We love local authors! There is so much talent in our area in all genres, ranging from children’s books, young adult, fiction, LGBTQ, mystery, cookbooks, fantasy, local history, nonfiction and more! We host book signings and meet-the-author events at least once a month at the store. Come by and check out our large local author section! Below you’ll find a list of just a few of the authors we have in stock and have done past events with.
If you’re an author in the region and interested in having an event with us please send us an email or give us a call. We’d love to hear from you!
#ReadLocal #TheArtsLiveHere #TallahasseeCreates
Wendi Adelson
"This is Our Story" (2013) Wendi Adelson teaches kaw students and represents clients in the fields of immigration, child advocacyand disability rights. "This Is Our Story" follows the lives of two victims of human trafficing.
Glynn Marsh Alam
A native-born Floridian, Glynn Marsh Alam was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage.
Deborah A. Allen
An “almost native” Floridian, Deborah was a fifth grader when her writing was first published in a school literary journal. Since then, her work has appeared in her college newspaper, as well as The Florida Writer, the AARP Bulletin, and a British child development journal.
"The Swinging Door", her first published novel, was a finalist in the 2013 Florida Writer’s Association Royal Palm Literary Awards.
A former teacher, she lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her husband and their gifted, but shamelessly overindulged, Boston terrier.
Daryl Bollinger
"The Pill Game" (2014), "A Case of Revenge" and " The Medicine Game".
Marina Brown
Marina Brown has written for newspapers and magazines for the last twenty years. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her short stories. Marina lives in Tallahassee, Florida.
Doug Dandridge
Doug Dandridge is an ex-professional student with degrees from Florida State University and the University of Alabama. Doug has interest in all of the fantastic, including science fiction, fantasy and horror, as well as all eras of military history. Doug lives with his five cats in Tallahassee, Florida.
Rhett DeVane
Rhett DeVane is the author of two published mainstream southern fiction novels: The Madhatter’s Guide to Chocolate and Up the Devil’s Belly. Rhett is an active member of the Tallahassee Writer’s Association. Rhett DeVane is a true Southerner-born and raised in the deep, muggy, bug-infested pine and oaks forests of the Florida Panhandle. Rhett donates a portion of her royalties to a local Tallahassee breast cancer support group.
Olivia deBelle Byrd
Olivia deBelle Byrd was born and bred in the south. She is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and a Kappa delta. She resides in Panama City, Florida with her family.
Trevor T. Faulkner
"The Lost Memory" (2013), "The Last Memory"
Trevor T. Faulkner is an American author from Tallahassee, Florida. He studied Digital Media at the University of Central Florida and currently resides with his wife, Heather and Cat, Racer. Trevor is a winner of RPLA Best Unpublished Fantasy 2010.
Agnes Furey
Agnes Furey is a Nurse retired from thirty years in addiction treatment. She is a victim advocate with the Tallahassee Police Department and cofounder of Achieve Higher Ground, a restorative justice organization based in Tallahassee Florida. She lives and teaches in Tallahassee.
Evelyn Gilmer
Evelyn Gilmer has taught first grade for many years and continues to inspire young authors through her writing lessons. She currently teaches at W.T. Moore Elementary School. Evelyn lives in
Tallahassee, Florida, with her dog, Maggie.
Boots Hensel
As a young girl, Boots Hensel loved to write. By the age of eight, she had won a writing contest, and later she was a reporter for her 6th grade newspaper. As an adult, Boots became a registered nurse. Although she enjoyed her chosen career, something was missing. After the loss of her daughter Courtney, she wrote The Zoopendous Surprise in her honor. Boots will release her latest children’s book Johari’s Joy Fall 2013.
April Kelly and Marsha Lyons
Marsha Lyons and April Kelly were debate team partners at Colonial High school in Orlando and roomies at The University of South Florida, before Marsha went to law school on a mission and April went to Hollywood on a whim.
Marsha Lyons and April Kelly’s first novel, Murder In One Take, received first place in the Mystery/Suspense category in the Kindle Book Promos/ LuckyCinda publishing company contest. This follows the duo’s third book, Murder: Take Three being named one of five finalists for the Shamus Award for Best Indie P.I. Novel in the Private Eye Writers of America contest. Winners to be announced at the Bouchercon in Long Beach, California on November 14, 2014.
