This Year’s Miami Book Fair International
By Marla E. Schwartz
It’s that time of year when new beginnings take place, and the Miami Book Fair International (MBFI) is no exception to this rule as it celebrates its 27th year as this country’s premiere gathering of global literati from November 14 – 21, 2010. The Florida Center for the Literary Arts (FCLA) at Miami Dade College (MDC) at its Wolfson College Campus in downtown Miami will be replete with an array of distinguished authors at your fingertips during this celebrated, not-to-be missed event. Additionally, the very popular Street Fair that runs from November 19 – 21 has more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling their books held on closed-off streets surrounding the campus. The fun-filled Comix Galaxy with Kids Comics Con and School of Comics, Children’s Alley and many other attractions will be there for entire families to enjoy.
This well-oiled machine is alive and well due to the vision of one of Miami’s leading men, Mitchell Kaplan. Mitchell not only owns and operates Books and Books which is one of the world’s most respected independent bookstores that now has several locations (, , , , and the ), but is the Chairperson of its Board of Directors, serves on the steering committee of FCLA, served a two-year term as President of the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and continues to be actively involved with the organization. He is also on the Board of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE). This very composed gentleman who co-founded the Fair leads his troops with a calm demeanor as he serenely glides around, blending in with attendees, while at the same time making sure all the invited author’s are having their needs met. He manages his bookstore employees with great aplomb all the while helping to make sure the fair runs smoothly along with Eduardo J. Padrón, Ph.D. President, Miami Dade College/Honorary Chairperson, Board of Directors, MBFI, Alina Interián, Executive Director of FCLA, Delia Lopez, MBFI Director of Operations and a whole dedicated albeit small staff, runs MBFI beyond competently especially with decreasing funds due to the economy. It goes without saying that they deserve your accolades for pulling off another wonderful year celebrating books and authors.
There’s something magical about this man whose employees light up when asked to talk about him, whose invited authors to the bookstore or the fair including well-respected literary intelligentsia, celebrities and first time publishers all speak very highly about him. So what does Mitchell Kaplan, who brings such wonderful erudite luminaries to Miami every year, look forward to most of all this year?
“I’m always most excited for the programming that we bring to the Fair for young people and this year is no different,” Mitchell said. “Judith Viorst, Kate DiCamillo, Jon Scieska, Laurie Halse Anderson and so many others make this program stellar. Developing the next generation of readers is a prime goal of mine. This, in addition, to the great diversity of The Miami Book Fair International makes it one of the most significant fairs in the country.”
The word significant is the right word to describe the Fair. This year MBFI pays homage to Mexico’s rich literary culture as it joins in on celebrating this country’s 200th anniversary of its independence and the centennial anniversary of its revolution. Mexico’s milestone makes it this years’ MBFI featured country as it recognizes many of its authors, with splashes of visual art, theater, cuisine, music and crafts sprinkled throughout, including the Children’s Alley that will feature Plaza Mexico. Carlos Fuentes, who last visited the fair in 1987, is the very first author at this years’ Evenings With program, and other prominent Mexican writers to speak at MBFI include: Laura Esquivel, Gonzalo Celorio, Rosa Beltrán, Mario Bellatin, Estela Le?ero, David Huerta and Victor Mendiola.
MBFI recently held its kickoff party that features its announcement and unveiling of the designer of its current poster. Alejandro Cabrera de la Mora, a.k.a. Maximus Blanc, was introduced as the poster artist who considerately autographed posters for everyone that approached him for his signature.
The Fair begins with its beloved Evenings With series that takes place on Sunday, November 14th, with all presentations taking place in the Chapman Conference Center (Bldg. 3, 2nd Floor) at the MDC Wolfson Campus. You must purchase a $10.00 ticket in advance in order to attend each reading that’s part of this program. You can purchase tickets at the Fair’s website:
www.miamibookfair.com. The following authors will be part of the exceptional event:
?Carlos Fuentes – 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14, is a Mexican writer and one of the best-known living novelists and essayists in the Spanish-speaking world who will speak in Spanish with simultaneous translation in English.
?Nora Ephron – 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, where she’ll be discussing her book, I Remember Nothing and Other Reflections.
?Christopher McDougall – 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 16, where he’ll be discussing his book, Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.
