WRITERS CO-OP: A WRITER COMMUNITY FOR YOU.

GD Deckard

, , , , , , ,
, ,
27 comments on Book Fair!

Book Fair!

Our own Victor Acquista (above, center) was one of two featured speakers at the Naples Book Fair. Attendance yesterday was in the hundreds, a surprising number for a small town like Naples unless you know that Naples has known a few known writers. Current authors in residence include Robin Cook, Dave Barry and Janet Evanovich. Ben Bova and Robert Ludlum have passed on, but they may have attended, unseen. I punctuated my own arrival by accidentally knocking a framed book cover off Victor’s table. People around the hall looked when the glass smashed to the floor. Being a friend though, I didn’t charge him for the unexpected publicity.

Victor’s talk illustrated the structure of the story by reminding us of the many stories in each of our own lives. We live small stories daily and larger ones as the years pass until finally, we have lived the beginning, the middle, and the end that is our life’s story.

Like his talents, Victor’s books range from wellness to science fiction. The former came from his years as a physician, the latter from current explorations of the human psyche, a journey that often leads serious writers to the sci-fi genre.

BOOKS BY VICTOR ACQUISTA

Revelation, *Serpent Rising, Sentient (including the German edition Sentient: Genetik und Alternative Weltgeschichte,) The Einstein Protocol, Health Wise: Integral Lessons in Transformation, Pathways to Health: An Integral Guidebook.
*Serpent Rising won Best New Age Fiction in the 2021 International Book Awards

Victor’s short stories have appeared in the Sci Fi Roundtable Anthologies The Quantum Soul and Gods of Clay.

And, of course, he helped to edit our anthology The Rabbit Hole: Weird Stories Volume Three (special issue: Weird Romance)

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3AVictor+Acquista

INTERESTED IN PODCASTS?
Check out Podfobler Productions
https://victoracquista.com/podfobler-productions/

Book Fair Main Hall
Ray Jensen & Meridith Bunting
Susan Sachs Levine
Victor Acquista

https://VictorAcquista.com

Advertisement

Posted by:

GD Deckard

Severely beaten as a child by a WWII hero and combat-induced-PTSD stepfather, the author, as a teen, faced the old man down with a shotgun and earned his blessing to join the military at the time Americans were learning about a country called Vietnam. The “lazy, no good son-of-a-bitch” opted out of combat and hard labor by becoming an Air Force medic, stamping out suffering and misery on Freedom’s Frontier at Clark Airbase in S.E. Asia and earning some kind of medal pinned on him personally by then Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Brown, for “Saving lives, etc.” There followed a summer in Europe ending in the first of happy marriages. Then graduation with University Honors, kids worth dying for and a career in business. Life is good. Author, The Phoenix Diary, Penguin, 2015. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phoenix-diary-g-d-deckard/1122175645 Founding Member, Writers Co-op. https://WritersCo-op.com Co-Editor, The Rabbit Hole anthologies. https://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Hole-Weird-Stories/dp/1691225355/ref=sr_1_1 Founder, SciFi Lampoon Magazine. http://scifilampoon.com/ Contributing Editor, A Celebration of Storytelling https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Storytelling-GD-Deckard/dp/1951716167 Current WIP: Code Blue and Little Deaths, stories from Clark during the Vietnam War. Recipient of the Psi Young award for Creative Biography.

27 responses to “Book Fair!”

  1. Sue Ranscht Avatar
    Sue Ranscht

    Thanks for sharing this well-deserved moment in Victor’s career, GD. Not only is he an accomplished author, but he’s a good friend and honorable man.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. victoracquista Avatar
      victoracquista

      Thank you, Sue!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
    2. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      You nailed it, Sue!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  2. Sandy Randall Avatar
    Sandy Randall

    GD, was this your actual observation? I’m only asking because of this line: “Being a friend though, I didn’t charge him for the unexpected publicity.”
    I thought perhaps you let Roy out to play …

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. victoracquista Avatar
      victoracquista

      In the moment of moving forward to embrace in renewed friendship, the earth shook and a framed display tumbled. Glass shattered, the room stilled, and all eyes turned to me.
      How can I repay this spontaneous act of kindness?
      Lunch! Next lunch gathering with GD is definitely on me. It’s probably my turn anyway, but I’m sure neither of us keeps track of this sort of thing. It was fun to see him and be among fellow authors.

      Liked by 6 people

      Reply
      1. GD Deckard Avatar
        GD Deckard

        People at book fairs are friendly. The feeling I get surrounded by writers is tribal. These are my people.

        Liked by 5 people

        Reply
        1. victoracquista Avatar
          victoracquista

          Yes, it’s an open, friendly, collegial tribe. No one even commented that I did not wear war-paint or my ceremonial headdress. It is good to be among your fellow peeps.

