Far from the culture shock she expected upon moving to Duck Key in 1993, Victoria Shearer discovered that island life opened the window on a tropical wonderland of sun, sea, and the sweeping bounty of Mother Nature. An avid traveler and no stranger to the wonders of the world, Vicki concluded that the Florida Keys reign in a class by themselves. So, like the Bahamians and Cubans who adopted the islands centuries before her, she stayed.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, Vicki wore several professional hats?elementary school teacher, advertising agency account executive, and magazine copy editor?before combining her passion for travel with her love of writing. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she now writes feature articles for newspapers and magazines across the country. She is author of The Florida Keys Cookbook: Recipes and Foodways of Paradise (The Globe Pequot Press, 2006) ten editions of The Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West (The Globe Pequot Press), as well as Walking Places in New England (Out There Press, 2001).

Vicki divides her time between Duck Key and Chocowinity, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband Bob. Vicki loves to cook, play tennis, needlepoint, and quilt. And while the title of "author" is quite nice, Vicki's most cherished monikers are "Mom" (Brian and Lisa, Kristin and John) and "Gram" (Christopher, Bethany, Bobby, Ashleigh, Nicholas, and Leia).