R. L. McDaniel
Born and raised in Florida, R. L. McDaniel currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where he has been teaching language arts to middle school students for over ten years. He enjoys playing the guitar and writing in his free time. The Big Hoot is R. L. McDaniel's first published release.
Donna Meredith
"Wet Work" (2014), "The Color of Lies", "Magic in the Mountain" and her Award Winner "The Glass Madonna". Donna Meredith is a freelance writer living in Tallahassee, Florida. Her articles have appeared in Tallahassee magazine, the Southern Literary Review, and the Tallahassee Democrat to name a few. Her first novel The Glass Madonna won first place for unplublished women’s fiction in 2009 in the Royal Palm Literary Awards, sponsored by the Florida Writers Association.
Michelle R. Nickens
Writing has been a passion of Michelle’s since childhood. Her parents encouraged her to express herself, which she has been able to do through her writing, acting and dancing. During the day, Michelle’s career focuses on supporting nationwide law enforcement programs. In that capacity, she has written hundreds of documents, reports, outreach pieces and proposals. Some of these are used throughout the country by our law enforcement community to help support their efforts.
When not at work, Michelle’s writing includes fiction stories, articles, plays, lyrics and other forms of writing. She has written more than 25 articles for the Tallahassee Woman Magazine. She has also written for Quality Cities Magazine and the Tallahassee Discoveries magazine. Her short-attention-span play, Wild Refuge, was produced by the Atlantis Players and won the Audience Award for most enjoyed production.
Michelle attended Florida State University, graduating with a BA in Business and graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a MA in Public Administration. She has served more than seven years on the Theatre Tallahassee board of directors, including two terms as the president, and supported many of the theatre's committees. She has been privileged to have walked the planks with some of Tallahassee's best actors. She has also served on the boards of the LeMoyne Art Foundation, the Tallahassee Women’s Club and multiple homeowners’ associations. Michelle studies dance at The Dance Studio and during the 2012/2013 season had the opportunity to dance with the Company. They performed on the Monarch of the Seas in March 2013 and at the Fusion Dance Competition.
Michelle is proud to bring Precious little Secrets—a women’s fiction novel with a twist of paranormal and romance—to you.
Michelle also writes her blog, WineKnows—Pour, Explore & More and the Tallahassee Wine Press. For more information, visit Michelle’s website at www.michellenickens.com, follow Michelle on twitter @PWTallyGirl and “like” her page at www.facebook.com/MichelleNickensAuthor.
Al Padgett grew up in Marianna, Florida and has resided in the Florida Panhandle all of his life. He’s a 1950 graduate of Florida State University and a veteran of World War II. He joined the Pensacola News-Journal sports staff and wrote a daily column called The Wise Ol’ Al.
F. Diane Pickett
Her novel "Never Isn't Long Enough" recently won the 2014 Indie Excellence award for Regional fiction as well as the gold medal cover award from the Florida authors and Publishers Association. She has also done a video for the Indie Excellence company. Video for Indie Excellence here.
Eileen Sperl-Hawkins
Ms. Sperl-Hawkins won Honorable Mention in the Penumbra 2011 Poetry contest for her poem: Flash of Flight. She has chaired the Writers Group at OLLI at FSU for seven years. The author lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her family.
S.R. Staley
S.R. Staley’s young adult novels are quickly distinguishing themselves for their kick-butt characters, focus on real-world problems, and the ethical dilemmas faced by everyday kids as they deal with violence and bullying.
Captain Robert J Thomas, Sr. (Ret.)
"Blue Skies - A Journal of Good Life", "Battlecry One - Memoirs of Robert J. Thomas, Sr. USN"
Captain Thomas, a retired USN Aviator, delivers The News fromMallory Square in >"Blue Skies" and an account of combat missions he flew in Viet Nam in "Battlecry One".
Mary Penelope Young
Mary Penelope Young was born in Malaysia and studied in Europe. She has lived in California and Florida. She is a teacher and an educational psychologist. Besides writing, she tutors immigrants, travels, paints watercolors and dabbles in photography.
Dr. Gwendola Williams
The September 13th Multi Local Author Adult and Young Peoople's Book Signing was a big hit.
M.R. Street, Leslie Horner and Rhett DeVane Click "Read more" below right for full description.