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply
    2. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      Sandy
      yeah. I broke it.

      But Roy wrote that line 😏

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply
    3. SMWebb Avatar
      SMWebb

      😂😂😂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  3. victoracquista Avatar
    victoracquista

    GD was kind enough to attend this event and share some nice photos. I feel a little embarrassed by his unexpected publicity. There were over 50 local authors at this Friends of the Library book fair.

    My talk focused on The Hero’s Journey and how we are each heroes and heroines of our own story. I talked both about Joseph Campbell and his fine work in helping us to understand the narrative structure of the Hero’s Journey. I applied this structure to show its usefulness in understanding the story of our lives. I ended with a shout of praise to Chris Vogler and his book, “The Writers Journey.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Writer%27s_Journey:_Mythic_Structure_for_Writers. If you are not familiar with this superb resource, I highly recommend it: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X. As Vogler points out, the writer’s journey parallels the hero’s journey.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. DocTom Avatar
    DocTom

    Hearty congratulations to Victor!

    Also, an opportunity to let everyone know that The Rabbit Hole vol. 6 is now open for submissions. Just click on the Rabbit Hole tab above.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      The new theme is “Destination: Journey.”
      I’m in!

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply
  5. GD Deckard Avatar
    GD Deckard

    Victor used the story structure from Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” to illustrate the narrative structure in our own life. Great choice! That book is a must-read for story writers.

    For example, Campbell’s hero must face “TESTS.” A major part of life is “TESTS.” Things can happen that challenge our very will to live. But the whole point of life’s journey is to keep going.

    A favorite example is Buttercup and Wesley when preparing to enter the Fire Swamp in “The Princess Bride.”
    “We’ll never survive.”
    “Nonsense, you’re only saying that because no one ever has.”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  6. mimispeike Avatar
    mimispeike

    How wonderful! I wish I could have been there. Such a turn out, a tribute to Victor’s standing for sure.

    So many writers in one place! I’ve searched for a live writer group up here (Danbury CT), with no luck.

    Destination/Journey. I’m on it.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    1. victoracquista Avatar
      victoracquista

      Thank you, Mimi! Have you checked with the local library to see if they know of any groups. Maybe you can start one. I always enjoy meeting and interacting with fellow writers. I would think a city as large as Danbury would have some kind of writers group.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Carl E. Reed Avatar
    Carl E. Reed

    Congrats to all involved here! Most especially Victor, of course. The man radiates intelligence, sanity, wisdom and gentle good humor. (And that’s just his writing! I imagine in person he can bring street brawls to a halt with a sharp look and calm tempest-tossed ocean waves with a gesture.) I’m not always certain what a saint looks like, but one glance at Victor’s book-jacket author photo…

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    1. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      Now don’t tell him that! 😝 I gotta have lunch with the saint.
      🤣

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
      1. victoracquista Avatar
        victoracquista

        More like, sin boldly. I am trusting in a God of mercy.

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply
    2. victoracquista Avatar
      victoracquista

      Carl, you must be thinking of a different Victor. Perhaps Victor Borge? I had the good fortune to see him live at a performance–an absolutely delightful experience!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  8. mimispeike Avatar
    mimispeike

    Forgive me, I can’t resist.

    “The former came from his years as a physician, the latter from current explorations of the human psyche, a journey that often leads serious writers to the sci-fi genre.”

    Or to a talking cat.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    1. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      A talking cat has to be great company on life’s journey.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply
  9. victoracquista Avatar
    victoracquista

    I just had a conversation with my deceased cat, Mia. She is great friends in the afterlife with Schrodinger’s cat, when he chooses to be present, which is only half the time. Of course, “The Cat Who Walks Through Walls” is a famous novel by Robert Heinlein, one of my favorite sci fi authors. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program…

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  10. mimispeike Avatar
    mimispeike

    I have to read that!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  11. SMWebb Avatar
    SMWebb

    Book fairs! I miss those from elementary school days. Very cool that Naples pulled one together. It is not surprising that GD made his presence known with such showmanship, but it is surprising he didn’t charge for it.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    1. GD Deckard Avatar
      GD Deckard

      Hey! I didn’t charge you for BETA reading “Spirited,” either.
      😏Maybe I’m getting soft?

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply
      1. SMWebb Avatar
        SMWebb

        😂 That’s true 🤔 If I ever go on a book tour, I’ll come to Naples and take you out to lunch. But I’ll also frame everything in plastic.

        Liked by 5 people

        Reply
        1. GD Deckard Avatar
          GD Deckard

          😂😝🤣

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: