of me when I worked as a waitress at Barnacle Bill's. The young man with his arm around me is Roger Hanson, a young Marine from Camp Lejeune. I had a tremendous crush on him then. He and his friend Jimmy often came to my family's house for dinner. They worked at BB's and we used to have ketchup and mustard fights with the squeeze bottles. I often wonder what happened to those two wonderful guys. They treated me so well. Notice the swings, lifeguard stand and picnic table in the background - and if you look toward the end of the building you will see part of the concrete walkway that had been built during WWII.

 Barnacle Bill's had been the old officer's club during the war. The pier was definitely the in place to be back in the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I have posted this before, but I am posting it again - these are the KIDS OF SURF CITY -I know a few are missing - some very important to our "crew." If you have any pictures that include more please post them. I love you all - well, most of the time. Anyway, here is a tribute to the kids of Surf City. Hope you enjoy it.

      THE KIDS OF SURF CITY

    We are the kids of Surf City

    Our time knows no boundary

    We live forever, our dreams are bound

    By the sea, its smell, its feel, its sound.

    And all we need to know of truth

    Has been allowed to us through youth.

    From towers left by Bumble Bees

    We saw so far beyond the trees

    To lands and isles and foreign nations

    All brought to us through imaginations.

    Oh, those mighty days, our golden youth

    Were all we needed to know of truth.

    When from our sights we saw the sails

    Of pirate ships and cannon balls

    Like brothers fighting with sea oats swords

    We conquered dunes, becoming lords

    And all we needed to know of truth

    Was provided by our winsome youth.

    New age has come to join our crew

    Creeping Time spreads among we few

   Who lived so free, tho still are bound

    By that sea and all that we had found

    From the blessed colored lens of youth

    Still we hold the secret of the truth.

Carol Ann Ross

I was behind a school bus today and a thought occurred to me - a distinction between the teens of the fifties, sixties and seventies and the teens of today - During those decades teens were given a most important responsibility - driving a school bus. It carried our most precious assets - our children.

Today this would never even be considered. Kids were more responsible and mature then than they are today. Why is that so? Anyway - this is a photo of the kids on bus 5 that ran the Surf City route. I remember, Donald Batts, Audry Batts, Sheila Atkinson and Linda Batson as the drivers. Does anyone recognize the occupants above?