Kidd in the news

Friend and colleague Noel Young, a Boston-based journalist who reports on doings in the US for various Scottish newspapers, has co-authored a fascinating article which was published in the August 1 Daily Mail about Kidd's birth in Dundee and modern efforts to re-evaluate the "notorious pirate's" place in history.

The article reveals new information about Kidd's birth, taken from a baptismal certificate never before examined, which was unearthed through Young's diligent research. The story quotes both Dan Hamilton and Chris Macort and is part of renewed interest in Scotland about its famous "son."

Kidd makes modern headlines

Chris and Dan are quoted extensively in a June 7 article published in the Sunday Post of Scotland.

The story is headlined: "Capt. Kidd could be cleared after 300 years" and it tells how the Fraternity of Masters and Seamen is pursuing an appeal of the trial in 1701 which scapegoated Kidd and convicted him of murder and piracy.

The Dundee-based organization - Dundee is Kidd's birthplace - wants to put the case in front of a Criminal Case Review Commission, which could send the case to the Court of Appeal in London.

The BBC is also reporting on the story, noting that Scottish Member of Parliament Bill Kidd (no relation, he says) is urging legislators to support the idea of exonerating Capt. Kidd.

We are also on the verge of opening up discussions with a new and well-placed agent, so stay tuned.

Exciting underwater photos

At our companion web site we have just added photos taken at the wreck site of the Quedah Merchant.

Many thanks to Clarita Berger and Nick Caloyianis, whose underwater video and still photography are world famous and who generously allowed us to use these images on the web and in our book.

Photos at 11 (actually, right now)

We have begun putting photos from our most recent Quedah Merchant expedition on our companion web site.

Keep checking back as we add new images.

New marketing efforts

After some disappointing results in the first round, we are on the lookout for a new agent and  exploring some multimedia opportunities that have recently opened up.

At the same time, we are staying on top of breaking news at the wreck site and adding current events to the book, so stay tuned.

As part of our latest effort, here's the new working title: "The Most Innocent of Pirates: the Quest for Capt. Kidd's Lost Treasure Ship." Kidd called himself the most innocent of pirates at his trial and though he was hardly innocent in the sense of guilt-free, the adjective works, given his naivete and comparative lack of success as a criminal.

On our way

Our proposal for "Quest for the Quedah Merchant" has been submitted to editors at five major publishing houses selected by our agent.

We are very excited and perched on the edge of our computer keyboards hoping for a positive reaction.

In the meantime, we are keeping tabs on events in the Caribbean so that once we get the green light, the book can be as timely and up to date as possible.

Kneerim & Williams representing our book

Procrastination allows us to avoid the ambiguity of an April 1  announcement, so without further ado, we are delighted to announce that our book, "Quest for the Quedah Merchant," is being represented by the prestigious literary agency of Kneerim & Williams.

Headquartered at the Boston law firm of Fish & Richardson, Kneerim & Williams is a literary and dramatic rights agency with offices in Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. Its client list includes a wide range of authors, from New York Times best-selling novelists to prize-winning historians and journalists.

We look forward to working with agent Ike Williams and to carrying on a lively conversation here with potential readers as our work progresses.