Region 3 – West Central

St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest welcomes author and star of Nickelodeon's Gullah Gullah Island reads and discusses her book Okra Stew. The book showcases a father and son celebrating Gullah Geechee culture and tradition through a special family recipe. St. Pete Youth Farm will provide participating young readers with a small okra plant to foster their own journey with okra stew. Natalie Daise is a magnetic performer, speaker, and artist

St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest welcomes author Jasmine Paul for a reading and discussion of her book Granny's Vintage Camera . The story follows Kass who is saving for an instant camera and uses her grandmother's vintage camera in the meantime. Young readers follow Kass on her journey as she learns the real meaning of value and responsibility. Following the reading, readers can participate in a financial literacy activity. Jasmine

Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library hosts poet Laura Shoemaker as part of "Off the Page Literary Celebration" for a workshop using poetry as a form of activism. Laura has worked in higher education, educational publishing and editing, and nonprofit administration. As of Fall 2022, Laura joined USF as a visiting professor. She previously taught undergraduate writing courses at Ringling College of Art and Design, the State College of Florida,

Gulf Gate Library hosts two Florida writers, Tamara Lush and Craig Pittman, for a discussion on how Florida and its history of kooky crimes have affected crime-writing and the state's reputation. Tamara Lush is a Florida-based author and journalist. She is an RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow and the winner of the George C. Polk award for environmental journalism. For more than a dozen years, she was a

Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library hosts a teen writing workshop as part of "Off the Page Literary Event." In this workshop, students and instructors from Ringling College of Art and Design show teen participants how to unlock the secrets of creating captivating realms filled with magic, mythical creatures, and epic quests. Together, they will dive into the art of crafting unique cultures, designing fantastical landscapes, and shaping powerful magic

The History Center at Osprey Library at Historic Spanish Point presents a conversation with authors Ron Prouty and Peggy Donho as part of "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Local authors Ron Prouty and Peggy Donho discuss the research behind their book Miguel's Bay: The Pioneer Tale of Miguel and Frederica Guerro. Miguel Guerro, a Menorcan sailor born in 1817 established a fishing rancho on Terra Ceia Island off the west

Fruitville Library presents the So You Want to Write Kid Lit? author panel as part of the "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Award-winning children's authors and writing teachers Dianne Ochiltree, Ryan Van Cleave, and Sylvia Whitman tell participants everything they need to know about writing for children—whether it is picture books, middle grade fiction, nonfiction, or young adult novels. Join them for an overview of the field, including how to

Selby Library hosts a panel discussion all about mysteries with Oceanview Publishing as part of the "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Oceanview is an independent book publisher specializing in the best in mystery, thrillers, and suspense. Founding partners Bob and Pat Gussin are joined by authors Don Bruns, Susan Klaus, and Ward Larsen to discuss the exciting twists and turns of mystery. Bob Gussin never let his Ph.D. and position

The Center for Jose Marti Studies Affiliate at the University of Tampa is hosting the second public program in the Preserving Voices series, bringing alive the tradition and showmanship of the "lector de tabaqueria," of the cigar factory reader. This panel looks at the significant articles from the Cuban emigre press of Key West and New York City during the 1880s as these communities conspired to gain independence from their

Selby Library hosts "Writing with A.I." with writing instructor Rick Dakan as part of "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Rick Dakan discusses the collide between artificial intelligence and creative writing. Rick Dakan lives, writes, and teaches in Sarasota, Florida. He is a professor of Creative Writing at the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he teaches classes on writing for video games, writing for tabletop games, writing comics, the

The history of Florida is fascinating, and archaeological research provides a tactile, visual, and place-based approach to appreciating what has been achieved. The aspects of the past that are in the present, that are being seen, used and visited by people today, are heritage. This presentation explores the dynamics of heritage by highlighting archaeological insights into Indigenous landscapes, colonial sites, utopian settlements, minority communities, and modern cities. After 25 years

Gulf Gate Library hosts science writer Sam Kean for a discussion on life as a science writer and the stories brought to life in his books as part of "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he's a writer in Washington, D.C. His stories have appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The New Yorker, The

Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library hosts a teen writing workshop with Ringling College of Art and Design as part of "Off the Page Literary Celebration." Participants can examine the great villains and antagonists of literature, film, animation, and more to learn what makes them effective and memorable. In groups, teens will design their own villains and develop their goals, motives, morals, and origins to create compelling catalysts of conflict.

Florida Humanities helped veterans tell their stories in a number of communities through The Telling Project. In honor of Veterans Day, we will be showing The Telling Project film. In this film, six Florida military veterans and one military spouse tell their personal stories through dramatic performances onstage, in the WEDU PBS documentary. Go behind the scenes of the theatrical process, following the diverse cast of service members for five

Beginning in 1565 with the founding of St. Augustine, Florida has been making history; but, much of it is hidden. In his entertaining presentation, Dr. Clark traces the little-known facts of Florida, including the story of the state flag, the origin of Florida's largest grocery store chain, Coca-Cola billionaires, and the origin of cars on the beach with over thirty unique and fast-paced stories. This presentation is based on the

Selby Library presents an illustrators panel as part of the "Off the Page Literary Celebration." John Herzog moderates a conversation with illustrators Katherine Blackmore, Oliver Dominguez, and Jenin Mohammed. These working illustrators discuss the trajectories of their careers, the state of the industry, and what it takes to be an illustrator in today's market. Visit Off the Page to learn more about other festival events. Funding is provided in part

Pearl Harbor served as a siege gun in the history of modern Tampa. On the eve of Pearl Harbor, Tampa was a southern city of 108,000 inhabitants. A rigid line defined race relations, but the war launched the first massive struggle for freedom and justice across the Deep South and America. African-American ministers and teachers and soldiers and civilians launched a Double-V campaign: war against totalitarianism and a war against

The Ten Foods of Florida is an ever-evolving list, involving arguments as to whether strawberry shortcake or pecan pie should topple Key Lime pie as the Sunshine State's most iconic dessert, or whether the Cuban is more significant than a fried grouper sandwich. This illustrated talk also discusses Cortez mullet, Vernon gophers, LaBelle swamp cabbage, Ybor City Cuban bread, stone-ground grits, Immokalee tomatoes, and Hastings potatoes and the lamentation of

The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida's landscape painters. Keri Watson is an associate professor

"Making a Way Out of No Way" is a popular African-American expression. Dr. Bireda, portraying pioneer Queen Andrews, answers questions posed by W.E.B DuBois regarding the agency and joy expressed by African-Americans during Jim Crow, including the values, virtues, creativity, and resilience in the community. Dr. Martha Bireda is the Director of the Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County. For over 25 years, she