The inspiration for The Luck of Two Ducks came from a pair of inseparable ducks that lived in a pond near my house in Pooler, Georgia. Along with the actual ducks, Curtis Jones Jr. and Denny Ackerman were my inspiration for the characters. Curtis was a great friend and a coworker at the University of Texas in Austin. He was an amazing person that had a passion for helping people. Curtis graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in sociology and earned four college letters for his performance on Dartmouth's varsity baseball team. Additionally, he earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Curtis was the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support at West Virginia University until his untimely passing in 2013.
My father, Denny Ackerman, was an artist and the business owner of Ackerman Visual Advertising in Cleveland, Ohio. He created logos and signs for various businesses in the Greater Cleveland area. This long list of clients included the Agora Theater and Ballroom, the Cleveland Browns, All-Pro Sport Camps, and Cleveland International Records. Denny was honored to be selected to participate in the inaugural event of GuitarMania, which celebrates the birthplace of rock and roll by transforming ten-foot tall Fender and Stratocaster guitars into works of art placed all around the city of Cleveland. He loved art, sports, music, and doing life with his wife, Linda. He was passionate about anything that involved his family and children. He passed away from a long battle with cancer on May 8, 2013.
Denny and Curtis met in 2010 at Cuatros in Austin, Texas. It was amazing to see two of the most impactful people in my life meet for the first time and have an instant connection despite being from different walks of life. The Luck of Two Ducks is a story about their connection, but truly about my admiration and friendship with both Curtis and my father. Additionally, I wanted to create something that my son, DC, and future children would always be able to reference to learn about Grandpa and Uncle Curt.
The Luck of Two Ducks is a story about love, acceptance, and not only embracing but celebrating diversity. I've had a wonderful career in the world of sports and have been blessed to work with so many different people from various backgrounds. To quote one of my best friends, "The world would be a boring place if everyone were like you and me." No truer words have ever been spoken. I hope you enjoy the story!