In the Wild: Florida Through Story & Study - Conversation & Book Signing

Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week with two Florida authors who bring the state's landscapes and wildlife to life in very different ways. Author Brenda M. Spalding presents THE PRESERVE, the latest in her award-winning Florida Wildlife Heroes thriller series, while journalist and guidebook author Lucy Beebe Tobias shares stories and insights from her acclaimed works 50 GREAT WALKS IN FLORIDA and FLOATING IN FLORIDA. Together, they'll explore the intersection of storytelling and stewardship, weaving suspense, travel, and conservation into an evening that highlights Florida's fragile beauty.

ABOUT THE BOOK: THE PRESERVE

The Preserve is the fourth installment in Brenda M. Spalding’s award-winning Florida Wildlife Heroes series. Set deep in Big Cypress National Preserve, the novel follows Florida Fish and Wildlife officers Seth Grayson and Liz Corday as they investigate the M**der of a federal agent. Their search for answers pulls them into a web of environmental crime, illegal orchid trafficking, oil drilling, and the actions of a rogue eco-warrior with a crossbow. Suspenseful and thought-provoking, the story blends themes of conservation, crime, and resilience against the backdrop of one of Florida’s most unique ecosystems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: BRENDA M. SPALDING

Brenda M. Spalding is an award-winning author and frequent guest speaker at writers’ conferences and groups. A past president of the National League of American Pen Women – Sarasota Branch, she is an active member of the Sarasota Fiction Writers, the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, and the Florida Writers Association, and serves on the board of directors for the Florida Writers Foundation. Through her company, Braden River Consulting LLC, she supports authors on their creative journeys.

ABOUT THE BOOKS: 50 GREAT WALKS IN FLORIDA & FLOATING IN FLORIDA

In 50 Great Walks in Florida, Lucy Tobias guides readers through short but meaningful excursions across the Sunshine State, from wetlands to historic neighborhoods. Each walk is filled with fascinating local history, vivid descriptions, and practical tips.

Her more recent book, Floating in Florida, takes readers aboard 21 different boat tours, revealing the state’s waterways as windows into history, ecology, and authentic Florida experiences. Both books invite readers to slow down, look closer, and discover Florida’s natural and cultural treasures.

Lucy Beebe Tobias is an award-winning author, illustrator, photographer, and travel blogger. A former reporter with the New York Times Regional Group and Authentic Florida expert for Visit Florida, she has written extensively about Florida’s hidden places and natural wonders. Her books include 50 Great Walks in Florida, Circle the Center: Labyrinths in Florida, The Zen of Florida Gardening, and Floating in Florida: 21 Amazing Adventures on Florida’s Hidden Waters. She is also the author and illustrator of the children’s book Mary Margaret Manatee, available in English and Spanish, and her memoir Wednesday Notes. She lives in Sarasota with her rescue pets, ponds full of goldfish, and a garden designed to welcome pollinators.

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