On This Day in Maritime Publishing History

It was ten years ago today that an independent publishing services provider, The Manuscript Publisher opened its doors to the reading public with the publication of their first book … and what a sensation it has turned out to be.

A Woeful Tale by Derrick Cranpole (ISBN: 9780957115712) describes the trials, tribulations but also the triumphs of Irish fishermen and seafarers who bring home the national catch and keep food on our tables. Its author (and illustrator), Derrick Cranpole, is a veritable champion of seafarers and coastal communities, in addition to being the bane of the bureaucracy and officialdom that presides over the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

Read it for yourself to find out why. It is available to buy online, in print and e-book editions.

Also published on this day but two years later (in 2014) was the first instalment in the very successful Diaries of the Cornish Fisherman that is Trevor Simpson.

Volume I in the series – Diary of a Cornish Fisherman – charts the years between 1962-1967, when he was operating out of Newquay in Cornwall, learning the ropes of the fishing trade while raising a young family. The account ends with a pulsating and perilous journey across the Irish Sea, making landfall at Waterford's Dunmore East at 7pm on 22 August 1967.

Little did he know at the time that this would be his home for the next 50 years. That story is taken up in Volume II – A Cornish Fisherman's Irish Diary – also available to buy online in print and e-book editions.

Welcome to the world according to Derrick Cranpole

You have reached the website of Derrick Cranpole, poet, artist, retired sea fisherman, champion of seafarers and coastal communities.

Born in Cornwall, England, Cranpole now resides in the south-east coast of Ireland from where writes, paints and offers his opinion on a variety of matters but mostly to do with the concerns of fishermen and seafarers, the people with whom he shares a deep connection.

Cranpole's debut volume of poetry and illustrations, A Woeful Tale, was published in 2012 by The Manuscript Publisher and is available to buy from this website, as well as from all good bookshops. This publication brought together, for the first time, work that had previously appeared in newspapers, magazines, poetry anthologies and even aired on radio. It also includes previously unpublished work.

Since the publication of A Woeful Tale, Cranpole continues to write. He is currently working on a volume of memoir (A Cornish Fisherman's Diary to appear soon) and occasionally contributes to newspapers, magazines, publications serving fishing and coastal communities. Some of his more recent work also appears on this website.

Hello World

The website of Derrick Cranpole, poet, retired seafisherman, champion of seafarers and coastal communities will be appearing here shortly. Watch out for future posts from the man himself.

A Woeful Tale, Cranpole's debut collection of poetry will be available to buy from this website and details of forthcoming work will be announced.