?Robert Goolrick – 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 16, where he’ll be discussing his book, A Reliable Wife.
? John Waters – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 17, yes this is the famous writer/director of such movies as Pink Flamingos, Hairspray and Serial Mom, who will be speaking about his book, Role Models.
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? Pat Conroy – 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18, will be discussing his book, My Life in Books.
? E.O. Wilson – 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19, will be discussing his book, Anthill.
?Patti Smith – 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19, iconic punk rocker discusses her friendship with celebrated photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in her memoir, Just Kids.
This year’s program includes an extensive list of authors that are available at the MBFI’s aforementioned website, but just to give you a taste of some of these writers lined up to speak at the Fair, the program includes: Sir Michael Caine (UK), Salman Rushdie (UK/India), Darren Shan (Ireland), Ann Beattie (U.S.A.), Dave Barry (U.S.A.), Ridley Pearson (U.S.A.), Sam Barry (U.S.A.), Kathi Kamen Goldmark (U.S.A.), Michael Cunningham (U.S.A.), Kathleen Kent (U.S.A.), Emilio Estefan (U.S.A), Jonathan Franzen (U.S.A.), Linda Gassenheimer (U.S.A.), James Grippando (U.S.A.), Michael Hettich (U.S.A.), Carl Hiaasen (U.S.A.), Jeff Lindsay (U.S.A.), Brad Meltzer (U.S.A.), Zakes Mda (South Africa), Binyavanga Wainana (Kenya), Okey Ndibe (Nigeria), Chenjerai Hove (Zimbabwe), EC Osandu (Nigeria), Aappiah Anthony Kwame (UK/Ghana), Gay Talese (U.S.A.) and Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Kenya).
The IberoAmerican program will present Paquito D´Rivera (Cuba/U.S.A.), Eduardo Sacheri (Argentina), Alberto Fuguet (Chile), Luis Leante (España), Claudia Piñeiro (Argentina), Pablo Simonetti (Chile), and more.
Caribbean writers featured include Earl Lovelace, Raoul Pantin, Gideon Hanoomansingh, Merle Hodge, Winston Maynard-Moderator, Lasana Kwesi, Diana McCaulay, and Geoffrey Philp. Confirmed Haitian writers are Miriam Chancy, Michele Voltaire Marcelin and Edwidge Danticat.
And for those looking books environmental authors/books, many writers are included in this category, such as Doug Alderson, Heidi Cullen, Gwynne Dyer, and Tom Lodge. Other major literary figures speaking at the Fair include Jose Basulto, Susan Cheever, Susanna Daniel, Susan Isaacs, Peter Maass, Ferdie Pacheco, Les Standiford, Scott Turow, Lisa Unger and Mark Weiss. Then there are some of the political books written and presented by their authors, such as Megan McCain’s Dirty Sexy Politics as well as Nicolas J.S. Davies and Bill Press. And then there’s next in-line in her families political/broadcasting legacy, but isn’t writing about either topic is Katherine Schwarzenegger and her book Rock What You’ve Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty.
Many books/authors find themselves in over-lapping categories so it best to check the website to find out exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to the Fair, including directions, accommodations and more. In addition to going to the website, you can also call 305.237.3528, email , follow the Fair on Twitter at twitter.com/miamibookfair and/or visit FLCA’s website . And don’t forget to check out this website booksandbooks.com where you can sign up for its monthly events newsletter, announcing upcoming author visits, and much, much more.
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A native of Toledo, OH and a graduate of Kent State University, Marla E. Schwartz is a Senior Writer for Miami Living Magazine and is currently a freelance writer for AroundWellington.com and Lighthouse Point Magazine. Her photographs have appeared in numerous Ohio publications, as well as in Miami Living, The Miami Herald, The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post. She has had numerous plays published and produced around the country. Her short play, America’s Working? was produced in Los Angeles at both the First Stage and the Lone Star Ensemble theater companies, in Florida at Lynn University and then at an off-Broadway playhouse in NYC. Her piece, The Lunch Time Café, was a finalist for the Heideman Award, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Please check out the re-prints of her interviews with authors Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson and Dexter novelist Jeff Lindsay in the upcoming October 2010 issue of Duff Brenna’s ServingHouse: A Journal of Literary Arts at www.servinghousejournal.com. Please feel free to contact her at [email protected].