Hello,
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BIO
Renee Garrison was born in Washington DC. Her father was a naval aviator, whose job required the family to move every three years. Though she hated changing schools, Renee discovered a freedom to reinvent herself in each new city where she lived. She discovered her love of journalism while writing for her high school newspaper and graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Mass Communications. She spent 18 years as a staff writer for The Tampa Tribune.
During the decade she worked as the newspaper’s architecture critic, Renee won two communication awards from the American Institute of Architects. In 2011, she visited her former home in the Sanford Naval Academy (which closed its doors in 1976.) The current owners graciously gave her a tour, memories flooded back and a book was born. Her Young Adult novel, “The Anchor Clankers,” won a gold medal in the 2017 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards. "The Habormaster," a mystery novel she co-wrote with her husband, Robert, is a medalist in the 2026 President's Book Awards.
FAQs
Q: Your book begins with a dramatic yacht explosion at dawn. What sparked the idea for this mystery?
A: I’ve always been drawn to stories that start with a jolt — something that grabs my attention as a reader and makes me want to turn the page. My years as a reporter taught me that the most interesting stories often begin with a single unexpected moment. Pair that with Bob’s years as a harbormaster, where he saw firsthand how marinas operate like small towns, and the opening scene practically wrote itself.
Q: Baxter McCracken, your harbormaster‑turned‑investigator, feels incredibly real. How did you shape his character?
A: Baxter is grounded in the kind of people Bob worked with every day — practical, observant, steady, and deeply connected to the water. He’s not a detective; he’s a man who knows his marina and its people. When something doesn’t add up, he can’t ignore it. I think readers respond to that authenticity. Baxter isn’t flashy. He’s capable, loyal, and quietly determined.
Q: The book is filled with vivid marina details. How much of that comes from real life?
A: A lot. Bob spent nearly a decade as a harbormaster, and those experiences shaped everything from the way dockhands talk to the way a boat sounds when it’s not tied correctly. He’s happiest when he’s on the water or close enough to smell the salt in the air. That love shows up on every page. My own background — summers on Cape Cod, decades of boating in Florida — gave me the emotional texture of coastal life. Together, we had both the technical and the atmospheric pieces of the puzzle.
Q: You’ve written award‑winning Young Adult novels. What drew you to write a mystery for adults this time?
A: I’ve loved mysteries since my early devotion to Nancy Drew. YA will always have my heart, but this story needed adult characters with adult stakes. A marina is a world full of secrets, loyalties, and complicated relationships — perfect for a mystery with layers. And honestly, collaborating with Robert made the shift feel natural.
Q: Speaking of collaboration, what’s it like writing a book with your spouse?
A: Surprisingly fun. We each bring different strengths. I handle structure, pacing, and character arcs. Bob brings technical accuracy and boating expertise. We joke that I write the storms and he writes the tides. We also share a deep love for Florida’s waterways, which keeps us aligned even when we debate plot points.
Q: The book features a tangle of clues — a soggy cell phone, hidden drugs, counterfeit bills. How do you craft a mystery that keeps readers guessing?
A: I approach it like reporting: follow the facts, follow the people, and let the truth reveal itself piece by piece. Robert adds the insider knowledge — where someone might hide something on a boat, how money circulates in a marina, the kinds of tensions that arise in close‑knit coastal communities. We wanted readers to feel like they’re uncovering the truth alongside Baxter.
Q: What do you hope local readers take away from this story?
A: A sense of place. Florida’s coastal marinas and towns are beautiful, complicated, and full of character. We wanted to honor that — the charm, the grit, the people who live by the tides. And of course, we hope readers enjoy the ride. A good mystery should keep you turning pages long after the sun goes down.
Q: What’s next for you two? Another Baxter McCracken mystery?
A: We’re already sketching ideas. Our publisher suggested a prequel: Why did Baxter leave banking for a job on the water? The marina has plenty of secrets left. Let’s just say the tides are shifting again.
