After three decades of work, George DiGuido’s first book is hitting the shelves.

In June, “The Tuareg,” was published by Poughkeepsie, N.Y.,-based Vivisphere Publishing. Set in North Africa in the late 1820s, it tells the story of a Virginia plantation woman, a French aristocrat and a chieftain from the nomadic Tuareg tribe leading up to the French invasion of Algeria.

“These three people are sort of thrown together in various situations,” said DiGuido, a Wheaton resident, “and it’s a very exciting adventure tale.”

DiGuido described his novel as poetic and romantic. That is not to say, however, that he played loosely with historical accuracy.

“I take my history too seriously,” DiGuido said. “There’s quite a lot of historical background with real characters and real events.”

DiGuido’s book comes from his long-standing love of North Africa that began when he was stationed there in World War II.

“I was 19 years old from Brooklyn,” he said. “What the hell did I know? The only sand I saw was the beach on Coney Island.”

He began writing the book in the late 1970s when he was working as an advertising art director.

He spent the next few decades tweaking the manuscript.

“When I had time and (it) called for me from the upper shelf, I’d take it down and fiddle with it,” he said. “This went on and off for 30 years.”

About five years ago he became serious again about getting it published.

With his first book completed, DiGuido is not done as a writer. He said he is already crafting his next, a story about Corsair pirates on Africa’s Barbary Coast.

“I’m itching to get at it,” DiGuido said.

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Notable
After about 30 years of work, George DiGuido’s first novel was published last month. Learn more about the book at www.thetuareg.com.

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