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New York Times bestselling author Randy Wayne White will autograph first edition copies of his new crime-fiction novel, “Night Vision,” the latest in the popular Doc Ford series, at a long-awaited book signing on Oct. 1st from 12 – 2PM and 4 – 6PM, at Doc Ford’s Fort Myers Beach, in our new Doc’s House Catering room.
The High Tide Steel Drum Band will play from 1 – 4PM, books will be available for purchase on site, and you can order from the full menu of superb rural tropics cuisine, which features mouthwatering entrees like Yucatan Shrimp, with jumbo wild-caught Gulf shrimp, fresh from shrimp boats working in the bay right outside the door.
Flash-boiled and bathed in garlic butter, Yucatan Shrimp is fiery with peppery Sambal sauce, fragrant with key lime juice and cilantro. The shrimp, referred to as “pink gold” by Randy, are unpeeled, according to Randy’s personal preference. The communal act of peeling shrimp leads, he says, to a sharing of the spirit of Sanibel itself, and casual, family-style dining that brings people closer to one another than they might get with prim knife and fork eating.
This year’s event will be held at Doc’s House, our new catering room. Doc’s House offers beautiful views of the Gulf, and waterfront seating in the main dining room, where big sliding doors let you in right from the dock, where you can park your boat. You can see Randy’s old house across the way. Inside the all-wooden interior, there’s a big-screen TV, a corner bar with two more TV’s, and multi-media speakers in the ceilings.
A friendly staffmember at Doc Ford’s Fort Myers Beach says this is the eighth year that Doc Ford’s has hosted book signings for Randy. “It’s going to be one of our busiest days of the year; we are expecting huge crowds. They just want to see Randy.”
“Night Vision” is the 18th Doc Ford series thriller, and his best yet, according to the author. The novels, which are set in Sanibel Island and feature former government operative turned marine biologist Marion “Doc” Ford and his quirky sidekick Tomlinson, first appeared in 1990, and have enjoyed a growing following among loyal fans.
Randy, who began writing while working as a fishing guide on Sanibel Island, says he enjoys speaking, and audiences love him, but he also says the hardest thing about writing now is finding uninterrupted time to write. He gives about 30 short talks a year during the spring book tour, and also schedules about 5 paid 30 – 45 minute motivational-style talks on subjects ranging form writing and travel, to fishing and baseball.
“Most book signings are a real pleasure, kind of like my fishing trips, back when I was a fishing guide,” says Randy. “I was a light-tackle guide in Tarpon Bay for 13 years. I did more than 3,000 charters, and more than 300 days a year boating these waters. When my clients caught fish, if they didn’t keep them, we’d put them on ice in the back of my pick-up truck, and bring them to the restaurant. The symmetry that has brought me back to this place is wondrous, and it’s a joy to be here.”
Other Doc Ford novels, listed in chronological order are: Sanibel Flats, The Heat Islands, Man Who Invented Florida, Captiva, North of Havana, The Mangrove Coast, Ten Thousand Islands, Shark River, Twelve Mile Limit, Everglades, Tampa Burn, Dead of Night, Dark Night, Hunter’s Moon, Black Widow, Dead Silence and Deep Shadow, which debuted at #6 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2009.
The success of the Doc Ford’s novels led Randy and his partners to open Doc Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel Island in 2003, today a popular dining destination and gathering place for locals and vacationers. Doc Ford’s Fort Myers Beach location opened in 2009.
“It’s the real people that love Doc Ford’s that are the heart and soul of this place, not the fictional ones,” Randy says, in an interesting reflection on the role food plays in his books. “They come to enjoy the atmosphere and great food. Cooking not only whets the appetite, it sharpens all the senses, which makes it the best time for honest talk, factual or fanciful.”
As any Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille guest will tell you, good food and good conversation at the island restaurant’s Sanibel location, or nearby Fort Myers Beach, can stretch a meal out for an afternoon, or an evening, to remember.

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