About the Author
Pat Gantz lives with her husband, Ken, in Prescott, Arizona. As a child, Pat
became the proverbial bookworm and developed a fondness for historical fiction. This love of reading later extended to collecting books, especially from bookstores and museums during her travels. Pat utilized her books and experiences for research in writing her Sailing the High Seas series.
How did Pat choose this topic? In seaport museums from Australia to Mystic Seaport, Pat discovered something amiss, a lack of historical fiction during the Age of Sail for middle-grade readers. Inspired by tall mast ships that she explored and sailed on, Pat embarked on imaginary voyages. So vivid were the images that the writing bug bit and those excursions turned into short stories. But, as Pat reasoned, the kids still needed full-size novels. Below is a list of the short stories that she turned into full-length historical fiction.
Pat’s Sailing the High Seas series includes:
Searching for Dad, Lost at Sea, 1780
Rendezvous with Grandmother, A Pirate Queen, 1781
In Hot Pursuit of Justice, 1782
The Icelandic Book Smuggler (Sailing the High Seas, 1782)
Pat earned both of her degrees at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.
Bachelor of Science degree:
Major: Social Studies – 1. U.S. History 2. World History
Bachelor in Deaf Education
Master of Arts degree:
Major: Special Education (Deaf)
Minor: American History
Obviously, Pat’s love of history carried on to college. But why the interest in deaf education? Check out her her blog on this website.
Read them and ye shall see.
Look At Me!
Look at Me! is a powerful story about finding courage in the middle of uncertainty.When Katie accidentally discovers that she may be sent to a school for the deaf in seventh grade, her world tilts overnight. As she struggles to claim her place in a situation that does not always understand, she begins to discover that her voice matters-even when it is not easily heard.
The possibility of leaving everything familiar-the only life she has ever known-feels unbearable. Yet she cannot ignore the truth either: the missed conversations, the constant effort to keep up, and the quiet moments of being left out.Katie is eleven, caught between childhood and everything that comes next. At home, tension simmers with two brothers and a single mom whose explosive temper keeps everyone on edge. At school, Katie works twice as hard just to feel “normal,” while holding tight to friendships that mean everything.
But as the threat of change grows closer, something inside Katie begins to shift. She starts to question who gets to decide where she belongs-and whether she is ready to let others choose her fate. The more she struggles to be heard, the more determined she becomes to speak up.Discover the journey in Look at Me!-a heartfelt, inspiring story about identity, resilience, and the power of being seen. Get your copy today and experience Katie’s unforgettable story.
A sailor is not defined by how many seas he has sailed but how many storms overcome. This is true for any of us.
In book one Searching for Dad, Lost at Sea, Logan is determined to find his dad. His cousin Blair wants to help and stows away on the ship. But, in the midst of sailing the ocean blue, pirates kidnap Uncle Ronnie and Logan for their medical expertise. Logan and Blair learn that sailing is not for the faint of heart, yet Blair chooses to risk her own life to maintain the search. Ye shall see if they succeed in finding Logan’s dad.
In book two Rendezvous with Grandmother, A Pirate Queen, Madam Quing wants her grandson, Jian to be her heir. However, the Secret Tiger Society will stop at nothing to capture Jian and seize the Dragon Woman’s pirate kingdom in the South China Sea. Logan, Blair, and Sea Eagle’s crew must rescue Jian from one peril after another. Their meeting with grandmother, she of the dark soul, ends with a stunning revelation.
In book three In Hot Pursuit of Justice sees Logan, Blair, and Uncle Ronnie chasing the pirate captain, Grayson under a Letter of Marque. The lad, Eli, and Logan possess secret weapons to outwit Grayson, that is, if they can board his sloop…Before they can do battle, however, Grayson’s latest scheme is one they never considered, FIRESHIP! Will Minerva explode?
In book four, The Icelandic Book Smuggler, a young Venetian witnesses an act of smuggling. Holy sailor! Everyone knows this smuggler, Captain Olafur Nilsen! Reporting the theft to Doctor Baran, Carlo stows away aboard ship to join Blair and Logan in the chase to recover the valued books. They face peril after peril on the high seas, chasing Olafur. Reaching Iceland poses a problem, how will they return home? Can they survive a winter in Iceland?