Demon Pirate (Bilge Rat - Pirate Adventurer, 3) - Softcover

Kevin Charles Smith, the oldest of seven children, was born in Chicago and never outgrew his fascination with Disney s Peter Pan. As such, he has spent a lifetime exploring the timeless subject matter of pirates and the high seas in all manner of books, magazine articles and internet websites. His chosen profession took him to the peak of success with the nations top companies, beginning with Carnation (now Nestle) in 1973 and ending with the Kellogg Company. As this time passed and his inner-child matured, he was intrigued and captivated by Hollywood s swashbucklers (Errol Flynn, Burt Lancaster, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Tyrone Powers) who graced the silver screen with their daring, resourcefulness and electrifying exploits. Following an accomplished 35 year professional career, culminating as Senior Vice-President of Marketing Services at Kellogg s, Kevin set sail on his second passion to finally render the book that had been developing in his subconscious onto paper. Realizing there was a scant amount of information on the subject of pirates in general, he made a personal pledge to craft his very own fictional tale about pirates, genuinely capturing their unique way of life. As he was closing in on his third book in his new pirate series based on everything that he had been saving up in his mind, Kevin teamed up with an amazing editor, Ali Bothwell-Mancini. She graciously immersed herself into the project, as they conspired to craft and fine tune the Bilge Rat, Pirate Adventurer Series, which encompasses Book One: Remarkable Rascal and Book Two: The Black Tarantula. Kevin s creative career has served him well, as it has afforded him a strong understanding of the entertainment industry s workings. Over the years he has partnered with some of world s greatest performers, and has successfully tied in with numerous blockbuster movies. The Bilge Rat, Pirate Adventurer Series was created recognizing the vacuum that existed in entertainment overall. To satisfy this identified need, Kevin put together a strong team of marketing experts and literary professionals who helped fashion his dream into reality. Response to his debut work, Remarkable Rascal was astounding as Hollywood Reporter identified this book as a Top Five Deal within weeks of the first reader copy becoming available. With a keen sense of what readers of all ages appreciate and enjoy, he ventured to fill in the major gaps he found woefully missing in his intensive research of life on the high seas. At the same time, he endeavored to create an interesting and fanciful tale complete with intrigue, romance and suspense that is both timeless and ageless. Kevin never lost his sense of humor through this arduous creative process, nor his allegiance to the breakfast table. As his literary team laid out their marketing plans, one of the agents mentioned how well the tale would adapt for the sale of serial rights. Kevin s immediate response was, Cereal rights would be grrrrrrrrreat! . On a more serious side, Kevin has great concern for public education reform movements that seek to remove literature from classrooms in favor of limitations attached to "Common Core". He regularly visits middle and high schools together with public libraries in his quest to preserve this valuable and integral component of education our youth to become productive members of our society. Kevin remains wed to his high school sweetheart, Patricia. Together, they are the proud parents of Kari and Shannon, and even prouder grandparents of Rowan, Lia and Van. Kevin and Pat now reside on Marco Island in Florida, where Kevin can be closer to the sea.

