Godspeed, Cedar Key

By: Michael Presley Bobbitt

Narrated by: Michael Presley Bobbitt

Godspeed Cedar Key isn't another end of the world book; it is a despite the end of the world book.

Cedar Key is an island dangling off the western coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. On a chilly February morning, the horizon across the bay is enveloped in a microsecond of piercing light, and in an instant the old world is gone forever. Fires burn on horizons around the planet but the heat eventually gives way to the creeping monotone of the skies. The gray sets in overhead and all around, determined to keep the sun away from the land and waters.

In the new world, 300 islanders must learn to survive in the footprints of their forebears, battling invaders from the mainland, disease and natural disasters, and the compounding dread of hearing almost nothing from the wider world. This anti-dystopian novel is a quiet ode to the essential need for humans to live in true community with one another. Despite the loss of most technologies and modern comforts, the islanders persevere in the face of hardship and death—burying their loved ones in the morning and planting spring vegetables in the afternoon.

The deep friendship between the island's mayor and an eccentric clam farmer underpin a story spanning three centuries of Cedar Key history. The triumphs and failures of past generations echo into the new world, as the islanders learn to lean on each other and their shared history.

The Gulf's rich bounty and destructive power are a thrilling setting for a life-affirming story where love and friendship push back against the darkness.

©2024 Wayward Writers Press (P)2024 Wayward Writers Press

A Florida what if story

My wife and I both from a multi generation South West Florida commicial fishing familys, dating back to the 1850s.we have visited Cedar Key many times. we loved the stories of the different families and can relate many of them! looking forward to a sequel!!!

Interesting premise, good story, excellent narrator!

I live in the "orange evacuation zone" for the nuclear power plant in Crystal River. The writer made the idiosyncracies of the people who live in Cedar Key and the surrounding countryside. I enjoyed every minute and have bought copies for my local friends to enjoy.

A heartfelt narration of Cedar Key's resilience and spirit

Listening to Godspeed, Cedar Key on Audible is a truly immersive experience.​​ ​​Michael Presley Bobbitt's deep affection for Cedar Key, where he resides and works as a clam farmer, is evident throughout the narrative.​​ ​​His intimate knowledge of the local fishing and clamming industries enriches the story, providing authentic insights into the community's way of life.​​ ​​The characters are vividly drawn, reflecting the real-life individuals who make up this unique town.​​ ​​Hearing Bobbitt narrate his own work adds a special layer of authenticity; his passion for Cedar Key and its history resonates in every word.​​ ​​It's clear why he's affectionately known as the 'Clambassador.'​​ ​​This audiobook is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable place and its people.​​​​

Community

The relationship to cedar key today and I how close it was to hurricane Helene