Join Broward County Libraries Director Allison Grubbs and Florida Man and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dave Barry, in a spirited discussion of his new book, “Swamp Story,” releasing May 2, 2023.
Dave Barry won a Pulitzer Prize for his commentary when he was a wildly popular columnist and has scads of bestselling books to his name. His annual year-in-review articles are eagerly awaited and cherished by readers everywhere.
But more importantly, Dave is a Florida Man.
In Swamp Story, his first novel in 10 years, Dave draws on his keen insight as a denizen of the Sunshine State to produce a classic Florida caper full of oddballs, criminals, and schemes that has more twists and turns than an Everglades snake. It’s so rambunctious, clever, and funny, it inspired Steve Martin to blurb it five times. (Keep reading.)
Swamp Story opens with Jesse Braddock trapped in a tiny cabin deep in the Everglades with her infant daughter and her ex-boyfriend, a wannabe reality TV star who turned out to be a lot prettier on the outside than on the inside. Broke and desperate for a way out, Jesse stumbles across a long-lost treasure, which could solve all her problems—if she can figure out how to keep it. The problem is, some very bad men are also looking for the treasure, and they know Jesse has it.
Meanwhile, Ken Bortle of Bortle Brothers Bait and Beer has hatched a scheme to lure tourists to his failing store by making viral videos of the “Everglades Melon Monster.” The Monster is in fact an unemployed alcoholic newspaperman named Phil wearing a Dora the Explorer costume head. Incredibly, this plan actually works, inspiring a horde of TikTokers to swarm into the swamp in search of the monster at the same time villains are on the hunt for Jesse’s treasure. Amid this mayhem, a presidential hopeful arrives in the Everglades to start his campaign. Needless to say, it does not go as planned. In fact, nothing in this story goes as planned. This is, after all, Florida.
A book signing will be held at the end of the event.
About the author
Dave Barry is the author of more bestsellers than you can count on two hands, including Lessons from Lucy, Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys, Dave Barry Turns Forty, and Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up. A wildly popular syndicated columnist best known for his booger jokes, Barry won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He lives in Miami.