Bruce Rougraff

Award wining author, Bruce Rougraff is also a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who has written many scientific articles, textbook chapters and scientific books, but this is his first fiction book series. He started writing it as a story to read to his grandchildren, but it quickly blossomed into an exciting, action-packed, family-friendly chapter book for fifth grade readers with a sequel and the third and final book in press. His goal is to provide exciting adventure books which include history to encourage young readers to pick up a book instead of their electronic device. The award winning cover art was created by his wife and the chapter line drawings were done by his youngest daughter who is a cardiovascular nurse. Bruce grew up in Texas visiting Galveston beach almost every weekend and spent countless days riding the waves, fishing and digging in the sand, dreaming of finding pirate treasure.

Doubloon! has won the New York Big Book award for best chapter book and two awards from Purple Dragonfly for chapter book and cover design. It is a humorous and action packed introduction to most of the characters and is Tommy's "accidental" discovery of a gold coin on the beach and first learning about the Gasparilla curse.

The sequel, Tarpon! has also won the New York Big Book award for best chapter book and two awards from Purple Dragonfly for chapter book and cover design.. Tommy and his family return for a fishing adventure that evokes into a fantastic adventure but makes the true extent of the Gasparilla curse real.

The last book of the series, Hurricane! is now available and is the final book of the series. Tommy and his family finally put the curse to rest after a crazy series of incidents and roadblocks.