Quill V: A Night of LGBT Literature

Dawn Betts-Green

Originally from Sylacauga, Alabama, Dawn Betts-Green lives in Tallahassee with her partner of nearly 15 years, Anna, and a very spoiled fancy rat named Basil. She graduated last April from FSU with degrees in Religion, Women's Studies, and Creative Writing.  Her essay "Doing Things in Threes" will appear in the Spring 2013 Seal Press anthology It's All in Her Head:  Women Making Peace with Troubled Minds edited by Laura Andre.  Her writing can also be found at her blog, The Askew Police.

Cathryn E. Lokey MS/Ed.S, NCC

Cathryn E. Lokey MS/Ed.S, NCC has been living and working in Tallahassee for over 12 years. She developed, and currently runs, the school counseling/guidance program at The School of Arts and Sciences, named one of the top eight charter schools in the country by the U.S. Department of Education. She also works as a personal life coach specializing in self-discovery and the development of personal identity. Her publications include Discovering Self, a guided self-inquiry journal designed to help the reader/writer develop the skills of self-inquiry and self-discovery, and The Perfect Daughter (available summer of 2012), an account of her own process of self discovery and her dramatic transition from her life as a member of the Mormon church to her life as a lesbian. Cathryn holds a master’s degree in counseling and human systems and a specialist degree in education. She is a National Board Certified Counselor and member of the American School Counselor’s Association and the Florida School Counselor’s Association. She is the proud mother of one adopted son. For more information on her current work go to self-discoverycoaching.com. 

Vickie Spray

Vickie is a writer, writing coach and non-religious Spiritual Counselor who help seekers expand their understanding of themselves by learning how to identify and fully live their spiritual possibility. By knowing who we are as Spirit Beings, we discover our unique function and purpose for this life time. By knowing who we are, we are able to live peaceful, service-full and powerful lives. We have all come here for a reason. Writing is a powerful way to discover what may be keeping you down and what passions will get you through to your true identity.  As a minister, Vickie uses her knowledge of ancient and modern mystics and teachers to help her clients arrive at their own inner wisdom.  She works with many people whose religious upbringing failed to fulfill the spiritual hunger that is in all of us as well as with those who have had little or no traditionally identified spiritual life.  Drawing upon her own spiritual journey she serves her clients in their spiritual reclamation which inevitably heals human wounds.  Vickie conducts workshops, retreats and provides private consultations and can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Joan Denman

Joan Denman was the original owner and manager of Rubyfruit Books for over twelve years before she sold it in 1996. Since then, she returned to school and got her Masters in History with an emphasis in Public History. From May 2001 until this past February she was the senior archivist with the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience at FSU. She is now devoting her time to writing and other adventures.

Amber Green

Being a bespectacled were-grammarian as well as a professional paper-pusher, Amber Green submerges herself in fiction in an attempt to find high adventure (as opposed to anything involving actual expenditure of sweat), lots of nookie, or sometimes just a reality that makes sense.  Her website is www.shapeshiftersinlust.com and she occasionally blogs at http://somewriteithot2.blogspot.com/.

Girlz Rock!

8Fifty Reddeyez

8Fifty Reddeyez, born Rasheka Denise Williams, on November 10, 1981, in Tallahassee, Florida, is a female Hip Hop Artist and Songwriter. Starting her career in the entertainment business as a young, aspiring Hip Hop and African dancer, she realized she had a talent in music when changing her poetry into songs at the age of 16. Now signed to T-Pain Official Dj, DjLilboy's: Next Up Records, she is currently working on her upcoming album "Jack of ALL trades" which is scheduled to be released fall 2012. Since recording her first single "Hip hop" in 2002, 8Fifty Reddeyez has been on the road to success. With her new hot single "A song for her" flowing the airwaves and clubs, she has been booked for numerous shows in the North Florida area. Being called “Ambitious” by many engineers, they describe her as a very talented and determined artist.  Branching out on her humble beginnings throughout Tallahassee, Florida, performing at events, such as, Florida State University: Relay for Life, Tallahassee PrideFest 2k11, Blazin 102.3 Birthday Bash, and Florida A&M University Homecoming Friday Night Strike; just to name a few, 8Fifty Reddeyez believes victory is possible. Nevertheless, while learning and studying leadership/artist development from artists such as Dj Fatboy Rhymer(Pretty Ricky dj), Alyric, Chevy P(Field Mob) Yo Gotti, Brisco, and DjLilboy, 8Fifty Reddeyez understands the talent has to be within the artist.

Mandi Johnson

Mandi Johnson was born and raised in Jacksonville. When she was 8 years old, she got into gymnastics. Then in middle school, she switched paths and pursued cheerleading. It was through cheerleading that she discovered her love for dance. Once in college, the itch to pursue dance got stronger so she began searching for opportunities. She found a local student Latin dance group fell in love with Latin dance. She loved it so much, she decided to offer lessons. She has taught many and always welcomes anyone who wants to learn, whether it’s a private lesson or in a group.

