Taylor Thomas Smythe interview with Orange Blossom Ordinary

This is your newest book in a series, can you introduce the series to our readers and explain how this book fits into it? And give us an overview of this book?

​Absolutely. Nightmare Array is the third book in the Magic City Wonders series, and it completes a trilogy that began with my novel Goldie and continued in The Dream Team. The series is set in Miami in the early 1980s and follows a group of individuals who discover and develop supernatural powers—sort of like if the X-Men series were set in the world of Miami Vice...
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Nightmare Array: A Magic City Wonders Novel available now

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, October 1, 2024 - Florida author Taylor Thomas Smythe’s latest book, Nightmare Array: A Magic City Wonders Novel, is now available from a variety of retailers. The novel is the third in the science-fiction/fantasy series, wrapping up the story that began in the award-winning series debut Goldie and its sequel The Dream Team. 

Nightmare Array is the thrilling conclusion to the story of Donna Locke, picking up just a short time after the events of the prior installment, The Dream Team. In the new book, Donna and her friends stage a mission to rescue her lost love Marcus Myles, but things do not go as planned.

Goldie, the first novel in the Magic City Wonders series, is set in 1980s Miami and follows the story of a young diner waitress named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power to turn objects to gold. 

The Dream Team picks up nearly a year after Goldie. In the wake of tragedy and inexplicable events, Donna is determined to find answers. When an encounter with a dashing philanthropist finds her joining a ragtag team of rogues who stage heists to steal people’s dreams, Donna must decide if the rising stakes are worth the cost.

In 2023, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) named Goldie the winner of the gold medal in the Southeast - Best Regional Fiction category. Earlier that year, Goldie received a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards. In 2021, the first installment in Smythe’s seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series--The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
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To order Nightmare Array, or to order Goldie or The Dream Team, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Author Taylor Thomas Smythe featured in Canvas Rebel Magazine

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Smythe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
​Though I find most of my creative endeavors to be significant, as they are each so personal, I would have to say three projects stand out as especially meaningful to me.

One of the most significant projects, and the one I’ve spent the most time working on, is my catalog of Florida fiction novels. Over the past six years, I’ve written ten novels, split across two series: Kingdom of Florida (a seven-book middle-grade fantasy saga) and Magic City Wonders (an ongoing science-fiction series set in 1980s Miami that follows individuals with superhuman powers). The inaugural installments in each series have won multiple state and national awards, but the reward of getting to craft a new mythology around a place I love so much is incredibly meaningful on its own. Beyond the high-concept gloss of these stories, though, is a deeply human heart. As I’ve spent years with these characters, I’ve watched as they’ve taken on a life of their own. Keeping sight of the characters’ humanity has allowed these stories to have a heart...

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New cover artwork for award-winning Magic City Wonders series

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, July 22, 2024 - On Monday, Florida fiction author Taylor Thomas Smythe revealed the brand-new cover artwork for Goldie and The Dream Team, the first two installments in his award-winning Magic City Wonders novel series, ahead of the third book’s release.

Goldie, the first novel in the Magic City Wonders series, is set in 1980s Miami and follows the story of a young diner waitress named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power to turn objects to gold. 

In The Dream Team, Donna Locke’s adventures continue, with the heroine honing in on a singular goal: to find her lost love. As the summer of 1981 arrives, nearly a year has passed since he disappeared. In the wake of tragedy and inexplicable events, Donna is determined to find answers. When an encounter with a dashing philanthropist finds her joining a ragtag team of rogues who stage heists to steal people’s dreams, Donna must decide if the rising stakes are worth the cost.

Earlier this year, Smythe revealed the title of the third installment, Nightmare Array, scheduled to be released October 2024. Nightmare Array will conclude the story of Donna Locke that began with 2022’s Goldie.

In 2023, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) named Goldie winner of the gold medal in the Southeast - Best Regional Fiction category. This honor marks the fourth formal awards recognition for Smythe’s written work. Goldie also received a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards in 2023. In 2021, the first installment in Smythe’s seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series--The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.

