After ten years of living life on the edge, it was hard for Doc Ford to get that addiction to danger out of his system. But spending each day watching the sun melt into Dinkins Bay and the moon rise over the mangrove trees, cooking dinner for his beautiful neighbor, and dispensing advice to the locals over a cold beer lulled him into letting. Sanibel Flats (Doc Ford Novels) This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. Sanibel Flats: A Doc Ford Novel (Doc Ford Novels) by Randy Wayne White Book condition: 3.1 PB standard 50% Book Description St. Martin's Paperbacks, March 2017.
- Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Stadium
- Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Island
- Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Park
- Sanibel Flats (doc Ford State Park
- Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Park
2500 Island Inn Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957239-472-8311Open 11am - 10pm
Doc Ford’s Sanibel “Home of the Island Mojito” is our flagship location.
Just off Island Inn Road across from Bailey’s Shopping Center. If you’re hoping to run into Randy Wayne White, then this is the place to do it as he can be found writing here on many nights. With 2 dining rooms and an outdoor patio, where you decide to enjoy the ambiance is up to you! A trip to Sanibel isn’t complete without lunch or dinner with us at Doc Ford’s!
So welcome to Doc Ford’s Sanibel Island
This beautiful new restaurant’s namesake, the fictional Doc Ford, was conceived in desperation just down the road at Tarpon Bay Marina where the owner, Mack, employed a small quirky cast of characters, one of whom wanted to be a writer.
That was 30-years and 3,000 charters ago, near the end of my career as a fishing guide. Thank karma, or fate, or blind blessed luck, but I love the symmetry suggested by Doc’s return to Tarpon Bay Road. The symmetry didn’t seem so blessed at the time.
In 1988, the federal government informed our little marina family that the bay would soon close to powerboat traffic. We fishing guides were out of a job. Aside from a license to drive big boats, I wasn’t qualified to do anything useful, but I did own a typewriter.
Eighteen months later, my first novel, Sanibel Flats, was published. It introduced a few (very few) readers to marine biologist Doc (Marion D.) Ford, and his unrepentant hipster pal, Tomlinson. They were hard core tropic travels; decent men with senses of humor, each devoted, in his way, to the obligations of friendship, family and their respective moral compass.
Both attracted trouble. Both men lived secret lives.
Sanibel Flats did nothing to threaten their anonymity — sales were minuscule. National reviews, however, were enthusiastic, so I continued to chronicle the adventures of Doc, Tomlinson, and my marina pals, all of whom orbited freely around a semi-fictional “Dinkins Bay.”
Now, twenty-four novels later, it is an honor, and just plain fun, to return as a member of the Doc Ford’s restaurant family — and we are a family, top to bottom, same as the same quirky, excellence-driven characters who populate my novels.
By virtue of being here, you are a member, too. My partners, Marty and Brenda Harrity, and Mark Marinello, would agree, and here’s why: these islands have a gift for attracting people of kindred sensibilities. Some are famous, most are not, and it doesn’t matter. You are here. These islands have chosen you. Why argue?
Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Stadium
— Randy Wayne White
The Sunshine City – St. Petersburg
Welcome to Doc Ford’s and the architectural marvel that is the new St. Pete Pier.If I believed in parallel universes, I might also believe that, through bumbling good luck, I was destined to become a member of this, one of Florida’s most vibrant and beautiful waterfront cities.
Spiritual gibberish, you say? Well, maybe.Keep reading.
During tarpon season, 1980, when I was a fishing guide on Sanibel Island, I received a potentially life-changing phone call.It was from the executive editor of The St. Petersburg Times.(We’ll call him Robert H.)He’d been impressed by an article I’d written for Rolling Stone’s new Outside Magazine.
Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Island
“We’re looking for a columnist,” Robert H. said.“Interested?”
Darn right I was interested.The St. Pete Times had won umpteen Pulitzer Prizes.It was one of the finest newspapers in the nation.I’d been guiding since the mid-1970s, but my secret goal was to become a fulltime writer.
The interview was on a Sunday.Robert H., a nice man, was dressed for tennis.“Do you play?” he asked.
“Twice,” I said. “I spent the whole time apologizing.”
We were off to a shaky start.
It got better.An hour later, Robert H. offered me the job.I was thrilled –but this was tarpon season.My trip to St. Pete had cost me a charter.It seemed reasonable to discuss salary.
On a slip of paper, Robert H., a perceptive man, wrote an offer, then read my reaction accurately.He crossed out some numbers, and added $10 a week.
“This is the St. Pete Times,” he reminded me.
Arrogance played no role.For me, an unknown writer with zero formal training, this was an incredible opportunity.
“I’ll give it some serious thought,” I said.
I did, and darn near accepted the offer.If I had, every small twist and turn in my life would have been forever changed.
In the decade that followed, there were times that I regretted the decision.In 1988, my marina closed.I was out of a job.Aside from a license to drive big boats, I wasn’t qualified to do anything useful.But I still owned a typewriter.
After a year of hard work, my first novel, Sanibel Flats, was published.It introduced a few (very few) readers to marine biologist Doc (Marion D.) Ford, and his unrepentant hipster pal, Tomlinson.These were hard core tropic travelers; decent men with senses of humor.Each, in his way, was devoted to the obligations of friendship, family and their respective moral compass.
Both men attracted trouble.Both men lived secret lives.
Sanibel Flats did nothing to threaten their anonymity.Sales were minuscule.National reviews, however, were enthusiastic, so I continued to chronicle the adventures of Doc, Tomlinson, and my marina pals, all of whom orbited freely around a semi-fictional “Dinkin’s Bay.”
Now, many novels later, I have yet to cross the Sunshine Skyway without contemplating a parallel universe, and the cheery destiny of being part of St. Pete.
Still sound like spiritual gibberish?
Nope.Look around, and welcome to the Doc Ford’s family.By virtue of being here, you are a member of the same quirky, excellence-driven characters who staff this restaurant, and populate my novels.
My brilliant partners, Marty and Brenda Harrity, Mark and Julie Marinello, would agree.
— Randy Wayne White
Sanibel Flats (doc Ford Park
Terra Ceia, Florida
So check out our new St. Pete location and tell us your experience at Tripadvisor.
Sanibel Flats (doc Ford State Park
Click the links below to read others.
Comments are closed.