The houseboat wars of the late 70s have inspired films, books, and even a play performed in 2023 in Mill Valley. Now the author of that play, John Byrne Barry, has adapted it into a novel, Pirates of Sausalito: Houseboat Wars Murder Mystery, a colorful retelling one of Sausalito’s most notorious episodes.
On Thursday evening June 6, Barry will appear at the Sausalito library, where he’ll read historic accounts of those turbulent times from houseboat residents and journalists, and share slides of photographs by Bruce Forrester and Pirkle Jones as well as video clips of TV news reports from the waterfront. He’ll also read from his novel, inspired by those true events. It’s peppered with colorful characters, some of whom may resemble real Sausalitans, past and present.
Barry is a writer, actor, director, designer, and crossing guard. He has authored four novels and three plays. His Sausalito library presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Registration for this free program is required. If you are unable to register on the library’s website, please call 415-289-4100 x501.
The book is available online, at Sausalito Books by the Bay, and through the Marin County library system.