AW Stories of the Month
The Miami Book Fair International, November 13 – 20th
A Great Line-Up of Authors
By Marla E. Schwartz
Ladies and gentleman … here is your reminder informing you that Miami Book Fair International (MBFI) is just around the corner. As usual, it
takes place at the Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Avenue in downtown Miami from Nov. 13-20th and will yet again out-do itself with a splendid line-up of author events.
Chart-topping singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, daughter of music legend Johnny Cash, will kick-off the 28th edition of MBFI, presented by Miami Dade College’s The Center @ MDC. As part of the Fair’s popular Evening With series, Cash will present her memoir, Composed, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
The Evening With series treats book lovers to live presentations by some of the most celebrated contemporary authors in the world. This year’s eight-night lineup includes award-winning artist and activist Harry Belafonte, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and bestselling authors Nicole Krauss and Dorothy Allison.
Unless otherwise noted: All Evening With presentations will be held in the Chapman Conference Center (Bldg. 3, second floor) at the Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Ave. Tickets for each session are $10 and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, visit miamibookfair.com.
Opening day will also feature an Afternoon With young-adult novelist Christopher Paolini, who will discuss his latest book, the fourth and final installment of the Inheritance cycle. This author presentation is at 4 p.m. and is free with a ticket, which can be obtained on the Fair site. In addition, from the Ibero-American program, author and journalist Carlos Alberto Montaner will present his new book, La mujer del Coronel, at 7 p.m. in Room 2106 (Building 2, first floor). This event is free (no ticket required).
Kick-off festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with the Miami Book Fair International Inaugural Ceremony in the Wolfson Campus Auditorium (Building 1, second floor). Immediately following the ceremony, the Chinese Pavilion will officially open its doors and host an opening reception. Both events are free and open to the public.
Free parking is available in the Building 7 garage (500 N.E. Second Ave). The popular Street Fair runs Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 20 and features more than 200 exhibitors from around the country. This year, the Fair will celebrate the literature and culture of China.
Evening With programs is as follows:
Rosanne Cash (Composed) – 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13
Calvin Trillin (Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin) –; 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14
Dr. Paul Farmer (Haiti After the Earthquake) –; 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14
Harry Belafonte (My Song) –; 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14
David Brooks (The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement) –; 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14
Eric Robert Greitens (The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL) –; 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16
John Sayles (A Moment in the Sun) – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16
Ron Suskind (Confidence Men) –; 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17
Dorothy Allison (Bastard out of Carolina, Cavedweller) –; 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17
Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortes (Go the F**k to Sleep) with special celebrity guests, actor Jenna Elfman and singer/songwriter Nikka Costa –; 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18
Nicole Krauss (Great House) –; 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18
Also the Rock Bottom Remainders will be playing again this year on Saturday, Nov. 20th at 5:30pm at the World Stage…and it’s FREE!
Here’s also a smidgen of some of the mind-blowing talent you’ll be able to hear reading their work in person:
Lynne Barrett – Magpies & Tigertail, a South Florida Annual
Dave Barry/ Ridley Pearson – The Bridge to Neverland
Sam Barry/ Kathi Kamen Goldmark – Write that Book Now!
Jill Bialosky – History of a Suicide: My Sister’s Unfinished Life
Rosanne Cash – Composed: A Memoir
Tim Dorsey – When Elves Attack: A Joyous Christmas Greeting from the Criminal Nutbars of the Sunshine State
John Dufresne – Blue Christmas & I’m the One with the Blue Cap On by Jeffrey Knapp
Jeffrey Eugenides – The Marriage Plot: A Novel
Lev Grossman – The Magician King: A Novel
Michael Hettich – The Animals Beyond Us
Hillary Jordan – When She Woke
Nicole Krauss – Great House
Paul Levine – Lassiter
Jeff Lindsay – Double Dexter
Patti LuPone – A Memoir
Joyce Carol Oates – A Widow & New Jersey Noir
Michael Ondaatje – The Cat’s Table
Susan Orleans – Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
Robert Pinsky – New Jersey Noir & Selected Poems
Robert Sabuda – Chanukah Lights
T. M. Shine – Nothing Happens Until It Happens to You
Alexandra Styron – Reading My Father: A Memoir
Amy Waldman – The Submission
The complete list and schedule will be available soon on the MBFI website.
Mitchell Kaplan, Co-Founder of the Fair, is receiving an award. Not just
any award, but the Lifetime Achievement Award, along with poet John Ashbery, at this year’s National Books Awards ceremony in New York City, hosted by the magnificent entertainer John Lithgow. Mitchell will receive a specific award: the Libertarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literacy Community. There’s no doubt that Mitchell is well-deserving of this honor not just because his credentials are numerous, but because he’s so beloved in the literary community. Back to some of those credentials: he’s the Fair’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, is a member of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts and is a formerly the President of the American Booksellers Association. The 62nd National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner takes place on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 – during the Fair. Interesting timing. But Mitchell is only going to miss one day of the Fair, so for all those people looking forward to seeing this founding father, don’t worry, he’ll be around to guide the festivities 99.99% of the time, but it’s more than understandable, right? Right! Congratulations Mitchell. For more information about the awards and this year’s recipients, go to nationalbook.org.
The AW.COM MBFI author interviews from last year are coming to an end. In order to whet your appetite for the up-close and very personal readings/books signings for this year’s Fair, here’s an interview with poet Judith Viorst from last year’s fair where she presented her collection of poems Unexpectedly Eighty: And Other Adaptations as well as her popular picture book, Lulu and the Brontosaurus which is illustrated by Lane Smith. The first book is about turning eighty-ish and is written in such a refreshing style; blending thought-provoking wisdom and affecting humor into one. The second book is the tale of a young girl named Lulu and her single-minded desire to receive a brontosaurus for a birthday present.
Read the interview with author Judith Viorst.