Tampa Book Buzz

news and notes:book swap of carrollwood, neal, dynes

• Book Swap of Carrollwood (13020 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 33618) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.
• Florida author Julie Neal’s The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 is ranked in the Top 10 bestsellers on Amazon.com of all U.S. travel books, regardless of publication date. (And it is one of only two that have a 5-star rating.) The book has also been chosen as the Highlighted Travel Guidebook Title of Independent Publisher Online, which honors newly released books that exhibit “superior levels of creativity, originality and high standards of design and production quality.” And last but not least, it is the Number 1 bestselling title for Family Travel on Amazon.com.
• South Carolina author Jan Dynes has just published her first book, titled Refractions. “Diane Lindsey is a testament to what one woman can survive. Yet she is still running for her life from a malevolence she doesn’t understand. Her husband and child were murdered and she’s next. Against insurmountable obstacles she fights to understand and stay alive… “ Visit Dynes online at www.jandynes.com.

new anthology animal attraction features florida authors

Here’s some info on outside-the-Tampa-Bay-area-but-still-in-Florida authors I received via email:

Floridians Neil Plakcy, Kiernan Kelly and Vincent Diamond are featured in the new book Animal Attraction recently released by Torquere Press. From the cuddly cuteness of a puppy, the lush fur of an endangered jaguar to the wise eyes of an Indian elephant, beasts of all species abound in Animal Attraction, a new anthology of short stories from Torquere Press. The animals in these stories have a way of making men come together-in all sorts of sexy ways.

Neil Plakcy lives in Miami and is the author of Mahu and Mahu Surfer, mystery novels set in Honolulu, and co-editor of Paws and Reflect:Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs. His fiction has appeared in many publications, including Blithe House Quarterly, Verbsap and many more.  His website is www.mahubooks.com.

Kiernan Kelly, from Orlando, is the multi-published author of In Bear Country, Riding Heartbreak Road, and Two Spirits, all from Torquere Press. His website is www.kiernan-kelly.com.  

Editor Vincent Diamond (Men of Mystery, Hot Cops) is donating 10% of the editor’s proceeds to Peace River Refuge and Ranch and In Harmony with Nature, both located in Florida. The charities provide a variety of domestic and wildlife care and are non-profit organizations.

Diamond is a native Floridian and former Zephyrhills resident whose print work has appeared in Feathers, Chance Encounters, Under Arrest, and Play Ball from Torquere Press and many more. His website is www.vincentdiamond.com.

The Animal Attraction stories offer a variety of characters, settings, conflict and relationships. Writers brand new to e-publishing, such as Shanna Germain, Aaron Michaels, Neil Plakcy, K.C. Warwick, and Elazarus Wills join with Torquere veterans J.L. Jensen, Kiernan Kelly, Sean Michael, C.B. Potts, J. Rocci, and B.A. Tortuga. Animal Attraction offers readers gay romance for the beast in all of us.

The book is available here.

usf literary journal saw palm is seeking submissions

Received via email:

Saw Palm, a Florida-themed literary journal at the University of South Florida (USF), is seeking art and writing submissions. We’re looking for Florida work—which may include work from anywhere that concerns itself with Florida (images, people, themes), or work from Florida not obviously about someplace else.

All mail submissions must include a SASE. No previously published work. Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are notified of acceptance elsewhere. Deadline is October 15.

You can read about the 2006-07 issue here.

author connie may fowler is offering full immersion writing workshops

Received via email:

Connie May Fowler, internationally acclaimed author of The Problem with Murmur Lee, Remembering Blue, Before Women Had Wings, River of Hidden Dreams, Sugar Cage, and When Katie Wakes unveils her latest venture, Below Sea Level: Full Immersion Workshops for Serious Writers.

Participants must submit manuscripts to be admitted to both the workshops and conferences. The Remembering Blue writing workshops are limited to seven writers and The St. Augustine Project conferences are limited to twenty. The application deadline for the October workshop is August 29.

Visit www.writingbelowsealevel.com for more info.

the florida book review celebrates the 107th birthday of ernest hemingway

Received via email from the Florida Book Review:

Join us as we celebrate the 107th birthday of Key West local Ernest Hemingway!  The Florida Book Review salutes Papa with a feature article and new reviews:

• Our intrepid reporter, P. Scott Cunningham, downs pints at Sloppy Joe’s Bar to deliver first-hand what it’s like to be at the 27th annual Hemingway Look-Alike contest. Check out The Young Man in a Sea of Look-Alikes, his diary, and pics of the festivities.
• Take a look at our review of James McLendon’s biography Papa:Hemingway in Key West, a recent reprint of the 1972 chronicle of Ernest’s life on the island.
• And read our reconsideration of the 1937 classic To Have and Have Not, Hemingway’s action-packed novel of tough-guy Harry Morgan speeding the seas between Havana and Key West.
• The new Travel page looks at Weird Florida:Your Travel Guide to Florida’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, a fun manual of all the bizarre sites and scenes the Sunshine State has to offer, and Florida’s Living Beaches, a new book packed with the esoterica of Florida’s natural treasures.
• Another new addition, the Food page, features a review of The Storm Gourmet, A Guide to Creating Extraordinary Meals Without Electricity. This new book by Daphne Nikolopoulos instructs Floridians how to eat elegantly when the power is out with dishes like salmon-tabouli salad and peach-raspberry torte.
• Enjoy the latest among our new reviews: David Ash on Anthony Gagliano’s classy Florida crime novel Straits of Fortune and Jennifer Bartman on sex in young adult books and Anatomy of a Boyfriend.