Leslee Horner lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her husband, two daughters, and dachshund, Lilly."SUMMER OF STARS" is her debut novel and is the first book in the four book series, "THE PAST LIVES OF LOLA RAY". Find out more at Hyperlink Code
"SUMMER OF STARS (THE PAST LIVES OF LOLA RAY ~ BOOK ONE)"; Paperback; 2014 copyright
M.R. Street is an author of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her first novel, "BLUE ROCK RESCUE", won first place MG fiction in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Her young adult novel,"THE WEREWOLF'S DAUGHTER", won the gold medal for YA fiction from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. The sequel, "THE HUNTER'S MOON", will launch on October 8, which is the full "Hunter's" moon of October and is also a full lunar eclipse. Find out more at Hyperlink Code
BLUE ROCK RESCUE, 2008
First Place, 2010 Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writers Association)
THE WEREWOLF'S DAUGHTER, 2013
Gold Medal, 2013 Florida Authors and Publishers Association Awards
Rhett DeVane
The author of five published mainstream fiction novels, a middle grade fiction novel, and two coauthored novels. For the past thirty-plus years, Rhett has made her home in Tallahassee, Florida. For more information
Middle grade fiction - chapter book: "Elsbeth and Sim" - First in the Tales from the Emerald Mountain series; Year of publication: 2013
The first time Elizabeth meets Simon at Westside House, he is angry and scared. She’s ten and he’s eleven, and like her, Simon is a war orphan. When soldiers tear through their city, the two mismatched friends escape to the Emerald Mountains with meager food and a map to an old cabin.
But that’s only the start of their troubles.
Bears lurk and winter looms, and they have little time to learn the ways of the hills. Their world changes completely, with new names, dealing with an odd mountain magician, and dump-diving for supplies in nearby landfill. Then the ultimate challenge arises: defending their home from invaders.
Suicide Supper Club - Southern fiction; Year of publication: 2014
Sometimes life dishes up more than you can take—cancer, abuse, loss, isolation. Four small-town women are bound by their Southern backgrounds, friendship, and their varied but explicable reasons for wanting to check out. But life is crap and it’s stupid-hot, so why would things go as planned?
The four members of the Suicide Supper Club learn that death is a process not easily dictated by a selective act of will.
Life, no matter how difficult, is a gift.
Both books were finalists (as unpublished manuscripts) in the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards contest.
Please come by the store and support the authors and their new books.
If you’re an author in the region and interested in having an event with us please send us an email or give us a call. We’d love to hear from you!
#ReadLocal #TheArtsLiveHere #TallahasseeCreates
Wendi Adelson
"This is Our Story" (2013) Wendi Adelson teaches kaw students and represents clients in the fields of immigration, child advocacyand disability rights. "This Is Our Story" follows the lives of two victims of human trafficing.
Glynn Marsh Alam
A native-born Floridian, Glynn Marsh Alam was raised on a farm among the swamps and live oaks near Tallahassee, where she spent humid summers reading mysteries and swimming in creeks where alligators and snakes lurked in the foliage.
Deborah A. Allen
An “almost native” Floridian, Deborah was a fifth grader when her writing was first published in a school literary journal. Since then, her work has appeared in her college newspaper, as well as The Florida Writer, the AARP Bulletin, and a British child development journal.
"The Swinging Door", her first published novel, was a finalist in the 2013 Florida Writer’s Association Royal Palm Literary Awards.
A former teacher, she lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her husband and their gifted, but shamelessly overindulged, Boston terrier.
Daryl Bollinger
"The Pill Game" (2014), "A Case of Revenge" and " The Medicine Game".
Marina Brown
Marina Brown has written for newspapers and magazines for the last twenty years. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her short stories. Marina lives in Tallahassee, Florida.
Doug Dandridge
Doug Dandridge is an ex-professional student with degrees from Florida State University and the University of Alabama. Doug has interest in all of the fantastic, including science fiction, fantasy and horror, as well as all eras of military history. Doug lives with his five cats in Tallahassee, Florida.
Rhett DeVane
Rhett DeVane is the author of two published mainstream southern fiction novels: The Madhatter’s Guide to Chocolate and Up the Devil’s Belly. Rhett is an active member of the Tallahassee Writer’s Association. Rhett DeVane is a true Southerner-born and raised in the deep, muggy, bug-infested pine and oaks forests of the Florida Panhandle. Rhett donates a portion of her royalties to a local Tallahassee breast cancer support group.
