Photo by El Cap.
In 2010, I decided to re-trace some WPA-era driving tours of Florida.
Which I did, in 2011.
In 2012, the University Press of Florida offered me a book deal.
And, in 2016, they published it.
Today, you can buy the book that tells the story of what happens when you cram a girl, her boyfriend, and their dachshund into a 21-foot camper and hit Florida’s backroads for a month. Spoiler alert: This is not a rom-com.
In actuality, this isn’t a story about me, or the boy, or the dachshund (but please no one tell her). It’s Florida’s story; I get the honor of telling it. If you read my stuff, you know what to expect. The rest of you? Buy the book and look forward to (what I hope you’ll find is) a delightful surprise.
Fun facts about Backroads of Paradise
- It took me six years to farm-to-table it (for lack of a better metaphor).
- I am apparently the first person ever to use the word “fuck” in a UPF book (in all fairness, I was quoting someone and that someone was an academic in a dive bar.
- I didn’t hate Dollar General before I took this great Florida road trip.
- If you ask me to pick my favorite road, I can’t. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite cheese.
Read an excerpt at the UPF website (where you also order the book, if you’re Amazon-averse).
See Backroads of Paradise in photos.
Get More Florida!
If you love Florida and enjoy this website, please support my Florida travel habit, my dogs, and this writing:
- For $5/month, get a shout-out on the Florida Spectacular podcast .
- Not ready to commit? Check out the always-free Florida Spectacular podcast!
- Finally, buy my books. That page has affiliate links, so I get a little extra when you buy using those links.