Jeff Klinkenberg is an author and reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. He covers Florida culture, including "the people who make the state unique", and has been at the paper since 1977. Klinkenberg also authored Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators published by University Press of Florida and the anthology Seasons of Real Florida. According to his profile on the Times' website, Klinkenberg's interest in Florida began as a boy growing up in Miami near Everglades and his hobbies included catching snakes. At 16 he started working at the Miami News graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Florida. As a reporter interviewed and wrote about Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the real girl pictured on the Coppertone sign. He has also written about many other Florida related subjects and other topics such as Chesty Morgan, The Highwaymen, Nike Missile Site HM-69, Florida Black Wolf, Everglades National Park and the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Klinkenberg gave lectures on his favorite Florida related books in cities across the state. Jeff also has 3 children and two grandchildren.