Snakes, gators, and bears, oh my!

This book is a collection of humorous and emotional stirring events of one woman's attempt to share the land with various critters that resided on her farm located in the heart of Ocala National Forest. This 440,000 acre wooded swampland harbors over 20 spring fed lakes filled with large mouth bass, other fresh water fish and reptiles, including alligators. The piney forest that surrounds these awesome lakes in spring is also the home for many critters including a variety of aggressive snakes, wandering curious black bear and exotic often strange acting birds.



These stories based on actual events will delight the heart of the reader. In addition, the reader will be exposed to rural Florida, a place spiritually sacred to those born and raised here, awesomely challenging to the newcomer.

Patricia Anderson is a Michigan woman who relocated to Florida in 1983. Having loved the northern woods and spent many hours fishing in the Great Lakes, the Ocala National Forest (which is filled with abundant wildlife) quickly aroused her attention. Located one hour away from the Atlantic Ocean (which provides excellent salt water fishing), Patricia was drawn to the forest and purchased a 10 acre farm in the heart of it.



Patricia, who many just call Patti, completed nursing school at Lake Sumter Community College in 1989. She completed her bachelors degree in 1998, also in nursing from Florida Southern College.



It was at her nursing jobs, while on break, that she would share her most recent animal stories. Patti found that many people would seek her out to hear her stories. Encouraged by many to write her stories in a book, it finally happened in the winter of 2007-2008, while working in the cold, snowy winter of Denver, CO. Patti, longing for the warmth of Florida, wrote this book entitled Tails of a Woodswoman.



Finally, in March 2008, being chased by a monster winter storm, Patti moved back to Ocala National Forest, the land that had stolen her heart and touched her soul so many years ago.