It’s that time of the year when—for better and worse—your office shuts down for two weeks and your family coalesces around you. You’re going to need something to do, and drugs alone won’t get you through the winter. To wrap up this celebration of books, we’ve gathered some of the best 2023 books by Florida authors and supplemented the list with a few titles by out-of-state authors, too. Thanks for reading, and put this listing down as soon as you get your hands on a book you like.

This collection is part of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s Books Issue 2023, which includes a listing of Tampa Bay indie bookstores, plus stories on the return of midnight book release parties, Pinellas Park’s Book Rescuers, Tampa Heights’ Black author-focused bookstore, Tombolo Books thriving in St. Petersburg, and a new book by Tampa artist Joshua Pearson.[content-2]

Ryann Kuchle (L) and Crystel Calderon on the Dec. 14, 2023 cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Credit: Photo by Chelsea Zukowski / Design by Joe Fronte.
‘Be Serious’ Essays by Stephanie Hayes The Tampa Bay Times columnist is known for her witty, hilarious and absurd hot takes about news and culture, especially when it comes to the stranger-than-fiction stories coming out of Florida. Her columns are syndicated by Creators Syndicate, which compiled the best ones into this collection. Featuring topics such as hair parting debates, Kohl’s Cash, asking what books should get banned next and if Mickey Mouse can ever be stopped. (Creators Publishing) Photo by Scott Keeler
‘Christmas Presents’ By Lisa Unger A thrilling holiday crime novella sees a bookshop owner haunted by her past have those secrets and trauma brought back to life by the arrival of a relentless true crime podcaster. It’s a chilling small town tale of murder, cold cases and obsession over finding the truth and justice. (Mysterious Press) Photo via Mysterious Press
‘Eat, Pray, Hex’ By Tara Lush In Crescent Moon Mysteries Book 1, a perimenopausal woman inherits a supposedly haunted Florida inn and has to use newfound psychic powers to help a deceased relative solve a murder. Journalist and crime fiction author Tara Lush delves into the cozy paranormal mystery featuring a middle-aged protagonist and a cat named Freddie Purrcury. (Independently published) Photo via taralush.com
‘For Cuba—for Freedom!’ By Raul Andres Villamia with Rhonda J. Villamia and Paul J. Guzzo Cuban politics are a divisive issue in Tampeño households where the word “Castro” can either be a call for a toast or an invitation to flip the dinner table over. This new book from Cuban professional minor leaguer Villamia—pictured here with Rhonda Villamia (L), Habana City Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler (center) at Convento Santa Brigida In Old Habana, Cuba in August 2010—won’t assuage the intensity over the hot topic, but it will arm the reader with a treasure trove of research and anecdotes about the revolution. Paul Guzzo, Tampa reporter who is also the dean of history when it comes to the city’s lost Black cemeteries, contributed research to this must-have book for any self-respecting Tampa-phile. (McFarland) Photo c/o McFarland/McFarlandbooks.com via the collection of Rhonda Villamia
‘Foraging Florida: Finding, Identifying and Preparing Edible and Medicinal Wild Foods in Florida’ By Roger L. Hammer A guide for any Floridian—Tampeños and St. Petians included—who want a starting point for recreational foraging, and to make sure they go about things legally, ethically, and in a way that honors the generations of Native American land stewards, many of whom discovered these medicines and food preparations several centuries ago. The book opens with a stark disclaimer that unambiguously, and repeatedly, reminds readers that the work is a reference and that there are dangers when it comes to eating collected from the wild. It contains 261 pages of herbs, wild fruits, useful plants that are commonly deemed as weeds, palms, root vegetables and berries that grow in every nook and cranny of the Sunshine State’s unique ecosystem. Some of these edible plants are even common trees or flora you may drive by every day. (Falcon Guides)—Kyla Fields Photo via Falcon Guides
‘Gator Country: Deception, Dangers, and Alligators in the Everglades’ By Rebecca Renner Journalist Rebecca Renner’s debut is a twisty Florida true crime descent into the under-swamp world of illegal alligator poaching in the Everglades. The good and bad guys aren’t clear cut, though, as the book combines investigative reporting with narrative storytelling to showcase the beautiful and terrifying world of Florida’s swamps and the people who live there. (Flatiron Books) Photo via RebeccaRennerFL/Twitter
