If there is any merit to the advice often given to aspiring
authors, “Write about what you know,” then
A. Hardy Roper would be the person you'd choose to write novels set in Galveston, Texas. His
great-grandparents emigrated from Germany in the 1840’s entering the U.S. at
the Port of Galveston. He is a fourth generation Galvestonian.
With two novels, Assassination
in Galveston and The Garhole Bar,
to his credits, Roper has displayed his skill at telling a story that keeps the
reader entertained. My personal favorite is The
Garhole Bar, admittedly because I love the title. Every time I am in the
Galveston area, I expect to turn onto a street, close to the waters of the Gulf,
and see a run-down, but inviting building. The book’s title scrawled
above the door, it invites adventurous customers to enter and explore the
mysteries.
Parker McLeod is the protagonist for both Roper’s novels. A
well-trained, former military man, McLeod runs his bar as he and his friends
are pulled into mysterious and puzzling plots of criminals and their misdeeds.
The author does a great job of making McLeod a believable and interesting character; revealing his flaws as well as his
strengths. For readers who enjoy following a main character through more than a single,
well-written novel, these books will be just what you are looking for.
Roper recently dropped by the Galveston Bookshop, where the staff donned his Garhole Bar t-shirts for the photo on the left.
It’s time for a third in the Parker McLeod series and we
hope the author obliges soon. Roper has written a screenplay for his second work, Assassination in Galveston. He publishes
his work through WESTBAY Publishing. Purchase his books, review the screenplay and learn more at http://www.assassinationingalveston.com.
Heck, because of his popularity, The Garhole Bar might work as a real place. Of course, he'd have to stop writing and push drinking instead of reading.
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