Discover the most celebrated authors from Florida and the literary works that put them on the map. Dive into their influences and contributions to literature.
Authors from Florida pen captivating stories and are often energized by the Sunshine State’s pristine beaches, theme parks, and all-year sunny weather. As home to 22.6 million people, Florida boasts a diverse culture, including Native American and Spanish influences. If you want to know more about the state, its capital – Tallahassee – hosts the Museum of Florida History.
Florida authors love sharing interesting and different sides of their home state. As one of its notable authors, Tim Dorsey said: “Yes, give us books about the psychotic behavior and peripheral weirdness we see all around every day — and we will laugh in its face. We are a proud people. We are Floridians.”
In 2025, Florida continues to be a literary hotspot, with writers’ conferences, book festivals, and literary communities thriving throughout the state. The unique blend of urban sophistication in cities like Miami and Tampa, combined with the wild beauty of the Everglades and coastal regions, provides endless inspiration for contemporary authors. The state’s growing population and cultural diversity have created new voices that reflect modern Florida’s complexity.
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Must-Read Authors From Florida
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1. Zora Neale Hurston
Despite leaving the literary scene for more than 60 years now, Zora Neale Hurston will always be a pioneer writer of folk fiction. She specifically told tales of African Americans in the South. Hurston’s childhood in Eatonville, Florida, where “her people” and their achievements are welcome and evident, motivated her to never think of being inferior.
To further her understanding, she also studied the culture and folklore of African Americans. Through her writings, she shared their racial struggles and pains. Her most famous novel is Their Eyes Were Watching God – a coming-of-age story complemented by 1930s Southern black slang.
She has written novels, short stories, plays, essays, and scripts. Hurston’s versatility earned her many accolades and recognitions, some even given to her posthumously. Some were a Guggenheim Fellowship and the National Women’s Hall of Fame awards.
Hurston’s influence on American literature cannot be overstated. Her work laid the groundwork for later African American writers and continues to be studied in universities worldwide. Eatonville, where she grew up, was one of the first all-Black incorporated municipalities in the United States, giving her a unique perspective on African American autonomy and culture.
“But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all.”
Zora Neale Hurston, How it Feels to Be Colored Me
2. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived in Cross Creek, Florida – a historical place and the set of her most notable work, The Yearling. Initially released in 1938, this book focuses on family dynamics and survival. It earned Rawlings a Pulitzer Prize and a 1946 film adaptation. The movie was well-received, winning two Oscars and a Golden Globe.
Though The Yearling was a massive success, Rawlings had to undergo several rejections first. The novel’s achievements made her feel better since her own life inspired it. It was a pleasant surprise that many found it heartwarming and resonating with her story.
Here’s a fun fact: Rawlings and her husband owned the Castle Warden Hotel in St. Augustine. Some of her works are here, making it an excellent destination for tourists and other Florida writers.
Rawlings’ deep connection to Florida’s rural landscape and her authentic portrayal of “Cracker” culture (rural Florida natives) helped establish a literary tradition that continues to influence Florida writers today. Her Cross Creek home is now a state park where visitors can experience the setting that inspired her work.
“Now he understood. This was death. Death was a silence that gave back no answer.”
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, The Yearling
3. Dave Barry
Dave Barry is a famous author and humor columnist in the Miami Herald newspaper. His hilarity and witty parody have earned him many notoriety and recognition. In fact, he got a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. “America’s finest satirical novelist,” Carl Hiaasen, praised him, commenting that “Dave Barry remains one of the funniest writers alive.”
Barry pens novels, non-fiction, comics, children’s novels, columns, and screenplays. His bestselling work is the Starcatchers Series, with young adults as his intended audience. Peter and the Starcatcher, the first book of the franchise, eventually became an acclaimed play, bagging five 2012 Tony Awards.
Barry’s humor often centers on the absurdities of modern life, parenting, and technology, making his work relatable to readers across generations. His Miami Herald columns were syndicated to hundreds of newspapers nationwide, making him one of the most widely read humor writers in America.
“Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.”
Dave Barry, Peter and the Starcatchers
4. Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was a novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Because of his wildly publicized life, his influence on the literary world is still palpable. His travels and habit of staying in different places offered him the inspiration he needed for his stories. Hemingway’s experiences are reflected through his adventure-driven characters, often focusing on themes of love, war, wilderness, and loss.
