Me and author Jimmy Deas at the Sunshine State Book Festival 2026
From left to right - Jolene MacFadden, Vickey Wollan, Richard Gartee and Pat Caren - presenters at the Writers Workshop day at SSBF2026
#BookFestivals had a great time last weekend with the #SSBF2026 crew, volunteers and authors I. #GainesvilleFl
Jeff Yager is a prolific author, wrestler, and rapper whose novels include Botanica, co-authored with Fred Yager, Seven Days in Virtual Reality, A Ghostly Twist. @SantaFeCollege , Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Maranda Jacob has spent over 20 years in the human services field. She wrote her first book, Baby Cow! MOOOO! @SantaFeCollege, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Jan Yager is an award-winning author with one or more titles translated into 36 languages. Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! @SantaFeCollege, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors
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Su Zi is a Poet-Writer, Artist, equestrian, Zoeglossia Fellow, EIC Red Mare poetry chapbook series A resident of the Ocala National Forest with over a dozen published titles.@SantaFeCollege, Gainesville, FL. Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Fred Yager is the author of 11 books, six fiction, three non-fiction, two poetry books, over a dozen screenplays. Several of his novels have been adapted into screenplays. @SantaFeCollege, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Aaron Woodson, award-winning poet and Air Force veteran, channels his global experiences and faith into powerful, expressive poetry from his home in Jacksonville, Florida.@SanteFeCollege, Gainesville, FL Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Sue E. Tennant - After earning degrees from Ohio State, I worked as the Human Resources Director for a forensic mental hospital. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville youtube.com/shorts/Kjb7b...
Leah T. Williams is a Caribbean American author and lifelong educator writing bold, unforgettable stories. Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Stephen Wise is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker whose films were screened in over a dozen countries. Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Lynn Westhoff survived ICU shifts, the military, and Florida humidity—now she channels that grit into dragons, rebels, and time-bending chaos. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors
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Candace Webb aims to find redemption in the world, inspired by John 7:38 “For whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Steven Trifiletti, Florida, resident, has always been fascinated by the human body and its potential. first book draws on his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for fitness. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Thomas G Tillson was born with a severe facial deformity in June 1951. His life was a mess until February 1973. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #WhatsGoodAlachuaCounty #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors #BookTok
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Wendy Thornton was published in Riverteeth, Epiphany, MacGuffin, and other literary journals and books. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #WhatsGoodAlachuaCounty #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors
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Before #RVLiving exploded, Rachel C Thompson and Lisa Cross left their apartment, purchased a motorhome and set out to travel the nation, @SantaFeCollege, Gainesville, FL | 📅 Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors #BookTok
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Gail Rose Thompson grew up in Canada, becoming a horse trainer at a young age. She graduated from college and taught school Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv #FloridaAuthors
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J.A. Sutherland is an American author renowned for the Alexis Carew series, starting with Into the Dark. Sutherland crafts compelling military science fiction and space opera. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Nancy Nau Sullivan’s award-winning memoir, The Last Cadillac, inspired her series, the Blanche Murninghan mysteries. Nancy lives near the Gulf beaches. Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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L.A. Spicher is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and moved to Florida.. book series: “Turtle Tales with Pickles and Squirt” Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Her Holiness (The Common Snook), practicing mystic, spiritual teacher, and captivating storyteller. Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL-Jan 24, 2026 | 10 AM – 4 PM #SSBF2026 #WhatsGoodAlachuaCounty #visitgainesville
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As a Master Gardener Volunteer, teacher, farmer, nature lover, and author, Linda Smock ignites the interests of children with her personifications of insects, flowers, and reptiles. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL-Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville
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Nikki Shrieves has had a love of dinosaurs since she was no bigger than a Velociraptor. While interest in dinosaurs has increased recently, usually, it is only in the most popular. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Peter S. Rush is a graduate of Brown University with a Masters from the University of Florida. He was a newspaper reporter, editor, Join us for a day of pirates & adventure! Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 | #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Rob Rogers is an attorney and award-winning writer from Orlando and author of Finding My Way Home: Fighting Depression Backpacking in Central Florida. Join us Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Marie Q Rogers, award-winning author of Trials by Fire, Quest for Namai, Season of the Dove, and Notebooks Hidden in an Abandoned House, lives and writes in North Florida. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Honoring a Florida legend at #SSBF2026
Author Pamela D. Marshall brings Zora Neale Hurston’s life, courage, and literary genius to the stage in a powerful one-woman play. From Eatonville to Harlem to history...
Sat Jan 24 – 2:30–3:30PM | Santa Fe College
#VisitGainesville #ZoraNealeHurston
The Sunshine State Book Festival is coming to Gainesville!
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Santa Fe College
Free & open to the public
Meet 100+ Florida authors, browse new books, buy signed copies, and talk directly with the writers
#SSBF2026 #VisitGainesville #BookFestival #FloridaAuthors #BookLovers
JW Robitaille, novelist and longtime Santa Fe College English professor, blends a love of literature, teaching, and creative writing in her fiction, screenplays, and stories. Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL | Jan 24, 2026 #SSBF2026 #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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Lorilyn Roberts is an award-winning author/contributor of over twenty books, including the YA Seventh Dimension Series. See her at SSBF 2026! 📍 Santa Fe College, Gainesville | Jan 24, 2026 | 10–4 #SSBF2026 #YABooks #visitgainesville #whyilovegnv
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