Tampa Book Buzz

news and notes:tampa writers alliance, washington, barons, smith

• The Tampa Writers Alliance has changed locations for its monthly meetings. TWA meetings will be held at the Jimmie Keel Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa, FL 33618 and not at the John Germany Library downtown.
• Local author Valerie Washington (Soul Passion) will attend the African-American Book Expo in L.A. May 30 through June 1.
• New York author C.M. Barons wrote to tell me about his new book In the Midst Of. “In the Midst Of rekindles the 70s - an era of global hang-time. The 60s pendulum had swung as far as the silent majority would allow. Poised to back swing, the repercussions were unclear. As the world hovered in anticipation, the lives of Brian, Hollis and Nadine play out…guided by elements more personal and troubling than the clockworks of society and politics. Brian and his friends are students, free-wheeling youth ensconced on a college campus. Co-ed dorms, liberal drinking, casual drugs and casual sex.” Visit www.inthemidstof.info for more info.
• Local author Joy V. Smith recently had a few stories accepted by Anthology Builder. “I noticed that some writers and writing groups were putting together their stories in collections and anthologies, so I thought I’d experiment with a cover and a collection and ended up putting my collection Aliens, Animals, and Adventure in their library.”

news and notes:deep carnivale, tolkien, local library websites

• TampaGold.com reports that over 600 people attended the Deep Carnivale:A Celebration of Words festival the weekend before last. (My sources say that it was more like 1,500 people.)  They’ve got pictures, too.  Check it out.
• Some of J.R.R. Tolkien’s furniture was recently up for sale.  (How cool would it be to actually own something of his??)
• SticksofFire.com recently posted a good list of local library resources and websites.  Check it out.

two upcoming events at the clearwater main library

Saw some upcoming events posted at C-Scapes.livejournal.com:

• Author to Visit Clearwater Main Library — Author Lynn Marie Smith will discuss her book Rolling Away:My Agony with Ecstasy and will lecture on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction Monday, September 17, at 7 p.m. at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave.

If you’re not familiar with C-Scapes, you should be.

local author carmin wharton’s book signing july 21

Received via email:

Carmin Wharton, author of Lessons Learned:While Looking for Love in All the Wrong Faces, will offer advice on dating and relationships as well as sign copies of her new book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 21, at the West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 W. Union Street (corner of Union Street and Howard Avenue) in Tampa.

Carmin Wharton’s story is an inspiration to all who think they are alone in their quest for a satisfying relationship. Divorced and the mother of two adult children, she decided not to die with her book still inside of her. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, she still resides there.

Visit www.carminwharton.com or www.lulu.com/carminwharton for more info.

news and notes:smith, lynskey, sanders

• Local author and blogger Joy V. Smith’s media critters collection is scheduled for display at the children’s room at the main Lakeland library in June.
• Washington, D.C. crime-fiction writer and poet Ed Lynskey wrote to let me know that his new mystery Blue Cheer was released April 30.  “P.I. Frank Johnson has moved to Scarab, West Virginia, drawn by the promise of lazy days and the lure of its tranquil mountains. What he finds instead is a Stinger rocket exploding over his back yard. His ensuing investigation uncovers a cult called the Blue Cheer, a racist group with ugly terrorist plans. As events heat up, blood starts to spill, and for Frank it all gets real personal real quick. With the help of his bounty hunter pal, he sets out to bring the Blue Cheer to justice — any way he can!”  Visit his website to learn more.
• Chicago author Deon C. Sanders wrote to let me know about the e-book release of his second supernatural horror novel I Am.  His novel is about Lucifer’s war with God and His army of angels and the real — secret – reason why Lucifer was so jealous.  “It was an unknown evil, just as powerful as God.  Its name was “No Name,” it was neither good nor evil, and it was neither merciful nor malicious.”  Click here to learn more about Sanders’ new e-book.

lunch hour library visit

I’m bored.  I feel blah.  I don’t feel like working or blogging or running errands or returning calls…all I want to do is lie in bed and read and watch TV.  Maybe I’ve got spring fever.  Maybe I’m having a midlife crisis. I told The Husband this morning that I’ve been bitten by a tsetse fly and have contracted sleeping sickness – thereby rendering him responsible for all bills, groceries and laundry from now on – but for some strange reason he didn’t believe me.  Just like Francie in A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, I need a pickle day.