‘The Girl in the Window and Other True Tales: An anthology with Tips for Finding, Reporting, and Writing Nonfiction Narrative’ By Lane DeGregory The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist shares behind-the-scenes details about some of her most famous stories—how she found and built them, showcasing her process and providing essential tips for journalists and nonfiction writers. This book is a craft guide and “forensic reading” of DeGregory’s work and perfect for those who want to improve their writing and just appreciate a good true story. (University of Chicago Press) Photo via University of Chicago Press
‘Good Day Sunshine State: How The Beatles Rocked Florida’ By Bob Kealing John, Paul, George, and Ringo’s connections to Florida go far beyond one of their “Ed Sullivan Show” appearances taking place in Miami, you know. In this tell-all, Emmy-winning music historian and ex-radio broadcaster Kealing dives deep into tales of how the Fab Four took over the lives of future Florida-bred music icons like Tom Petty and The Allman Brothers in the blink of an eye. He also covers a few tidbits about Miami-based journalist Larry Kane—the only person who got to cover every single show on The Beatles’ first U.S. tour—getting verbally berated by John Lennon and hit on by manager Brian Epstein, and of course, the boys fighting for an integrated audience at their show at Jacksonville’s Gator Bowl, which turned out to be their only non-televised appearance in Florida. (University Press of Florida)—Josh Bradley Photo via University Press of Florida
‘Happy Neighborhood’ Essays and poems by Thomas Hallock My family has a new bedtime ritual where we take three deep breaths and each share, in detail, our favorite part of the day. The practice is lifted from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay contributor Dr. Hallock (a literary doc, not an M.D.) who theorizes that the archiving of a good memory might erase a painful one. His bare-all collection of essays and poems about Tampa Bay and fatherhood is full of tender stories and reminders to fly close to the things that make you happy. (Mercer University Press) Photo c/o Katherine Betzer Credit: Photo c/o Katherine Betzer
‘Image Breaker’ By Mark E. Leib For 17 (!!) years, Mark Lieb’s Creative Loafing Tampa Bay byline set its gaze on the Bay area theater scene, delivering glowing reviews and pull-no-punches criticism. Over the summer, the playwright and author unleashed his own work for review in the form of a new novel, “Image Breaker,” about a know-it-all writer whose confidence takes a backseat to hallucinations about how he’s wasting his life. (Vine Leaves Press) Photo c/o Mark E. Leib
‘Incidental Art‘ By Joshua Pearson With a big focus on self-care, Pearson—a longtime Tampa artist with work all over the city—has assembled a hardcover collection of essays and photos that is a little bit memoir, part journal, and not just a must-read for local art lovers interested in learning about the process/story behind one of the city’s longest-running creative shops, but required reading for anyone hoping to make a living—and stay alive—in the creative-for-hire world. (Independently published) Photo by Jaxon Major Pearson Credit: Photo by Jaxon Major Pearson
‘The Infinite Loop / El lazo infinito’ By Oneyda Gonzalez For the first time ever, Gonzalez—a Cuban poet who, per the Harvard Crimson, “is the most recent winner of the Paz Prize for Poetry, a biennially awarded prize presented by the National Poetry Series and Miami Book Fair at Miami Dade College”—presents poems both in her native Spanish and English. Side by side, whether you’re bilingual or not, the collection is a reflection on love, pain and hope that finds itself resurfacing hours and weeks after you read the poems as you move through everyday life. (Akashic Books) Photo via Akashic Books
‘Label Me’ By Ronnie Wyche In a new book of poetry that’s the follow-up to 2020’s “Lilblkbook” Tampa author Ronnie Wyche shakes off the stress and anxiety of the Covid years and turns in another collection of work that he told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay feels more like himself. “Those poems just had a lot of angst and anger in them. And I was like, ‘I’m not typically an angry person. I’m mostly kind of calm and jovial,” he added. The final product isn’t any less introspective, but feels lighter in the conscience and easier to recite thanks to the lyrical poems that read like mini vignettes of Wyche’s life watching Tampa grow around him. (Independently published) Photo via Ronnie Wyche
