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Books written by authors with ties to Tampa Bay
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A wall of reads at Tombolo Books. | Photo by TBAYtoday
What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (past or present). Brew up a batch of your favorite cup of tea or coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally written books in Tampa Bay.

Fiction
  • “All the Broken Girls” by Lisa Hurtado Bond | Release date: August 23, 2022 | A Cuban American crime reporter races to figure out a serial killer’s clues. This is the fourth novel from local Fox 13 anchor Lisa Hurtado Bond.
  • “Let the Lover Be” by Sheree L. Greer | Release date: August 19, 2014 | Local LGBTQ+ author Sheree L. Greer tells the story of a functioning alcoholic who travels to New Orleans trying to reclaim her life.
For the family
  • “Tampa Bay from A to Z” by Noelle Schneider | Release date: Aug. 10, 2011 | Teach your kiddo the alphabet using beloved local landmarks — with illustrations by patients at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa and All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
  • “Stitch by Stitch” by Rob Sanders | Release date: Oct. 12, 2021| The latest installment in the local author’s historical LGBTQ series for kids chronicles San Francisco’s Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Learn something new
  • “St. Petersburg’s Historic African American Neighborhoods and St. Petersburg’s Historic 22nd Street South” by Rosalie Peck and Jon Wilson | Release date: Feb. 13, 2006 | St. Petersburg residents Rosalie Peck and Jon Wilson tell the stories of the city’s 22nd Street South, which was once a bustling street full of Black entrepreneurship during segregation.
  • “Florida’s Carnivorous Plants” by Kenny Coogan | Release date: Oct. 1, 2022 | Local plant nurseryman Kenny Coogan how to identify Florida’s native carnivorous plants + grow them in your own backyard. The author is also signing copies — and spilling murderous plant tea — at Tombolo Books’s courtyard on Oct. 25.
Personal stories
  • “Juniper: The Girl Who Was Born Too Soon” by Kelley Benham French and Thomas French | Release date: Sept. 13, 2016 | Two award-winning journalists tell the story of how their micro-preemie fought for her life, while shedding light on medical issues for babies that are born too soon.
  • “Accidental First Lady: On the Front Lines (and Behind the Scenes) of Local Politics” by Kerry Kriseman | Release date: Oct. 29, 2021 | Kerry Kriseman shares a behind the scenes look at St. Petersburg’s political scene. Kriseman’s husband, former mayor Rick Kriseman, left office earlier this year, wrapping up 22 years of public service.
Need more recommendations? Stop by Oxford Exchange, Tombolo Books, Book & Bottle, or Mojo Books & Records to get expert advice from Tampa Bay local booksellers. 📚
7 MORE BOOKS
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Today
  • Trivia Tuesday | Tues., Sept. 20 | 6-8 p.m. | Armature Works | $10 | Show up ready to compete in 10 rounds + win prizes from the Heights Public Market and Armature Works.
Wednesday
  • CoComelon Live | Wed., Sept. 21 | 6 p.m. | Straz Center | $34.75+ | Popular Youtube streamer CoComelon enchants kids + parents alike with his journey to write his own song — with some help from friends and family along the way.
  • Community Conversations w/ the African American Heritage Association | Wed., Sep 21 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | Free | Gwendolyn Reese and Kimberly Brown-Williams will discuss infant mortality amongst African Americans.
  • Yoga Beats Workout w/ The BE | Wed, Sept. 21 | 7-8 p.m. | The St. Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave NE., St. Petersburg | By donation | The team at the Body Electric Yoga Company leads a yoga class for those of all skill levels at the Pier’s grassy Family Park. 🧘
Thursday
  • Sunset Rooftop Networking | Thurs., Sept. 22 | 6-9 p.m. | The CURRENT Hotel, Autograph Collection, 2545 N. Rocky Point Dr. | $10+ | Join the Tampa Business Club for a scenic night of hobnobbing. 🌇
Friday
  • Raise the Flags Bucs | Fri, Sep 23 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Armature Works | Free | Celebrate the Bucs home opener with free gear, photo ops, and learn more about this season. 🏴‍☠️
  • Steeln’ Peaches: An Allman Brothers Band Tribute | Fri, Sep 23 | 8 p.m. | Floridian Social Club, 687 Central Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $15+ | Check out the historic St. Pete spot + enjoy the freewheelin’ Southern rock. 🎸
  • Fourth Friday: Julie Black & Her Band | Fri, Sep 23 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Riverwalk Stage | Free | Songwriter and artist Julie Black performs bluesy, jazzy, soul, swing, and rock tunes from her original repertoire.
  • Undead in the Water | Fri, Sep 23 | Sparkman Wharf | $22+ |Board a 1945 WWII cargo ship + prepare to be spooked as a “female apparition and her possessed cult” hunt you down. 🚢
Plan Ahead
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 88º | Afternoon thunderstorms | 61% chance of rain
Sunrise + sunset
  • Rise: 7:17 a.m.
  • Set: 7:28 p.m.
Tide
Old Tampa Bay
  • High: 11:02 a.m
  • Low: 7:16 p.m.
Clearwater Beach
  • High: 8:02 a.m. + 11:02 p.m.
  • Low: 3:50 p.m.
Development
  • Welcome to the neighborhood. Miami’s Related Group plans to build a whole new neighborhood on six acres of undeveloped land on Downtown Tampa’s waterfront (located at the west bank of the Hillsborough River). The company expects to start work on the project’s residences, retail space, and boat slips in 2023. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Open
  • Canadian dessert bar Chiki Churros is now open for business. The Central Ave. spot serves up all the ice cream, coffee-infused drinks, and showstoppers like the Bacon Churro Poutine + Churro Dogs (a beef hot dog wrapped in a sugary Churro). The sweet treats mecca is open until midnight and offers delivery. 🍦 (I Love the Burg)
Closing
  • There’s time for one last pint. Independent Bar St. Pete will close its doors on Oct. 2. The Edge District bar became quite popular over the past six years — and locals will be able to celebrate the spot accordingly on Sept. 30 with a jazzy Burke Bros. Trio concert. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Biz
  • The Tampa Bay area ranked third on the list of cities where inflation is increasing more quickly, according to a new WalletHub report. The area has seen a 1.20% increase in prices since last year + a 1.3% increase from two months ago. 💵 (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Sports
  • The Bucs play their first game at home this Sunday. Grab tickets now to watch them take on the Packers, or plan an at home watch-party with all the fixins. In related sports news, the Rays are heading into the final games of the season — with good energy. Catch the last few at the Trop. ⚾
Shop
Eat
  • Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: TBAYtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. *
Travel
  • Going on vacation this fall and need to learn a new language fast? With Babbel, you could be speaking a new language in as little as three weeks. Bonus: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🌎*
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Events

