From the canals of Long Beach to the waters of Venice, and on to the British Virgin Islands—one man sets out to build something no one else believes in.
One Pakistani fishing boat. Two broke kids. The birth of gondola culture in America.
The American Gondolier
Long Beach, California, 1982. Two friends. One impossible idea.
When Mike O'Reilly spots a waterlogged Pakistani fishing boat rotting in a neighbor's rose garden, most people see junk. He sees the beginning of something. David Orlando—Mike's oldest friend—sees every flaw in the hull and every reason it won't work. He says yes anyway. What follows is the story of how two young men with no investors, no permits, no experience with Italian anything, and more belief than sense built a gondola business on the canals of Naples, California—and then kept going to Austin and Nashville and on to the BVI.
The American Gondolier is a novel inspired by true events: a story about friendship and the stubborn kind of optimism that refuses to quit. It's about the people who show up—the crew that sands and hammers and stays for the beer, the attorney who doesn't lose, the neighbor who gives you her boat for free and just asks for a ride when it's done. It's about what happens when a small idea refuses to stay small, and two men discover that the question was never whether it would work—it was how far they were willing to take it.
A ledger sealed in a wall in Venice for sixty-five years. A sunken Nazi fortune no one ever recovered. And the man whose uncle wrote it all down—now the only one who can prove it's real, and far from the only one hunting it.
Book Two of The American Gondolier trilogy, coming soon.
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Fun read! The American Gondolier is a great story of what you can accomplish with grit, friendship, and family. And a dream you refuse to give up on. Loved the blend of real historical events with a little fantasy mixed in.— Elizabeth M.
Great read. Interesting and engaging.— Katherine M. Knudsen
This book was a cover to cover read in one sitting for me. … A perfect example of the trials and struggles that all who venture will encounter. “The American Gondolier” is a fine example of the success that can be had in America when you trust your instincts, are tenacious and just persevere.— KB
What a perfect summer beach read! This book is not only a delightful story about the famous gondolas of Long Beach, but also a colorful account of the many people whose vision, hard work, and dedication contributed to the creation and ultimate success of this wonderful company. Engaging and enjoyable, it offers a fascinating glimpse into both the history of the gondolas and the community that helped make them such a cherished part of Long Beach.— Noelle Q. P.
Excellent book.— Nina Escandon
This is one of the most intriguing books I have ever read - period end of story. Author Black's literary cadence is masterful as you are always waiting on the next paragraph. Author Black's storytelling is authentic and rich and REAL. I honestly felt like I was living his journey with him as he allowed the reader into his heart and soul. I am a 'visual learner' and Author Black's visual cues were incredible - I could 'see' all of scenarios that he described. I am hoping that the conclusion of The American Gondolier is an obvious foreshadowing of the next book.— Laura Watkins Utterback
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