Tonn Pastore has lived at the beach for twenty-three years because that is where they keep the ocean. This time has allowed him to witness many changes. The influx of culture and the migration of people energized the slow pace of Jacksonville. The ocean breezes thinned not just the air around him but also the barriers around his heart. He married a third generation native who showed him the joys of Jacksonville and the love of a new family. His poems pull from the pain and the joy of life and loss.

Tonn’s new book, Mark My Words, will be available when he reads at the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival on Saturday, October 13th.