Summer 2015 Tour of Old Florida

Two years after the release of my book and I am pleased to find I am still in demand as a presenter. The main thing I've learned from my talks statewide is that my most rewarding moments come from connecting to the audience. And I seem to have great audiences wherever I go...

Some highlights from earlier this year include: 
When I arrived in Tarpon Springs, for a second speaking engagement, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Lunch and Learn program had sold out! After a great talk, I spent some time shopping for antiques, and found a great gift for my wife's birthday. I look forward to learning more about the Greek cultural influences in that historical town in the future.

My February Myth and Magic talk in Gainesville with the remarkable Margaret Tolbert was a huge success, with a standing room only crowd, and many great friends showed up. It is hugely rewarding to receive compliments from people I greatly admire at the end of a talk.

In Green Cove Springs, my wife and I were treated to a tour of the historic spring and the 'lost' site of Magnolia Springs. The Clay County Historical Society overwhelmed us with hospitality and kindness.

I also did presentations in Ocala, Enterprise, Deltona, Lake Alfred, and Viera. After the Enterprise event I met some Facebook friends in person for the first time, and the result was the Spring Hunters, a Facebook group with almost 2,500 members. In addition, I presented at the "Give Springs A Break" program at Ginnie Springs, at USF in Tampa, to a class of 4th graders in Orlando, and I did a talk about "Being in the Flow" at my church.

The Women's Bath House at the Jefferson Pools in Warm Springs, VA

I took June off in order to take a much overdue vacation. The highlight was taking the waters at the historical Jefferson Pools of Warm Springs, Virginia. My self-proclaimed Magical Memories Summer Tour began in mid-July with a great stop at the tiny town of Reddick in Marion County. The mayor showed us the New Deal-era gymnasium and the library soon filled with an attentive crowd. Afterwards they shared memories of swimming in Magnesia Springs and one person told us her mom made the costumes for the Weeki Wachee mermaids.

A week later I got out of my comfort zone for my first presentation that was not connected to my book in over a year. My talk "From Sand Mountain to the Coral Castle: Roadside Attractions and the Dixie Highway" helped launch the the Polk County History Museum's new exhibit about the Dixie Highway. Again my wife and I were moved by a kind, supportive audience.

I love it when folks share firsthand memories of the places I talk about. Some of these historical sites no longer exist, and when I hear about them from someone who knew them firsthand, it is extremely rewarding. Those are magical moments of connection that keep me motivated!

The PechaKucha this Friday in Orlando will give me an opportunity to connect to large crowds, two audiences of around 300 people! Tickets are still on sale for the second show. Learn more here.

Coming up this fall: Micanopy, Dunnellon, St. Augustine, Brooksville, and Lake City!

Reflecting on water

Naked Spring at Gilchrist Blue Springs Park by Lesley Gamble

Part of being a Floridian is having a relationship with water. Florida was settled from the outside in – the state's interior was so swampy that the only reliable means of transportation was its waterways:  oceans, rivers, and lakes. To make water traffic more efficient, canals were dug between water bodies to transport goods and and materials. Shallow bays and harbors were dredged and the sand and muck removed in the process became desirable dry land, land that became desirable real estate. The boom was on.

Dredge Welatka - Kissimmee River, Florida, State Archives of Florida

Land boom-era Columbia County advertisement in the Illustrated Daily Tab - Miami, Florida, 1926
State Archives of Florida

In the days before air conditioning, folks were drawn to the water to escape the heat. Springs became sources of recreation, and beachfront communities developed along the coasts. Even before Europeans arrived, the indigenous people had an intimate relations with Florida's water. For countless generations life in Florida has revolved around water, and much of my favorite childhood memories are connected to water. Boat trips on the St. Johns River, fishing on the Ocklawaha, flying off the rope swing at Welaka Springs. Swimming lessons at the neighbors pool, driving to Crescent Beach to watch the sunrise. Lobstering in the Keys, sailing in the gulf. You get the picture.

"Floridians Crossing Over to an Island to take their Pleasure", based on the artwork of Le Moyne.
State Archives of Florida

Learning how to swim in the neighbors' pool

My mother and grandmother at Silver Springs

My relationship with water turned from recreation to advocacy while writing "Finding the Fountain of Youth" when I became aware of the declining state of Florida's springs. I helped promote the petition to get the Florida's Water and Land Legacy initiative on the ballot (now Amendment 1). In my opinion, the lawmakers in Tallahassee cannot be trusted to be adequate caretakers of our sacred waters. Amendment 1 would force them to purchase environmentally sensitive lands and ensure future generations have Healthy water resources to enjoy. Learn more about the amendment here.

