Author: David J. Kent

David J. Kent is an avid traveler, a former scientist, and an Abraham Lincoln historian. He is the author of books on Abraham Lincoln, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison. His website is www.davidjkent-writer.com.
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Nikola Tesla – The Book

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Nikola Tesla[Update: The book is coming out in spring 2013. The following was written in February 2012.]

I’m currently in discussions with a literary agent and a publisher regarding the writing of a book on Nikola Tesla.

The story is an interesting one. In late December I came across an announcement for a writer’s conference in New York City, to be held in January.  On a lark I decided to pay the rather steep registration fee and hotel costs to attend.  And that’s when the fun started.

In attendance were about 450 writers and writers-wannabes.  There were keynote speakers and sessions over the course of two and a half days on what turned out to be a freak snowy weekend.  But the highlight was the “pitch slam.”

The best way to describe the pitch slam is to say it is speed dating for agents.  About 50 or so literary agents were spread around several large rooms, each with their little tables stretched menacingly between them and you.  Hoards of us lined up to give our pitch, and when it was our turn we had a grand total of 90 seconds to make the agent beg to represent you.  Another 90 seconds was allotted for Q&A (or to be sent packing if your pitch failed to impress).

What the heck.  Let’s give it a shot.  I have my Lincoln book in mind so let me pitch it and see what kind of feedback I get.  Of the five agents I pitched, five asked me to send them a proposal.  But more on that later.  This piece is about Tesla.

To my surprise the second agent I pitched not only liked my Lincoln book idea but asked if I knew anyone that would be interested in writing a book about Nikola Tesla, the great inventor.  Or better yet, she added, would I be interested? Hmmm.  I’ll think about it, I said, feeling more than a little impressed with myself but nonetheless skeptical.  Two days passed and I receive a call from the agent’s office – am I interested? They have a publisher who is champing at the bit to have someone write a book on Tesla.  And quick.  Can I send them a brief proposal and a bio? How about a writing sample?

Two more weeks pass. My skepticism kicks back in. Hard.  And then – “The publisher loved your proposals and is working up the financials for an offer. We should have something in the next few days.”

That was yesterday. Then I went to an Indian buffet for lunch, and wouldn’t you know it there is a new Tesla electric automobile showroom that just opened up two blocks from my office in downtown DC.

Kismet?

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A passion for Abraham Lincoln

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You could say I have a passion for Abraham Lincoln.  Ever since I was a kid I remember being fascinated by our 16th President.  A man of great strength – both physically and in character.  A man who was called to serve his country when his country was trying to rend itself asunder. A man who ultimately gave up his life to save the Union.

As this writer’s site develops I’ll be creating pages for topics of interest to me, and hopefully to you.  The first is Abraham Lincoln.  In it will be updates on Lincoln-related projects such as books about Lincoln and the book I’m writing about him.

Other pages will spring up as time permits.  The next will probably be one for a book that I may be writing about Nikola Tesla.  I’m waiting for the final offer from the publisher and a contract, then I’ll be off and running.

Another page will be travel.  I’ve done quite a bit of traveling in the last 10 years and plan to do quite a bit more.  I’ll document some of the stories from the road, including my long conversation with a Japanese man on a Tokyo train…a conversation in which he spoke no English and I spoke no Japanese and yet we got along famously.

Each of these pages, and others, can be found quickly by clicking on the bar below the photos.  That is, once they are all created.  And yes, the photos are all ones I have taken over the years.  I’ll do a post on that some day as well.

Feel free to subscribe to this web site – see the right column on the home page – or bookmark your favorite page and come back periodically for updates.  The site, and the writing, is a work in progress so expect things to pop up frequently.

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Adventures in Europe

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Ah, Europe.  Before the recent financial collapse, the kind of story book setting that I once read in, well, story books.

Spring to spring for the three years beginning in 2008 and ending in 2011 I had the good fortune to have been seconded to Brussels by my employer.  Not the first time I had lived overseas – I had short periods previously living in Bermuda and in Scotland – but at three full years it was my longest opportunity of ex-pat living.

And live I did.  Europe by its very proximity of nations offers a chance to experience  a wide variety of languages, and cultures within a few mere hours. A one week driving tour, for example, took me into five different countries speaking four primary languages and through some of the oldest and charming cities in central Europe.  More on those in later posts.

The purpose of this present post is to introduce a book of photography I published near the end of that three year European experience.  Called “Adventures in Europe,” the book has 46 pages of photos I took at venues across the continent.  Dedicated to my parents, it was my way of sharing my experiences with them and my extended family back home.

Click on the photo below to see the book.

See more travel stories here.