Author David Gorman writes mystery books set at Waldameer Park
David Gorman, 32, of Richmond, Virginia, published his sixth book in the “Waldameer Mystery Files” series for readers ages 8 to 12 in March 2024 and isn’t done writing. His family owns the amusement park in Erie County.
David Gorman worked 10 summers at Waldameer Park & Water World, putting wristbands on guests, serving food at picnics, spending time in the office.
“I was always afraid of doing the rides,” he admitted.
He now lives in Richmond, Virginia, and works as a school counselor but he hasn’t left Waldameer behind completely. Gorman recently published his sixth children’s mystery book set at the Erie County amusement park that is owned and operated by his family. He is the grandson of Paul Nelson, the park’s longtime owner who died in 2023, and the son of Nelson’s daughter Nancy Gorman and her husband Steve Gorman, president of Waldameer.
“Nancy and I are very honored and proud of his accomplishment of publishing books,” Steve Gorman said. “Involving Waldameer as a setting makes us even more happy.”
David Gorman said he wrote the first book in the “Waldameer Mystery Files” in 2014. Titled “The Long-Lost Locket,” the book’s main characters are 12-year-old Seth, his 10-year-old sister Julia and their friends, 10-year-old Tyren and 11-year-old Ahn, who moved to Erie from Vietnam. Other characters include Mr. Allegro, whose family is originally from Italy, and Orlando, a librarian who speaks Spanish.
In book two, “The Sneaky Sabotage,” Seth, Julia and Tyren are joined by Semira, an 11-year-old who recently moved to Erie from Ethiopia. Book three, “The Curious Clues,” features Seth, Julia, Semira and Bek, a 12-year-old born in Uzbekistan. Seth and Julia’s mom works in the Fudge House at Waldameer and also teaches English to immigrants and refugees, which is how Seth and Julia meet many of their friends.
David Gorman drew on his own experience working with people from and in other countries. A graduate of Fairview High School and an English major at Bucknell University, he taught English in Vietnam for a year. He also taught adults at the Multicultural Community Resource Center in Erie. He said it’s why he includes diverse characters, including immigrants, in his books and on their covers.
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After writing the first book, he moved to Richmond and spent a year in the Episcopal Service Corps. He also received a graduate degree in school counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.
David Gorman said he always loved learning, education and being a mentor to kids.
“So school counselor was a natural fit for me,” he said.
Single and 32, he doesn’t have children of his own but currently works with 375 eighth-graders during his sixth year as a school counselor.
His books are geared to a slightly younger audience, ages 8 to 12, but are enjoyable even for adults.
Summer, spring break and weekends are when he does his writing.
“It brings joy to me, it brings meaning to me, it’s a passion of mine,” David Gorman said.
While his career choice has taken him away from Waldameer, he said the books tie him to the family business.
“Now I am an entrepreneur with my books so one of my jobs is business-oriented,” he said.
It was his mother who suggested he write books set in the park he knows so well.
“It was a great idea because Waldameer is such a fun setting for kids to have adventures and it’s very special to me,” David Gorman said.
The ideas behind the books vary.
“Sometimes I will start with a ride,” David Gorman said. “I have to think what kind of mystery will happen with this ride.”
An illustration of the Whacky Shack, which he called his favorite Waldameer ride, is shown on the cover of “The Sneaky Sabotage” with Semira, Tyren, Seth and Julia.
Waldameer Park & Water World’s iconic ride the Whacky Shack debuted in 1970
Paul Nelson, owner of Waldameer Park & Water World in Millcreek…
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