Symposia Community Book Store in Hoboken, NJ will host an author event on Saturday, February 1 to highlight author—and former NJ Digest writer—Will Rittweger’s debut novel, Henry Every: Tales of Pyracy & Memoirs of the Soul. The event will feature an author reading from Rittweger himself, a Q and A session, book signing, a game of pirate trivia and plenty of refreshments to go around.
Henry Every: Tales of Pyracy & Memoirs of the Soul
Rittweger’s debut novel combines history and fiction, following a young pirate named Rollins Cole, who embarks on a journey aboard Captain Henry Every’s ship—a real English pirate during the late 17th Century. Recounting Every’s ambitious, and sometimes ferocious, work ethic, Cole is left to contemplate the gruesome reality of piracy and human nature at large. Running into trouble with the authorities at sea is just the first step in Rollins Cole’s epiphany on what it means to be a pirate—and what Captain Every’s true intentions are.
Rittweger credits an unintentional discovery of Henry Every’s biography as the inspiration for this book, and for creating Rollins Cole as a character. “When I first came across Henry Every’s biography, I was struck by how he was one of the most infamous historical figures I’d never heard of. His story is fascinating. Not only did he orchestrate the largest pirate raid in history— triggering the world’s first international manhunt— but he also got away with it!” says Rittweger. “I couldn’t help but wonder: why hasn’t anyone turned his incredible tale into a great movie or novel? That question inspired me to create my own story around his legendary exploits.”
A true bookworm, Rittweger drew additional inspiration from the classics, stating “I’ve always been drawn to the classics—books with great ideas and timeless stories that withstand the test of time. While writing my novel, I found inspiration in works like The Alchemist, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, A Farewell to Arms, and Notes from Underground. These masterpieces shaped my approach to telling the story.”
When asked about the unorthodox spelling of the word “pyracy,” Rittweger explained that it is completely intentional. “It always makes me smile when someone asks about the spelling of the title. Yes, the ‘y’ is intentional, not a typo. While researching for the novel, I discovered a 1724 book called A General History of Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, which documented pirate biographies from that era. Inspired by the spelling and aesthetic of the time, I thought using ‘pyracy’ would be an eye-catching choice.” It is a bold decision that shows Rittweger’s commitment to creating a fully immersive story.
If you are interested in reading Rittweger’s debut novel, you can purchase a copy here. In addition to writing, Rittweger is an actor and producer, producing and starring in his own film, Man Freed, last year. You can find out more about Rittweger’s projects here.
An Evening of Pyracy: Event Details
An Evening of Pyracy will take place on February 1 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Symposia bookstore in Hoboken. Symposia Bookstore is a non-profit community store that is organized and operated solely for educational and charitable goals.
“This event is great for anyone who loves a good story, has a passion for history, or is simply looking for a fun Saturday night out,” said Rittweger of the event. “I’ll be reading a short selection from my novel, hosting an engaging Q&A, and challenging guests to a lively game of pirate trivia. Plus, there will be refreshments and prizes for the trivia champions!”
Symposia Bookstore is located at 510 Washington St. in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
