Press Release
Emily Carmain
277-2427
[email protected]
Don Parker, 261-2066
October 31, 2016 2:00 p.m.
What would you expect a spirited, tireless octogenarian to do in his spare time? For one Fernandina resident, the answer in 2016 was to rummage through dozens of boxes of paper in his house and decide what to put together for a book. Sometimes it led to grabbing a pen to scribble lines about more ideas when inspiration struck.
Donald Parker, who turned 88 this year, has written countless stories, articles and poems over the years, some published and some as yet unpublished. His new book is a collection of wit and wisdom titled 88 Is Great: Guaranteed to Make You Happy. It will be introduced at a book signing Friday, Nov. 4, at the Book Loft in downtown Fernandina. Meet the author and get a book personally autographed from 1 to 4 p.m.
Parker’s writings range from the humorous to the thought-provoking, from quirky, true stories and tales of adventure to candid opinions. His latest compilation also includes letters about life and happenings from the 1930s to the 21st century.
“We all know that today’s high tech-life is particularly limited in terms of personal communication. I, strangely, I suppose, wrote down the story of many of the events of my life,” Parker says. “Some of these stories went into my file drawer and were never seen again until now! I found many of them and want you all to share my pleasures with these diverse, but once pertinent, memories. Maybe some of these reflections will kindle your desire to interact personally with each other more often.”
“I found it interesting, informative and entertaining … tells the reader a lot about this man’s genuine character,” one reader says.
Originally from Cape Cod, Parker graduated from Brown University and had a career as a commodity futures trader in Boston, which he describes as an exciting roller-coaster ride on many occasions. He and his wife, Andrea, who passed away two years ago, raised their three children in New England.
During their 63-year marriage, the Parkers traveled widely around the country and the world, including a trip when they led an international business group to India for the Rotary Club. That culture-sharing experience, like many others in his life, led to some surprising revelations, as Parker recounts in one story in the 88 Is Great collection.
After coming to Fernandina Beach 25 years ago, the Parkers were active in the community in a variety of ways, including St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Rotary Club, the Nassau Poets & Writers Society, and many others.
At age 86, the cheerful, energetic writer published his first book, Food for Thought: Recipes and Writings to Chew On, a cookbook with more than recipes, which will also be available at the signing.
He still writes everything by hand, usually on yellow legal pads, and is a staunch supporter of “snail mail,” even if recipients seldom reply that way. “It seems that, for most people in today’s world, writing letters with pen and ink on paper is becoming a lost art,” he says with a chuckle.
He was a founder of the Book Island Festival in 2001 and served as president for five years. As a director emeritus, he continues to be a supporter of the annual event, now named the Amelia Island Book Festival.
Among other literary activities, he was a founding member of the Nassau Writers & Poets Society, whose members jointly authored Murder in Fernandina, under the pen name Amelia Clinch. The novel led to a series of mysteries, currently being written by local author Cara Curtin.
For more information about the Nov. 4 book signing, contact the Book Loft, 214 Centre St., 261-8991.