To order the new editions of Goldie or The Dream Team, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Author Taylor Thomas Smythe interviewed for Bold Journey, talks creativity, purpose and future projects

Taylor, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

It has been a journey to find, but the foundation of my purpose is my deep, personal faith in God. When I was younger, the conversation was always: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I think as kids we answer that question with whatever seems fun and cool to us at the time, like being an astronaut or a firefighter (or for me, a farmer or a cowboy). But as I grew a clearer sense of my identity—of who I wanted to be when I grew up and who I was made to be—a clarity in my purpose followed. I’ve always known that I had a bent toward creativity and art, but I always just saw that as a sort of side hobby...

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Voyage MIA interviews author Taylor Thomas Smythe

Hi Taylor, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Hi there! My name is Taylor Thomas Smythe and I am a multi-disciplinary creative. My primary creative outlets are novel writing, graphic design, and songwriting. My journey began when I was just a young boy, with the threads of all three of those endeavors already weaving together from a young age.

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Author Taylor Thomas Smythe featured in Shoutout Miami

For any creative work, I believe that discipline and consistency are instrumental. I simply wouldn’t have ever finished writing my first novel if I didn’t show up in front of my keyboard regularly, even to write just a few sentences. Because over time, those little bits add up to a whole, so eventually you’ll able to step back and look at something that you’re (hopefully) very proud of. And at the very least, you should be proud that you made it this far. I think another habit that was helpful to my creative success was...

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The Dream Team: A Magic City Wonders Novel now available

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, September 5, 2023 - Award-winning Florida fiction author Taylor Thomas Smythe’s latest book, The Dream Team: A Magic City Wonders Novel, is officially available now. The novel is the second installment in the young adult science fiction series, following 2022’s award-winning series debut Goldie. 

In The Dream Team, protagonist Donna Locke has one goal: to locate her longtime beau Marcus Myles. As the summer of 1981 arrives, nearly a year has passed since Marcus disappeared. In the wake of tragedy and inexplicable events, Donna is determined to find answers. When an encounter with a dashing philanthropist finds her joining a ragtag team of rogues who stage heists to steal people’s dreams, Donna must decide if the rising stakes are worth the cost.

Goldie, the inaugural installment in the Magic City Wonders series, is set in 1980s Miami and follows the story of a young diner waitress named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power to turn objects to gold. 

This spring, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) announced that Goldie was named winner of the gold medal in the Southeast - Best Regional Fiction category. This recent honor marks the fourth formal awards recognition for Smythe’s written work. In March, Goldie received a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards. In 2021, the first installment in his seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series--The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors & Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.

To order The Dream Team: A Magic City Wonders Novel or Goldie, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Goldie earns gold medal in national awards

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN, May 12, 2023 - On Thursday, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards) announced that Taylor Thomas Smythe’s latest book, Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, was named winner of the gold medal in the Southeast - Best Regional Fiction category.

Started in 1997, the IPPY Awards exist to “honor the year's best independently published titles from around the world. The awards are intended to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published books released each year.” The awards are open to authors and publishers worldwide.

Goldie was released in November 2022. The inaugural installment in the Magic City Wonders series is set in 1980s Miami and follows the story of a young diner waitress named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power to turn objects to gold. The second book in the young adult science-fiction series, The Dream Team, will open for preorders in late summer 2023.

This latest honor marks the fourth formal awards recognition for Smythe’s written work. This March, Goldie was announced as the recipient of a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards. In 2021, the first installment in his seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series—The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. The Kingdom of Florida series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. 

To order Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Kingdom of Florida coffee table art book, Images From Films That Never Existed, available now

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, March 13, 2023 - On Monday, award-winning author Taylor Thomas Smythe released Images from Films That Never Existed: Words & Pictures Inspired by the Award-Winning Kingdom of Florida Novels, a coffee table companion book to his seven-book Kingdom of Florida fantasy series. The hardcover volume is available now from a variety of online retailers.

