For readers familiar with Tallahassee-based naturalist, writer and photographer Doug Alderson’s 14 previous books— all of which are colorful and informed explorations of everything Florida from waters less traveled, iconic attractions, and every sort of wildlife to walking for Native Americans — “A Florida Dance: Life Stories from the Sunshine State” (Paperback, $16.95; Jan. 4, 2026) comes as an intriguing surprise.
This latest work steps away from guidebook and natural history and into the personal realm of memoir. Yet even as Alderson turns inward, the same curiosity, reverence for place, and colorful storytelling that define his earlier books remain firmly intact.
Tallahassee naturalist, writer and photographer Doug Alderson has published “A Florida Dance,” out January, 2026.
Written in his characteristically highly readable and engaging style, “A Florida Dance” traces a life shaped as much by chance and adversity as by purpose.
Alderson recounts childhood innocence and formative experiences, from a memorable Canadian fishing trip to the disorienting search for meaning during the hippie era.
Along the way, readers encounter moments of real peril and resilience: battling scarlet fever, surviving hurricanes, being robbed while delivering pizza, and confronting the ultimate natural encounters in Florida including a bear and an alligator attack he witnessed while kayaking with a group.
These episodes are not presented as spectacles, but as turning points—revealing how a life devoted to observation, endurance, and stewardship took shape.
Doug Alderson holding a turtle in Michigan at age 10.
What gives the memoir particular weight is Alderson’s lifelong commitment to conservation. His advocacy for Florida’s threatened natural habitats — and his willingness to act as a whistleblower when they are endangered — adds moral depth to the narrative.
Even stories of building his own home by hand or helping establish a neighborhood cooperative reflect a consistent philosophy of living responsibly and engaging with both community and the environment.
“A Florida Dance” is more than a catalog of adventures; it is a thoughtful reflection on how a life intertwined with land, water, and conscience can unfold.
Wakulla Springs is like an old friend for Doug Alderson.
Alderson also includes his many years of experiences working for the State and the ups, downs, rewards, and frustrations therein. One of the most intriguing and high-impact experiences working within the sometimes rough waters—pun intended—of state government attests to his determination to make things right for Floridians.
Doug Alderson working on his house around 1987.
This intriguing and page-turning memoir covers the gamut of emotional, physical, and red-tape challenges one experienced and nature-loving Florida man has addressed and overcome throughout his life.
For longtime fans and new readers alike, this memoir offers a revealing and rewarding portrait of the man behind the Florida stories and promises an engaging and enlightening read.
Liz Jameson is the immediate past president of the Tallahassee Writers Association and divides her time between writing and freelance editing.
If you go
What: Book presentation and book signing for “A Florida Dance: Life Stories from the Sunshine State” (Paperback, $16.95; Jan. 4, 2026; self-published on Earthways Press, available on Amazon an local stores). An appearance at My Favorite Books is set for 10 a.m.-noon March 14.
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28
Where: Havana History and Heritage Museum, 204 2nd St NW, Havana
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee’s Doug Alderson reflects on ‘A Florida Dance’