Olivia deBelle Byrd
Olivia deBelle Byrd was born and bred in the south. She is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and a Kappa delta. She resides in Panama City, Florida with her family.
Trevor T. Faulkner
"The Lost Memory" (2013), "The Last Memory"
Trevor T. Faulkner is an American author from Tallahassee, Florida. He studied Digital Media at the University of Central Florida and currently resides with his wife, Heather and Cat, Racer. Trevor is a winner of RPLA Best Unpublished Fantasy 2010.
Agnes Furey
Agnes Furey is a Nurse retired from thirty years in addiction treatment. She is a victim advocate with the Tallahassee Police Department and cofounder of Achieve Higher Ground, a restorative justice organization based in Tallahassee Florida. She lives and teaches in Tallahassee.
Evelyn Gilmer
Evelyn Gilmer has taught first grade for many years and continues to inspire young authors through her writing lessons. She currently teaches at W.T. Moore Elementary School. Evelyn lives in
Tallahassee, Florida, with her dog, Maggie.
Boots Hensel
As a young girl, Boots Hensel loved to write. By the age of eight, she had won a writing contest, and later she was a reporter for her 6th grade newspaper. As an adult, Boots became a registered nurse. Although she enjoyed her chosen career, something was missing. After the loss of her daughter Courtney, she wrote The Zoopendous Surprise in her honor. Boots will release her latest children’s book Johari’s Joy Fall 2013.
April Kelly and Marsha Lyons
Marsha Lyons and April Kelly were debate team partners at Colonial High school in Orlando and roomies at The University of South Florida, before Marsha went to law school on a mission and April went to Hollywood on a whim.
Marsha Lyons and April Kelly’s first novel, Murder In One Take, received first place in the Mystery/Suspense category in the Kindle Book Promos/ LuckyCinda publishing company contest. This follows the duo’s third book, Murder: Take Three being named one of five finalists for the Shamus Award for Best Indie P.I. Novel in the Private Eye Writers of America contest. Winners to be announced at the Bouchercon in Long Beach, California on November 14, 2014.
R. L. McDaniel
Born and raised in Florida, R. L. McDaniel currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where he has been teaching language arts to middle school students for over ten years. He enjoys playing the guitar and writing in his free time. The Big Hoot is R. L. McDaniel's first published release.
Donna Meredith
"Wet Work" (2014), "The Color of Lies", "Magic in the Mountain" and her Award Winner "The Glass Madonna". Donna Meredith is a freelance writer living in Tallahassee, Florida. Her articles have appeared in Tallahassee magazine, the Southern Literary Review, and the Tallahassee Democrat to name a few. Her first novel The Glass Madonna won first place for unplublished women’s fiction in 2009 in the Royal Palm Literary Awards, sponsored by the Florida Writers Association.
Michelle R. Nickens
Writing has been a passion of Michelle’s since childhood. Her parents encouraged her to express herself, which she has been able to do through her writing, acting and dancing. During the day, Michelle’s career focuses on supporting nationwide law enforcement programs. In that capacity, she has written hundreds of documents, reports, outreach pieces and proposals. Some of these are used throughout the country by our law enforcement community to help support their efforts.
When not at work, Michelle’s writing includes fiction stories, articles, plays, lyrics and other forms of writing. She has written more than 25 articles for the Tallahassee Woman Magazine. She has also written for Quality Cities Magazine and the Tallahassee Discoveries magazine. Her short-attention-span play, Wild Refuge, was produced by the Atlantis Players and won the Audience Award for most enjoyed production.
Michelle attended Florida State University, graduating with a BA in Business and graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a MA in Public Administration. She has served more than seven years on the Theatre Tallahassee board of directors, including two terms as the president, and supported many of the theatre's committees. She has been privileged to have walked the planks with some of Tallahassee's best actors. She has also served on the boards of the LeMoyne Art Foundation, the Tallahassee Women’s Club and multiple homeowners’ associations. Michelle studies dance at The Dance Studio and during the 2012/2013 season had the opportunity to dance with the Company. They performed on the Monarch of the Seas in March 2013 and at the Fusion Dance Competition.
Michelle is proud to bring Precious little Secrets—a women’s fiction novel with a twist of paranormal and romance—to you.
