Lynn Waddell: Author, Journalist, Writing Instructor
Based in St. Petersburg, Fla, Lynn Waddell is an author, journalist, and essayist whose writing career has many chapters.
Her book, Fringe Florida: Travels among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles, is a collection of essays that guides readers through the state’s eclectic and daring worlds. Published by the University Press of Florida, Fringe Florida is a national IndieFab award-winner. The Tampa Bay Times called it one of the best non-fiction books of 2013 and Creative Loafing awarded it the “Best Journey into the Underbelly of the Sunshine State. ”
Prior to freelancing, Lynn was the casino beat reporter for the Las Vegas SUN, a state and metro reporter at the Birmingham News, and a staff writer at Tampa’s alternative newspaper Weekly Planet (now Creative Loafing).
Since going independent, Lynn has worked for some of the nation’s largest print media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Newsweek, and the Daily Beast.com. She has reported on everything from the 9-11 terrorists to the Virginia Tech mass shooting to the George Zimmerman murder trial. An investigative journalist at heart, she probed the inter-workings of the United States deportation courts for Florida Lawyer magazine and Florida’s remedial education shortfalls for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting in conjunction with NPR. Both projects earned Sunshine State Press awards and the later won National Education reporting and regional Edward R Murrow awards. She has written about technology for Florida Trend, the Florida Highwaymen for the National Arts Council and outdoor adventures for state and regional travel publications.
Lynn has appeared on MSNBC, the Oxygen Network and numerous radio shows around the nation related to her reporting and writing.
She has also taught journalism at the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa.
Please check out her award-winning book, “Fringe Florida,” which has been re-released in paperback.
Hello Ms. Waddell,
I work for the Barbara S. Ponce Library in Pinellas Park, Florida and we were planning several big events for National Library Week (April 13-19). We would love to have you come and talk about your books and research one of those days if your schedule permits. These events will actually be planned through our Friends of the Library group but I’m doing the preliminary research for fees and scheduling concerns and would appreciate any information you could provide.
I thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon,
Amelia Zimmerman
Barbara S. Ponce Library
Hi, I enjoyed reading your book, especially the chapter on nudism. Refreshingly true (but not the AANR PR rhetoric). I visited Lake Como twice, very laid back. I like your crisp honest writing style–.
Thanks so much, Victor!
Thanks much, Victor! Lake Como is very peaceful and Old Florida. I love that it’s not so commercialized.
I’m late to the party on your book, but I just read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Books like this make living here more interesting. I think you are a great writer, super funny, and someone I’d love to have coffee with sometime.
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