Mandi Johnson will also be perform on the mainstage during Pride in the Plaza.

Pride in the Plaza

Brandy Vance

Brandy Vance is a PE teacher at Imagine School at Evening Rose here in Tallahassee.  She has been performing in front of crowds since elementary school.  Brandy was the lead singer of the former local band the_aUdience and more recently has appeared with The Rick Ott Band.  She is honored to continue to support Pride and the LGBT community of Tallahassee like she has since 2005.  This is her second year leading the Star-Spangled Banner for the opening of Pride in the Plaza.

Vodka CinciNatty

Vodka “TrixieWinehouze” CinciNatty, formally known as Prendince Shibon Williams was born on March 27, 1989, in Quincy, Florida. She spent most of her childhood in Gretna, Florida and attended Gretna Elementary School where the introduction of vocal strength arrived as early as Kindergarten. Her grandmother, the late Rejiner Dilworth-Houston, would not-knowingly place her on local wedding, church, talent show, and open mic programs to show off her talent as young as 5 years old. Vodka became one of the lead singers for not only the elementary school chorus, but also in two church choirs in Gadsden County by the age of 8 years old. Since her childhood, she has participated in the Carter-Parramore Middle School Chorus, the East Gadsden High School Ensemble and Chorus, and the Gadsden County Alumni Ensemble throughout her entirety in the Gadsden County Public School System. She has found her vocal strength through childhood dreams and personal vendettas. Miss CinciNatty believes that music can simply save the world and can heal any kind of pain.

Today, Vodka CinciNatty has written hundreds of songs and tunes, therapy as she calls it, and has a strong passion to record her own music someday. Some of her greatest influences in music include Aretha Franklin, Linda Jones, Amy Winehouse, Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman and Nickelback to name a few. She hopes to work alongside all of these legends in the near future. As the oldest of six siblings, Vodka CinciNatty believes in the pressure of hard work, determination, faith, charisma and diligence. She has strived for musical excellence since the age of 3 years old and has continued to spark ears, hearts, and lives throughout the world today. The illustrious, the Voice of the Brave, the Underground Songbird, the one; Miss Vodka “Trixie” CinciNatty.

The Wailin' Wolves Band

The Wailin’ Wolves Band comes from a diverse range of age and genre backgrounds to create their own original sound. A unique blend of modern hits, blues and rock classics, peppered with original compositions, they play a high energy show suitable for any age group that will keep you dancing or toe-tapping the whole show. As one of our avid fans stated, “your grooves cut clean and hard through the genre clutter to grab my ears and soul".

With Bert Calderon leading the music, the Wailin' Wolves Band continues performing exciting shows with a great variety. Chicago bred and born, “Wailin’ Bert” Calderon brings his roots and style from the home of the blues, Chicago. He has been playing professionally since the age of 15 and spent his teen years in New York bringing experience of both pro and amateur guitar playing to the Wailin' Wolves band. Having shared stages with the likes of The Young Rascals, the Butterfield Blues Band, The Blues Project, Demian Bell, Randall "Big Daddy Blues" Webster, Jeff Conaway, Spirit, and numerous others he brings his unique style, a blend of Chicago bluez, classic rock, and 60's / 70's rock to his unique arrangements. He has played at the famous Cafe Wah, The Bitter End, and Cafe Au Go Go, in the village, numerous clubs in FL and NY, and college campuses, amongst many other well-known stages. He opened up for The Young Rascals in 1966 at Brooklyn Academy Of Music in NY, has written a number of songs and plays lead, rhythm, and bass guitar, pleasing crowds of all sizes.

Our newest addition, female lead vocalist, Tracy Yacobellis, is a twenty six yr. old graduate of FSU, with classical vocal training and a phenomenal vocal range.  “Slim Shaw” From was the original founder of The Wailin' Wolves band and plays a blistering blues harp and adds some very soulful vocals and harmonies.  Shawn Scott, our original drummer has returned back, with the most incredible beat making ever and incredible energy and syncopation keeping our rhythm section tight as a gnat, with incredible beats and great live showmanship.  Jay Schwartz is our new keyboard player with almost 40 years of experience.  "BB" Bryant Williams has a number of years’ experience as a professional lead, rhythm, and bass guitar player. Bryant holds our bottom end tight, He has played on many stages around the country and has a vast knowledge of all different kinds of music, yet blues is his passion.  The band has a great diversity in their music that helps create their sound making the Wailin' Wolves Band gain in popularity every show.

Wiley Gaby

Wiley Gaby is Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, who plays soulful, country originals and country-flavored covers of artists from Dolly Parton to Robyn. A North Florida native raised in Wakulla County, Wiley graduated from FSU longer ago than he cares to admit. This is his first performance at a Pride festival, and he's happy to be making it in Tallahassee.