Utilizing state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology and modern graphic design software, the innovative new volume imagines what Smythe’s novels might look like if they had been adapted as Hollywood films in the 1980s. “The lifelike images have an eerie, almost nostalgic quality that makes the reader wonder if, in fact, they may have seen these films before,” said Smythe. The images are accompanied by descriptive blurbs that summarize the events of the first four Kingdom of Florida novels, plus a fictional frame narrative that details the imaginary filmmaking process.

Kingdom of Florida is a middle-grade fantasy saga that draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, and follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. The first book in the series—The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of the silver medal for the Children: Sci-Fi/Fantasy category in the 2021 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and was a finalist in the 2021 National Indie Excellence Awards.

Images from Films That Never Existed: Words & Pictures Inspired by the Award-Winning Kingdom of Florida Novels is published by Lamplight Universe and is available now via online booksellers or at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Goldie wins silver medal in Florida Book Awards

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, March 11, 2023 - On Friday, the Florida Book Awards announced that Taylor Thomas Smythe’s latest book, Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, was named winner of the silver medal in the Young Adult Literature category.

The Florida Book Awards, established in 2006, exists to recognize, honor, and celebrate the best literature by Florida authors or about Florida published each year. Smythe and other honorees will be recognized at an awards banquet in Tallahassee, Florida, later this spring. 
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Goldie was released in November 2022. The inaugural installment in the Magic City Wonders series is set in 1980s Miami and follows the story of a young diner waitress named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power to turn objects to gold. The next book in the young adult science-fiction series is slated to be released later in 2023.

This latest honor marks the third formal awards recognition for Smythe’s written work. In 2021, the first installment in his seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series—The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. The Kingdom of Florida series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. 

To order Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel available now

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, November 1, 2022 - Today, award-winning author Taylor Thomas Smythe officially released the first novel in his new Miami-based, 1980s-set Magic City Wonders book series. The inaugural installment, entitled Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, follows the story of a young diner waitress and aspiring singer named Donna Locke, whose life is turned upside-down when she develops an unusual and mysterious power. 

“It’s finally here!” Smythe said. “This series has been years in the making, and I’m incredibly proud to finally launch Magic City Wonders into the world. It’s sort of a genre mashup—you’ll find bits of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, comedy, and even a little romance. All of those pieces combine to evoke many favorite films from the 1980s, and I think this first book really hit the bullseye in terms of the tone and feel that I was aiming for. I also feel very attached to these characters after sitting with them for nearly three years, and I hope readers feel the same.”

Smythe released a brief synopsis of the series last fall: “In 1980s Miami—a colorful and dangerous place known as the Magic City—a group of individuals discover supernatural powers. With crime on the rise, brave heroes begin to uncover a growing mystery.”

“I’ve been explaining it as X-Men meets Miami Vice,” said Smythe in last year’s series announcement. “You have all of the mystery and grit of mutant-superhero stories mixed with the glamor and danger and color of the early ’80s melting pot that we associate with Miami.” 

“I’ve spent countless hours researching and gathering inspiration,” Smythe continued. While the stories are completely fictional, he hinted that they will be anchored in reality. “The story takes place in a very specific time in history, starting in 1980, which allows us to explore historical events and themes that mirror many of the things we’re wrestling with in the present. While many of these events take place at the periphery of my stories, I’m excited to see how they weave through and inform my fictionalized version of real-world Miami.” 

Goldie, the first novel in the Magic City Wonders series, is now available in a variety of formats. Installments in the series are published under the Lamplight Universe imprint.

Taylor Thomas Smythe is the author of the award-winning, seven-book Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series. The series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. The first book in the series—The Golden Alligator—was chosen as the winner of a silver medal in the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Awards and as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
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To order Goldie: A Magic City Wonders Novel, visit www.magiccitywonders.com. More information on Smythe’s award-winning Kingdom of Florida series can be found at www.kingdomofflorida.com.

