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Some of my favorite memories began when the tide went out. On quiet mornings after a storm, my dad and I would head to the shoreline—boots muddy, thermos in hand—to see what secrets the sea had left behind. Sea stars curled in tidal pools. Ancient oyster beds cracked open like fossils. The remains of forgotten … Read more
Somewhere between childhood’s wide-eyed wonder and the gritty push of adolescence, there’s a space that’s often overlooked. It’s quiet. Shifting. Tender. The world hasn’t fully asked you to grow up yet, but you know it’s coming. You start to see beneath the surface of things—friendships, family, even yourself—and you’re not sure what to do with … Read more
Some stories open like doors swinging wide. Others beckon with a whisper, asking you to lean in and listen. As a writer of middle grade fiction, I believe a first line should do more than introduce a story—it should cast a spell. When I was drafting my MG manuscript, I rewrote my opening sentence more … Read more
Not all summer reads come with sunburns and plot twists. Some drift in like dandelion seeds—soft, strange, unforgettable. These are the books you don’t race through on a beach towel. You pause. You underline. You press the cover to your heart before setting it down. Here are five books—some classic, some contemporary—that invite quiet wonder, … Read more
Some stories never need a spellbook. They cast their enchantment slowly—like the hush after a storm or the way grief makes time behave strangely. They work not through potions or portals, but through atmosphere, memory, and the kind of wonder that lingers long after the page is turned. This is the kind of magic I … Read more
You’ll hear it before you see it. A sharp, echoing kee-yer sails over the pines like a warning, or maybe a question. Then—there it is. Perched just above the tree line, a streak of cinnamon chest, checkered wings, and fiercely intelligent eyes: the Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), one of Florida’s most vocal—and misunderstood—birds of prey. … Read more
Tampa Bay isn’t just home to sunbathers and seagrass—it’s a living lab for some of the ocean’s most misunderstood creatures: sharks. From the sleek bull shark to the wide-eyed hammerhead, these top predators are being closely studied by scientists hoping to understand, protect, and coexist with them. How Shark Tagging Works Scientists from institutions like … Read more
Beneath the surface of Tampa Bay, a quiet miracle unfolds every year: some of the ocean’s most formidable predators begin their lives in the shallow, sheltered waters just off our coast. These estuarine “nurseries” are vital safe havens for young sharks—especially hammerheads and bull sharks—offering them a rare shot at survival in the wild. From … Read more
The Edgy Truth About Tampa Bay’s Toughest Shark Most visitors to Tampa Bay expect manatees, dolphins, maybe the occasional stingray. But few realize that one of the most aggressive sharks in the world is not only lurking beneath the surface—but was likely born here. Born in the Bay: Nature’s Nursery Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are … Read more
A curious look at one of nature’s most bizarre—and brilliant—predators Not all sharks are built the same. And in the warm, shallow waters of Tampa Bay, few creatures turn heads quite like the hammerhead. With a silhouette that looks more like a tool than a terror, the hammerhead’s strange design isn’t just for show. It’s … Read more