Sunshine States: Wild Times and Extraordinary Lives in the Land of Gators, Guns and Grapefruit

Florida's soundtrack is the ultra-high-voltage din of cultures slapped together, of people wired for everything from the fabulous to the fatal. In seven pieces that describe their stories, dreams and nightmares, journalist Patrick Carr writes about the Floridians whose lives are the reality of the Sunshine State. They include alligator hunters near Lakeland, water warriors in Tampa, narcotics cops and political refugees in Miami, a Seminole chief in the Glades, and a cracker sage at Fisheating Creek. Like all transplants, Carr says, he loves Florida for what is isn't - cold and old - and for what it is - hot and wild. His compassionate, spirited and often humourous action journalism captures the character of a frontier paradise.