We welcome you to come on Tuesday, September 3rd for our Open Mic Night at 7:00 PM! Sign up on arrival for a ten-minute spot to share your original poetry, prose, or story—you can even bring a selection from your favorite poet/author! So, come on over—share your words, meet local authors, and make some new friends!

Marina Brown

When first published in 2013, Marina Brown’s debut novel, Land Without Mirrors, won the President’s Gold Medal from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. Her 2017 second novel, Lisbeth, won another President’s Gold Medal for Literary Fiction from the FAPA, as well as the Silver Medal for Adult Fiction from the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Brown will be performing a reading of her newest release—a volume of poetry entitled, The Leaf Does Not Believe It Will Fall, at our Open Mic Night on September 3rd. This book is also a medalist in the FAPA awards and Finalist in the RPLA.

Brown is also a journalist. She writes for several newspapers, including the Tallahassee Democrat, the Tallahassee Magazine, and three design magazines in Miami. A former professional ballet dancer with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and American Festival Ballet, Brown continues her love of dance with participation in local tango and flamenco groups. She is also an experienced blue-water sailor, an artist, with one-man shows at FAMU’s Black Archives, the Artport Gallery, the Gadsden Museum, and the LeMoyne Museum. She speaks three languages, is a registered nurse, and cellist.

Linda Marie

Our current host holds an MFA in painting with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of South Florida, and a BFA from the University of Hawaii. She is a symbolist painter, writer, poet, and playwright. Linda Marie’s poetry has been published in The Texas Observer, Hawaii Review, Blue Hole, and Enigmatist among various other poetry publications. She was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Before moving to Tallahassee, she was the host of Austin Poetry Society’s monthly poetry venue for 6 years. She is beyond thrilled to be the new host of My Favorite Books’ poetry and storytelling open mic, and is looking forward to meeting and introducing many local poets, storytellers, as well as writers!