Art Center Book Talk Features Local Author

Marco Island Center for the Arts welcomed back G. Bradley Davis on March 25, 2026, to discuss his third book – a gripping thriller – called Senseless! About this time last year, Hyla Crane, executive director for the Art Center, held a Q&A on Bradley’s Makin Waves and as in previous book talks, all proceeds from the event were donated to the Center for the Arts.

Davis’ first two books, Bellamy and Makin’ Waves took readers through Calvin’s adventures as he joined the Navy for “adventure, mystery, and romance.” In all three books, Davis weaves in his own wide-ranging life experience into his fiction. He is a Navy veteran, ordained pastor, corporate CEO and loves adventure. While not working on his fourth book, you can find him at the Winterberry Athletic field playing slow-pitch senior softball with the 55+ years old retired seniors.

But there is also the G. Bradley Davis that is very much into theater arts having played the part of Jonathan Alexander, a therapist specializing in “nipping bad relationships in the bud,” in Baggage, a comedy written by playwright Sam Bobrick and showcased at the Art Center Theater. His talent was also recruited to join in the play Southern Fried Funeral at the Marco Lutheran Church, adding to his extensive local repertoire. Davis and his wife, Carolyn, are both very talented singers and recently were part of the San Marco Catholic Church’s Lenten Cantata.

Davis is a skilled storyteller, and in all three books, he engages readers through narrative, taking them along through his plots and characters.

Crane tapped into a question likely on everyone’s mind about Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“I’d like your opinion on AI’s effect on creative writing or writing in general,” Crane asked. Davis added a reference to Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano which takes place in a future reality where machines have replaced the majority of human laborers in the United States. “I don’t think that AI can duplicate the unique styles of writers and in all three books, I have a certain style,” said Davis. “I fear that there is going to be a lot of junk put out there written by AI and not by creative minds and yes, it is a serious threat.” Crane agreed that you cannot replace human creativity.

All three books are very different and Davis shared that it was intentional as he did not want to be pigeon-holed into one category of a writer. He said that if there is a common thread in all his books, it is about the underdog.

When asked which character he’s written about that was the most difficult to develop, Davis said that his new book is about a character with autism and that has been the most challenging as far as character development, stretching him as a writer.

“I’ve read the book and you just can’t put it down, as you follow Captain Martin Wallace hunt for a killer terrorizing Philadelphia who appears to have no logical motive,” said Crane.