A new book is on the way from Bill Bleyer, Bayville’s favorite history buff. The former Newsday reporter and columnist is publishing his fourth book on local history with The History Press, Long Island and the Sea: A Maritime History, which is due out on April 8. A lover of both history and the sea, Bleyer was able to bring both of his passions together—along with his years of research—to write this book.
“I’ve been working on this book for two years,” said Bleyer. “I thought it would be the quickest of all of my books, since I had done so much already, but there’s such a broad range of material. As people gave me their ideas and I discovered new aspects, I kept adding things into the book.”
He had to request more space and time from his publisher to complete the book, which totals 304 pages spread over 30 chapters—twice the length of his previous books. Bleyer has written extensively on the subject over the years as a journalist and realized there could be a need for a book like this.
“It dawned on me that no one had put it all together,” he said.
Inspiration struck after learning that Josh Stoff, the curator of the Cradle of Aviation Museum, had written a juvenile version on the subject, but nothing for adults had been published.
The most comprehensive book yet on the subject, it covers from the Native Americans and the Age of Discovery to current preservation efforts. Its 30 chapters include development of submarines and torpedoes on the East End, the landings for the first transatlantic passenger flights in Port Washington and the “Nazi Invasion” of Long Island.
Growing up, Bleyer said his mother took him kayaking in the Long Island Sound as a toddler, instilling his love of the sea and causing him to become a “water rat.” His love of history also began as a young child, reading history books before entering kindergarten.
“I’ve always had a passion for history,” said Bleyer.
However, it took years before he figured out how to make money off that passion. He said, when entering college, his mother guided him towards a more “practical” major, since he didn’t have much interest in teaching. He studied economics and began a career in journalism after graduation. He stayed on as a staff writer at Newsday until he decided to devote more time to his first book, Long Island and the Civil War, co-authored by Harrison Hunt, which was published in 2015.
Bleyer’s latest book includes a foreword by singer-songwriter and boat designer Billy Joel, who he happens to have some history with. While writing On the Water, a Sunday column in Newsday, Bleyer decided to profile famous boaters and reached out to Joel, who was living in Amagansett at the time. He spent the day out on the water with him and discussed his interest in boating and nautical history. As Joel acquired new boats, Bleyer continued to write about him. So, he reached out and asked him to write the foreword for this book, as they both share a love of maritime history.
He said people get excited when he tells them he’s working on a book on maritime history and has already booked lectures on the North Shore. The book will be available at all major booksellers online and directly from Bleyer, who will sell autographed copies at his lectures. He will be at the North Shore Historical Museum on April 10, at 7 p.m.
While Bleyer acknowledges he’s not making the kind of money someone like Nelson DeMille makes for writing books, he enjoys the writing process and having the free time to travel. He even has two more books in the pipeline, the next being one about George Washington and the Culper Spy Ring, which will be half history book and half tour guide, taking readers to all buildings on Long Island related to the Revolutionary War.
“It’s a labor of love,” said Bleyer.
