Florida life is colorfully articulated through these two very different stories. From murder & moonshine to festive & funny, Killer Shine and Ancient City Christmas are Southern fiction novels both set in the oaks, palms, and sandy shores of Northeast Florida.

Ancient City Christmas

Bailey Hamilton is — literally and figuratively speaking — in quite a bind. It’s Christmas Eve and she is being held in the custody of airport security after causing a ruckus in the ticketing terminal. But as Bailey will explain, she is not to blame for the situation at hand. Two decades’ worth of family Christmas catastrophes have led to this latest breakdown… [READ MORE »] | [ BUY IT NOW! ]

Killer Shine

Put your finger on the Florida/Georgia state line and drag it east until you hit the ocean. Right there, under the tip of your fingernail, is a tiny slice of paradise called Crab Island. This colorful and unique place is where Southern traditions and Sunshine State style have melded as one — seafood is served with sweet tea, kudzu grows next to the sand, and palm trees obscure the workings of a moonshine still… [READ MORE »] | [ BUY IT NOW! ]

Recent Posts

As my subtitle says, I am a somewhat infrequent blogger (sorry!). Nonetheless, you can count on some semi-regular contributions in these four categories: Travel, Music, Life, Colorado, and Florida. Click on the links below to see my most recent posts in each category!

TRAVEL: Great Sand Dunes National Park

In the midst of a desperate half-run through the soft sand and dark forest, a red-bulbed flashlight clutched in one trembling hand and my dog’s leash gripped tight in the other, I saw what was sure to be the next day’s headlines flash before my eyes: “Floridian Flub: A sunshine state native couldn’t survive two months in Colorado.”

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MUSIC: Zach Bryan at Red Rocks (in the snow!)

Snow started falling while we were enjoying dinner. And by enjoying dinner, I mean playing darts and drinking beers while a couple of burgers got cold on a nearby table. What better way to pregame before seeing Zach Bryan headline at Red Rocks for the first time?

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LIFE/COLORADO: You’re on Your Own, Kid

My car is loaded down with my most precious treasures. A Datil pepper plant, my mom’s jewelry box, my grandmothers’ bibles, my grandfather’s World War II tear gas pen, and my eight year-old rescue mutt. I am heading west, watching the sun set over swaying fields of wheat that stretch from one horizon to the other.

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FLORIDA: 9 Secrets to Maximize Your Visit to Kennedy Space Center

Growing up in a place like Florida, adventure is never far away. Just within the confines of my little neighborhood, I could spend entire summer afternoons lost in exciting explorations; catching tadpoles in the creek and riding bikes with friends. But no adventure compared to those special days (and sometimes nights) when I could run outside and look up… READ MORE »

About

Southern Fiction Author Shannon O'Neil
WHAT IS NORMAL? This is a question I ask myself often. A native of historic (and eccentric) St. Augustine, Florida, I don’t think I ever had a chance at normalcy. Born into a family of parade clowns, my earliest memories are of riding through St. Augustine’s cobblestone streets in a little red wagon, tossing candy to other children along the Easter and Christmas parade routes. [READ MORE »]