‘Learning From Birmingham: A Journey into History and Home’ By Julie Buckner Armstrong English professor and Civil Rights scholar, Dr. Julie Buckner Armstrong’s newest book is part historical nonfiction and part memoir of her and her family’s connection to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. She digs deep into her own family’s history and the city’s local narratives to trace connections to the larger Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and lessons that can be applied to 21st century America. (University of Alabama Press) Photo c/o Tombolo Books Credit: C/o Tombolo Books
‘The London Seance Society’ By Sarah Penner Another historical dual-POV thriller from the author of “The Lost Apothecary.” The novel follows two women searching for answers and justice through the occult practice of seances, only to find themselves entangled in a criminal mystery with the exclusive Seance Society. (Park Row) Photo via Sarah Penner EPK Credit: Photo via Sarah Penner EPK
‘Newb Squad: A Big Brother’s Guide to Surfing Etiquette’ By Dr. Jason Old Tampa historian of 20th-21st century Latin America Jason Old is also known as “The Surfing Historian,” and his kids book illustrated by Gabi Moraes is an introduction to the sport of surfing, but also a guide to help groms (of all ages, really) safely partake in the sport. (Sea Foam Books) Photo via jasonold.com
‘Once Upon a Time in Florida: Stories of Life in the Land of Promises’ Edited by Jacki Levine This anthology features 50 stories drawn from the archives of Florida Humanities’ Forum magazine (stylized “FORUM”). Authors include scholars, journalists and other literary movers and shakers, including Gary R. Mormino, Eric Deggans, Dalia Colon, Lauren Groff, Craig Pittman, Edna Buchanan, J. Michael Francis and more. As a celebration of Florida Humanities’ 50th year, the collection includes myth busters, deep dives into the state’s history and lore and narrative journalistic pieces about the space race and Walt Disney World in Florida. The hardcover tome is also as pretty as it is informative, with artwork and 150 photos—including this one below showing early Miami real estate developer Carl Fisher in 1927 marketing his Miami Beach golf course, using Rosie the Elephant as a caddy. (Florida Humanities)Photo via Florida Humanities
Photo by Claude Matlack. Courtesy of State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
This panther, FP250, was nicknamed “Tres” for his three broken legs sustained in a vehicle collision. Miraculously, Tres was surgically repaired and his ‘fighter spirit’ enabled him to be rehabilitated for release back into the wild. Faced with the choice of surgical repair or euthanasia for injured panthers, the unwavering commitment of the Florida Panther Recovery team has been instrumental to the recovery of the species. Credit: Photo by Carlton Ward Jr.
‘The Peculiar Affliction of Thomas Wade Duncan’ By Kip Koelsch Dunedin author Koelsch returns with his seventh book, a fast-paced suspense novella that not only chronicles the life of a man with one foot, but dives into bigger discussions around drug abuse, addiction, and war. (Independently published) Photo c/o Kip Koelsch
‘Pete’ Illustrated by Emily Cannon. Words by Badge Daudin Anyone who’s contended with inflation in the Bay area can relate to Pete, who doesn’t want to get out of bed, but forces himself to. Along the way, he medicates with coffee, a trip to what looks like the Saturday morning market, one of St. Petersburg’s waterfront museums, Sunken Gardens, Mazzaro’s and even a French restaurant. The thing is, Pete’s an alligator, and this is a kid’s book that should be in the bookcase of every child who calls Tampa Bay home. (Svømmer Publishing) Photo via Svømmer Publishing
‘Rainbow Haven’ By Daniel Collins In his first kids book, a hypercolor quick read featuring six bright animals who meet a crash of gray rhinos, Collins introduces readers to Rosio the Red Rhino who overcomes her loneliness and teaches us all to accept each other just the way we are. (Independently published) Photo via Daniel Collins
‘The Reformatory’ By Tananarive Due A historical fiction novel with a touch of the paranormal set in 1950s Jim Crow Florida, Tananarive Due’s newest book (for fans of “We Carry Their Bones” and “The Nickel Boys”) draws inspiration from the state’s infamous Dozier School for Boys and “the relative her family never spoke of.” It’s billed as a literal haunting tale about the racism and injustice endured by countless real children at the hands of the state of Florida. (Saga Press) Photo via Tananarive Due EPK
