Don Bruns remembers John Jakes, a humble author at the top of the bestseller lists

In his last novel, “The Gods of Newport,” author John Jakes described a chariot race through the streets of Newport, Rhode Island. The rich New Yorkers who summered in Newport in the late 1800s, employed drivers with teams of horses to run the route as revelers lined the roadside, cheering on their favorites.

I was captivated by the description of the course, the sharp turns and dangers around every curve. As in all Jakes’ books, I felt like I was there, teetering on the edge of overturning my chariot. I asked John how he captured that exciting, terrifying scene.

“I drove it. Four times. Twice, I drove it, then I had Rachel (his wife for 71 years) drive it while I took notes. I wanted to be accurate.”

Arts Newsletter: Sign up to receive the latest news on the Sarasota area arts scene every Monday

Theater, music, dance, art and more: 50-plus arts events to see and hear in March in Sarasota-Manatee area

Popular writer of historical fiction: Celebrated author John Jakes dies at age 90

John Jakes, who passed away March 11 at age 90, got it right. He always seemed to get it right.

My wife devoured his works while in college, and I found an article in my local Ohio newspaper about a Dayton librarian, who once said to a researcher, ”You ask for the same information that John Jakes writes about.” He smiled and informed the young lady, “I am John Jakes.”

And John was a stickler for details, facts, accuracy, and timing. He timed his Revolutionary War series – “The Bastard,“ “The Warriors,” etc. – to the country’s bicentennial celebration. During an interview I did with him at the Charles Ringling mansion on the New College of Florida campus, he said, “My job was to put my butt in a chair in a library and research every aspect of the book.” Google was not available during the heyday of John Jakes’ fame.

Look him up. Celebrate that John chose to call Sarasota home. Three books made The New York Times bestseller list in one year. No one had ever accomplished that feat. The first time any publisher in history had printed a first run of 3 million books was John’s “The Warriors.” He wrote 100 books, and sold 200 million. WHAT?

And unlike a bombastic, egotistical, bloated writer like Ernest Hemmingway, John was a centered, grounded writer, husband and father. He was a friend. My friend.

When Linda and I came to Sarasota, I met John at a Liars Poker get together. Liars Poker is a game played with serial numbers on dollar bills. This game was started in the 1950s with John D. McDonald, McKinlay Kantor and other famous authors. We talked about writing advertising copy. He’d started his career in that field and I owned an advertising agency. I remember the conversation after all these years and most of all, I remember – he never ONCE mentioned that he was one of the biggest selling authors in the world. The next day, when a friend pointed out who he was, I was mortified. I had a conversation with John Jakes and had no idea how influential he was.

We met on Fridays, played Liars Poker and the worst player every year is added to a plaque. Over the years we both were big losers in the game and we both made the plaque.

Photos with a message: Art Center Sarasota exhibit puts focus on mental health in local Hispanic community

A collection of short stories: Jack Reacher story featured in Don Bruns’ new mystery anthology ‘Hotel California’

A veteran plays a veteran: Veteran tries virtual reality to treat PTSD in Urbanite Theatre world premiere

And then we began to talk, and he would show up for my book signings. And we invited Rachel and John to dinner, and they invited us. And John never talked about himself. If I asked him about a book, a story, he would offer a one sentence answer or shrug his shoulders. This from a literary lion, the Godfather of historical fiction. There is a lesson to be learned here. Hemmingway may disagree.

I will miss my friend. Years ago when my daughter visited on Thanksgiving, he said “We’ll wave at you as the Marina Jack Boat goes by!” I laughed. As the dinner boat passed by his Bird Key residence, my daughter said, “Who are all those people yelling and waving at us?” John, Rachel and the kids. What a great memory.

Maybe five, six years ago, John called and asked if we would like to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. We had no plans and readily agreed. There was probably a large party. No. The gathering was John, Rachel and the kids. We were family and to this day I can tear up about that invitation.

I called Charlotte Ryan, a great friend of John’s and mine, and suggested we pay tribute to JJ. We decided on a scholarship to New College. Before Charlotte passed, we raised $200,000 for a writing scholarship in his name. As many as a dozen scholarships have been offered so far, two each year.

John was a friend, a philanthropist, a giving soul who never bragged, never took center stage, but was larger than life. We were privileged to have him in our presence. We love you John. Rachel. You have a legacy that will last forever. Looking back, looking at how you handled yourself, your family, your story…stories, you got it right my friend. My good, good friend. You got it right.

Sarasota-based novelist and mystery writer Don Bruns is the author of numerous books, including the Detective Quentin Archer series, and the editor of the mystery collections “Hotel California” and the upcoming “Thriller.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Author Don Bruns recalls John Jakes: a great writer and humble friend