Bettie Hamilton’s sequel to Sea Smoke is The Lobster Pot Wars. Again it takes place in the 350 year old fishing town of Marblehead, located halfway between Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts. Will, lobsterman and fisherman, attempts to work out equitable, commercial fishing regulations between the stringent Fishery Management Environmental Agency and the embattled fishermen whose livelihood is threatened. Bitter feelings lead to murder and reach out as far as New Scotland Yard, England. Julia and Will’s artist friend, Lea Lantana has been accused of art fraud taking place on both sides of the Big Pond which New Scotland Yard is investigating. A rock singer, Billy Bob and his groupies are involved. Will tells their tomboy daughter, Annie and her ever present cat, Ignatz, her mother, lovely yellow-haired Julia, was a mermaid he caught in a fishing net and cut off her tail. To prove it he sings a sea chantey he composed, The Fisherman and the Mermaid. Julia and Will’s and their friends recipes are included in the book. Hamilton states: Cooking is the nicest way to give true love. Her first book was Marblehead Apples- a Cook Book about her husband Jack’s orchard. Original cover painting by Bettie Hamilton
