Meet Local Author: Sandra Gurvis

Come for the (slightly stale) circus peanuts, and stay for the scoop on John Ringling, Sarasota, and The Ringling.

Accompanied by captivating photos, local author Sandra Gurvis will delve into the fascinating narratives of her recently published book, Three Ringling Circus: The History of Sarasota, Florida, and the Famous Ringling Brothers. She will unravel the early days of the natives, Blacks, and settlers, the origins of the Ringling family, and their innovative approaches to circus development. Gurvis will also unveil the intricate maneuvers behind the creation of the Art Museum and Ca d’Zan, including juicy and lesser-known details about the Ringlings’ extravagant lifestyle, behind-the-scenes heartbreaks, triumphs, and their often Machiavellian pursuit of wealth and power.

Much like the divisive opinion on the orange circus peanuts, John Ringling, his wife Mable, and their family left an indelible and sometimes controversial mark on Sarasota. It is undeniable that Sarasota owes much of its present identity to the enduring influence of the Ringling family.

Copies of Three Ringling Circus: The History of Sarasota, Florida, and the Famous Ringling Brothers will be available for purchase after the presentation.

Sandra Gurvis is the author of 18 commercially published books and hundreds of magazine and web articles, including the just-released Three Ringling Circus: The History of Sarasota, Florida, and the Famous Ringling Brothers published by Pineapple/Rowman. Other titles include Day Trips from Columbus, 3^rd ed.; Ohio Curiosities, 2^nd ed.; Careers for Nonconformists, which was a selection of the Quality Paperback Book Club; and more. Along with having her books featured on radio, television, newspapers, and magazines, Paris Hilton: A Biography was translated into Chinese and her second novel, Country Club Wives was optioned as a television series by Insight Productions out of Toronto, Canada. A resident of Bradenton, Florida, she is currently at work on Doing Hard Time in Geezerville, the first of a series of satire/mysteries set in The Villages. For more information visit www.sandragurvis.com.