Taylor Thomas Smythe, award-winning Kingdom of Florida author, featured in Palm Beach Illustrated

Article by Skye Sherman

The fecund verdancy of South Florida is ripe for tall tales, and that’s exactly what inspired West Palm Beach author Taylor Thomas Smythe to pen fantasy reads for the whole family. His Kingdom of Florida series is akin to The Chronicles of Narnia but with decidedly Floridian leanings. It follows the adventures of a group of South Florida youngsters who discover a parallel land of magic, strange creatures, and an evil prince.
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“It starts out as a fairly lighthearted tale, but there’s a deeper mystery bubbling up below the surface, which plays out over the course of the series,” Smythe says.

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Lamplight Universe indie publishing house announced

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, September 16, 2021 - With six novels under his belt and another on the way this year, award-winning author Taylor Thomas Smythe announced Tuesday the launch of Lamplight Universe, the new publishing moniker under which forthcoming fantasy, science fiction, and adventure titles will be published, beginning in 2022. 

“I’m thrilled to announce this project that I’ve been working on over the past year or so,” said Smythe. “With the Kingdom of Florida series coming to a close later this year, it felt like the perfect time to start this new chapter. Lamplight Universe will be the official publisher of all of my stories going forward in the new year. This will allow continued creative control of my stories while adding another layer of excellence to complement the level I strive for in my writing.”

The name of the publishing house, says Smythe, is a nod to the Lamplight Society (the label of a secretive group in the Kingdom of Florida series and the source of its second installment’s title). “It felt appropriate that my future writings have this anchor in my earliest notes for the novel that started me on this journey in the first place. The idea of the word ‘lamplight’ has always evoked and represented the hopeful, wholesome, and mystery-filled approach that I take to storytelling, so it’s fitting that this now becomes the overarching banner for these types of stories.”

Smythe added: “In the immediate future, Lamplight Universe will exclusively publish stories of which I am the author. However, there’s potential to expand that to include the works of others whose works fit within the same genres, styles, and sensibilities.” Lamplight Universe will primarily focus on the publication of books, but Smythe has plans to introduce other mediums of storytelling, including fiction podcasts and related audio formats.

Plans for the first release from Lamplight Universe are yet to be announced, but future updates will be shared via the official website (www.lamplightuniverse.com) and social media channels (@lamplightuniverse).

West Palm Beach author Taylor Thomas Smythe wins National Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, August 3, 2021 - The Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards recognized Kingdom of Florida: The Golden Alligator by Taylor Thomas Smythe as the silver medal winner in the Children: Sci-Fi/Fantasy category at the organization’s annual awards banquet in Orlando on July 31.

Hosted by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA), this prestigious national award is open to books published between 2019 and 2021. The judges for this national competition are librarians, educators, and publishing professionals.

“The FAPA President’s Book Award exists to promote excellence in the publishing industry by recognizing talented contemporary authors who put both heart and soul into their work. FAPA is proud to be a champion of authors and publishers going the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect,” said Pat Stanford, past president of FAPA.

The Golden Alligator is the first novel in the Kingdom of Florida middle-grade fantasy series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, and follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. The sixth installment—Coral and the Treasure Hunters—was released earlier this summer, while the seventh and final book has yet to be given an official release date.

“We are proud to announce this year’s winners who truly embody the excellence this award was created to celebrate,” said FAPA President Renee Garrison. “Their works are representative of creative storytelling, bold concepts, and innovative ideas which make the President’s Book Awards so well respected by librarians and those in the publishing industry. We salute all of our winners for their fine work.”
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The Florida Authors and Publishers Association is an organization for authors, publishers, illustrators, editors, printers, and other professionals involved in the publishing industry. It focuses on providing the highest quality of information, resources, and professional development to members and others interested in the writing and publishing profession.

The first six individual Kingdom of Florida books are independently published and available via online booksellers and www.kingdomofflorida.com in a variety of formats. The Golden Alligator was also selected as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards earlier this summer.