‘Rescue at Rattling Ridge’ By Michael Panzner Panzner is a Tampa-based author, but his latest takes kids to Australia where a family of marsupials (The Taekwonderoos) karate kicks and chops their way through trouble all while learning about perseverance and facing your fears. (Twin Unicorn Publishing) Photo via Twin Unicorn Publishing
‘Resurrection Walk’ By Michael Connelly Lawyer Mickey Haller is back in this Lincoln Lawyer novel and being overwhelmed with pleas from more incarcerated people asking his assistance in proving their innocence. For a case about a woman convicted of killing her husband but adamantly claims innocence, Haller teams up with his half-brother Harry Bosch to investigate the woman’s case. (Little, Brown and Company) Photo via Little, Brown and Company
‘Swamp Story’ By Dave Barry Bestselling author Dave Barry is back with another “only in Florida” comedic thriller. Inside, there’s a washed up reality TV star, a cabin in the Everglades, a long-lost treasure, a scheme to lure TikTokers to catch videos of the “Melon Monster” and a presidential hopeful kicking off his campaign in the swamp for some reason. And because it’s Barry, there are plenty of “big ass reptiles” to go around. (Simon & Schuster) Photo via Simon & Schuster
‘They Come From the Water’ By Wendy Dalrymple Indie horror author Wendy Dalrymple published a Florida gothic novel that packs family trauma, grief and destructive secrets and lies into its 124 pages. This one stars estranged sisters forced to work together to clear out their grandparents’ lakefront Central Florida home in the middle of summer—with plenty of twisty, creepy revelations along the way. (Independently published) Photo via Goodreads
‘The Vaster Wilds’ By Lauren Groff A historical thriller with a touch of horror, the author of “Florida” is back with a tale about a young girl who flees the starving and diseased Jamestown colony after reportedly committing a crime. “The Vaster Wilds” is very much a wilderness survival story, but through starvation and exposure to the elements, the story also becomes a surreal trip through her mind and memories. (Riverhead Books) Photo via Riverhead Books
‘Until All You See Is Sky’ By George Choundas Choundas is New York-based now, but his collection of essays opens on Howard Avenue in Tampa, the city where his family moved when he was just nine years old. The opening essay, “Paylessness” is a fascinating look at how a child outsider from a working class neighborhood in New Jersey views the world of the South Tampa elites and their cotillions, and how it all fits in with the Church’s Chickens and Payless stores that we’re all so familiar with. (EastOver Press) Photo via EastOver Press
‘Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey’ By Kirsten Hines Florida biologist, conservationist and photographer Kirsten Hines has traveled from the panhandle and into the Dry Tortugas over and again in her quest to bring light to the state’s unique biodiversity. The photos in her new 304-page hardcover dance a thin line between educational and fine art as they capture more than 100 different animals who are depending on humans to preserve their precious habitat. The addition of essays bring to light Hines’ thinking as she moves through the state and interacts with people who want to love Florida, and its wildlife, as much as she does. Hines is at Tampa’s Oxford Exchange this Sunday, Dec. 17 for a book talk that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. (University Press of Florida) Photo by Kirsten Hines
‘Wrecker’ By Carl Hiaasen This middle-grade crime thriller follows Valdez Jones VIII, aka. Wrecker, as he becomes entangled with a crew of smugglers—and possibly grave robbers—in Key West. Wrecker wants to forget about what he saw when he first encountered them, but the group wants him to be their lookout. There are also pooping iguanas, because Florida. (Knopf Books for Young Readers) Photo via Knopf Books for Young Readers
Sarah McNamara, who appears at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City, Florida on April 9, 2025. Credit: Courtesy photo
Michelle Sawyer’s anti-fascist mural tells a story of Ybor City in the 1930s 2015 E 7th Ave., Ybor City Michelle Sawyer’s 2023 mural on the western wall of the Ybor City Development Corporation building reminds us of when 5,000 Ybor City women marched the streets of Ybor City to protest fascist leadership in Spain. You’ll have to read Sarah McNamara’s “Ybor City: Crucible of the Latina South” for the full story, but Sawyer’s mural introduces us to the main characters.Photo by Jennifer Ring Credit: Photo by Jennifer Ring
’Christmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror’ Perfect for fans of Krampus, this is a chilling collection of scary short stories showcasing holiday lore and winter solstice traditions from around the world. With stories from more than a dozen authors, the anthology features tales about the Austrian Schnabelperchten, the Welsh Mari Lwyd and other ghouls and spirits of the dark winter season. (Titan Books) Photo via Titan Books
‘Godly Heathens’ By H.E. Edgmon In this one for fans of Edgmon’s “The Witch King” or “Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse, a nonbinary Seminole teen is stuck in a small town in the deep south, and the only person who knows their true self is thousands of miles away. Then Gem begins having haunting visions and connects with the strange new girl in town, who eventually tells them they are reincarnated gods. (Wednesday Books) Photo via Wednesday Books
‘Goth’ By Lol Tolhurst The Cure’s June set at Amalie Arena will live on in the mind of local fans forever, and a new memoir from the band’s former drummer and keyboardist is a worthy read for anyone who feels like the set was a life-changer. Inside, Tolhurst—an inarguably expert source—tells his version of goth as he traces the subgenre from its origins in 18th century literature to its present state. He takes you face to face with Joy Division’s Ian Curtis a year before his death, and shows readers where goth exists everywhere in their daily lives. (Hachette Books) Photo by Louis Rodiger
‘Great Falls, MT: Fast Times, Post-Punk, Weirdos, and a Tale of Coming Home Again’ By Reggie Watts Jon Batiste may have Grammys and a Netflix documentary out right now, but he’s not the former late night bandleader with a kickass book out on shelves for the holiday season. In his latest work, Reggie Watts—the beloved musician, comedian, writer and actor who led the band on CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden”—puts forth a love letter to his childhood and the city that raised him that reads more like a page-turner in-depth zine than the 317-page hardcover that it comes packaged as. The “Tale of Coming Home Again” is poignant at every turn and a welcome reminder that’s totally cool—and OK—to be weird as hell. (Penguin Random House) Photo via Penguin Random House
‘Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology’ It’s a common belief among Indigenous peoples that you should never whistle at night. Some believe it can summon ancient warriors, witches or evil spirits. This anthology explores this belief through original haunting tales of ghosts, curses, monsters, family legacy and celebrations of survival. (Vintage) Photo via Penguin Random House
‘The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music’ By Dave Grohl After spilling untold stories of working with Nirvana, his relationship with his father, and once swimming in the Sharon Tate murder house’s pool in 2021’s “The Storyteller,” the Foo Fighters frontman had one more lesson to squeeze in. Or, anti-lesson, if you will. The autobiography’s brand new epilogue “The Box” explores how a remedial guitar teacher and really observing song structure and instrumentation in the respective catalogs of The Beatles and Rush was what really caused Grohl to think for himself, and also to never ever use the term “think outside the box.” “Fuck the box. Just do it,” he wrote. (Harper Collins)—Josh Bradley Press Handout
The White Stripes: Complete Lyrics 1197-2001 There’s an entire generation that lives with the guitar licks and kick drum of Jack and Meg White in their heads, and Third Man Books’ new collection of lyrics by The White Stripes includes the breadth of the band’s output between 1997-2007—the first time Jack White’s original lyrics have been compiled in one place. Interspersed between it all are essays by Hanif Abdurraqib, Ben Blackwell, and Caroline Randall Williams, plus candid photos, rough drafts and alternate lyrics. (Third Man Books) Photo via OfficialTMR/YouTube (Screengrab by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
A crop of the Dec. 14, 2023 cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Credit: Design by Joe Frontel

Freelance contributor Chelsea Zukowski is a Tampa Bay native who started her journalism career in 2014 at the Tampa Bay Times, working her way up from editorial assistant to entertainment reporter and...

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...