Jim Gibbs

Learn historical facts and enjoy entertaining stories about lighthouses along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alaska, and British Columbia. Black-and-white and color photos enhance the detailed text to present a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind look at these maritime structures, including technological breakthroughs and even ghostly hauntings. This detailed narrative takes readers back to the first Pacific Coast lighthouses of the mid-19th century and shows their development through the years as the US endeavored to light the capes and outcrops of the region. Discover the fabulous Fresnel prismatic lenses that were at first illuminated by burning oil and follow their evolution through more modern times. Along the way, you'll learn about ghosts, apparitions, and unsolved mysteries connected with these life-saving beacons. The dramatic, detailed narrative provides armchair adventure for history buffs and those with a special affinity for the sea.

It would be tough to imagine a world without heroes, yet sometimes that are hard to find. In Real American Heroes, you'll find everyone from Mary Kay Ash and Gladys Knight to Zig Ziglar and Reggie White and find out how they turned tragedies to triumphs and setbacks into success. Need a little inspiration for the daily grind? Look no further than Real American Heroes!

Jim Grant is a police reporter with a problem. Torn between his job as a reporter and his role as a concerned citizen, Grant has got some tough decisions to make as he goes undercover to help the police nab Carlos Medrano, one of the most notorious drug dealers in North Carolina. Soon, Grant's investigation takes him down to the Florida Keys, where he discovers that Medrano has a diabolical plan that could have international consequences. Written with much of the same wit and style that became his trademark when he wrote a weekly newspaper column, Gibbs takes his readers on a semi-autobiographical, semi-Walter Mitty ride that the whole family can enjoy.

The rich and dramatic story of our forty-ninth state is unfolded through wonderful vintage photographs and the entertaining historical narrative of well-known maritime author Jim Gibbs. More than 250 photographs of Alaskan sailing vessels, ports, lighthouses, and historical figures, along with an intriguing text, guide the reader through the story of the original inhabitants and the ensuing occupations by the Russians and Americans. Visit lighthouses, tap into the oil business, and get caught up in the excitement of the gold rush. Gibbs relates the epic stories of Alaska, unusual shipwrecks, and a history of the cruise industry and modern cargo transport. If you are interested in exploring (or re-visiting) this unique and beautiful place, let this informative and pictorial guide take you on a tour of the "Frozen North" from your own armchair.

Around the shores of the Pacific Ocean, along the western coastline of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska, lie the remains of legions of vessels of every description and every flag. Some lie buried in the depths, never to be found. Others lie as twisted remains along the beaches or entombed down in the sands. Still others have been completely eradicated by the forces of nature. A few carried treasure; some have been recovered but most never will be. Though the greatest treasure has been discovered along the Caribbean and eastern seaboards, most of it was originally lost there while much of the Pacific lay undiscovered. The Pacific rim may yet yield finds of fabulous value. These ideas and many others are explored in Jim Gibbs' most recent book, Peril at Sea. This is a fascinating work on peril at sea and the continuing battle of man against the elements. Each chapter is an accurate chronicle by location of the ships and their sailors who met fateful ends along the Pacific Coastline.

The safety of countless people has depended on lighthouses, beacons that cut through fog and darkness to alert seafaring souls of shores ahead. A former lighthouse keeper tells the dramatic stories of the sentinels that line the coast from California to British Columbia. Vintage and color photos of these lighthouses, coastal landscapes, and even tragic shipwrecks are presented as part of a narrative that focuses on human courage. As technology inexorably advances, the job of the lighthouse keeper is gradually being phased out. This is the twilight of the lighthouses' use for navigation, and this work is a tribute to a way of life that is an important part in the American maritime cultural fabric.