Tracy Detz is an award-winning author who writes middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction rooted in Southern Gothic atmosphere, emotional honesty, and the quiet magic of transformation.
Her flash fiction has earned recognition on international shortlists, and her debut novel, Cicada Summer, formerly titled Cat Eyes, took top honors in a 2025 UK literary contest. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies.
When she isn’t writing, Tracy leads a nonprofit equine program, where she witnesses the same courage, healing, and human grit that shape the heart of her stories.
“Tracy Detz can take something problematic in society, and recreate it in a way that tweens, teens, and young adults can understand and learn from it, and I love how she does this effortlessly. A talented author that I wouldn’t hesitate to turn to whenever I needed a children’s book with feeling, and heart, as well as one with such an important lesson!” Her stories are the kind that could be read thousand times, with the reader getting such immense joy out of it each and every time! Just absolutely delightful.” ~ Emily Quinn, UK book blogger A Quintillion Reads
People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. ……Maya Angelou
What I’m Working on Right Now!
Published Work by Tracy Detz
Magnolia Rot
Cicada Summer
Forever Free, Inc.
Tracy is also a therapeutic riding instructor and owner of Forever Free, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities overcome obstacles through the way of the marvelous horse. She uses equine-oriented activities for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well being of people with disabilities.
Tracy donates a percentage of all book proceeds to the Autism Alliance of Michigan.
Connect with Tracy online