I started writing non-fiction books about my own experiences but then moved on to SWEETWATER SAILORS, which was a book that included stories from eighteen (18) active and retired Great Lakes Sailors. Using their actual words, and over 160 pictures, I wanted to show the dedication and hard work of those sailors, as well as both the humorous and serious consequences of the career they had chosen. Five of those sailor-contributors were women, two Captains and three Chief Engineers, and their path to success, in a male-dominated profession on these ships, was amazing!
However, I still had experiences that I felt needed telling, but I could not use real names, to protect the privacy of my friends. Using the advice I learned from Stephen King, in his book on writing, I knew those stories had to be told around the life I knew, which was ships, tugs, and barges. This led me into the world of a novelist, and A TUGBOATER'S LIFE was born. Readers will enjoy the characters, most of whom are real people from actual experiences during my career. Romance, tragedy, and friendships, all based around real life in a Great Lakes Marine Construction business.
I hate those Series of Novels, which leave you hanging at the end of Book #1, forcing you to buy the next book in the series, in order to see what happens. Each of my novels stands alone, but I hope you will like my characters and stories enough to want the next book. Book #2 in the Blue-Collar Romances series will be THE TUGBOATER FAMILY, followed soon by CREW'S SHIP AFFAIRS. Each will have it's own plot, based on my experiences, with the main characters continuing, and new characters appearing. CREW'S SHIP AFFAIRS will include numerous stories about life (and romance) aboard those large Passenger Cruise Ships, which this author spent over 165 weeks aboard, working and learning.
I think my readers will love my novels, because they are about "real people" falling in love and solving their problems, just like all of us, real people!
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Bob Ojala has a BSE in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan, Class of 1970. Bob spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, 17 years with the American Bureau of Shipping, and 8-1/2 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in addition to 30 years in his own business (including the time while with the USACE). Bob is still active in marine surveying.
Bob is a Wisconsin native with Finnish roots. His father was a Merchant Mariner for 32 years, giving Bob the interest in the Maritime Industry, but not the desire to be a sailor.
Bob worked as a Naval Architect, designing small passenger vessels, tugs, and barges after graduation. However, Bob found he enjoyed working in the shipyard, with the workers, more than sitting in the design office. Getting dirty was more fun!
When the opportunity came to join the American Bureau of Shipping, working as a Field Surveyor, inspecting ships, and equipment going into shipbuilding, Bob thought this was what he was looking for.
Eventually, Bob started his own Marine Surveying & Consulting business. Because Great Lakes clients were slow in changing loyalties, Bob began traveling the world, surveying (inspecting) cruise ships, tankers, drydocks, and even some warships. Bob also performed investigations of accidents, pollution incidents, and several accidental deaths.
Although he lost track after a while, Bob visited over 65 countries and worked in at least 58 of those. Bob sent home E-mails with his observations of the cultures he experienced during these travels, in addition to the more interesting parts of the work he performed. His first book, WORLD TRAVELS OF A SHIP'S MARINE SURVEYOR, gives Bob's impressions of the people he met, both good and bad, as well as descriptions of the vessels he worked on and the accidents he investigated.
Bob writes in practical terms, avoiding too much technical jargon, unless necessary for the story. But when needed, good definitions of those terms are included.
These stories will be interesting for both Maritime Professionals as well as those who know nothing about ships.
The travel destinations alone, with many photos, will be interesting to everyone.
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