Richard Gartee     Award Winning Novelist

For me the secret to being an author is to “just do the work.” I make it a point to put in time on my writing every day.

Never was that more true than during the pandemic. Dutifully following COVID-19 “stay-at-home” orders for two years 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 finished a new novel, Atlantis Dying, published in 2022. Whew!

Since then, I’ve been heads-down finishing a large format hardcover book on the fifty year history of the Hippodrome Theatre that has just been published. Visit Hipp50.com to learn more.

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cover of Ragtime Dudes at the World's Fair cover of Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place cover Ragtime Dudes meet Paris Flapper

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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.

cover of Lancelot's Grail cover of Lancelot's Disciple cover of Skating on Skim Ice

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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, I have written five more novels and a biography. Two of the novels won literary awards. A seventh novel is underway.

cover of Mountain Breathing cover of Watching Waves cover of Canyon Falls

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I was writing poetry even before college and have had nearly 300 poems published in literary journals and chapbooks; plus five volumes of my collected poems. Currently, I am a regular contributor to Ann Arbor Review: International Journal of Poetry (AAR.) Poems published in recent issues can be read on the AAR poetry page of this site, or on the AAR website.

Atlantis Dying is my twenty-sixth full-length book to be published. 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.

Literary Award Winner

photo of Richard Gartee

Available for readings or as a speaker

 

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Videos of Readings

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Newest Video
Author at the Sunshine State Book Festival; includes a reading from Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper. Watch now...

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Three-part video of author reading from Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place at the Millhopper Library in Gainesville, FL. Watch now...

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Author reading from Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper via Zoom from Gainesville, FL. Watch now...

Skating on Skim Ice

author at podium

Video of author at library reading reveals the story behind the book title. Watch now...

 

Recently Published Poems

Ann Arbor Review:
International Journal of Poetry

Publishing since 1967 – as ezine since 2004

Read my published poems in issues from 2015 onward on the AAR poetry page of this site, or on the AAR website.

Upcoming Events

Meet me at the following events:

Author Book Signing
June 2, 2023
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Hippodrome Theatre Basement
25 SE 2nd Place
Gainesville, FL

Author Book Signing
June 11, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Hippodrome Theatre Lobby
25 SE 2nd Place
Gainesville, FL

Author Book Signing
June 18, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Hippodrome Theatre Lobby
25 SE 2nd Place
Gainesville, FL

Author presentation
July 8, 2023
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Matheson History Museum
513 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL

How to Write Local History
July 9, 2023
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Millhopper Branch Library
3145 NW 43rd St
Gainesville, FL

Author Reading & Talk
July 16, 2023
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Millhopper Branch Library
3145 NW 43rd St
Gainesville, FL

at Hippodrome

Author previewing book at the Hippodrome 50th Anniversary event

2020 Release

Ragtime Dudes Meet a Paris Flapper

book cover

Ragtime is old hat, WWI is over, and the Roaring Twenties are underway. A Paris flapper, a shell-shocked war veteran, and three ragtime dudes face new challenges with warmth and humor. Learn more...

Another Royal Palm Literary Award Winner
Royal Palm Literary Award

2021 Release

Ragtime Dudes at the World’s Fair – new novel

book coverThe 1904 St. Louis World's Fair was the largest ever held, showcasing the latest inventions and world-class art. And our three dudes from New York are right in the thick of it.

Now on sale. Learn more...

2022 Release

Atlantis Dying – new novel about facing climate change

book cover Earth’s axis has tilted. Monsoons no longer bring seasonal rains. Atlantis struggles to save itself, thwarted by greedy men bent on squeezing out the last smidge of profit.

Now on sale. Learn more...

 

2023 Release

The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years – new nonfiction

book cover A complete history of Gainesville’s iconic theater.

Now on sale. Learn more...

 

Current Projects

Orgone Gizmo – new novel
They call him Gizmo because he can fix most anything, even an Orgone accumulator.

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.

What I've Recently Read and Reviewed

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.