Honorariums and expenses are based on travel distance and time. Generally, Robert N. Macomber’s schedule is set at least 6 months in advance. Email the author at macomber@robertmacomber.com for details and to book an appearance.

Lectures are 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Some of the lectures can also be simplified into 20 minute after-dinner or luncheon talks, and are so noted.

The 43 lectures span the globe and history. Scroll down to see them all.

OVERVIEWS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN FLORIDA

-THE SOUTHERNMOST CONFEDERATES--the first two years (1861-1863) of the war in Florida

-THE NOOSE TIGHTENS—the middle years (1863-1864) of the war in Florida, when everything changed

-UNDEFEATED—the tumultuous and bloody final year (1865) of the war in Florida

THE CIVIL WAR IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

-THE PATRIOT & THE WIDOW—the touching story of a pro-Union couple on Useppa Island

-DETRITUS OF WAR—Civil War shipwrecks in SW Florida

-THE STRANGE STORY OF THE U.S.S. ANNIE—the interesting tale of the successful career, and mysterious disappearance, of a U.S. Navy gunboat on Florida’s Gulf coast

-MARCO ISLAND IN THE CIVIL WAR—how Marco was used as a blockade-runner hideout during the war

-SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS IN THE CIVIL WAR—blockade-runner naval action along beaches now famous for tourists and sea shells

-THE FORGOTTEN COUSIN—the incredible story of the USN’s Alexander Semmes, cousin of the legendary CSN hero Raphael Semmes, and his war on Florida’s Gulf coast 

-THE GREAT ESCAPE—Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin’s epic escape to freedom through the islands of SW Florida

KEY WEST IN THE CIVIL WAR

-OCEAN OUTPOST—the changing role of Key West in the war

-THE SWORD OF KEY WEST—how a Yankee army officer became an unexpected hero to the Confederate people of Key West in 1863

-YELLOW JACK—FLORIDA’S BIOLOGICAL WEAPON—the devastating yellow fever attack on the Union squadron in 1864

-LAST MEN TO DIE—the story of the final naval confrontation of the Civil War in the Straits of Florida—a month after Lee’s surrender 

THE OVERALL NAVAL CIVIL WAR

-GUERRE DE COURSE—Confederate ocean raider strategy

-BLOOD MONEY—the crucial role of the Caribbean during the war

-BAHAMIAN REBEL SANCTUARY—a focus on Nassau and the Abaco Islands in the Civil War

-HITTING HOME—the 1863 Confederate naval raid on New England

GENERAL MARITIME HISTORY OF SW FLORIDA

-IRON MEN AND WOODEN YACHTS—the first brave yachtsmen who ventured into SW Florida during the 1880s and 1890s

-TAMING THE INSIDE PASSAGE—how the forerunner of the ICW was started among our islands because of the Spanish-American War

-CUBA AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA—a 500 year connection NOTE: This can be done as a 20min after-dinner/luncheon talk also. 

GENERAL MARITIME SUBJECTS

-MODERN PIRACY—an update on Somali and what’s being done about them

-THE U.S. NAVY IN THE DARK YEARS—the demise of naval ability for 20 years after the Civil War

-GROG!—a hilarious look at the most famous drink afloat, with audience drinking participation in 10 naval toasts from the Canadian, U.S. and Royal navies

-BRAVE MEN IN IRON TUBES—the story of the pioneers in actual submarine warfare from 1860s to the 1890s

-SAILOR TALK—an intriguing look at the language of the sea, and how much of it has come ashore into everyday conversations

-SEA SHANTEYS—the inside story of the working and relaxing songs of the sea

-FROM SAIL TO STEAM—how the first ship engines changed life, for better and for worse, at sea and ashore

-FROM BARRELS TO CONTAINERS—how the move to containerization completely changed the world and the lives of even people far from the ocean

-THE ITALIAN NAVY’S DECIMA MAS—the incredible World War II story of the first naval special operations unit in history

MARITIME HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC

-OCEAN RAIDERS OF THE PACIFIC—300 years of English, Confederate, and German sailors who caused mayhem in the largest ocean on earth

-THE GREAT ARMADA—300 years of Spanish treasure fleets sailing the Pacific with the riches of Asia

-THE WAR THAT CHANGED SOUTH AMERICA AND THE U.S NAVY—the story of the War of the Pacific from 1879 to 1883

LECTURE SERIES ON GERMANY’S PACIFIC EMPIRE

-GERMANY’S PACIFIC EMPIRE—the fascinating story of Germany’s dominance of the central Pacific from the 1870s to World War I

-WAR SCARE IN SAMOA—the 1889 confrontation between Germany and the U.S. in the Pacific

-GENTLEMEN WARRIORS—Fleet actions of World War I in the Pacific

-THE SEA DEVIL—the story of the most famous ocean raider in the Pacific, beloved by even his enemies

WRITING FOR FUN AND PROFIT

-PLANNING YOUR WRITING CAREER—Planning, organizing, and starting your literary work 

-WRITING ABOUT THE SEA—what makes writing about the sea different, fascinating, and greatly rewarding   NOTE: This can be a 20min after-dinner/luncheon talk as well

-WORKING IN THE BIZ—details of how a book goes from an idea to the bookstore, with practical suggestions on how to get it done effectively

-MARKETING YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK—an author's how-to overview on making your literary work successful and enjoyable

-GETTING INTO CHARACTER—light-hearted personal tales of researching and writing novels around the world   NOTE: This can be a 20min after-dinner/luncheon talk as well

-WOW…DID I WRITE THAT?—getting school students to lose their fear and have fun with their writing (tailored for both elementary and secondary students)