One of his travels took Hemingway to Key West, Florida, where he stayed for eight years. During this time, he penned To Have and Have Not – a tale of a fishing boat captain who avoids political involvement during the war. Another masterpiece by this author is his first novel, The Sun Also Rises – a powerful writing and a classic about discontentment and masculinity.
After his wife donated his papers to the John F. Kennedy Library, Hemingway’s works continued to earn him recognition.
Hemingway’s Key West years (1931-1939) were among his most productive. His home there, now a museum, houses the famous six-toed cats descended from his pet Snowball. The influence of Florida’s waters, fishing culture, and laid-back lifestyle permeates much of his later work, including The Old Man and the Sea.
“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”
Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
5. Tim Dorsey
Tim Dorsey is famously known for his 26-novel series, Serge Storms. The story features the famous character Serge A. Storms – a mentally ill anti-hero. It’s not every day that you hear of a protagonist like Serge A. Storms. The first book in the franchise is Florida Roadkill – it’s still Dorsey’s most prominent installment.
Dorsey is known to create fantasy, mystery, and crime novels with a touch of humor. For his cleverness and writing prowess, he earned a John D. MacDonald Award for excellence in Florida fiction.
Before his literary journey, Dorsey already had a colorful career record. First, he was a police and court reporter. Then, he became the Tampa Tribune general assignment reporter. Later, Dorsey became a political reporter at Tribune’s Tallahassee bureau.
These experiences gave him the background and resources to write his crime thrillers. Dorsey’s Serge Storms character has become iconic in Florida crime fiction, representing both the state’s quirky charm and its darker underbelly. His novels often serve as satirical love letters to Florida, celebrating its weirdness while critiquing its problems.
“If you don’t visualize what you want to accomplish, then you won’t accomplish anything.”
Tim Dorsey, Triggerfish Twist
6. Randy Wayne White
Like many other Florida books, Randy Wayne White captures the Florida life in his works. He takes his readers not only on the road but also on the water. In fact, the primary character in his Doc Ford Series is a marine biologist in South Florida. Sanibel Flats kicks off the franchise and introduces Doc Ford to the readers.
White’s Doc Ford Series has 26 novels with three children’s book spinoffs. Surprisingly, with that many novels, it is still ongoing. His tenacity in creating literature made White a New York Times bestselling author. He also earned the Lifetime Literary Award in 2019.
White’s authentic portrayal of Florida’s marine environment comes from his own experience as a fishing guide and naturalist. His detailed knowledge of Florida’s waters, wildlife, and coastal communities adds authenticity to his fiction that resonates with both locals and visitors to the state.
“Society whose moral ideals inhibit its own defense is a society doomed to destruction by those predators it defines as immoral.”
Randy Wayne White, Dead of Night
7. Harry Crews
Crews, who died at 76 in Gainesville, Florida, recorded his adventures as an ex-marine and former University of Florida teacher via his gripping stories.
Interestingly, Harry Crews has a master’s degree for his military service. However, Crews’ passion was dedicated to creative writing, so he enrolled. After being rejected for the program, Crews left Jacksonville and moved to Fort Lauderdale.
Crews was famous for his dark and gritty narratives. His bizarre themes, often about freaks and outcasts, made him well-known. For instance, The Gospel Singer is a fiction tackling blind faith and corrupt hypocrisy. Another work showcasing his talent is his memoir, A Childhood: The Biography of a Place.
Crews taught creative writing at the University of Florida for decades, influencing a generation of Southern writers. His unflinching examination of poverty, violence, and social outcasts in the rural South earned him a cult following and critical acclaim as one of the most original voices in American literature.
“There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.”
Harry Crews
8. Pat Frank
Pat Frank was famously known for delving into the theme of the Cold War, nuclear weapons, and the consequences of global conflict. Many described him as the first of the post-Hiroshima doomsday authors. Frank’s notable works are Alas, Babylon, and Mr. Adam. Both tell a story of the aftermath of nuclear war on the survivors.
His chilling works became a reference to the Department of Defense for imagining and understanding the effects and consequences of weapons on people. His works earned him the American Heritage Foundation’s Outstanding Citizenship Award.
