Introduction: Where It All Began
It started with a single story—a new trilogy I was developing, centered on a sapphic pirate love story in Tides of Captivation. I needed a matriarch, a wise elder pirate woman, someone who had lived through the tumultuous waves of life and could anchor the next generation. Margo O’Shea was born to fill this role, but what I didn’t expect was that she wouldn’t just be a part of the story—she was the story.
Margo’s voice refused to be contained, her history demanded to be told, and with her, a world unfolded: a saga of rebellious women defying society under the black flag of piracy. Daughters Under the Black Flag became the umbrella for this sprawling narrative, an interconnected series of novels and novellas about generations of women forging lives of freedom, love, and resilience.
How Margo and Elara Built New Haven
Margo’s journey begins as a daring young pirate in the first trilogy. Together with her soulmate, Elara, and their friend Caleb, they were infamous for their wild exploits. But when Margo became pregnant, the trio chose to retire, building a home on land and raising a family.
Years later, their lives were thrust back into chaos when Caleb’s life was threatened. This is where Havens End, the novella that bridges the first trilogy to the second, takes place. Margo and Elara’s decision to rescue Caleb not only reignited their pirate spirits but planted the seeds for something greater.
Out of their adventures grew New Haven, a hidden village and a safe haven for women who had been abused, oppressed, or overlooked. It was a place of freedom and refuge—pirates, outcasts, and dreamers all welcomed under Margo and Elara’s protection. For Margo, New Haven wasn’t just an escape—it was a rebellion, a new chapter in a lifelong fight against the constraints of a world that sought to silence women like her.
Generations Under the Black Flag
Each story within Daughters Under the Black Flag builds on this foundation, connecting generations of women pirates.
- Trilogy 1 follows the youthful exploits of Margo, Elara, and Caleb as they rise to become feared and revered pirates, ultimately choosing to retire for the safety of their growing family.
- Novella: Havens End bridges their life on land and their decision to create New Haven after a harrowing quest to save Caleb.
- Trilogy 2 shifts to the development of New Haven, as Margo and Elara foster a community of powerful, independent women. Here, their daughter Anna (aka Anne Marie) grows up, learning resilience and leadership among this found family.
- Novella: Serephina and her new best friend, Anne Marie, steal a ship and make enemies of a man named James Morley.
- Trilogy 3: tells the love story of Isabella (Izzy) and Anne Marie and includes Tides of Captivation. It’s a tale of romance and danger, of standing tall against enemies like James Morley while forging a future together.
The Heart of the Saga: New Haven and Rebellion
At its core, Daughters Under the Black Flag is about rebellion—not just against governments or armies, but against the expectations and limitations placed on women. New Haven is both a literal and symbolic manifestation of this rebellion. It’s a place where women can be captains of their own fate, carving a future on their own terms.
Where to Begin and What’s Next
If you’re new to Daughters Under the Black Flag, Havens End is the perfect starting point—a novella filled with adventure, longing, and the birth of New Haven. For those who love a fierce romance wrapped in high-stakes action, dive into Tides of Captivation and the Tides series.
The stories are connected, but each one offers its own unique window into the lives of these rebellious women who dared to claim freedom.
Join the Adventure
Are you ready to sail with the Daughters Under the Black Flag? What would your role be in this world—a daring captain, a loyal companion, or perhaps a dreamer carving out a new life in New Haven? Let me know in the comments! And if you’ve already met Margo, Elara, or Anne Marie, tell me: which of these fierce women has captured your heart?
