Vince Nakovics has returned home. He always enjoyed reading. As a young man, he wrote stories and poetry based on his immediate surroundings and experiences. As often is the case, his early writings leaned to a darker side. The 70s and 80s were exciting times. The local bar scenes and disco mania were amazing. Those discos and bars gave him an education no book ever could. The good, the bad, the ugly for sure, but you could find the beautiful too. Encouraged to pursue his writing, but alas it the cards dealt another hand.
Vince waved goodbye to New York City to fulfill his need to see the world. For the next 22 years, he does so in the US Navy. In 1997 he departs military life and unpacks his seabag for the last time. Already living in Virginia Beach for five years when circumstances required him to remain became an opportunity.
He found a position with the National Park Service. This position turned out to be the second best job he had ever had. From 1997 to 2012. In 1999, they gave him the project of constructing historically correct cannon carriages representing the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. His blacksmith work overshadowed his other historic trade skills as Mason and Timber Framer. In 2000 he joined the Tidewater Blacksmiths Guild (TBG). Being a supportive member, he contributed articles for the quarterly newsletter. The TBG Newsletter Editor position became vacant in 2006 and he volunteered to fill it. Under his editorial oversight, it became an exciting, once a month edition. He updated and digitalized it. The editing, writing and publishing of the newsletters reinvigorated his interest. He continued to be TBG’s Editor until December 2010, when he co-founded the Artist Blacksmith Group of Tidewater (ABGT) and published their newsletter until 2012.
During his 7 years as editor of both organizations, he published over 65 monthly issues. Two of his articles were published in Anvil’s Ring, the national magazine of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America. At the behest of his friends, he published his first book, American Blacksmiths – In Their Own Words, in 2010. Between 2006 and 2013, Vince interviewed over 100 American and International Blacksmiths.
In 2012 Vince, his wife Bianca, their two miniature Schnauzers, Toby and Mimi, head for Albania. His wife wanted to reconnect with her elderly aunt and uncle, and see the land her father so often spoke so of. Not wanting the research and work he did for Colonial National Historical Park to be lost, he took this opportunity to write his 2nd book, 1781 Siege of Yorktown Cannon Carriages, publishing it in 2013.
The Blacksmith Murders came to life after he moved to Albania. During this same period, he worked on his second blacksmith book titled Horses Need Not Apply – The Blacksmiths. Published in 2016, followed by The Blacksmith Murders in May of the same year.
He continues his travels and brings those experiences to the pages of his novels.
Site created by Bianca Gjomarkaj Nakovics
VINCE NAKOVICS 