Carey Winfrey Showcases Writing Community in 'Key West Sketches'

In Key West Sketches: Writer’s at Mile Zero, veteran American journalist and former editor-in-chief of Cuisine, American Health, and Smithsonian magazines, Carey Winfrey, delights us with a collection of essays written by authors who have lived and worked in Key West, Florida. The town, which has long been a hotspot for American writers, has been home to many famous authors including Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, and more recently, Thomas McGuane, Judy Blume, and Phyllis Rose, among others. Winfrey, who is a part-time resident in Key West, discusses how his compilation of essays is different than others. “Yes, it’s an interesting collection but unlike most anthologies, it has kind of a narrative arc, which starts with… the discovery of Key West, moves to the infatuation of Key West, the enjoyment of Key West, and then a certain disillusionment sets in because Key West, after five years of being there or in some cases, ten years, is not the Key West that people remembered when they fell in love with it, and there is what Tom McGuane, who’s a well-known Key West author no longer living there, describes as the ‘Forever Cycle.’ As he was leaving town, experiencing this frustration and disenchantment with an island that he had loved so dearly, he encountered people coming into town who were just falling in love with it and couldn’t believe how wonderful it was, and so he called that the ‘Forever Cycle’ that he says will go on probably forever.”

Key West, which is located in the southernmost part of the United States and about 159 miles southwest of Miami, is a popular destination known for its rich history, lively nightlife, and beautiful beaches. The population of the city is about 26,000, but the island draws in many more visitors over the winter due to its mild temperatures and sunny weather. Regarding the writing community in Key West, what is it that attracts so many writers there? Initially, the great American novelist, Ernest Hemingway, put it on the map when he moved there and wrote some of his best works. Additionally, “It was also cheap in those days… Word got around that it was convivial to writers, the weather was good, and it became a kind of magnet.” Winfrey explains that the writing community there is also closely connected. “Almost everyone knows everyone, all the writers. Sometimes… the usual suspects show up at various libations and events and dinner parties… it’s a very tight-knit community and it is a very non-hierarchical community…” Interestingly, Key West is also home to many stray cats and feral chickens. Many of the cats wander the streets in the older areas of Key West. However, the chickens have become a nuisance and contrary to popular belief, crow at all hours of the day, not just at dawn. Winfrey remarked, “They crow all night long and it can be awful if they’ve decided that your backyard is where they want to live and roost.”