As part of the Springs Eternal Project, I have worked hard to create awareness of the state's water issues with my partners artist/professor Lesley Gamble and nature photographer John Moran. John will be in Orlando on Wednesday speaking with FSU professor Diane Roberts. Both John and Diane made headlines this year for similar reasons. In May John's images were removed from the Office of Greenways and Trails website, possibly due to his outspoken criticism of Tallahassee politicians for their inability to pass meaningful springs protection legislation. Diane had a similar experience a month earlier when a speaking engagement in Tallahassee was abruptly cancelled.

As the November election looms near, Florida voters have an opportunity to send a clear signal to state lawmakers that protecting our environment is important.  I'll be speaking at an event called Reflecting Florida: How Agriculture, Art, & Activism Shape Our State this Sunday, October 19th at Orlando's East End Market. My portion of the day-long event will be contributing to a panel with the topic "State of water: Image and Impacts" at 11 am. Other panel discussions include: "Natural State: What Makes Florida Home", "State of Courage: Women as Change-Makers", and "State of Our Plate: Food & Agriculture in Florida." Check this website to see a list of the wonderful presenters scheduled to appear. The day culminates in a reception with Bill Belleville, who will talking about his latest book "The Peace of Blue." Cost is $25 and proceeds go to support Amendment 1.

Our quality of life in the Sunshine State is dependent upon clean water. I invite you to vote for Amendment 1 and attend one of these events to see how you can make a difference in creating a legacy of abundant water.

"Finding the Fountain of Youth" earns Florida Book Award

I am honored to announce that "Finding the Fountain of Youth" has been awarded the bronze medal at the Florida Book Awards in the category of Visual Arts.  The Florida Book Awards are coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries and co-sponsored by the Florida Center for the Book, the State Library and Archives of Florida, the Florida Historical Society, the Florida Humanities Council, the Florida Literary Arts Coalition, the Florida Library Association, "Just Read, Florida!," the Governor's Family Literacy Initiative, the Florida Association for Media in Education, the Florida Center for the Literary Arts, Friends of the Florida State University Libraries, the Florida Writers Association, and the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. An annual awards program that recognizes, honors, and celebrates the best Florida literature and books about Florida published in the previous year, the Florida Book Awards recognize winners at a luncheon hosted that day at the Florida Governor's Mansion by the First Lady.

I am proud to have my book recognized for such a prestigious award and humbled to be included in the company of some Florida's most significant authors.

In like a Lion...

I will speaking at museums all over the state this month and hopefully you can catch me at one of the following the events.

On Friday, March 7th I will be at the Amelia Island Museum of History at 6 pm. The museum is located at 233 South 3rd Street in Fernandina Beach.

On Wednesday, March 12th I will be the featured speaker for the South Florida Museum's Think+Drink promotion at 7 pm. The South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th St W. in Bradenton. My Finding the Fountain of Youth exhibit is also on display at the museum through April.

On Wednesday, March 19, I will be speaking at the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum's Lunch & Learn Program at 12 noon. The Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum is located at 100 Library Lane in Tarpon Springs.

Launch Week

In some ways it seemed like this week would never arrive; in other ways it seems like I was just meeting with my publisher to start my book. One dream came true this week, when I saw my book featured at the Barnes and Noble near my house. Another will come true next Saturday at the official launch of "Finding the Fountain of Youth" at Urban ReThink near downtown Orlando.

Seeing my book displayed in the History section at Barnes and Nobles felt hugely rewarding...

I asked the clerk to take a picture of me with the book and she asked me to sign them all!

Urban ReThink used to be the Urban Think bookstore, one of the last independent bookstores in Orlando. During the bookstore's brief existence they sold my Florida Roadside Retro calendars, and for that I will always be grateful. Located in the hip Thornton Park District east of Lake Eola, the space at Urban ReThink seems like the perfect venue for the launch.

The informal atmosphere of Urban ReThink

If you are in the Orlando, area next Saturday, May 18th please join me for the celebration of my book. I plan to do a slideshow with fun images and describe how this book came into being. This will be my first opportunity to speak about the content of the book, (outside of Toastmasters at least), and I look forward to testing out the material. The event goes from 3-5 pm. and parking is available here.

Also next week, my publisher will be giving away five free books in celebration of the launch on their Facebook page. And on Thursday at 9 am I will be on Patrick Greene's ReThinking the City radio show on Rollins College's WPRK.

I hope you are able to join me in marking the beginning of the life of this book and a milestone in my own journey.