Update – Thank you to Deb for sending the link to the Tampa Bay Times with Tim Dorsey’s obituary. https://bit.ly/3uE8zIZ
So, this is a little unusual for me. I can’t find a verified source that says author Tim Dorsey died this week. However, Ace Atkins reported it on Facebook, and Ace and Tim were both reporters at The Tampa Tribune at one time. I can’t believe Ace would post this if it wasn’t true.
That picture above? That’s how I’ll remember Tim Dorsey, as a young Florida author. I met the author of those satirical Serge Storms Florida thrillers in 2000 when he first appeared at the Lee County Reading Festival in Ft. Myers, Florida. I was the Chair of the Authors Programming, and I’m sure the late Sandie Herron put us in touch because Sandie was so helpful in promoting Florida authors.
Tim was a fixture at the festival, appearing year after year. He continued to appear after I left Florida and the festival became the Southwest Florida Reading Festival.
I’ve always been grateful that Tim Dorsey appeared at the festival. That first festival, in 2000, featured a stellar group of authors including Dorsey, Jan Burke, Tom Corcoran, James W. Hall, Carl Hiaasen, Stuart Kaminsky, Dennis Lehane, Barbara Parker, and Les Standiford. Sadly, Tim isn’t the only one in that group that’s now gone twenty-three years later.
But, Tim was the only one in that group to appear year after year at the festival. Thank you, Tim. May you rest in peace.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2023/11/28/tampa-bay-florida-author-tim-dorsey-dies-obit-serge-storms/
Thank you, Deb. I see that was just posted yesterday. I appreciate a source!
There are a bunch of sources now including abc news. He was only 62
Thank you, Sandy!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/novelist-tim-dorsey-who-mixed-comedy-and-murder-in-his-serge-a-storms-stories-dies-at-62/ar-AA1kGLGm
I found this on Bing. Gee, he was only 621
The Tampa Times and authors Carl Hiassen and Dave Barry have it as well. Florida has lost a piece of its ability to laugh at itself🥺
So sad, Mary Ann. Too young.
Wow, that’s a shock. I love Serge A. Storms and crazy Coleman. 62 is way too young.
I agree, that was a great lineup of authors. I was a big fan of Stuart Kaminsky’s books too.
RIP
I was stunned when I saw that yesterday, Jeff. I never expected it. Serge was so Florida.
We were so lucky with our lineup of authors that first year, especially since we didn’t pay them anything.
It always hits hard when the person who passed is my same age. Such is the case here.
I honestly don’t think I have ever read him. I know he is insanely popular as his books sold like crazy back when I was working in various bookstores.
Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey. They all really wrote about life as it was in Florida – crazy as it could be.
It does hit hard, Kevin, when I’ve known them for so long, and they’re younger than I am.