“Most sailing ships take what they call trainees, who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely raw recruits. But you can't just ride along. You're learning to steer the ship, navigation; you're pulling lines, keeping a lookout; in the galley you're cooking.”

“We all have these tendencies in us that could go this way or that. I think that's the real key in writing. To look at a character without judgment.”