Don’t miss the latest issue of The Florida Book Review as we toast Papa and celebrate Florida life and literature.

Visit www.floridabookreview.com for more info.

literary sites of the south

I recently took a peek at Ella Robinson’s book A Guide to Literary Sites of the South to see what was listed for Florida:

• Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum — Key West
• Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historical Site — Hawthorne
• Bok Tower Garden (Edward William Bok) — Lake Wales
• Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts — Eatonville
• Girl Scout Log House (marker honoring Rex Beach) — Sebring

Libraries with special collections:

• University of Florida (Gainesville) — Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
• University of Miami (Miami) — Carson McCullers
• Rollins College (Winter Park) — Rex Beach

Who’s up for a road trip?

florida voices book fair in gainesville april 27

This event is outside the Tampa Bay area, but book lovers are usually willing to go for a drive when a book fair is involved:

The Florida Voices Book Fair will be held in Gainesville on April 27 and 28, beginning with an evening appearance on April 27 with Tim Dorsey, author of the February release Hurricane Punch. Tim will be speaking Friday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Thomas Center in Gainesville.  On Saturday, April 28, the book fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m., also in the Thomas Center.

For more information, call 888-917-7001 and leave a message for Sarah Bewley or e-mail her at SarahBewley(at)sarahbewley.com.

(received via email)

Visit www.artsgaca.org/bookfair.htm to learn more or to download an author participation application.

local author news:robinson, cowling

*Local writer and blogger Catherine Durkin Robinson recently had an op-ed piece published in the Tampa Tribune.

*Local author Jerry Cowling (Lincoln in the Basement) has a full calendar for February.  On February 3 and 4, he was at the Mount Dora Civil War re-enactment at Renniger’s Flea Market.  Tomorrow (February 11) he’ll be at the Dade City Pioneer Museum Farm Fest.

On February 17 and 18, Cowling will attend the Olustee Civil War show in Lake City and on February 28, he’ll be down south at the Naples Press Club Book Fair.

dr. daniel goleman january 25 and mark simon january 29

From Creative Tampa Bay’s newsletter: 

*Gulf Coast Community Foundation invites you to a luncheon (January 25 at noon) with psychologist, science journalist, and best-selling writer Daniel Goleman, PhD. Author of the international blockbuster Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Goleman will discuss and sign copies of his latest book Social Intelligence:The New Science of Human Relationships. Admission is $35, and advance reservations are required. Seats for this community education event are filling quickly, so visit www.gulfcoast.org to learn more and to make a reservation.

*Make plans now to attend a talk by Mark Simon, an artist, animator, and author (January 29 at 1 p.m.). He will be speaking about his book for artists called Your Resume Sucks! He will also talk about beginning a career in animation. The presentation will take place in Room 407 at The International Academy of Design and Technology.  RSVP to svesselov(at)academy.edu. 

Visit www.creativetampabay.com/newsletter for more info.

Update on 1/24/07: Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Eric Sturm, I’ve discovered that the link in the first paragraph is incorrect.  Info about this Sarasota event may be found at www.gulfcoastcf.org.  Unfortunately, however, this event is now sold out.

the just read, florida! selection causes controversy

Aaah, what would life be like without controversy? This one involves two of the most touchy issues — religion and books. It seems that Jeb Bush’s Just Read, Florida! program is “implementing a statewide event featuring grade level specific contests to promote literacy among all grades 3-12 for public, private and home school students.” Sounds wonderful, right?
Well, the catch is that the contest is about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This contest ties into the upcoming Disney film The Narnia Chronicles: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The grade school students are competing in an essay contest, the middle school kids have an illustration contest, and the high school students are competing in a short video contest. Some of the prizes are pretty spectacular, including a private movie screening and award ceremony at MGM Studios, free hotel stay and tickets to Disney’s MGM Studios theme park.

The group Americans United for Separation of Church and State is very unhappy at the book selected for this contest. They say that the contest violates the First Amendment because it promotes a “religious story.” They are calling on Just Read, Florida! to replace The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with a different, non-religious choice.

The Arizona-based religious liberty group Alliance Defense Fund has offered to provide free legal representation to any schools Americans United threatens with legal action.

I wonder if this will explode or just quietly fade away.