Ready to Come about - by Sue Williams (Paperback)

About the Book

Ready to Come About is the story of an improbable year sailing the North Atlantic, through which author Sue Williams grew to believe that there is no gift more precious than the liberty to chart one's own course and that risk is a good thing ... sometimes, at least.

Book Synopsis

Three hundred nautical miles from shore, I'm cold and sick and afraid. I pray for reprieve. I long for solid ground. And I can't help but ask myself, What the hell was I thinking?

When Sue Williams set sail for the North Atlantic, it wasn't a mid-life crisis. She had no affinity for the sea. And she didn't have an adventure-seeking bone in her body. In the wake of a perfect storm of personal events, it suddenly became clear: her sons were adults now; they needed freedom to figure things out for themselves; she had to get out of their way. And it was now or never for her husband, David, to realize his dream to cross an ocean. So she'd go too.

Ready to Come About is the story of a mother's improbable adventure on the high seas and her profound journey within, through which she grew to believe that there is no gift more precious than the liberty to chart one's own course, and that risk is a good thing ... sometimes, at least.

Review Quotes

Ready to Come About is a beautifully written memoir about a midlife woman's electrifying adventure. It is a reminder of how precarious - and glorious - life can be. And it is an inspiring portrayal of love, loyalty, and courage. We should all be so brave!-- "Cate Cochran, CBC radio producer and author"

"A great page turner and a MUST read for any woman .... This isn't to say that men won't find the book interesting and enjoyable, as they certainly will!"-- "Katherine Stone, Canadian Yachting"

A thrilling adventure, a profound love story, and a testament of self-discovery that will make you cheer. It is not only an empowering memoir, but also a very fine book.-- "Barbara Kyle, author of The Traitor's Daughter"

An entertaining, deceptively profound memoir. I love Sue's book, a startling, swashbuckling sea adventure, and all the hilarious and terrifying details of that, combined with the very personal story of lost connections and deep love. It is a remarkable story -- heroic and inspiring.-- "Miriam Toews, author of Women Talking"

In the wake of a perfect storm of personal events, a woman sets sail on an improbable journey across the North Atlantic with her husband. In this debut midlife memoir, life and liberty come into focus through an unexpected high-seas adventure.-- "The Globe and Mail"

Sue Williams has shown an inherent writing talent while conveying a wide range of emotion in a profoundly authentic manner. I totally loved it - found myself giggling out loud from time to time as well as getting rather teary once in a while. Ready to Come About emerges as a powerful metaphor and testament to believing in self, taking chances, experiencing relationships and choice; in short, it is a thesis on occupation and spirit. I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to get lost in this compelling narrative prior to print.-- "Sue Baptiste, Professor Emerita, Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University"

The writing in this story is deft and seaworthy. Filled with equal measures of blue-water tension and parental worry, Ready to Come About is as much about family and letting go as it is about a courageous journey.-- "Adam Lindsay Honsinger, author of Somewhere North of Normal"

About the Author

Sue Williams earned a degree in occupational therapy from Queen's University and practised OT for over thirty years. In 2016, she left the health care field to focus on writing. Sue lives in Guelph, Ontario.