I went to the library on my lunch break yesterday to perk myself up.  Even though I have a stack of books at home to read, I checked out a few more.  I enjoy strolling the library’s aisles and selecting books at random, based only on their titles.  Wacky and striking book titles are entertaining, as well as a shrewd marketing move.  I checked out four books that I know nothing about.  I hope they’re as interesting as their titles:

• Knitting Under the Influence by Claire Lazebnik
• Bloodthirsty Bitches and Pious Pimps:The Rise and Risk of the New Conservative Hate Culture by Gerry Spence
• Money, A Memoir by Liz Perle
• When I Was Five I Killed Myself by Howard Buten

I do feel a little bit better, thanks.

april book events

As always, there are plenty of book-related events coming up in the Bay area this month.  Here’s a sample:

• April 5 — Steve Kowit at the University of Tampa as part of the Writers at the University series — The California author will read from his latest collection of poetry.  8 p.m., Reeves Theater, Vaughn Center, UT.  Free and open to the public.
• April 11 — Amy Richards at Eckerd College — The feminist author, activist and researcher will give a lecture titled Barbies and Boycotts:The Future of Feminism.  7:30 p.m., Raymond James Room, Fox Hall, Hough Center, Eckerd College.  Free and open to the public.
• April 13 — Sports writer and biographer Peter Golenbock at the John F. Germany Public Library as part of the Four Seasons Author Series – This series is a ticketed luncheon featuring local and national authors.  For more info or to purchase tickets, call 813-273-3616.  12-2 p.m., John F. Germany Public Library.
• April 15 — Rhythm and Rhyme Spring Festival — The Safety Harbor Public Library is hosting the fourth annual Rhythm and Rhyme Spring Festival from 2-4 p.m.  Activities include a poetry reading by Greg Byrd, music, face painting and door prize drawings.  Free and open to the public.
• April 15 — Regency Park Library’s Grand Opening Ceremony — The newly renovated and expanded library’s celebration begins at 1 p.m.  Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road, Pasco County.  Free and open to the public.
• April 15-21 — National Library Week — To celebrate National Library Week, the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative is offering tours of various libraries.  For dates and locations of the open houses, call 813-273-3652, ext. 2.  Free and open to the public.
• April 26 — Inkwood Books presents Anna Quindlen — This non-fiction, fiction and children’s book author is touring to promote the paperback release of her latest novel Rise and Shine.  7 p.m., Tampa Tribune auditorium.  Free and open to the public.  I want to camp out in line today.  She’s one of my favorite authors!

Visit www.tampabookbuzz.com/blog/calendar-of-events for more event listings.  See you there!

(cross-posted at www.sticksoffire.com)

bill belleville at lake wales public library march 20

Received via email:

The Lake Wales Public Library and the Florida Humanities Council are proud to present Florida author Bill Belleville Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. in the library’s Schoenoff Meeting Room.

Bill Belleville is an award-winning author and documentary filmmaker specializing in nature and conservation issues. He has written over 1,000 magazine articles and essays, with bylines in the New York Times Syndicate, Newsweek, Oxford American, Sierra and Audubon magazines, the Washington Post and many more. He has authored four books, including his most recent Losing it All to Sprawl:How Progress Ate My Cracker Landscape.  Belleville has been named Environmental Writer of the year by the Florida Audubon Society and the Florida Wildlife Federation, and won an Emmy for the PBS film Wekiva: Legacy or Loss?. He has traveled widely on overseas expeditions for the Discovery Channel, and is currently producing a documentary on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. He lives in Sanford, Florida. Losing It All To Sprawl was named one of the Best Books of 2006 by Library Journal.

For more information call 863-678-4004, ext. 223.

Visit the library’s website for more info.

writers in residence programs at clearwater main library march 1 and 2

Received via email: 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Tarsi, (727) 562-4834

Best-selling author Connie May Fowler and Day of Author Critiques coming to Clearwater Main Library (free and open to the public) March 1 and 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Those interested in the art of writing are invited to use the Clearwater Main Library’s resources and participate in the following Writers in Residence programs at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave.:

March 1, 7 p.m. — An Evening with Connie May Fowler — Fowler has established herself as an award winning Florida author, essayist, and screenwriter, whose works include Remembering Blue and River of Hidden Dreams. In 1996, she published Before Women Had Wings, which became an “Oprah Winfrey Presents” TV movie, winner of the 1996 Southern Book Critics Circle Award, and paperback bestseller. A book sale and signing will follow the lecture. Sponsored by the Friends of the Clearwater Library.

March 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — Writing and Critique Day — Writers are invited to use the Main Library’s resources, then have a free critique of selected pages from their manuscripts. Well-known local authors Kathy Carmichael, Kimberly Llewellyn, Debby Mayne, and Tara Randel will also talk about the creative writing process as well.

Call (727) 562-4970, ext. 5284 for more information.

Visit the library’s website for more info.

(Thanks go to local author Kimberly Llewellyn for sending this to me.)

african-american authors at dunedin public library february 17

From 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, the Dunedin Public Library is hosting the following African-American authors:

• John A. Priestel (Boy Versus Girl)
• Rosalie Peck and John Wilson (St. Petersburg’s Historic 22nd Street South)
• Sandra Rooks (Black America Series Clearwater, Florida; Black America Series St. Petersburg, Florida; Black America Series Tarpon Springs,Florida)
• Barbara J. Sorey (Know Where You Going? You Gotta Know Where You Been!)

Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin.  Call 727-298-3080, ext. 224 for details.

Visit the library’s website for more info.