Wainright Visiting Author: Tom Straw

In honor and memory of Amy R. Wainright, a writing instructor at the University of North Florida from 1993 until 2013, the Department of English hosts a visiting author every year at UNF for the enjoyment of students, alumni, and the wider the Jacksonville community. Please join us in welcome acclaimed writer Tom Straw this year for a talk and book signing.

More about our guest:

TOM STRAW is an Emmy and Writer’s Guild of America-nominated writer-producer, New York Times best-selling author, and former Mystery Writers of America board member.

Writing as Richard Castle, Tom originated the hit Nikki Heat series, writing its first seven novels, all New York Times Bestsellers, including Heat Rises, which reached #1. Later he published Buzz Killer under his own name because Stephen King was already taken.

Tom’s recent spy thriller, The Accidental Joe, became a USA Today Bestseller and was named by The Washington Post as one of its “Five Summer Reads.”

After starting out as a DJ and TV weathercaster, Tom began a television writing career on comedies including Night Court, for which he earned two WGA “Best Comedy Writer” nominations as well as a Primetime Emmy nomination. Tom also served as head writer and executive producer of Dave’s World, Grace Under Fire, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. He also wrote for CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Tom also narrated his audiobook of The Accidental Joe.

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Host or Publisher English Department, University of North Florida