A Seaworthy Series Kevin Smith channels his passion for pirates into his young adult Bilge Rat Pirate Adventurer books. If you ve ever glanced at the side of a Kellogg s cereal box, you might have read some words written by Kevin Charles Smith. Over the past 25 years, Smith says, I was responsible for the copy on billions of Kellogg Company cereal back panels and side panels. It would be foolhardy for me to believe that this effort prepared me to author any manner of work. And yet, the late-blooming author has just seen the publication of the third book in his Bilge Rat Pirate Adventurer series, Demon Pirate (Journey Publications), which follows the exploits of the Black Tarantula as he sails the seas of the West Indies. Smith admits to having a bit of a pirate problem: As a pirate aficionado of yore, I have been addicted to, and have systematically sought out a host of, pirate media, be it buried in movies, books, or magazine and internet articles. Smith counts Disney s Peter Pan as a significant early influence, even if it was somewhat lacking in verisimilitude. As he came of age, Smith delved into researching the golden age of piracy an at times challenging venture. As Smith quickly learned, many original historical documents had been destroyed by seawater, and few firsthand accounts existed in the first place: documented evidence of piracy could mean a date on the gallows, Smith says. Pirates, for the most part, were illiterate. When the proverbial X marks the spot is associated with this uneducated band of heathens, it certainly refers more to their inability to read or write. So Smith decided to spin his own pirate yarn, hoping to fill in the blanks while o“ering readers some historical insights. He sought out the expertise of editor Ali Bothwell Mancini, who helped him to streamline 1,000 pages into the first three books in the Bilge Rat series, which is written for young adult and older readers. The first book in the series, Remarkable Rascal, introduces William Eden, an orphaned boy in 1700s London who becomes immersed in the dangerous world of pirates. Books two and three, Black Tarantula and Demon Pirate, continue William s story while chronicling the exploits of a malicious pirate terrorizing the high seas. Smith has a pretty good idea of why pirates have such enduring appeal, particularly for children. Pirates were the ultimate historical rebels, Smith says. They refused to follow the standards and norms of the time. In e“ect, they sought freedom at its most extreme. Fantasy and adventure stories (particularly those that integrate history) are invaluable assets for young readers, Smith says. I like to think that books like mine are essential for perpetuating an interest in the literature that the Common Core has forced out of the classroom. And Smith has no plans to stop writing his historical pirate adventures. He s currently completing the fourth book and has two more outlined. In truth, Smith says, I plan on scribbling these adventures for as long as I possibly can! Pirates were the ultimate historical rebels. They refused to follow the standards and norms of the time. In effect, they sought freedom at its most extreme. --Publishers' Weekly Spotlight

With Captain Adams in the hands of the Black Tarantula, William Echo Eden sets aside his plans to rescue a kidnapped French woman to save his friend. To venture into the deadly lair of this merciless pirate requires an unorthodox plan. A plague offers the perfect cover story even if it springs from Echo s cunning imagination and he and four of his men venture into the pirate s lair perched high on a bluff overlooking a cove on Tortuga. Unfortunately, his arch nemesis is off seeking Echo s girlfriend, Rue, but his second-in-command is no less vicious. With consummate acting skills and the perfect cure Devil s Trumpet Echo and his medical team incapacitate the pirates long enough to rescue Adams and abscond with two chests. Echo shares the one treasure filled with gems with his men; the other he keeps for himself. The counterfeit coins within may be of use in retrieving the kidnapped French woman from Captain LeMerde. Upon Echo s return to Jamaica, circumstances permit him to implement his plan using his newfound wealth and Aimee Turbout shows unexpected gratefulness for being rescued. The captured LeMerde stands trial and is sentenced to hang, but escapes and, after meting out his twisted sense of justice on Echo s friend Powder Monkey, flees the island with the Aimee. His search for Aimee Turbout leads Echo first to Saint Domingue, where he is arrested and thrown in jail. After extracting himself from the trumped up charges, he sails to Grand Cayman, where he discovers the islanders are in league with LeMerde and his pirates. Once again, Echo employs inventive strategies to find Aimee and dispense with his enemies, but during his absence from Jamaica, dear friends are murdered most hideously and he s arrested by the new governor upon his return. He also learns that the Black Tarantula has finally captured Rue. Demon Pirate is the third book in the Bilge Rat, Pirate Adventurer series. Smith weaves a riveting tale spiced with betrayal, vengeance, a femme fatale in the guise of a fortuneteller, and a mock pirate trial (a favorite entertainment of real sea marauders). Although the Black Tarantula s true identity isn t surprising, there are plenty of other unexpected twists to beguile readers. Previous titles have begun and ended with Echo awaiting his own demise a writer s device dispensed with here yet Smith ably resolves all other subplots that began in earlier volumes. He entices readers with a promise of future installments detailing Echo s adventures, but he also raises the brutality bar to extremes in Demon Pirate, which I found troubling given that this series is written for teenagers, as well as adults. Some readers, myself included, may decide that three books about Echo and his mates (as unique and intriguing as they are) are as far as they wish to venture into this series. --Pirates and Privateers

A true pirate adventure. From high-seas, out of the box thinking and a swashbuckling tale, Demon Pirate, book three in the Bilge Rat Adventure series is laugh out loud funny, and quite the adventure indeed. --International Review of Books