Richard Gartee—available for readings or as a speaker
Meet me at the following events:
Matheson History Museum
513 E University Ave,
Gainesville, FL
Best Western Gateway Grand
4200 NW 97th Blvd
Gainesville, FL
Never was that more true than during the pandemic. After the pandemic, I worked hard to finish a large format hardcover book on the fifty year history of Gainesville’s iconic Hippodrome Theatre that was published just in time for their fiftieth anniversary. The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years is my twenty-seventh full-length book to be published. Click on the cover or visit Hipp50.com to learn more.
Click on any cover to learn more or purchase
Wrapping up 2023, I released my latest collection of poetry, Arbor Encore. I kicked off 2024 with the release of my novella, Atlantis Obsession, in paperback and Kindle. My eighth novel, Orgone Gizmo was just published in May 2024. Watch a video interview where I ddiscuss the story origin.
The preceeding two years, I had dutifully followed COVID-19 “stay-at-home” orders, which proved super-productive for my writing. I published a new novel in May 2020, Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper. Another new novel, Ragtime Dudes at the World’s Fair, was released in 2021. I also completed my sixth novel, Atlantis Dying, published in 2022. Whew!
Click on any cover to learn more or purchase
I chose creative writing as a profession right out of college, but after being a broke poet for a decade, I entered a 20-year career directing the design of medical software and helped produce two of the preeminent practice management and electronic health records systems. Along the way I became an expert in the field and wrote two college textbooks. One became a national bestseller. I left the software company, became a full-time author, and wrote six more textbooks. Four of those became bestsellers. They are out of print now, but if you’d like to read more about them and my work in electronic health records, click here.
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Between textbooks, I turned my attention back to creative writing. I began working on stage plays and then my first published novel, Lancelot’s Grail. Since then, I have written seven more novels and a biography. Two of the novels won literary awards.
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I was writing poetry even before college and have had over 300 poems published in literary journals and chapbooks; plus six volumes of my collected poems. Currently, I am a regular contributor to Ann Arbor Review: International Journal of Poetry (AAR.) My most recent collection of poetry, Arbor Encore brings into book form the complete catalog of my poems published in that esteemed journal.
How did I go from poetry to computer programming, from textbooks to novels? For me balancing the left-brain / right-brain is not that difficult. I find all of it a swim in the creative flow.
Author previewing book at the Hippodrome 50th Anniversary event
Author at Small Press Book Fair, Dania Beach, FL. View a short Instagram video clip taken at the book fair by poet Suzzette Dawes. Note: you must unmute the video.
Videos from author readings and discussions about my books may be found on the book’s detail pages. The list below provides quick access to those videos.
Three-part video of author reading from Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place at the Millhopper Library in Gainesville, FL. Watch now...
Author reading from Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper via Zoom from Gainesville, FL. Watch now...
Skating on Skim Ice
Video of author at library reading reveals the story behind the book title. Watch now...
Author interviewed about Orgone Gizmo on Jolene’s Books & Writers Talk Podcast. Watch now...
Author reading two poems from Arbor Encore at the Matheson Museum. Watch now...
Author discussing Hippodrome’s influence on downtown Gainesville at the Matheson Museum. Watch now...
Author on the Ilene Silverman Show discussing The Hippodrome First Fifty Years. Watch now...
Author at the Sunshine State Book Festival; includes a reading from Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper. Watch now...
Lancelot’s Arthur – new nonfiction
Following the trail of places in Britain the historical figure King Arthur lived, fought, and died, we encounter some interesting people and theories along the journey.
Romance Under the Kingdom – new novel
She dances on the castle stage. He plays theme park characters. It’s the happiest place on earth, but can they find their happy-ever-after?
Like most authors, I enjoy reading as well as writing. My interests span a variety of genres. I belong to a local book club through which I've read books I would not have discovered otherwise. I am also a member of Goodreads, and you can follow me there. Here are covers of the last forty books I've read. Note: clicking any of these sends you to my review of the book on the Goodreads site. Use your browser back button to return to this page.