OUR TOWN: Local beats his bucket list, finishes first novel

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Art Edition: A local finishes his first novel, will hold signing; and, arts theater to host local racing documentary, poetry slam.

BY THE OBSERVER STAFF

Ormond Beach’s Frederick Henderson moved to the city in 2009, after a career in New York public service. And when he got here, he had plans, big plans.

“Like many new retirees, I came with a bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish once here," Henderson said. "On that list were: Get involved in community theater; I had zero experience. Learn to ride a motorcycle; after all, this is biker heaven. Sing in front of an audience; I suffer from lifelong shyness. And, write a novel; I have no literary background whatsoever."

And in the past four years — after being involved in several Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center productions, buying a Yamaha Stratoliner and routinely singing karaoke at the Ormond Beach Bowling Center and Moose Lodge, under the moniker the F-Bomb — he is now able to check off the last item on his list.

It took two years to write, but Henderson’s new novel, “Early Retirement (Murder in Daytona),” is a story of domestic abuse against women.

“I knew there was a story that needed to be told (here), even if that story led the reader down an uncomfortable path,” he said. “ I believe that in order to write from the gut, one has to have spent some time in the gutter!

Henderson will do a book-signing, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 6, at Connie’s Bookshelf, at 206 Moore Ave., in Daytona, as well as 1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the Daytona beach Flew MaMarket.

Cinematique to host local racing film, poetry slam

The Motor Racing Heritage Association is partnering with Cinematique, the art house movie theater at 242 S. Beach St., in Daytona Beach, to host a screening of “The Great Sand Speedway” 2 p.m. Sunday, June 30.

Chronicling the start of the American racing tradition, the film is directed by Motor Racing Heritage member Virgil Taylor, who was a NASCAR photographer from 1982-2005.

“I became aware of and accumulated material on a subject I found very interesting, beach racing from 1903-1935,” Taylor said. “Everyone knows about NASCAR. I found the drivers — Campbell, Segrave, Lockhart, Mariott — and their cars … much more interesting, and unappreciated.”

The film, scheduled for showing by the Creative Happiness Institute, sets out to correct some of the myths about the birth of auto racing, and some of the sport's local names will be on hand to sign autographs, including Creative Happiness Institute Director David Axelrod, who penned the book of NASCAR poems, “The SPEED Way,” as well as “Growing Up Around Cars and Racing.”

The event is $5. Call 252-3118, or email [email protected].

Cinematique will also host a poetry slam 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. First prize is $50, second is a $25 Cinematique gift card. Admission is $5.

“We are interested in sponsoring a wide range of the arts,” said Stephanie Mason-Teague, Cinematique’s executive director. “We want every fifth Saturday through the year to become our poetry slam night.”