Sally J. Ling
Florida’s History Detective
I love Florida history and am committed to finding buried, forgotten, or unusual stories and bringing them to my readers in a compelling manner.
Author
As an author I have written four nonfiction books, each about a fascinating aspect of Florida history. And, my nonfiction books have Florida history as either their main theme, or they are set in Florida. I also have several current projects that also reflect a Florida theme.
Journalist
As a journalist, I have interviewed Olympic champions, world-renowned men-of-the-cloth, Carnegie Hall performers, high-powered developers, politicians, and TV personalities. I have covered Mickey Mantle memorabilia, World World II exhibits, historic walking tours, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs. I have even been a ghostwriter.
For four years, I was a special correspondent for the Sun Sentinel newspaper where hundreds of my articles appeared in the Community News section. As a freelance journalist, dozens of my articles appeared in Boca Raton, Gold Coast, Boca Life, Delray Beach, Palm Beacher, and Carolina Bride magazines.
Speaker
As a speaker, I have shared my stories with audiences at numerous educational institutions, social and philanthropic organizations, and historical societies throughout Florida. I enjoy speaking about Florida’s rich history, and never miss an opportunity to talk with students about writing, and the excitement of discovering a good story.
I have also been a guest on NPR (National Public Radio and TV) many times, and am a guest lecturer with the Life Long Learning Society at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.
Documentaries
Because of my book Run the Rum In, I had the privilege of participating in two documentaries depicting South Florida during the Prohibition era.
I was associate producer and on-camera speaker in WLRN’s documentary “Prohibition and the South Florida Connection” that premiered November 2011 and is still running on PBS channels. And, I participated in a series entitled “Gangsters” for the National Geographic Channel.
Now Available for Purchase!
SPIES, ROOT BEER AND ALLIGATORS: PHILLIPS GREAT ADVENTURES
Released in April 2013 as an E-Book.
Adam was on his bike headed toward the beach in Boca Raton, Florida to look for treasures washed up by the waves. Instead he bumped into Phillip, a man who enchanted him with tales of adventures growing up on the same beach during World War II. He told Adam of German spies taking up residence in an unoccupied house, of being caught by mitary police at the secret military post, of a giant alligator being delivered to City Hall and of the hunt for a monstrous “devil-fish”.
Adam found his treasure, though it was not what he expected. The treasure he found was Phillip’s friendship and amazing hair-raising adventures of life in the small town of Boca Raton during the war years.
This gem is filled with wonderful Boca Raton history and fantastic adventures of interest to any reader young or old.
Out of Mind, Out of Sight: A Revealing History of the Florida State Hospital at Chattahoochee and Mental Health Care in Florida.
Paperback only.
Find out more and order your copy today!
A biblical mystery by Sally J. Ling
The Cloak, a biblical mystery, is here!
Find out more and order an e-book or paperback.
Other books by Sally J. Ling
Run the Rum In Discover the tricks of the trade—smuggling the liquor and evading the law. Learn of the dealings of Al Capone, “the Real McCoy,” and the “Gulf Stream Pirate.” Discover how NASCAR got its start and a local restaurant with a past steeped in rum running.
and
Small Town, Big Secrets: Inside the Boca Raton Army Air Field during WWII chronicles the history of the Boca Raton Army Air Field and includes descriptions and experiences of veterans and civilians who served on the Field.
and
A History of Boca Raton is a quick read, yet a comprehensive history of Boca Raton–the people and the institutions that make up this city.
and
Phillip’s Great Adventures: Spies, Root Beer and Alligators is a historical novel for young people that is based on the real life adventures of former Boca Raton residents.
Now that I know of it I can keep track of you from here as well.
Leno
Ms. Ling, I Grew Up In Miami Beach, and for many many years I’ve been trying to find ‘just one’ person who remembers what the hotels there all called ‘Splash Parties’, which each had almost daily during the week in the late afternoon. Horses jumped off the high-diving board into the pool, along with clowns and other comic entertainers. They served hot dogs and hamburgers. . . Could You Email Me Whether Or Not You Have Heard Of Them? . . . They were most prevalent in the 50′s.
After receiving your e-mail I looked at your web site. There is something that has always bothered me. While in grammer school in Pompano I was a newspaper delivery boy for the Fort lauderdale Times. In fact have a photograph showing all of the carrier boys with our distribution manager. I have tried to research information about that newspaper and the closest I have been was some old microfilm in the public library in Ft. lauderdale. I do not understand why that bit of history has just been elimiated from public records. The Times was a morning delivery distributed as far north as Dearfield and Boca. Do you know anything about that paper?
You might try Denyse at the Historical Commission – 954 357 5513.