‘Vanishing Ocean City’ Author To Hold Book Signings

OCEAN CITY – Shoppers in search of a unique gift for a local history buff or any fan of the resort have several chances this month to purchase an autographed copy of Bunk Mann’s Vanishing Ocean City.

With the onset of the holiday season, Mann has scheduled four book signings in December. He’ll be selling and autographing his popular Vanishing Ocean City, a historical account of the beach town, at each stop. He hopes the coffee table book, which was released in the fall of 2014, continues to be popular with shoppers.

“It’s great for anybody that likes Ocean City,” he said. “There are a lot of memories there.”

Mann will be signing books Friday, Dec. 4 at the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce event at Captain’s Table from 5-7 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 5, he will be set up at the Ocean City Center for the Arts from 1-3 p.m. On Sunday, Mann will autograph books at the Worcester Preparatory School Christmas Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. His final 2015 event will be a Dec. 12 signing at Park Place Jewelers in the White Marlin Mall. He will be there from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

After years of interviews and research, Mann published Vanishing Ocean City in September 2014. The historical account of the resort town, which dates back to its beginnings in the 19th century, includes more than 500 photos and close to 200 interviews. Along with the hundreds of hours’ worth of interviews and first-hand accounts, Mann spent a huge amount of time on research in local libraries and newspaper archives putting the book together.

The work paid off though and the book proved overwhelmingly popular. Upon its initial release Mann sold the entire first printing — 5,000 copies — in less than a year. In May, he arranged for a second printing.

“We’re halfway through it,” Mann said this week.

While he doesn’t expect to sell out of the book in the immediate future, when he does he already has plans to add an additional chapter to bring the work forward. He says that after Vanishing Ocean City hit shelves, he heard from person after person with their own stories and memories of the resort through the years.

“In a couple years, I’d like to add another chapter and bring it up to date,” he said. “There are so many people that have good memories of Ocean City. I met so many outstanding people.”

Mann says he’s grateful readers have enjoyed the book and the memories of Ocean City it brings to mind.

“I really appreciate all the kind words and comments,” he said.

For more information on where to find the book, or to purchase it online, go to www.vanishingoceancity.com.

About The Author: Charlene Sharpe

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Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch.