Creative writing teacher Linda E. Williams has been coming to Bermuda since 1970, during which time she has developed a deep love for the Island and its people. In fact, she has written a children's book whose tale is set in Bermuda, incorporates local history, and is dedicated to the children of St. George's as well as publisher Tina Stevenson of the Bermudian Publishing Company.

Entitled 'Werful and the Captain', the book tells the tale of an old and humble tugboat named Werful who longs for the days when he guided the beautiful cruise ships in and out of port, and the brave captain who always believed in him. Set in St. George's, Werful's life now consists of moving barges and touring children around the harbour – and that would be all if it were not for a disastrous situation during a storm, when Werful is once more called upon to help a cruise ship leave port. Unfortunately, things go wrong, a rope becomes entangled around the vessel's propeller, and Werful's reputation is somewhat sullied. Can the little tugboat redeem himself?

An opportunity soon presents itself, when its captain successfully rescues a drowning boy in a storm. The grateful parents call a meeting in St. George's to acknowledge Werful's role in the heroic event, and decide it will be by giving him a new lease on life – but not as a tugboat, and with a new name of course. If Werful seems an odd choice of name, the author provides a clever twist at the end to explain it, and how the new name is arrived at. The essence of the tale is not a figment of Mrs. Williams' imagination, but is based on fact – she was actually on board the Norwegian Majesty in 1999 when the ship's propeller was fouled in the harbour. Told by the captain that the departure would be delayed, the author grabbed her ever-present note book, and recorded the entire incident as it happened. She then delved into Bermuda's history, and ultimately wove her charming tale, which she describes as "creative non-fiction" – a popular literary trend which intermingles fact with fiction.

"In my mind it is a child's history of Bermuda," the author says. "When you write for young children they believe everything you have written, which is a great responsibility for me to spell things correctly and be accurate."

The book is beautifully illustrated by New Zealander and former Bermuda resident Dr. Victoria Barnhill-Hensen, who combined painting and exhibiting with her career as a clinical psychologist before moving with her family to Qatar in the Persian Gulf.

Like Mrs. Williams, who is also a registered nurse, Bermuda and its people holds a special place in Mrs. Barnhill-Hensen's heart, and while author and artist have never met, their combined talents have resulted in an attractive, quality publication which children – and those who read to them – are sure to enjoy.

The Bermudian Publishing Company launched the book in partnership with the Bermuda Book Store, and it retails for $23.50. Mrs. Williams returns to the Island on the Norwegian Majesty today, and will be signing her book at the Bermuda Book Store in Dockyard this evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tomorrow evening at the Bermuda Book Store in Hamilton from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.