Tampa Book Buzz

this blog is screwy

Yes — I know my blog might look a little screwy right now.  I goofed up my template and am working on putting things back to normal.

No — I have no idea what I’m doing…taking it one day at a time.

Yes — I know it’s annoying.  My sincere apologies!

No — I’m not going to jump off the roof in frustration, so don’t worry.  Plus, I’d only break a leg since I’m on the ground floor.

Yes — I do appreciate your patience.

No — I don’t think this is clever.  I’m just trying to be amusing.

Yes — Well, maybe a little clever. ?

julie leto at south tampa barnes and noble tomorrow night CANCELLED

Local USA Today bestselling author Julie Leto will attend the women’s fiction book group at the South Tampa Barnes and Noble store tomorrow night (September 26) at 7:30 p.m. to discuss her new book Dirty Little Lies.

UPDATE 9/26 6:10 P.M.:  THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

florida writers association

Attention all you local writers out there: have you heard about the Florida Writers Association? The FWA was started in 2001 by six writers and has grown into “the only statewide non-profit 501(c)6 organization dedicated to the support and networking of both aspiring and published writers in any genre.” Locally, the FWA has groups in St. Pete, Tampa, Sarasota, Lakeland, New Port Richey, and a new group just getting started in Manatee County.

Visit www.floridawriters.net to learn about FWA membership benefits, find out where the local writers’ groups meet, or to learn about the Lawyers for Literacy program.

book buzz:florida beaches by david mcree

Florida Beaches:Finding Your Paradise on the Lower Gulf Coast by David McRee, ISBN 097698850X

Do you know of a Florida beach that has a natural black sand beach? Can you name a beach that can be reached only by private boat or ferry? Which state park is made up of four islands?  If you’d read Florida Beaches:Finding Your Paradise on the Lower Gulf Coast by David McRee, you’d know the answers.  Florida Beaches is a phenomenal resource for anyone heading to the beach — from first-time tourists to longtime residents.

McRee’s love for the outdoors is evident in his detailed descriptions of over 96 beaches from Dunedin to Marco Island.  For each beach included in his book, McRee gives the reader information on parking, bathroom facilities, traffic, noise level, crowding, water conditions, vegetation, sports activities, rental facilities, nearby shopping and restaurants, sand quality, local wildlife, and much, much more. Florida Beaches includes maps painstakingly drawn by McRee, along with many of his photographs.

I’m strictly an inside gal, but the next time I venture to the beach I will bring my copy of this book with me.  By doing all the research himself, McRee makes it very easy for anyone planning a trip to the beach.   Florida Beaches should be available in every Chamber of Commerce office and Tourists/Visitors Bureau along the Gulf Coast.

Book Buzz Barometer: A

Visit www.beachhunter.net to purchase this book, to view more of McRee’s photographs, or to stay abreast of current beach warnings and conditions.

(Answers to the questions above: Venice Municipal Beach, Little Gasparilla Island and Lover’s Key State Park.)

book signing at micklersmith florida booktraders saturday

From 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, September 23, MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders is hosting Susan J. Fernandez and Robert P. Ingalls, authors of Sunshine in the Dark:Florida in the Movies.

MicklerSmith is located at the corner of Second Street North and Seventh Avenue North, Old Northeast, St. Pete.  Visit http://www.micklersmith.com/ for more info.

(Update on 9/22: address is 718 Second St.; phone is 727-894-1565.)

local author news:odum, robinson, moran, van scoyoc

*Local author Ersula Knox Odum’s historical presentation of educator Dr. Mary MacLeod Bethune has been added to the Florida Humanities Council’s list of available presentations.  Odum also recently had an essay published in the Weekly Challenger.

*Local left-winger/writer/blogger Catherine Robinson recently had an op-ed piece published in the Tampa Tribune.

*Blow, a new tabloid of fiction, commentary, cartoons, verse and reviews, is debuting on September 22nd at the Bombshell Gallery, 2536 Central Avenue in St. Pete at 8 p.m.  Guests will receive the inaugural issue of Blow along with complimentary beer and food, with no cover charge.  According to Blow, its mission is “to once again engage periodical readers with entertaining prose — seasoned with sparing poetry, a few cartoons and noticeably light on advertisements — for a dollar.  The format — black ink on newsprint — is an homage to the way stories and art were once brought to the public: as economically as possible.”

The first issue will feature local writer Rachel Moran (who will attend the launch), award-winning novelist Michelle Richmond and acclaimed poet Erika Meitner, with cartoons by Playboy, Mad Magazine and others.

Visit www.blowsite.com for more info.

*Local author Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc’s newest book, Michael, will be available on October 1st.

thomas shippey at usf september 28

From WMNF’s online calendar:

Thursday, September 28, 2006 An Evening with Thomas Shippey: Narnia and Middle-earth: Lewis, Tolkien, the Magic Art will be presented at the University of South Florida, September 28, 7 p.m., at Traditions Hall on the Tampa campus. Shippey is considered a foremost expert on authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis and is an informed and engaging speaker on science fiction and fantasy.

The lecture is free and open to the public.  

best of the bay 2006

Thank you for your votes for TBB in the Weekly Planet’s recent Best of the Bay contest.  Tampa Book Buzz is one of the runners-up for Best Local Blog!!  What an honor!

Congratulations to the other runner-up Seminole Heights blog and to the Best Local Blog Sticks of Fire.  You rock!

welcome to my new home!

I’ve finally escaped from Blogger!  Hope you like the new site.  It’s still under construction, so if you see duplicate old posts or missing links, try to ignore them for a few days.  I’m working furiously to get everthing updated.  Don’t forget to update your bookmark!

news from micklersmith florida book traders

MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders, the St. Pete bookstore that specializes in Florida books, music and art (and free coffee), has a lot of exciting news to share:

*They now have an Internet presence at www.micklersmith.com

*They now have a MicklerSmith eBay store at www.stores.ebay.com/MicklerSmith

* On Saturday, September 9, Daphne Nikolopoulos, author of The Storm Gourmet, is making two appearances in the Tampa Bay area.

Daphne’s premise is that even if a storm knocks out the power, we can enjoy sumptuous meals several cuts above Spam from cans. Her book features recipes for dining superbly by candlelight, camp lantern or flashlight. Daphne will demonstrate the no-power cooking techniques and offer tastes of her delicious dishes. We’re co-sponsoring the event, along with our friends at The Pier Aquarium.

The St. Petersburg event will be at 11 a.m. at The Pier Aquarium inside The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg. A hurricane expert will talk about preparations families should make before a storm approaches. The event is part of The Pier Aquarium’s Book Nook Series. We’ll have books there for Daphne to sign. The pier is at the east end of Second Avenue N.

Later in the day, Daphne will appear at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Community Center in downtown Tarpon Springs. The demonstration there will be at 2 p.m. She will sign books there also. The community center is on Alt. U.S. 19 (348 Pinellas Avenue N) in Tarpon Springs.

*On Saturday, September 23, authors Susan Fernandez and Robert Ingalls will be at MicklerSmith from 1-4 p.m. to sign their new book on Florida in the movies, Sunshine In The Dark, and to talk to Florida film fans.

*They’ve launched a web-based channel, Olde Florida Network (www.oldeflorida.com), devoted to “the celebration of the heritage and culture of the Sunshine State through its literature, music and art. Tune in to see video interviews with authors, artists and musicians.”

*Bill Murphy of One-Tank Trips on FOX Channel 13 did a segment on MicklerSmith for the show. (I don’t know when it will air.)

Visit www.micklersmith.com to learn more.