John "Skip" McKoy Discusses His Global Adventure Novel "Son of the Maya"

WHO: John "Skip" McKoy, author
WHAT: Discusses his novel "Son of the Maya"
WHEN: Tuesday, April 23rd, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Library; 7420 Georgia Ave. NW

"Son of the Maya" is an international adventure set in Washington, Miami and the jungles of Guatemala between 2006 and 2009. The drama involves an international kidnapping and daring rescue that pits a wealthy U.S. immigrant foundation executive against a dynamic Guatemalan revolutionary. Roberto Prettyman was born in Guatemala City, but raised in Washington during the 1960s. He built an enormously successful suburban real estate practice before turning to philanthropy. A brilliant university political student, Felix Gigante, The Jaguar Paw, was radicalized and then built a powerful revolutionary force after his father was murdered by Guatemalan authorities. Tension between these native Guatemalans with divergent approaches to social change, yet similar perspectives on injustice reaches explosive crescendo after unpredicted twists and turns.

John “Skip” McKoy has spent most of his life leading major public, private and non-profit organizations. He recently retired as Director of Programs for Fight For Children, an organization which works to improve the quality of education for underserved children and youth. Previously, McKoy was an executive with the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (a group dedicated to revitalizing riverfront communities), CEO of DC Agenda (a city-wide nonprofit think tank), Director of the District’s City Planning Agency, Planning Director of the Council of Governments in the San Francisco Bay Area, Vice President of Lockheed Martin Corporation, and a private management consultant.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, McKoy has lived in Guatemala City, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. He currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Andrea Gay.

In addition to "Son of the Maya" McKoy has self-published the novel "Paying to Play in Hong Kong."  

A book sale and signing will follow. This event is in partnership with the Shepherd Park Friends of the Library.