I’ve never been to Spain, but since 1904 my neighborhood has been invaded annually by Spanish pirates. If you’re not afraid of pirates, perhaps you will be if you are among the 300,000 people who accept their invitation to join them this year.
The annual Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Parade event can get wilder than normal folks around here appreciate. We’ve seen many a temper flare among the landlubbers as well as the pirates themselves. Along with the fun, there’s always dozens of arrests for disorderly conduct.
As far as I know, we’ve never had an actual murder during Gasparilla, but have you read Secret Justice? If so, you may recognize this scene:
A few years ago, the big parade became too much for the kids. Changes were made. Today, Gasparilla Season begins innocently enough with the Children’s Parade. Kids and their adult supervision have been headed down to the Bayshore for a few hours to get the best seats. The weather’s good today and families should have a great experience.
Tonight concludes with the Piratechnic Extravaganza where you’re likely to see fireworks like these instead of the ones you’ll find in my book, Secret Justice.
Gasparilla Piratechnic Extravaganza
Or will you become immersed in Secret Justice instead? Here’s how it starts:
The supervisor pushed the pirate hard with his boot. The man’s head lolled over loosely, revealing a grey-blonde ponytail bound at the base of his skull with a limp, wet ribbon. Even in the weak ambient light, they could both see the bloody depression in the man’s skull where it had been resting on the heavy piece of concrete jutting up out of the sidewalk.
“Miguel, this man is dead,” the supervisor shouted. “Who is this guy?”
Frightened now, Miguel shook his head and lifted both hands, palms up. “I don’t know. I found him here. I don’t know.”
The police labeled him “John Doe” and sent him off to the morgue.
Then what happens? It wouldn’t be fair for me to tell you that, would it?
We’ll be talking about Gasparilla a bit more as the festival unfolds. Do come back to join us. If you’ve been to Gasparilla, what was the craziest thing you witnessed there? Besides pirates invading our city, I mean.
Meanwhile, have you voted to choose the title to my next book? If not, please do! I could use the help. And of course we’ll need a prize for doing this heavy lifting, right? How about an autographed, newly minted copy of the paperback version of Fatal Distraction or Don’t Know Jack? Winner’s choice. Name That Book by CLICKING HERE!
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