Florida Noir

[Linda Stamberger]

Florida noir has deep roots, starting in the 1940’s with hard-boiled detective fiction like John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee character. Fictional detectives, unraveling Florida mysteries, the unique atmosphere as part of the backdrop influencing characters and their actions, are all part of the Florida noir appeal. Florida fiction, along with non-fiction, even the medium of film usually draw on atmosphere, and with fiction, this affects plot as well.

In Florida fiction, an example would be Travis McGee and his boat, the Florida waters, his actions throughout, and in the medium of film, Body Heat--the sticky, humid Florida weather, how it intensifies the heated passion between Kathleen Turner and William Hurt. Both examples are part of the Florida noir formula, and fall into the Florida noir genre.

[Linda Stamberger]

I have, his stuff is pretty wild!

[Rev. Phil White]

You have GOT to read the Tim Dorsey books about Serge Storms. They are filled with Palm/Noir images and references to books and films.  Dorsey knows his stuff and Serge combines FL history with a Rube Goldberg sensibility toward dispatching bad guys.

[Linda Stamberger]

Randy Wayne White, I like his stuff, and many more authors as well, Hiaasen of course. Florida writers are quite descriptive, we are inspired no doubt!