It's a pity I didn't bring any swords

A boy, his dogs, and his friend the 500-year-old ghost of a pirate boy, sail out of the Knysna Heads to look for the ghost's lost grandfather, who hasn't been seen for 150 years.

All the way up and down the coast - from Noetzie Beach, east of the Knysna Heads, to Mossel Bay far away to the west - this story weaves imagination around actual historic events.

… But then our heroes meet the most famous ghost ship of all: the Flying Dutchman. And her captain doesn’t like dogs...

Buy Martin Hatchuel's debut children's novel in the Garden Route

From these fine stores:

KNYSNA:

• 34 South, The Waterfront
• Heads Hair by Hannah, Bodega, Leisure Isle
• Nadine's Corner on Leisure Isle
• Knysna Book Exchange, Pledge Square
• DCD Laserwox at The Queen Knysna (Queen Street)
• Love Gifts, Gray Street
• Leisure Isle Boat Club
• Action Ads, Gray Street
• The Kiff Little Surf Shop, Goukamma (Buffalo Bay road)
• Ocean Odyssey, Thesen Harbour Town (TH22, Long Street) 
• Metelerkamps, off Waterfront Drive
• Déjà Vu Antiques, corner Queen and Pitt Streets
• Cruise Café's Curio Shop at Featherbed Co., Remembrance Drive

PLETTENBERG BAY

• Mike Kantey (Watercourse) at the Wednesday Market, Old Nick
• Mike Kantey c/o Connoisseur Gents Hairstylists, Dulux Building
• Willemijn Murray, Hutchinson House, 11 Main Street 
• The Village Bookshop, Yellowwood Centre, Main Street

SEDGEFIELD

• De Gratia Coffee & Book Lounge, Pick 'n Pay Centre

... With more to come!

Buy from a bookshop near you

'It's a Pity I didn't Bring any Swords' is available via the Top Reads catalogue from all good bookstores in South Africa.

• If they don't have it in stock, ask them to order it for you!

Buy direct - online 

Click here to Buy  'it's a pity I didn't bring any swords' ONLINE

Editor and book designer

‘It’s a pity I didn’t bring any swords' is edited by Mike Kantey of Watercourse, Plettenberg Bay, with cover design and book design by Christian Jaggers of OneDesign, Cape Town.