Congratulations to Curt DeBerg, shown here at the historic Hemingway Home in Key West, Florida, signing copies of his new book, Traveling The World With Hemingway, on July 21, which marked exactly the 122th birthday of the Nobel Laureate and noted sportsman.

Curt also played an active role in the annual Hemingway Look Alike Contest, celebrating its 40th anniversary, at the legendary Sloppy Joe’s Saloon. In behalf of Wild River Press, the author donated a copy of his book to the first night’s auction, which raised $550.

Auctioneer Walt Collins from Arizona (shown here at stage addressing his fellow “Hemingways”) told me that the $30,000 to $40,000 raised each year goes to support 15 nursing scholarships at the College of the Florida Keys, and two academic scholarships at whatever universities the winning students choose to attend anywhere in the country. Collins won the Look Alike in 2014, from a field of 150 individuals, after growing his beard and being encouraged, somewhat improbably by—of all people—his barber: “You gotta come to Key West!”

Calling Traveling The World With Hemingway “a fabulous compilation” of the great writer’s life and favorite places in pictures, at the second night’s auction Walt held up a second copy and introduced DeBerg to the audience, who gave our author a lusty, Papa-worthy ovation and then ran the bid up to $850! (Curt, keep standing, will you?)

This is the most a Wild River Press book has raised in a live auction since A Passion for Tarpon co-signed by author Andy Mill and President George H. W. Bush nearly a decade ago to fund satellite tarpon tags for Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.

“I was especially struck by the exceptional camaraderie among all Hemingway Look Alike participants and their spouses,” said Curt DeBerg. He said that signing books at Hemingway’s home during the 1930s—one of the writer’s most productive periods—next to the famous 64-foot pool and below Ernest’s writing workshop, was a special treat.

“As I have traveled the world in Hemingway’s footsteps, my experience at the Hemingway House and Museum is among the most special highlights. It ranks up there with unforgettable moments: spending a night in his hotel room on rue Jacob in Paris, standing along the banks of the Piave River in Fossalta, Italy, or hiking the Nick Adams Preserve and the east side of Horton’s Creek near Walloon Lake, in the young Hemingway's beloved Michigan.”

If you didn’t make it to Key West this year, order your own copy of Traveling The World With Hemingway right here, directly from Wild River Press. Standard editions are only $75 each. And a gorgeous signed limited and numbered edition, bound in black leather stamped with the elegant image of a blue marlin, with matching slipcase, is $300.