Welcome to The Florida Folk, a project dedicated to capturing the stories of the people who call Florida home. My name is Marilyn Starkloff, and I am the creator of this project. As a lifelong resident of Florida, I have always been frustrated by the way our state is often portrayed in the media - as a place full of crazy, bizarre, or dangerous people. While it's true that Florida has its fair share of unique characters, there is so much more to our state than just these sensationalized stories.

That's why I created The Florida Folk - to give a voice to the people who make up this great state and to share their stories with the world. I want to challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions about Florida by showcasing the real people who live here.

I began this project by walking around in Downtown Fort Myers taking portraits of people I met and conducting interviews to learn more about their lives. What started as a personal project soon grew into something much bigger, as I realized that the stories I was collecting were too important not to share.

Through this project and eventually book one day, I hope to showcase the diversity and humanity of the people who call Florida home. From farmers to artists, veterans to immigrants, everyone has a story to tell, and I am honored to be able to share them with you.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope that the stories in The Florida Folk inspire you, challenge you, and remind you of the beauty and complexity of the human experience. Together, we can break free from the "crazy Florida man" stereotype and show the world what our state is truly about.