{"product_id":"its-just-the-wind-kind-of-a-sailing-story-paperback","title":"...It's Just The Wind: Kind of a Sailing Story - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMindy Dwyer\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator), \u003cb\u003eMatt McConville\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Book One, Jacks, a freshwater guy from Pittsburgh, PA, was never interested in sailing . . . not even a little bit. And just when he thought he had life figured out, ready to get married and start his dream job as a national chef, he is rudely bounced off of his well-planned path of rationality and pragmatism and launched on a hilarious yet poignant odyssey. Despite determined efforts to keep both feet planted firmly on the ground, he finds himself sailing out of Annapolis Harbor as a cook on a forty-foot sailboat, heading for the Virgin Islands . . . and scratching a hole in his head as to how in the hell that happened. He was sure of only one thing . . . it was more than the wind that blew him there. And getting his sea legs was the least of his problems. This is the story of a man searching for answers and finding clues in strange places and under bizarre circumstances. Along the way, Jacks encounters a cast of outlandish, endearing characters-including Pete, an ageless, mystical, retired marine; Jimmy, a guileless wannabe Rasta; Les, a humming, fig-eating philosopher king; Frank, the quintessential, gentlemanly captain; and Lou, who truly believes that misery loves company- and slowly but surely learns that moments of self-realization and truth reveal themselves when one least expects them\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatt McConville is a musician, performer, songwriter, writer, and chef. This is his first novel. Throughout his life, Matt has journeyed with ease and sometimes grace from the outer- to the inner-circles of society, has traveled like a gypsy, and has never been afraid to run away from anything. Along the way, he has climbed bridges and seven-hundred-foot smokestacks, washed dishes, waited tables, tended bar, managed dining rooms and kitchens, owned restaurants and bars, sold frozen steaks and seafood door-to-door off of the back of a truck, dabbled in mortgages and headhunting, been a corporate spy and troubleshooter, decorated very large cafeterias, and learned to bake great bread. In the meantime, Matt founded and is president of AMFM, Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians, a nonprofit that provides emergency financial relief for Annapolis-area musicians. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife and two daughters, plays music in overly sanitized bars and restaurants, and smiles wryly while driving the big YELLOW bus\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 316\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.71 x 9.02 x 5.98 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 22, 2016\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42116027678855,"sku":"9781523351176","price":20.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/b58ff1e5c4d041405f77429605fabd13.webp?v=1732513457","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/its-just-the-wind-kind-of-a-sailing-story-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}