Alas, Babylon, set in the fictional Florida town of Fort Repose, became a classic of apocalyptic fiction and is still taught in schools today. Frank’s intimate knowledge of Florida’s geography and culture helped create one of the most realistic and terrifying depictions of nuclear war’s aftermath in American literature.
“If Man retained faith in God, he might also retain faith in Man.”
Pat Frank, Alas, Babylon
9. Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Marjory Stoneman Douglas was not just an author and journalist. She was also an advocate for the protection of the Florida Everglades. Her fight earned her many accolades, including the National Wildlife Federation and National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Many reporters, scholars, and writers remember her to this day, 25 years after her death. A reporter from the St. Petersburg Times described her as “[Someone who] had a tongue like a switchblade and the moral authority to embarrass bureaucrats and politicians and make things happen.”
One of her notable works is Voice of the River, where she shared her life, starting from moving to the frontier town of Miami, Florida.
Douglas’s environmental activism was as influential as her writing. Her book The Everglades: River of Grass revolutionized how Americans thought about wetlands, transforming the perception of the Everglades from a worthless swamp to a vital ecosystem. Her work directly contributed to the establishment of Everglades National Park.
“You have to stand up for some things in this world.”
Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Voice of the River
10. Elmore Leonard
Award-winning Elmore Leonard became famous due to his unique writing style. He has mastered creating sharp, realistic dialogue without unnecessary details. The result? Highly engaging stories, focusing on characters and their interactions. This earned Leonard the Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement and the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Leonard wrote Western themes before combining them with crime fiction. He aimed to get the best of both worlds, setting his works in Detroit and South Florida. Leonard has over 50 novels and short stories, 26 of which were adapted into film. He was best known for his Get Shorty and Rum Punch.
Leonard’s “10 Rules of Writing” became legendary among writers, emphasizing clarity, authenticity, and the importance of making the writing invisible so readers focus on the story. His influence on crime fiction and screenwriting continues to be felt today, with many contemporary writers citing him as a major influence.
“My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.”
Elmore Leonard, Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing
11. Edna Buchanan
Though she was born in New Jersey, Edna Buchanan is deeply connected with Florida. As an impressive journalist, she has worked with the Miami Herald. Buchanan received the 2017 Florida Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award after she transitioned to crime writing.
Her dedication doesn’t only include going after information and scoops. Many also know Buchanan as someone who writes with no bias. During her time, police were wary of reporters, but she made it her goal to highlight their humanity. Her dignity as a journalist passed on to her novels.
She’s detailed and offers her audience stimulating reads, like her Britt Montero Series. Its second book, Miami, It’s Murder, is a vibrant and unyielding exploration of crime in Florida’s sun-soaked city. It showcases Buchanan’s talent in weaving gripping narratives infused with gritty realism – a skill only honed through years of reporting on Miami’s crime beat. Buchanan’s works are essential for those captivated by grave mysteries and real-life drama.
They present a unique insider’s perspective on crime with the authenticity of her experiences. Buchanan won a Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting in 1986, making her one of the most decorated journalists to successfully transition to fiction writing.
“When I was young, journalism was all about the five double-yews: Where, When, Why, What, and Who. Today it’s about the gees: Garbage and Gossip.”
Edna Buchanan, You Only Die Twice
These eleven authors represent the rich literary tradition of Florida, from pioneering voices like Hurston and Rawlings who captured the essence of “Old Florida” to contemporary writers like Dorsey and White who chronicle the state’s modern complexities. Their works span genres from literary fiction and environmental advocacy to crime novels and humor, but all share a deep connection to the Sunshine State.
Florida’s unique geography, diverse population, and colorful history continue to inspire new generations of writers. The state’s literary festivals, writing programs, and vibrant arts communities ensure that Florida will remain a significant force in American literature. Whether depicting the state’s natural beauty, its quirky characters, or its social challenges, these authors have created a literary legacy that captures the essence of what makes Florida both fascinating and frustrating, beautiful and bizarre.
From the Everglades to Key West, from small rural towns to bustling metropolitan areas, Florida’s authors have shown that the Sunshine State is far more complex and interesting than its stereotypes suggest. Their work continues to influence how America sees Florida and how Florida sees itself.
