Project Update: Progress on 1881 Shetland Fishing Disaster Book

It's been a while since I've shared an update on my book project, so I thought I'd let everyone know where things stand.

Over the past several years, I've spent countless hours researching the 1881 Shetland Fishing Disaster. That research has taken me through archives, newspapers, parish records, family histories, maps, photographs, and many conversations with descendants of those who lived through the tragedy. I'm happy to say that the research phase is now largely complete.

Of course, history is never truly finished. I continue to welcome new information, photographs, family stories, letters, or documents related to the disaster and the people whose lives it touched. Some of the most meaningful discoveries have come from descendants who were willing to share pieces of their family's history, and I would be delighted to hear from anyone with a connection to the events of July 1881.

My primary focus has now shifted from gathering information to transforming it into a compelling narrative. Rather than writing a traditional history book, I'm working to tell the story through the lives of the fishermen, their families, and the communities that were forever changed by the storm. Alongside the writing itself, I'm also organizing years of notes, timelines, sources, and genealogical research so everything is documented as accurately as possible.

Writing this book has been both rewarding and challenging. There are days when the stories seem to write themselves, and others when I'm surrounded by stacks of notes trying to decide which detail belongs where. My goal is to create a book that is both historically accurate and deeply human—a story that honours those who were lost, celebrates those who survived, and remembers the families who carried on in the years that followed.

I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped along the way, whether by answering questions, sharing family records, offering encouragement, or simply following the project's progress. Your support has made this work richer than it could ever have been otherwise.

Thank you for continuing to follow this journey. I look forward to sharing more updates as the manuscript takes shape. And if you're a descendant of someone connected to the 1881 disaster—or have photographs, stories, or family records you'd be willing to share—please don't hesitate to get in touch via the Contact page. Every piece helps preserve this remarkable history for future generations.