Spectacular Florida: Interview with Cathy Salustri
We’re trying to highlight more Florida authors and books about Florida. Can you share a little about your personal connection to the state of Florida?
I moved here in 1980, when I was 7, and — unlike so many "transplants" — my parents never talked about how great it was "back home" (which was New York, near the city). Instead, they talked about how much better it was here; how they loved the weather and they weren't working several jobs to make enough money to live; how Florida allowed them to enjoy life and their family. That message, unintentionally or not, made its mark on me.
Your book Florida Spectacular: Extraordinary Places and Exceptional Lives has a great title. Could you give us an overview of the book?
Florida Spectacular: Extraordinary Places and Exceptional Lives is my answer to stories of “weird Florida” and “Florida man.” If we’re so stupid and weird and whatever, how come so many people live here? How come so many people want to live here? How come people go into debt — or save all year — to spend a week or two on our beaches every year? I figured I wasn’t the only Floridian to feel this way, so I started collecting stories about people, our history, and our environment that celebrate Florida rather than tearing her down. I call it Florida-splaining.
What drew you to this topic? And what surprised you most in researching this book or putting it together?
I'm so tired of being made fun of for choosing to live in one of the best places on the plant.
Your book covers special people and places, how does this book help us better understand Florida, as a whole?
Florida is more than the sum of its parts. We have magical springs, a significant place in world history, some of the strongest women in history, and a cadre of other fantastic facets. Each one is amazing on its own, but the gestalt is… spectacular.
What is it that you hope readers take away with them?
I want Floridians to feel good about being Floridian.
You're also the owner of The Gabber Newspaper, the oldest independent weekly in Florida. What do you think makes a publication like that special?
The Gabber Newspaper has been special since the Brann family started it in 1968, but as daily papers fail to adapt to a changing world and digital storytelling, hyperlocal weekly papers have a tremendous opportunity to shed light on local government, tell the community stories, and help people feel connected to their community in a tangible way.
You wrote this book and you also run https://greatfloridaroadtrip.com/, so you've thought a lot about what makes Florida special. How do you explain what's special about Florida to other people?
I write, of course, and I post on my website. I also have a podcast, Florida Spectacular, that I co-host with Rick Kilby and, for our paid subscribers, there's a Florida Keys version with Brad Bertelli. I speak around the state, always about Florida.
Among other things, Cathy Salustri is the author of Florida Spectacular: Exceptional Places and Exceptional Lives (University Press of Florida, 2024)
