Tell us about your book of poems.
I started with the Florida Man meme — a headline like “Florida Man Arrested for Allegedly Throwing Live Alligator Into Wendy's Drive-Thru Window” — then went from there to look at the state’s history, culture and laws. The poems are nonfiction, and I developed them from my work as a journalist. They incorporate interviews, police records, newscasts, social media accounts and historical research.
Why did you select Florida as a central theme?
I’m a very pale fourth-generation Floridian who is endlessly fascinated by my home state. Initially, the book started as a sort of defense of Florida, but it turned into something more nuanced. The state’s complicated. I wanted to do my best to give perspective.
How do your works compare with those of Campbell McGrath, who published a book of Florida poems called Florida Poems?
I have the book right here! I came across it in the process of writing my book, and there are some beautiful images in it. We have a few overlapping topics such as Miami, alligators and the landscape, but we’re interested in different aspects of Florida history and culture. We approach Florida through different lenses as well. Reporting influenced my poetic decisions and formal elements.
What can readers expect in the pages of your book?
They can expect some twists, turns and alligator wrestlers. Also, grandmothers. And drag queens. And redemption.
How did you get started as a poet?
I come from a family of storytellers. We can’t seem to answer a question without an anecdote, which I’m stopping myself from doing it right now. Basically, in elementary or middle school I wanted to write songs, but I didn’t have confidence as a singer, so the lyrics turned into poems. I still kill it at karaoke, though, so just let me know when you want to hit up a mic.
Does poet-ing pay the bills and, if not, what else does?
We’ll see how the book sells! Right now, I have a few jobs: adjunct instructor, freelance journalist, writing consultant and recreation leader at a community center. I hope people buy enough books that I can maybe only work two jobs one day.
Just for fun: You can have dinner with any four people, dead or alive, but they're all either poets or Floridians. Who are they and what's the topic of conversation?
I’d, of course, invite friends and family, but if it’s people I’ve never met I’d invite Crystal Chambers (the first drag queen I ever saw in real life), Ross Allen (who founded the Ross Allen Reptile Institute), Frank O’Hara (a literary crush) and Marjory Stoneman Douglas (because I love the Everglades). We’d talk about reptiles, makeup tips and my new book which comes out on June 1.
Visit Tyler's website, or follow him on Twitter.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 3, 2018.