Need a beach read? Try these 11 local authors from the Grand Strand
If you are looking for an entertaining murder mystery series, or a historical account of the Myrtle Beach area, there are plenty of local authors up and down the Grand Strand.
The Sun News curated a list of local authors who have written about the area.
Ron Wing, aka ‘James Robert Fuller’
Under the pen name James Robert Fuller, local author Ronald Wing is currently working on his next release in his Myrtle Beach murder mystery series.
His first release was titled “Paradise: Disturbed,” and follows the story of two FBI agents who team up in order to find a serial killer.
With thousands of fans across the nation, Wing often writes back and forth with fans, he said. Readers can expect to see familiar names and sights in his books, even homes along the Grand Strand.
Horry County Coroner Robert Edge often makes an appearance in his stories as well. With his permission of course, Wing said.
“(Readers) love the fact that I include places they know,” he said.
Caleb Wygal
Caleb Wygal is releasing the fourth installment of a Myrtle Beach-inspired mystery book series, set to release in May.
“Death on the Causeway” will be available May 9. It picks up several months after the events of book three, “Death on the Golden Mile.”
Wygal moved with his family to the Myrtle Beach area in 2019. His inspiration for a mystery series came during a quiet time in the car driving up and down Ocean Boulevard with his son in the back, Wygal said.
“I pitched it to my publisher, and they loved it,” Wygal said in a past Sun News article. “They told me to stop what I was working on then, and it worked out.”
Each story follows a specific theme in Myrtle Beach, such as entertainment, fine arts and the hospitality industry. “Death on the Causeway” explores the Myrtle Beach restaurant scene.
Becky Billingsley
A former features reporter, Becky Billingsley’s books are about the history and cuisine of the Myrtle Beach area. Some of her books include, “Lost Myrtle Beach” and “A Culinary History of Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand.”
“Lost Myrtle Beach” takes the reader back in time to the city’s most memorable attractions, such as the Myrtle Beach Pavilion and the Ocean Forest Hotel.
Troy D. Nooe
Troy D. Nooe is the author of the Frankie McKeller Mystery Series, “Murder in Myrtle Beach.”
Some of the books in the series include “Long-legged Rosie,” “Damn Yankee,” and “The Ocean Forest.” According to an author bio, Nooe was up for a national Shamus Award for “The Ocean Forest.”
Dino Thompson
Dino Thompson wrote a memoir about growing up in the Myrtle Beach area. “Greek Boy: Growing Up Southern” is about Thompson’s upbringing near the beach as his family purchases a cafe in the small town during the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.
Maegwen Salley-Massie
Published in the beginning of this year, “The Emerald Queen Rises” by Maegwen Salley-Massie is about a royal outcast in love with the queen of an opposing nation. Salley-Massie is a Myrtle Beach area resident.
Roger Quinn
Roger Quinn is a retired teacher and counselor who currently resides in the North Myrtle Beach area, according to his author bio. “Greed,” which published in 2020, is about a small housing community in South Carolina suffering from financial instability caused by short-term rentals.
Quinn is a published author and developmental editor. An active community member, he pursues his love for music, writing and travel. Quinn’s books can be found online or ordered through bookstores.
Quinn has also written books such as “Deep Deception,” “The Trinity Conspiracy,” and “The Innocent Assets of Conspiracy.”
Leonard Di Gregorio
Leonard Di Gregorio is a resident in North Myrtle Beach who has written a few different novels perfect for a beach read. Di Gregorio said that his books are perfect for a day at the beach due to the short chapters, allowing the reader to “take a quick dip in the ocean when necessary,” he said in an email.
Di Gregorio has written “Rage,” “Hunted,” and “Red Herring.
Brent Hensley
A North Myrtle Beach resident, Brent Hensley has “used the coastal lowcountry area as a backdrop” for many of his mystery books, according to his author bio. Hensley has written “Initial Deception,” “Temporarily Absent,” and “Nebulous Deception,” all apart of his Connie Womack Lowcountry Mystery series.
James Furry
James Furry, a retired FBI agent, moved with his wife in 2008 and lives in Conway. He has published two books so far, “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity, My Story,” a non-fiction autobiography, and “Love’s Peculiar Nature,” a woman’s fiction anthology.
Furry is also the current president of the Southeastern Writers Association, which will hold its annual conference for all authors on June 9.
Steve McMillen
Author Steve McMillen wrote “Murder on the Front Nine,” a murder mystery set in the Myrtle Beach area.
“It is a tale of assassinations, black ops, corrupt politicians, big oil, betrayal, a drug cartel, and a treasure hunt, with a twist, off the South Carolina coast,” the book summary reads.
We know there are more local authors out there.
Know of one who didn’t make the list? Let us know. Email cwilliamson@thesunnews.com.
