Fringe Florida: Travels among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles
Florida is universally known as a popular mainstream destination for spring breakers, retirees, and family vacationers. Yet beyond the Magic Kingdom and sandy beaches, peculiar subcultures bloom and flourish—some playfully kooky, others explicitly kinky. Waddell, who spent two years researching the palmy Florida fringe scene, turns a spotlight on some of the eccentric purveyors who thrive in the remarkably tolerant Sunshine State. One of her legendary subjects is headline-grabbing strip-club owner Joe Redner, a Tampa folk hero and so-called father of the nude lap dance. She cites her background as an alternative beat reporter and her stint as a script researcher for the notorious 1995 sleaze-fest, Showgirls, as proof of her investigative chops in covering offbeat scenes. Waddell also assures readers that she’s no prude, just a voyeur of the unusual, albeit one who would never participate in the swinging or pony play she scrutinizes. Waddell’s reporting is credible, and she possesses a jocose writing style, making Fringe Florida an intriguing guide off the beaten path for those looking to escape life’s winter blahs in any season. --Chris Keech