Kingdom of Florida: The Golden Alligator named FAPA President’s Book Awards finalist

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, May 29, 2021 - On the heels of its selection as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Taylor Thomas Smythe’s debut novel Kingdom of Florida: The Golden Alligator was named a finalist in the 2021 Florida Authors & Publishers Association (FAPA) President’s Book Awards. This latest accolade means that the book is also eligible for additional awards and recognition when the final results are announced at a banquet in Orlando, Florida, near the end of July.

“I feel blessed to have received the news of not one but two incredible accolades for Kingdom of Florida in the same week,” said Smythe. “I’ve heard tons of great feedback on the book from family and friends over the past couple years since its release, but to have my work recognized for excellence on a statewide and national scale is truly incredible. It’s so affirming that the countless hours of solitary writing have blossomed into something that’s now getting national attention.”

Each year FAPA sponsors the President’s Book Awards, which recognizes book publishing excellence and creativity in design, content, and production for authors and publishers. This year, FAPA expanded the competition beyond North America to encompass the entire English-speaking world. Finalists are chosen by publishing professionals and librarians from both within and outside of Florida and are announced at the President’s Book Awards Banquet the last weekend of July.

Smythe added: “These awards are also a testament to the great work of illustrator Alice Waller, and also the influence of my friend, former teacher, and fellow author David Athey—to whom the first novel is dedicated. Thank you both for everything!”

The Golden Alligator is the first novel in the Kingdom of Florida series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, and follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. The sixth installment—Coral and the Treasure Hunters—is scheduled for release this June. 

FAPA is an organization for authors, publishers and other professionals involved in the Florida publishing industry. The Florida Authors & Publishers Association, Inc., was originally organized in 1983 (then known as the Florida Publishers Group) by Betty Wright (Rainbow Books, Inc.) to provide Florida’s growing group of book publishers with an opportunity for education and networking and to provide its members with a clearinghouse for publishing information. FPG became FPA (Florida Publishers Association) and began with only six members. In 2012 FPA expanded the name to FAPA (Florida Authors & Publishers Association) to include a steadily increasing number of authors within the organization.

The first five individual Kingdom of Florida books are independently published and available via online booksellers and www.kingdomofflorida.com in a variety of formats.

Kingdom of Florida: The Golden Alligator selected as finalist in National Indie Excellence Awards

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, May 28, 2021 - Kingdom of Florida: The Golden Alligator, the first novel in author Taylor Thomas Smythe’s middle-grade fantasy saga, was selected as a finalist in the 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. 

The National Indie Excellence Awards celebrate independent publishing as a strong and vital sector of the industry. Recognizing excellence in all aspects of the final presentation, NIEA champions self-publishers and the independent presses who produce the highest quality books across a spectrum of metrics. Established in 2005, NIEA’s entrants are meticulously judged by experts from various facets of the book industry profession including publishers, editors, authors and designers.

“I am thrilled by the news,” said Smythe. “It’s truly an honor to be chosen as a finalist out of a pool of so many talented writers across the United States. It feels satisfying and gratifying to see my debut novel recognized in this way, and I can’t wait for readers to continue this adventure with me.”

Smythe continued: “As this award covers all facets of the book, including the writing, design, and more, I want to pay special tribute to Alice Waller for her excellent work conveying an imaginative vision of the Kingdom through her illustrations. I am so grateful for her work on these books.”

The Golden Alligator is the first novel in the Kingdom of Florida series, which draws inspiration from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, and L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, and follows the journey of a group of South Florida children as they discover a magical parallel world ruled by an evil prince. The sixth installment—Coral and the Treasure Hunters—is scheduled for release this June. 

The first five individual Kingdom of Florida books are independently published and available via online booksellers and www.kingdomofflorida.com in a variety of formats. The NIEA press release, including the fill list of winners and finalists in the National Indie Excellence Awards, can be viewed here.