Ron McLarty – R.I.P.
Ronald William “Ron” McLarty is an American actor, playwright, narrator and novelist. He is regarded as one of the country’s leading audiobook narrators, having done over 100 titles and received many Audie Awards. McLarty has appeared in numerous television series, films and stage productions. Wikipedia
McLarty is quoted as calling himself “a writer who acted” rather than an actor who wrote. His recurring role as Sgt. Belson on Spenser for Hire made Ron very recognizable, but his novels were his passion.
Read— The Memory of Running, Art in America, Traveler and others.
Sadly, Ron passed away February 8, 2020.
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Randy Wayne White
Randy Wayne White
SALT RIVER AND CARIBBEAN RIM are White’s most recent Doc Ford books and SEDUCED is the 4th book in his award-winning Hannah Smith series. He has also had four collections of his columns for Outside magazine and elsewhere published. In 2002, a one-hour documentary film called The Gift of the Game, about Randy’s trip to Cuba to find the remnants of the Little League teams founded by Ernest Hemingway in the days before Castro, won the “Best of the Fest” award from the 2002 Woods Hole Film Festival, then was bought by PBS and broadcast station by station in the spring and summer of 2003.
White has been awarded the Conch Republic Prize for Literature, as well as the John D. Macdonald Award for Literary Excellency. He is one of only four writers named as an Editor At Large by prestigious Outside magazine (Jon Krakauer, Hampton Sides and Tim Cahill are the others). In 2011, White was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Society. A fishing and nature enthusiast, he has also written extensively for National Geographic Adventure, Men’s Journal, Playboy and Men’s Health.
He lives on Sanibel Island, Florida, where he was a light-tackle fishing guide for many years, and spends much of his free time windsurfing, playing baseball, and hanging out at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille.
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Suzanne Redfearn
Suzanne Redfearn
Suzanne Redfearn is an award-winning and bestselling American author known for her emotionally resonant and character-driven novels. Before becoming a successful full-time writer, she had a diverse career path that included working as a commercial and residential architect, graphic designer, and copywriter. Her journey to becoming a novelist, which she began in her 30s, was self-taught and motivated by a desire to explore moral themes through fiction. This approach often involves exploring ethical dilemmas with no easy answers, leading to deeply moving and thought-provoking stories.
Redfearn’s writing style is noted for its ability to create heartfelt and emotional narratives, often featuring protagonists facing immense challenges. Readers frequently praise her ability to craft complex characters and build intense plots that keep them engaged. She draws inspiration from real people and relationships, often observing conversations while writing in cafes to capture authentic human experiences. This method helps create stories that feel both realistic and impactful, prompting readers to consider what they might do in similar difficult situations.
Suzanne Redfearn’s novel Call of the Camino is inspired by Redfearn’s own experience walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. The book explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The novel was released on October 1, 2025.
2024 – Where Butterflies Wander — The moving story of a family grappling with grief and a woman with the power to help them through it–or stand in their way. (Goodreads) Told uniquely by six characters, each have a voice worth hearing. – Ed.
A 2020 favorite – Hadley & Grace — Two women. Three kids. One unforgettable journey.
One of the characters in the story is based on a special resident of Laguna Beach, Ca. — see article about Skipper Carrillo
Suzanne Redfearn, in addition to being an author, is also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer.
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Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert
Samuel Stephen “Steve” Forbert is an American pop music singer-songwriter. Bob Harris of BBC Radio 2 said Forbert has “One of the most distinctive voices anywhere.” His 1979 song “Romeo’s Tune” reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 13 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart. Wikipedia
2020 release – Early Morning Rain — In Steve’s own words:
“For the past few years things have been extremely hectic–nonstop issues and distractions. Now we’re trying to cope with a full-on pandemic – the very kind of contagious thing we studied back in history class! My new record is my idea of rather a “breather”. I’ve released 20 studio albums of original material by now and I’m taking my time writing more songs…but this EARLY MORNING RAIN “cover” album is a what you might call an “easy assignment” for Americana/folk music fans. You don’t have to study new chapters here, just enjoy these renditions of songs you already know and probably love!”
Still prolific Steve has a 2022 and 2023 release. Check out Moving Through America and Streets of this Town – Revisited
For more video variety vist Steve Forbert on social media.
And check out his book:
Big City Cat: My Life in Folk Rock
