The first Sanpedrano ‘Gringo’ to feature San Pedro in the opening of his book “Kumshaw” was Tom Kirkpatrick of Jacksonville Florida/San Pedro. However, fresh out of the printers on February 2013 is the book “Island of the Son” a Belizean Journey by Sanpedrano Gringo Stephen “Steve” Krueger, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. and raised as a teenager in San Pedro, Belize.
At the age of 14, Steve’s father, Lother Krueger, uprooted his family in the United States and moved to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to build El Pescador Hotel. “Island of the Son” is an intense story of their complicated journey through Mexico and into Belize. Steve captures the dramatic events of his family’s adventure in building and adapting to San Pedro, as well as his personal involvement in high school life, social life, involvement as a goalie in soccer, his teenage romances, and even an episode in trying to become a local skin diver fisherman.
Author Steve Krueger revealed that he was inspired to write this book because he was inspired by his teacher and his friend/mentor, Mr. Angel Nuñez. His book is a legacy to the people of San Pedro that opened their welcoming arms to him. Island of the Son is a moving yet hilarious journey into the heart of a young man and Belize. It captures very vividly the Creole dialect spoken by many Belizeans, the colorful Spanish Steve learned in San Pedro, and even the awkward English accent of his German father.
After Steve completed his education in Belize he moved back to the U.S. and joined the navy, retiring as a Commander after 27 years of Service. He is married to Susan whom he met in Belize and they have three children and three grandchildren. The book is available in Amazon and will be available in the island soon.
– by Angel Nuñez
