By ED COURRIER

Special to The Press

Hellertown-based author Larry L. Deibert reflected on how he become involved with writing and promoted his most recent release, “Robyn Hood” with fans April 20 at Parkland Community Library, South Whitehall.

The U.S. Army veteran and retired letter carrier has written more than 15 novels.

While most of these works feature paranormal plots with time travel, ghosts, vampires and werewolves, the prolific author also wrote “The Life of Riley” about his beloved dog and “Santa’s Day Jobs,” a book for children.

“Writing is something I never expected to do in my life,” Deibert said. “I never liked to read.”

As a youngster, he preferred comic books.

While serving as an MP in Vietnam from 1969-1970, a fellow soldier brought back books from the Saigon USO to his base.

“I picked one out,” Deibert said. “I started reading because I had a lot of down time.”

Returning home, Deibert found work at American Nickeloid in Walnutport and later Mack Trucks.

Retiring as a letter carrier after nearly 22 years in 2008, he worked part time at Lehigh Valley Hospital until 2016.

Deibert began writing in 1974 while his first wife was pregnant.

After hearing horror stories about Agent Orange, he wanted to leave something behind for his children to read.

“It was about 40,000 words, ‘My True Story,’ so to speak,” he related.

After 23 rejection slips from publishers, he thought to himself at the time, “Maybe this isn’t my gig.”

He got on with life, including raising a daughter and son.

“But, I had the itch,” he said.

Later, Deibert was influenced by the success of his friend, Mark Graham, who wrote mysteries set in the 1860s.

He was impressed with Graham’s “The Third Day,” a novel of Christ’s life involving a pair of time travelers.

Deibert joined a Vietnam veterans’ group in 1990.

“All these guys and gals were telling me their stories,” he said.

Deibert pointed to his head.

“All that stuff was in here and what am I to do with it?” he asked rhetorically.

Encouraged and advised by Graham, Deibert began writing in 1999.

His 400-page book, originally titled “95 Bravo,” was picked up as an e-book, but saw little success.

Shortly afterward, on a whim, Deibert wrote “Requiem for a Vampire.”

He later revised this novel during COVID-19 and republished it in 2021.

Deibert credits his second wife, Peggy, with suggesting he revisit his first book, shorten it and include a love story in 2009.

He renamed it “Combat Boots Dainty Feet: Finding Love in Vietnam.”

This was followed by “The Christmas City Vampire.”

Deibert said he is a longtime fan of the vintage movie “Robin Hood,” starring Errol Flynn.

This provided him with the setting for his latest time-travel novel.

Women archers competing at the 2021 Olympics in Japan were the inspiration for the female protagonist in his new release, “Robyn Hood.”

Deibert autographed a copy of “Robyn Hood” for fellow author Janice Monahan Rodgers from Northampton.

She has four titles under her belt, the most recent is “Life Before Seatbelts: A Funny, Sentimental and Heartwarming Look Back.”

Deibert and his wife enjoy traveling and have visited England, Scotland and Hawaii.

They vacation in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. annually.

This is the setting for two of his paranormal novellas.

Deibert’s presentation was sponsored by The Friends of the Parkland Community Library.

Mariann Kmetz, the library’s head of adult services, monitored the event.