East Beach Sand Replenishment

Written by Patrick Clark

After many years of beach erosion due to hurricanes and nor’easters, East Beach is finally getting beach replenishment. Last summer (2015), East Beach had weathered to less than twenty feet at high tide. Thanks to federal funds that were freed due to Hurricane Sandy which decimated many beaches along the East Coast, seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beaches will be widened by sixty feet. The project is scheduled to be completed by May 2016. The East Beach portion is basically complete as of March 6^th.

A total of 1.2 million cubic yards of sand will come from the bottom of the nearby Thimble Shoal shipping channel. More good news is the agreement between the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the city of Norfolk to replenish the beach every nine years for the next half century.

So, there will be plenty of sandy beach for Norfolk residents and visitors to stick their toes in the sand and read a good book. Might I suggest one of the two By the Bay; East Beach Stories anthologies?

About the author: Patrick Clark is the author of “Boneyard” and "The Town Hall Incident" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  His story “Dead Drop” will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.  For more information on Patrick and his other writings, please visit his website: www.patrick-clark.com.

The Big Reveal!

New Authors

New Stories

Same Great Setting

By The Bay 2: More East Beach Stories

Art Work by Gina Warren Buzby

Coming very soon!

Psst! Something's Coming!

Can you keep a secret?

A view of East Beach from the sky

So can I!

Something fantastic is coming our way.  Stay tuned and we'll tell you more!

Here's a hint.  When you see a link, click on it!

I hope I haven't said too much.

St. Patrick's Day in Ocean View

Written by Skip McLamb

The McLamb clan and friends gather in mid-March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, an unofficial but important holiday vigorously celebrated in the Ocean View section of Norfolk, Virginia.  This Irish National Holiday is a celebration of Irish culture and religion, and honors the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick.  All in Ocean View look forward to this day.

Favorite Books of 2016 - Skip McLamb

Writers read!  And here is one of our By the Bay 2 authors’ favorite books of 2016.

Written by Skip McLamb

Book Titile: Red Rising

Author: Pierce Brown 
Genre: Science Fiction

Published: January 2014 
Publisher: Del Ray Books

Pages: 382 pages

Opening Line:  “It’s not just some dream, Darrow.  I live for the dream that my children will be born free.  That they will be what they like.  That they will own the land their father gave them.” 

”I live for you.” I say sadly.

She kisses my cheek.  “Then you must live for more.” 

Review: This fantasy, science fiction thriller is book one of a trilogy set in a futuristic, underground mining operation on the planet Mars.  Generations of miners have worked to provide the energy resources needed to make the surface of mars habitable for the people of Earth, who must flee a worn out planet.  The miners are Reds, the lowest group in the current society’s caste system.  One of the miners, Darrow, becomes a reluctant hero, motivated by his wife, Eo, to spearhead a revolt against the current government leaders, the rich and powerful Golds.   

Pierce Brown’s writing is fast-paced and action-packed.  His vivid character descriptions, and intricate story development, makes his fantasy world very believable.  I look forward to reading the next two books.

About the author: Skip McLamb, a retired educator, writes for pleasure to make good use of his new found free time.  Contact him at ovmclamb@live.com.