Canoeing & Kayaking Florida

Author Biography

Johnny Molloy is an outdoors writer based in Johnson City, Tennessee, who spends his winters in Florida. Born in Memphis, he moved to Knoxville in 1980 to attend the University of Tennessee. During his college years, he discovered a love of the natural world that has since become the primary focus of his life. It all started on a backpacking foray into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That first trip was a disaster; nevertheless, Johnny developed an appreciation of the outdoors that would lead him to canoe-camp and backpack throughout the United States and abroad over the next 30 years. To this day, he averages 150 nights per year camping out. After graduating from Tennessee in 1987 with a degree in economics, Johnny spent an ever-increasing amount of time in the wild, becoming more skilled in the environment. Friends enjoyed his adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued that idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are more than 80 books. These include hiking, camping, paddling, and other comprehensive guidebooks, as well as true-adventure books. In addition to updating and rewriting Canoeing & Kayaking Florida, he has written several other Florida-focused outdoors guides, including A Paddler’s Guide to Everglades National Park; Backpacking Florida; Best Tent Camping: Florida; Beach & Coastal Camping in Florida; The Hiking Trails of Florida’s National Forests, Parks, and Preserves; Day Hiking Southwest Florida; Best Easy Day Hikes: Jacksonville; Best Easy Day Hikes: Tallahassee; Best Easy Day Hikes: Tampa Bay; and two true-adventure stories, From the Swamp to the Keys: A Paddle Through Florida History and Hiking the Florida Trail: 1,100 Miles, 78 Days, Two Pairs of Boots, and One Heck of an Adventure. His other books primarily cover the Southeast but range over 28 states.