Get pluggled into Adult Day Services Week
This week is Adult Day Services Week and there are a myriad of seminars and other services older adults can take advantage of across the area at the Senior Connection Center, The Sunshine Center, and more.

Here are a few of this week’s options:

Tuesday
  • Learn more about safety and fall prevention at A Matter of Balance from 1-3 p.m. at Phyllis Busansky Specialized Adult Day Center, 4102 W. Spruce St., Tampa.
  • St. Petersburg College’s Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions is hosting a forum + expo about the state of aging in Florida. AARP Florida’s Jeff Johnson and other experts will discuss top of mind issues + businesses will share resources throughout the virtual event. Register here.
Wednesday
  • In honor of World Alzheimer’s Day Dr. Nicole Crawford, a licensed clinical social worker + owner of Keep Moving Forward Consulting, presents on creating a dementia-friendly network in a virtual seminar from 11 am-12 p.m.
Thursday
  • Humana Registered Nurse Constance Newell warns of fall risk signs at this virtual session. Watch here.
THE WRAP
Bailey Lefever in a park near a pond

Today’s issue was written by Bailey.

Editor’s pick: I’ve lived in Tampa Bay for a couple years, and I’m sure I haven’t hit all the book mines. Let me know what I missed.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read up on all the Tampa Bay fall performances, here.
Read More
Connect with us.

Editorial: Bailey LeFever, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke| Advertise with us.

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