About the Book

When DeLoyd Stroudamore discovers a cedar chest filled with handwritten stories from 1930s Toad Springs, Florida, he uncovers a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Meet Flavey Stroudamore, whose three-legged gator named Precious bears a holy birthmark that transforms a failing farm into a thriving tourist attraction. Encounter Buck Blander, pastor of the Church of Everlasting Liability, who learned to preach in prison but doesn’t tell his parishioners. Follow Elsie Lou Only as a smooth-talking carnival worker sweeps into her teenage world.

Through fifteen interconnected stories told in authentic vernacular, these Depression-era tales explore faith, betrayal, and survival in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business—or thinks they do. From beauty shop disasters involving head lice and orange henna to church secretaries “accidentally” scalding their enemies with coffee, from secret knitters hiding their talent to telephone operators spreading gossip, Adger captures the humor and heartbreak of ordinary people facing extraordinary times. This remarkable collection preserves the voices of Old Florida while exploring timeless themes of family, community, and the masks we wear to survive.