By Coral Gables Gazette staff
In his debut novel Florida Palms, Joe Pan pulls readers into a world where economic desperation and outlaw temptation collide. The author, best known for his award-winning poetry, will discuss the book in conversation with fellow writer Reed Smith at Books & Books in Coral Gables on Thursday, August 14. Admission is free with RSVP, and books will be available for purchase and signing.
Recession-era Florida as the stage for a dangerous coming-of-age
Set in 2009 at the height of the Great Recession, Florida Palms follows best friends Eddy, Cueball, and Jesse—recent high school graduates adrift in a stagnant job market along Florida’s Space Coast. They take work with a moving company run by Cueball’s father, a gruff ex-con biker who claims to be done with the fast life. But when an old boss reappears and swaps their cargo for a shipment of designer drugs, the friends are forced into a perilous run up the East Coast.
The deeper they go, the more the supposed brotherhood unravels into back-alley deals, gang rivalries, and escalating violence. Along the way they cross paths with meth addicts, ruthless bikers, and even a blowgun-wielding hitman, each encounter pushing them further from the innocence of their youth.
Exploring loyalty, ambition, and the cost of survival
Pan’s novel draws its power from the tension between loyalty and ambition, and the choices people make when cornered. His characters face stark decisions: stay loyal to each other and risk their lives or betray bonds in pursuit of a bigger payday.
It’s a gritty story, but one told with what reviewers have called “enormous heart.” Pan depicts not just the danger of the drug trade but also the human needs—economic, emotional, and existential—that can draw people into it. Readers familiar with Florida’s boom-and-bust cycles will recognize the landscape: sprawling highways, half-finished developments, and tight-knit communities fighting to survive.
A conversation shaped by two distinctive voices
Joining Pan on stage is Reed Smith, author of the poetry collection Declarations of Hunger and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Smith’s eclectic background—as a paramedic, teacher, actor, and geriatric care practitioner—gives him a unique vantage point from which to discuss the novel’s themes of resilience and identity.
The pairing promises a conversation that moves beyond plot and character into questions of craft, morality, and the art of telling stories rooted in specific places and eras. With both writers steeped in poetry, there’s an added expectation of sharp, musical language and attention to detail.
From poetry to prose: a writer’s leap into fiction
Pan is no stranger to literary success. He is the author of five poetry books and the founder of Brooklyn Arts Press, one of the smallest independent publishers ever honored with a National Book Award in Poetry. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Boston Review, and Poets & Writers, among others.
With Florida Palms, Pan turns his observational eye toward long-form fiction, blending the precision of poetry with the propulsive energy of crime storytelling. His own upbringing along the Space Coast gives the novel its lived-in authenticity.
Event details
The event begins at 7 p.m. at Books & Books Coral Gables, 265 Aragon Avenue. Tickets are free, but RSVP is recommended to ensure seating. Copies of Florida Palms will be available for purchase, and attendees will have the opportunity to have them signed by Pan.