Michelle also writes her blog, WineKnows—Pour, Explore & More and the Tallahassee Wine Press. For more information, visit Michelle’s website at www.michellenickens.com, follow Michelle on twitter @PWTallyGirl and “like” her page at www.facebook.com/MichelleNickensAuthor.
Al Padgett grew up in Marianna, Florida and has resided in the Florida Panhandle all of his life. He’s a 1950 graduate of Florida State University and a veteran of World War II. He joined the Pensacola News-Journal sports staff and wrote a daily column called The Wise Ol’ Al.
F. Diane Pickett
Her novel "Never Isn't Long Enough" recently won the 2014 Indie Excellence award for Regional fiction as well as the gold medal cover award from the Florida authors and Publishers Association. She has also done a video for the Indie Excellence company. Video for Indie Excellence here.
Eileen Sperl-Hawkins
Ms. Sperl-Hawkins won Honorable Mention in the Penumbra 2011 Poetry contest for her poem: Flash of Flight. She has chaired the Writers Group at OLLI at FSU for seven years. The author lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her family.
S.R. Staley
S.R. Staley’s young adult novels are quickly distinguishing themselves for their kick-butt characters, focus on real-world problems, and the ethical dilemmas faced by everyday kids as they deal with violence and bullying.
Captain Robert J Thomas, Sr. (Ret.)
"Blue Skies - A Journal of Good Life", "Battlecry One - Memoirs of Robert J. Thomas, Sr. USN"
Captain Thomas, a retired USN Aviator, delivers The News fromMallory Square in >"Blue Skies" and an account of combat missions he flew in Viet Nam in "Battlecry One".
Mary Penelope Young
Mary Penelope Young was born in Malaysia and studied in Europe. She has lived in California and Florida. She is a teacher and an educational psychologist. Besides writing, she tutors immigrants, travels, paints watercolors and dabbles in photography.
Dr. Gwendola Williams
The September 13th Multi Local Author Adult and Young Peoople's Book Signing was a big hit.
M.R. Street, Leslie Horner and Rhett DeVane Click "Read more" below right for full description.
Leslee Horner lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her husband, two daughters, and dachshund, Lilly."SUMMER OF STARS" is her debut novel and is the first book in the four book series, "THE PAST LIVES OF LOLA RAY". Find out more at Hyperlink Code
"SUMMER OF STARS (THE PAST LIVES OF LOLA RAY ~ BOOK ONE)"; Paperback; 2014 copyright
M.R. Street is an author of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her first novel, "BLUE ROCK RESCUE", won first place MG fiction in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Her young adult novel,"THE WEREWOLF'S DAUGHTER", won the gold medal for YA fiction from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. The sequel, "THE HUNTER'S MOON", will launch on October 8, which is the full "Hunter's" moon of October and is also a full lunar eclipse. Find out more at Hyperlink Code
BLUE ROCK RESCUE, 2008
First Place, 2010 Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writers Association)
THE WEREWOLF'S DAUGHTER, 2013
Gold Medal, 2013 Florida Authors and Publishers Association Awards
Rhett DeVane
The author of five published mainstream fiction novels, a middle grade fiction novel, and two coauthored novels. For the past thirty-plus years, Rhett has made her home in Tallahassee, Florida. For more information
Middle grade fiction - chapter book: "Elsbeth and Sim" - First in the Tales from the Emerald Mountain series; Year of publication: 2013
The first time Elizabeth meets Simon at Westside House, he is angry and scared. She’s ten and he’s eleven, and like her, Simon is a war orphan. When soldiers tear through their city, the two mismatched friends escape to the Emerald Mountains with meager food and a map to an old cabin.
But that’s only the start of their troubles.
Bears lurk and winter looms, and they have little time to learn the ways of the hills. Their world changes completely, with new names, dealing with an odd mountain magician, and dump-diving for supplies in nearby landfill. Then the ultimate challenge arises: defending their home from invaders.
Suicide Supper Club - Southern fiction; Year of publication: 2014
Sometimes life dishes up more than you can take—cancer, abuse, loss, isolation. Four small-town women are bound by their Southern backgrounds, friendship, and their varied but explicable reasons for wanting to check out. But life is crap and it’s stupid-hot, so why would things go as planned?
The four members of the Suicide Supper Club learn that death is a process not easily dictated by a selective act of will.
Life, no matter how difficult, is a gift.
Both books were finalists (as unpublished manuscripts) in the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards contest.
Please come by the store and support the authors and their new books.