Flashback Key

by Robin Elder

On September 8, 1960, six men took refuge in a small, land-based lighthouse during Hurricane Donna in the burgeoning Florida Keys community of Islamorada. When I first read about this, I was curious as to how they passed the time, with the storm raging all around them for hours on end. Searching old newspaper archives about their story, I found just two articles addressing how they tried to entertain themselves. One simply stated that they told a few jokes. The other said they sung a few songs and prayed. However, knowing they spent numerous hours hunkering down within the lighthouse walls, I have to presume they kept themselves occupied in other ways. Surely they would have had to for the sake of maintaining their wits and sanity. That’s where my imagination entered, and Flashback Key was born. I hope you enjoy my unusually creative take on what occurred during those long, anxious hours.

155 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2022

About the author

Are you interested in learning about true Florida Keys history in a fast-paced, creative way? Then my novellas are for you! In 1992, my husband and I took our first trip to the Florida Keys and that's when my deep affection for the island chain took root. We continued to make annual trips with friends and family, finally buying our own piece of paradise in 2014. Over that time, I became fascinated with Keys history and knew that I wanted to write about it, specifically in the genre of what I call a hybrid between historical fiction and creative nonfiction. I also knew that I wanted to write fast paced page turners with less filler, where just about everything I wrote mattered to the historical aspect and overall plot. And so I did, penning the novellas, VINDICATION KEY, INDIAN KEY, and FLASHBACK KEY. Here are mini summaries for each:

VINDICATION KEY is a dual timeline book centering around the WWI veterans working on the Overseas Highway, famous Long Key Fishing Camp, the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and a missing Russian treasure.

INDIAN KEY is a dual timeline book about the small island of Indian Key sitting right off Islamorada. What a fascinating history it holds, specifically from the early 1800's. Read about notorious wrecker, Captain John Jacob Housman, the Perrine family, and the events that occurred one fateful day on the tiny 12 acre island.

FLASHBACK KEY is my take on what occurred when six men took refuge in the small, land-based lighthouse attached to the Chesapeake Restaurant in Islamorada during Hurricane Donna in 1960. When I first read about this in a newspaper article, I was curious as to how they passed the time with the storm raging all around them for hours on end. Searching old newspaper archives, I found just two articles addressing how they tried to entertain themselves. One simply stated that they told a few jokes. The other said they sung a few songs and prayed. However, knowing they spent numerous hours hunkering down within the lighthouse walls, I have to presume they kept themselves occupied in other ways. That’s where my imagination entered and I intertwined loads of unusual, real Florida Keys history into the plot. I hope you enjoy my creative take on what occurred during those long, anxious hours.

In addition, I revamped and republished my first novella, FATE'S JOURNEY. A bit of a departure from my Keys themed stories, Fate's Journey is an ode to the books I loved reading as a teenager and young adult—Phyllis Whitney mysteries, Victoria Holt Gothic romance and Harlequin Romances.

My motivation to write is perhaps summed up best by the quote from famed author, Tony Morrison: "If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must be the one to write it."

Enjoy!

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Elder takes Florida Keys history and weaves it into short, palatable, interesting narratives. Flashback Key focuses on six men and how they rode out 1960's Hurricane Donna in a lighthouse attached to a restaurant. Elder uses Canterbury Tales as inspiration for her historical fiction, having each man tell a story about the Keys to pass the time. The best story (as voted by the men) would win a prize. Each of their stories were based on true aspects of Keys history- places, people, and items that actually existed. I truly appreciate the author's note at the end, and the poem by Lily was a really sweet touch. I'd recommend this to anyone who may be interested in Florida Keys history, but are weary to pick up a textbook or read old newspaper articles.