Paul Kemprecos will be the first speaker in the Osterville library’s “Discover Cape Cod” program series, featuring people from Cape Cod in all walks of life – but all of them intriguing. Paul will speak on Sunday, February 23, at 3 pm; refreshments will be served.
After graduating from the Boston University School of Journalism, Kemprecos washed ashore to Cape Cod in 1961 and began working for the old Cape Cod Standard Times. He eventually worked at The Cape Codder and, in sum, put 25 years into newspaper work. In 1991 he started a new direction in his career by writing underwater thrillers.
Paul says: “I developed my own detective, an ex-cop, diver, fisherman, and PI named Aristotle “Soc” Socarides. He was more philosophical than hard-boiled. Making his first appearance in “Cool Blue Tomb,” the book won the Shamus award for Best Paperback novel. After many years in the newspaper business, he turned to writing fiction and churned out five more books in the series.
“Despite the accolades, the Soc series lingered in mid-list hell. By the time I finished my last book, I was thinking about another career that might make me more money, like working in a 7-11.”
However, this series of novels one day was noticed by Clive Cussler, the Grand Master himself. Clive was looking for a writer who could start a new series of adventures as an aside to the Dirk Pitt series. Quickly, the new characters Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala were born. Although in separate story lines, their paths regularly cross with Dirk Pitt as he is now the boss of National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). The first book made The New York Times bestseller list, as did every one of seven NUMA Files that followed.
“I continue to write and am working on the e-book release of my Soc series. [My wife] Christie and I live on Cape Cod in a circa 1865 farmhouse with two cats and have three children.” Paul and Christi are also very active supporters of the Dennis Public Library; Paul has been chair of its Board of Trustees. We are delighted that he has accepted our invitation to kick off this series.
Paul and Christi are also very active supporters of the Dennis Public Library; Paul has been chair of its Board of Trustees. We are delighted that he has accepted our invitation to kick off this series.
