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April 24-26, 2026

Word of South

Skip Horack

Skip Horack is author of the story collection The Southern Cross, as well as the novels The Eden Hunter and The Other Joseph. His novel Angelfish is forthcoming in spring 2028, and his fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous journals and magazines. He is currently director of the Creative Writing Program at Florida State […]

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Rachel Hillman

Rachel Hillman is a Tallahassee-based guitarist, songwriter, and orchestra teacher who weaves intricate narratives of place and identity. Her sound blends folk roots with South Florida scenery, Spanglish and jazz and soul influences, creating an atmosphere that feels both grounded and otherworldly. On stage, she’s known for her easy grooves, slips and slides on the […]

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Pharaohs of Funk

The Pharaohs of Funk is led by Kirk Gavin and Aaron Watson, a dynamic duo with over a decade of experience captivating audiences across the U.S. and internationally as the acclaimed Tallahassee Horns. Renowned for their versatility and artistry, the Tallahassee Horns have performed alongside iconic legends such as George Clinton, Fred Wesley, Ricky Dillard, […]

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Mark Mustian

Mark Mustian is the author of the novels The Return and The Gendarme, the latter a finalist for the Dayton International Literary Peace Prize and shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and has been published in ten languages. The founder and president of Word […]

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Mandy Stringer

Dr. Amanda (Mandy) Stringer has been CEO of the TSO since 2010. Under her leadership the TSO has greatly expanded its reach into the Tallahassee Community, and has achieved budget growth of 233% through increased annual fund donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Mandy is active in the industry’s national association—the League of American Orchestras (LAO)—and […]

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Pat MacEnulty

Pat MacEnulty is the author of a historical novel series, crime novels, memoirs, a short story collection, children’s plays, and most recently, the historical coming-of-age novel, Cinnamon Girl (Livingston Press, Sept. 2023). She has a Ph.D. in English from the Florida State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Florida, where she […]

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