Authors On The Ranch

When
02/27/2022
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location
1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240

Meet local authors John Shanahan from 10:00 AM - NOON and Dr. Frank Gertcher froom NOON - 2:00 PM.

Sunday, February 27, the Friends of the East Manatee Library at Lakewood Ranch will host two local authors. Visit our tent and learn how you can support the future library that is under construction in Lakewood Ranch.

John Michael Shanahan is a man of many interests. He writes books, is an avid photographer and an artist. He grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi and is a true “southern” gentleman. He was in the military and was a businessman before retiring to Lake Keowee in South Carolina where there wasn’t much to do but read and watch the lake. When he explored the history of the lake, he found the power company flooded the area by damming two places along the Keowee River to be used for cooling a nuclear power plant. The flooded lake contained Keowee town and many Indian artifacts. The history became his inspiration for The Last Raven, his first book. His second book Devil Feather is a follow up to the previous book. His next books are Legacy Island and Road Trip Blues that takes him back to the southern places he knows so well. He also published short story books that include Alegora, The Reluctant Donor, and The Revenge Project.

He also published a compilation of poems that his mother wrote over many years. He found them written on pieces of his father’s legal paper. When he asked his mother why she left them in a pile she replied she just didn’t think anyone would be interested, but she delighted in selling her “book” to the people who lived in her senior residence.

John lives in Lakewood Ranch with his wife and is still writing.

Dr. Frank Gertcher was born in Clinton, Indiana and raised on a small farm in Sullivan County, Indiana, making him the third Hoosier to be part of the Authors on the Ranch. His career began as a scientist. He published papers in scientific journals about the political use of nuclear weapons. He co-authored two successful textbooks. He transitioned to fiction and authored six novels and a book of poems.

When asked about how he researches his stories, he said his stories are a combination of personal experience, family history, and intense research. He travels the world with his wife to research stories. He said the story ideas come at odd times, many of them while eating in restaurants with his wife, Linda. He mentioned she is very tolerant of his distracting use of napkins to write down ideas but when he is ready to start a new book, he has an accumulation of annotated napkins.

His books include The Dark Cabin Murders, The River Rat Murders, The Blind Pig Murders, and The Cat in the Window Murders. His poetry book is Wind Grass Hill and Other Poems as well as Shaman on Wind Grass Hill that is includes poetry but is a novel.

The latest book titled:The Cat's Paw Murders, will be published in November 2022. He is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA).

CONTACT US

16410 Rangeland Parkway

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211

Email Us

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE LAKEWOOD RANCH LIBRARY (REGISTRATION NO. CH57400) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

The Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Questions? Send us an email.