James Howard

The Pebble and The Storm

Price :- $6.99

James Howard’s voyage across the Bay of Biscay was meant to be an escape. Instead, in the face of howling squalls and the constant threat of the abyss, it became an interrogation. With only a failing boat and his own fraying sanity for company, he was forced to confront a truth the sea whispers only to those who listen: the greatest storm is the one within.

Purchase now

What Happens When the Only Place to Run is the Sea?

When James Howard set sail alone across Biscay, he thought the ocean would be the greatest challenge. But in the endless dark between towering waves, he was forced to face something far more dangerous: the past he’d left behind.

With raw, poetic honesty, this memoir confronts:

The ghosts of the past that surface in the crushing solitude of the open ocean.
A restless identity that refuses to be anchored, no matter the port.
The myth of ‘finding yourself’ by running away, and the brutal beauty of what you find instead.

Purchase on Amazon

Alone Against the Atlantic

Journey across the fabled Bay of Biscay where every wave is a challenge and survival is not guaranteed.

The Storm Within

Explore the unflinching story of a man forced to confront the ghosts of his past in the crushing solitude of the sea.

Written in Salt and Soul

Feel every wave and every moment of doubt in prose that is as powerful and unpredictable as the sea itself.

"A masterpiece of vulnerability—like Wild on open water."
BookTrib

The Moment Everything Changed…

The waves became mountains. The wind screamed like a wounded animal. And in that moment, I realized I wasn’t fighting the ocean—I was fighting myself.

Chart the Journey

Follow the course of a solo voyage across the ocean and into the self.

Into the Abyss

A chapter-by-chapter descent into the heart of the storm—both on the sea and in the soul.

The Voyage & The Reckoning

Explore the key moments of a treacherous crossing and the internal storms that came with it.

A Psychological Battle

More than a sailing adventure—this is a profound meditation on resilience and redemption

A Heart-Pounding Voyage

38 gripping chapters that read like a thriller.

Poetic & Unflinching Prose

Lyrical prose that puts you right in the cockpit.

A Memoir That Reads Like a Novel

Perfect for armchair adventurers—no sailing experience needed.

Early Reader Reviews

Immerse yourself in award-caliber writing that captures the brutal beauty of the ocean and the fragility of the human heart.

Barrow Hasi

National Geographic Adventure

More than a sailing memoir, it’s a psychological thriller set on the high seas. You’ll hold your breath until the very last page

Nilam Arthur

Early Reader Reviews

I couldn’t put it down! More than a sailing adventure—this is a profound meditation on resilience and redemption.

Barrow Hasi

Kirkus Reviews

Unflinching and beautifully written. It does for the sea what Cheryl Strayed did for the trail. A stunning debut.

Nilam Arthur

The New York Times Book Review

Howard’s prose is as raw and unpredictable as the ocean he sails. A profound and unforgettable journey into the heart of the sea and the self.

Dive Into the Story

Ready to cast off? Order your copy of The Pebble and the Storm from Amazon and begin the voyage.

Read the First Chapter

Get a taste of the raw, poetic prose and heart-pounding adventure that awaits. Your journey starts here.

Chapter Preview: Squalls, Angels, and Broken Things

The waves became mountains. The wind screamed like a wounded animal. And in that moment, I realized I wasn’t fighting the ocean—I was fighting myself.

Choose Your Format

The Pebble and the Storm is available in paperback and for all major e-readers, so you can take the journey with you wherever you go.

Purchase on amazon

James Howard

- Author of The Pebble and the Storm

James Howard traded a life of predictability on land for the raw, untamed freedom of the sea. After leaving behind a conventional career and a one-bed attic flat, he now lives and writes aboard Alcyone, his 27-foot sailboat.

His journeys have taken him across the treacherous Bay of Biscay and along the wild coasts of Europe, but his writing explores the even more challenging landscapes of the human heart.

The Pebble and the Storm is his debut memoir, a testament to the idea that the greatest adventures are the ones that force us to confront ourselves. When he’s not navigating by the stars, he can be found practicing calisthenics on a forgotten beach or searching for the perfect anchorage to write his next chapter.