American Author Reveals Aruba's Rugged Side on NBC's "TODAY" Show

Sept. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Like something straight from the pages of a crime novel, Maryland resident Robyn Gardner vanished this summer in Aruba without a trace. As authorities on the island and in the states investigate, the plot thickens. Gardner's companion, fellow American Gary Giordano, awaits his fate in a tropical prison while the search continues. Sadly, these events were not conjured in the mind of a novelist, but are the reality Gardner's friends and family are facing.

American writer Daniel Putkowski, who resides in Aruba and has authored two novels set there, was drawn to the case immediately. In an interview with NBC's "TODAY" show that aired Wednesday, Putkowski told correspondent Jeff Rossen, "this is my side of the island." The rural southern end of Aruba, where Gardner was last seen and where Putkowski makes his home, sports a very different terrain from that of the densely populated tourist area to the north. Cliffs, caves, and thick foliage make any search a challenge. Putkowski explained to Rossen, "if you wanted to get rid of something and have it never found, it would be relatively easy." The nearly 2-hour gap in the snorkeling and drowning story Giordano conveyed to police leaves many questions unanswered. "As someone who writes fiction for a living, I've been running every possible scenario through my head. Did Robyn drown? And if not, will she ever be found?" adds Putkowski, best known for his 2008 bestseller "An Island Away."

The case, which shares little with the 2005 Natalee Holloway disappearance, has nonetheless shone a bright and sometimes unkind media spotlight once again on the tiny Caribbean isle. "I'm distressed when I see comments on Twitter suggesting travelers should boycott the island because of what's happened to Gardner. I love Aruba. For much of the year it is my home and I've always felt safe here," Putkowski says. "Crime, especially violent crime, is extremely rare in Aruba and tourists should have no fear of visiting this beautiful, unique, and relaxing place."

Putkowski's next Aruba-based novel, "Hatcha's Gold," will be available early next year. Learn more at http://www.danielputkowski.com