A novel about friends, family, love, luggage and the summers we never forget.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
It's the summer of 1989. Jack McGuinn is a dockporter, transporting tourists’ luggage, piled high in the basket of his bike on Mackinac Island, Michigan, a tiny summer resort where cars are outlawed and pedal-power rules. He’s got the season wired tight: a family cottage on the bluff, a dream job, and a loyal crew of hell-raising, tip-hustling buddies. When his old friend-turned bitter rival challenges him to ride a record-setting load, he takes the bet and soon realizes he’s not just carrying suitcases, he’s carrying the future of the island, which is about to be paved over for profit.
With the help of his pals on the dock and the love of a romantic, free-spirited Irish cellist named Erin, Jack digs deep to discover skills he didn't know he had. The Dockporter is an offbeat, nostalgic coming-of age-story that appeals anyone who ever had a summer job.
If Rushmore director Wes Anderson remade Caddyshack but it emerged as a hybrid of Footloose and Meatballs (and was a book) it would be The Dockporter. Genre-smashing, hilariously fresh, yet refreshingly familiar, it's a novel about friends, family, love, luggage, and the summers we never forget.
THE AMAZON REVIEWS ARE IN!
★★★★★
Artfully crafted and full of nostalgic insider Mackinac details, The Dockporter takes the reader on a delightful coming of age journey ...
★★★★★
What a GREAT read! Seriously, it is really well written, moves at a perfect pace, has a wonderful blend of laugh out loud and heart warming moments.
★★★★★
I loved this book! It’s a touching coming of age story, a love letter to Mackinac island, and a tribute to friendship.
★★★★★
You’ll cry a little, you’ll laugh a lot, and you’ll thoroughly enjoy this heartwarming novel. This first collaboration is a sure hit with all—it is with me. I am waiting now for the next in the Mackinac Island Series.
★★★★★
A must read, especially after the pandemic of 2020/21, this book helps the reader escape to a simpler time. In a world where hard work, fresh air, friendships, family, community, laughter, determination, tears & love coexist in a magical place ...
READ THE MLive ARTICLE
★★★★★
"This book is the escape you’ve been looking for!"
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THE
AUTHORS
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Dave and Jim go back 30 years as co-workers and friends on Mackinac Island. Jim (being the old man of the team) was a mentor and encouraged Dave creatively. When Dave decided to transform his island-based movie script into a novel, Jim was the obvious choice as a writing partner, having established himself as a popular writing instructor and short story author (pro tip: if you want get something written, partner with a high school English teacher). Together, they're proud to present The Dockporter.
Dave McVeigh
Dave is an experienced writer/director and creative director who has worked with studios like Disney, Fox and Universal Studios and brands like Nike, PayPal and Ford. He's also an award-winning TV producer. He spent his summers on Mackinac Island as a dockporter. He lives in the Cebu, Philippines with his wife and daughter. This is his first novel.
Jim Bolone
Jim Bolone was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he attended public school and eventually Wayne State University, where he earned his B.A. in English. Currently he teaches English in Whitehouse, Ohio. Throughout his life he has been a drummer, dockporter, bouncer, and bartender. He shares his home in Toledo, Ohio with his wife and three kids.
JOIN
THE PARTY
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The story behind this project has as many twists and turns as the tale itself. Originally conceived as a feature film to shoot on location on Mackinac Island, the film was set to roll with writer/director Dave McVeigh and his partner/brother Scott co-directing. As everyone knows, feature films take a lot of time and money and unfortunately, the real world got in the way. The production was put on hold. But years later, the idea still burned bright. Now living in the Philippines and existing on a steady diet of mangoes, podcasts and audiobooks, Dave began to reimagine the story as an audio experience, complete with the unique sounds of the island and a distinctive score. Of course, that would first mean “novelizing” the film script. He enlisted friend and writer Jim Bolone as co-author and the two transformed the film script into a novel and audio experience. The Dockporter lives, proof that stories are what matter, regardless of the format or how long it takes to tell them.
The Dockporter Facebook page is growing fast. It's the best place to go to stay up to date on the latest news and learn all the greatest stories about the real dockporters of Mackinac Island.
Click below to join the fun!
WHAT IS A
DOCKPORTER?
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The Chicago Tribune said it best in a profile piece in 1991: (full disclosure: Dave, The Dockporter co-author, actually wrote this article, so take it with a huge grain of salt)
"Any tourist who has set foot on the worn planks of one of Mackinac Island`s three ferry boat docks has witnessed a dockporter in action. Dockporters greet visitors and transport the mountain of luggage from the docks to the nine major hotels. But what separates the island porters from ordinary bellmen is their unique modus operandi: they ''ride'' luggage in their bike baskets. Remember, there are no cars on Mackinac Island. Here, athletic grace and foolhardy courage come together in a unique summer job."
This gig has existed on the island for 160 years. The bonds formed while moving luggage in and out of a busy tourist island daily are as strong as high-quality bungee cords. They stretch but never snap. Historically, this crew works hard and plays harder. They also build friendships and memories that last a lifetime. This is the spirit behind our story. If you want to know more, check out these photos, which have been unashamedly swiped without credit or permission from the Mackinac Island Dockporters Association. They say it all.
