Gasparilla: Pirate Genius

by James Kaserman

Two centuries ago the waters surrounding La Florida were filled with merchants, mercenaries, bootleggers, slave ships, brigantines, and frigates from England, France, Spain, the young United States ...and PIRATES. The pirates were an early version of today's organized crime---with outstanding leaders, a strict code of honor, democratic laws, and a true form of democratic government. Legend has it that Gasparilla, the king of pirates, reigned in the Florida Keys and along Florida's West Coast from Marco Island to Tampa Bay, hiding his female prisoners on Captiva Island until they could be ransomed. First the Caribbean, then the Keys, and then the barrier islands along the Gulf Coast, the rivers and harbors were a perfect location for international outlaws to establish a base of operations. Before tragedy forced him into piracy, the story goes that Jose Gaspar was a young Spanish naval hero and hero to the people of Spain, Gaspar became embittered by the corruption and brutality of the Spanish Crown. Author James Kaserman develops the life of Jose Gaspar as a well-educated and highly principled seaman who reaches the rank of admiral before his political and personal enemies destroy all that he loves. Taking the name of Gasparilla, his brilliant mind creates a pirate confederacy, a fortress on Gasparilla Island, designs his ships, many of which are built in Mystic Seaport, Conn., he is unbeatable in battle, and establishes one of the largest and most profitable enterprises of all time. In Pirate Genius, the times are rough, the murders are graphic and savage, sex can be raw; revenge is vicious, and treatment of women, gentle or crude. Kaserman introduces us to the wisdom of this pirate king---ideas that may help civilization in the millennium...and he hints where the treasures may have been, and perhaps, still are, hidden. This is a story of power, romance, and tragedy.

Genres: Fiction

317 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

James F. Kaserman is a retired educator and businessman and served in elected public office for more than ten years. Following graduation from Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, he earned a bachelors degree in business administration from Kent State University and a masters degree in educational administration from the University of Dayton. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant from the United States Army.
Kaserman has been a newspaper columnist and served as a teacher, coach, and administrator for thirty-six years in both Ohio and Florida. He became interested in the truth about pirates when doing research studies of government and business organizations, and concluded that pirate organizations had many similarities to the businesses of today and even served as models for our modern day democracy.

Sarah Jane (Chenot) Kaserman an educator for over thirty-five years and recently retired as a teacher of gifted students in the Lee County School District in Florida. Following graduation from North Canton Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, she earned a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a masters degree in deaf education from Kent State University. A violinist and avid fiddle player, Sarah Jane arranged and played fiddle for a civil war movie, The Miracle Men. She also travels the country and plays old-time, folk, and bluegrass music. She belongs to a Florida acoustic folk group entitled, The Lee County Fiddle Support Group as well as other groups throughout the year. Sarah Jane and her grandfathers fiddle, Charley can be found at all presentations the Kasermans put on regarding their series of pirate novels.

Together, they have combined their years in education with the vision of writing multi-sensory books and have written many elementary Accelerated Reader books that may be purchased through http://www.isaveatree.com They also have written three pirate novels, Gasparilla Pirate Genius, The Legend of Gasparilla, A Tale for All Ages; and, How the Pirates Saved Christmas. Each of these novels won awards and were good sellers.

They have been happily married since 1966 and are the parents of two sons, Richard and James, grandparents to James Hunter and Reed Samuel, and have lived in Fort Myers, Florida, since 1985 moving from their native Ohio.

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Reviews

[James F.]

is a 46 chapter adult historical fiction novel that involves a mixture of history and the mythology of Gasparilla who ruled a confederacy of pirates, an early version of today's organized crime. THIS TITLE IS NOW BEING PUBLISHED BY AUTHORHOUSE @ 1-800-839-8640 and may be ordered either directly through them or through Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor books. What made Gasparilla unique was the use of educated leaders, a strict code of honor, and a truly democratic form of government. From 1784 until 1821, Gasparilla's mythical confederation ruled the Gulf of Mexico, along the West Coast of Florida through the keys. The novel is a story of power, romance, and tragedy. In Gasparilla: Pirate Genius, the times are rough, the murders are graphic and savage, sex can be raw; revenge vicious, and treatment of women both gentle and crude. The chapters on slavery are particularly poignant. This book was chosen “Best Florida Book” by the Florida Publisher’s Association in 2001 and was placed in two Florida Millennium Time Capsules in 2000. Continues to be good seller!