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Does Florida have seasons?

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She looked out over the palmettos and pines, here where she’d grown up, where she learned to survive broiling heat in the summer, lightning storms, war and raiders, disease, and clouds of biting insects and animals that would as soon kill you as walk away from you. It was also a land of birdsong and warm winter breezes, flowers all year round, and plenty of water and sunshine. --[WIP] For Love of a Smuggler Depends where you live. Up here in North Central Florida, we can feel the change from not going outside in mid-August because it feels like you're in a sauna under a magnifying glass frying you on the sidewalk, to waking up in the morning and feeling chipper when you step outside.  For me it's also nature trails season. Florida, especially where I live, is blessed with springs, rivers, and lots of nature trails maintained by the various local and state governments and volunteers. Once the temperature drops down into the 80sF it's safe to get back out, so I grabbed my boo...
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Know Your Trash Pandas

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The moon hanging heavy above the trees illuminated the pine flatwoods and palmettos, clear enough for him to see a raccoon scamper across the track in front of them. “Older he-coons wait until near dawn to come out,” Carl had told him at the trading site as John admired his collection of skins to trade. “The younger males get trapped or et by panthers and gators ‘cause they ain’t got no sense.” --BOOK NINE, maybe titled FOR LOVE OF A SMUGGLER or maybe TREASURE ON THE TIDE, I dunno yet... Floridians of a certain age may recall the phrase, "The old he-coon walks just before the light of day" and how it helped our late Governor "Walkin' Lawton" Chiles win an election. I was out walking a few mornings back and saw this guy scampering across a neighbor's lawn. It was long past light of day, so he may have had a busy night, or just lacked good sense.  Racoons are part of the Florida landscape, and these little trash pandas are annoying, but also interest...
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Review: The Magician of Tiger Castle

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The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews
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Review: The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton

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The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton by Andrew Porwancher My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews
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Hitting the Trail

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  “You want to be careful about not going into the brush without checking first. The last thing you need is for a snake or a scorpion to say howdy while your trousers are down.” “I don’t recall having to deal with venomous snakes before.” “You were a town dweller, John” she said, giving him a glance over her shoulder. “You don’t hunt, but you shoot. You’re used to tailored clothing. You can rule out being a farmer or a homesteader from your life.” “That still leaves a lot of choices.” They came around a massive live oak and he saw the creek, dragonflies hovering over the shimmering water. A blue jay disturbed by their passage called out raucously from a maple and another bird answered. It seemed peaceful out here in the woods even though danger was everywhere, according to Kate. --[WIP, Working Title] FOR THE LOVE OF A SMUGGLER  c. 2025, all rights reserved       September is college football season in Gainesville, but for me it's the beginning of Florida hikin...
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Thank you, Dr. Gorrie

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There are two statues representing the State of Florida in the US Capitol. One is Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an amazing educator, civil rights activist, and presidential advisor. It is most fitting that she represent this state. The other statue is 19th C. physician Dr. John Gorrie. Less well known, but so vitally important to Florida in his own way. There's an old saying around here, "It was DDT and air-conditioning that settled Florida." DDT is now banned in the US, but in the 20th c. it was crucial for killing off mosquitoes so that people could live in this swamp. The other thing that made life bearable is air conditioning, and Dr. Gorrie's research into refrigeration and using ice and fans to cool sickrooms led to the development of air-conditioning for homes and other buildings.  I know how important this is because this week our air conditioning gave up the ghost after 20 years of solid service. It may be autumn where you are, but in Florida it's still summer...
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Review: Warrior Princess Assassin

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Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews
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Happy #LaborDay

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Today is a day off for most hardworking folks in the US, and the end of summer as many school districts resume classes this week. Here in North Central Florida summer is lingering, but it's an unexpectedly balmy and breezy 75F out there, a nice change from the 100+ temps we've endured. Meanwhile, in honor of the day, here's an excerpt from my WIP, [Working Title] The Smuggler's Amnesiac Lover . Enjoy! He stopped, overwhelmed by a wave of shameful anger, not because of here, not because of now, but because of something … someone…before. "What is it?” “I’m not worthless.” She stepped forward, concerned, and he blinked, the feeling fading. “John Smith, you are far from worthless. Anyone who shows up on my front step with a basket full of fish is worth more than, well, more than a lot of folks who come here.” She reached up and was about to touch his face when she paused and lowered her hand and he desperately wanted Kate, for that’s who she was to him in his mind now,...
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