Scott Nash calls from Smyth & Hewlys, a new religious Publishing company because "Why the Homeless Don't have Homes and what to do about it" won a national award so I'm riding high and am in demand.
"We want to publish your next book," Scott says.
"It's about Tybee Island," I answer.
"Is it religious?"
"Well," I explain, "in the sense that God's name is used a lot on island."
"Close enough," he concludes.
"Running with the Dolphins" came about when I realized no one had written a book about Tybee Island yet though ... Lord knows ... there's plenty of material.
"That's quite the book," my friend Robin who runs a nearby book store tells me on the phone. "It's got a really nice cover."
"You have it?" I ask. "How did you get it? I don't have it yet."
Damn new publishing company!
After a quick 120 Mile-per-hour drive she hands me a copy and I have to admit I really like the cover.
"I've already read it," she says, "and really ... you call it Mayberry on Acid?"
"How else would you describe Tybee?" I reply.
"Touché," she laughs.
Great fanfare follows as "Dolphins" takes off ... selling lots of copies, going through four printings in less than a year.
That's when the "Hate Mail" starts arriving.
The first is signed by 22 people representing the "Coastal Child Advocacy Center" detailing how offended they are because I endorse child abuse so they demand lots of things like burning all the copies, a public apology and strongly recommend that I move out of the country.
The main story in the book, "The Church of the Breakfast Club" centers on a man accused of child abuse which is an indefensible crime ... people are "guilty as charged" ... even if a Court finds them innocent later ... their reputation's already ruined.
The episode also focuses on a small island community struggling to not take sides because everybody knows everybody.
Things can go horribly wrong even in Paradise.
Letters follow mostly condemning me to Hell because I don't care about children ... though my own small children are prominently featured throughout the book.
Simultaneously, the reviews are terrific, the publicity positive and people make plans to visit Tybee for the first time".
Then people moan, "Why did you write that book? We don't need more people on this island! It's perfect the way it is and you're single handedly making it worse!"
They too tell me I can go where it's warmer ... much warmer!
Holding it in my hands today, I think it's a sweet reminder of an innocent time and place that no longer exists.
Today the island is crazy, crowded, over-regulated, WAY over-enforced and a great chasm exists between islanders and tourists that borders on hate.
Plus there's no place to park.
Yet ... the beauty of the island remains ... the pungent aroma of the marsh is intoxicating ... the beauty of the beach ... sunrises, sunsets, jumping Dolphins and diving Pelicans ... and small pockets of people who remain accepting ... nonjudgmental ... welcoming ... and willing to share it with others.
Who knows how much longer we'll have these things?
It's looking worse and worse when signs are posted reading, "Island is Full! Turn Around and Leave!"
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