24TH ANNUAL MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL BEGINS WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE’S WOLFSON CAMPUS
MIAMI, November 5, 2007 – The official inaugural celebration of the Miami Book Fair International 2007 transported this year’s attendees on a voyage to a new world, a world reachable only through the captivating surprises found in books. Festivities kicked-off Sunday, Nov. 4, at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Wolfson Campus. CBS 4 anchors Eliott Rodriguez and Shannon Hori hosted the inauguration ceremony in the campus auditorium.
Following the opening ceremony, the fair’s Evenings With…series began with Emmy award-winner Rosie O’Donnell in the Chapman Conference Center. The sometimes controversial and popular celebrity talked about why she wrote her new book Celebrity Detox: (the fame game), which details O’Donnell’s arduous journey on her quest for fame and the ill effects of stardom.
Spanish-speaking friends of the book fair also spent an evening with Juan José Benítez, researcher and Spanish journalist, who began his career investigating UFOs He read from the latest volume of his novel series Caballo de Troya (The Trojan Horse), written to ignite religious and philosophical beliefs.
Gabriel García Márquez fans were able to commemorate the 40th anniversary of One Hundred Years of Solitude by witnessing an unprecedented theatrical performance by students of the Prometeo Theater. As the students took to the stage, they brought to life the short story, El pueblo de Esteban.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BOOK FAIR
All events are located at MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami and are free Nov. 4-9. On Nov. 10-11, admission is $5, and free for children 18 and under. Free tickets will be required for admission to all “Evenings with…” presentations. Tickets can be obtained online at www.miamibookfair.com. Additional tickets for unfilled seats will be distributed to the standby line on a first-come, first-served basis before each presentation. For a complete listing of all book fair events, visit www.miamibookfair.com.
Monday, Nov. 5
7:30 p.m. - An Evening with Robert Pinsky
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
Author, translator, essayist and professor from Boston University Robert Pinsky will share from Gulf Music, his seventh collection of poetry.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Write Out Loud
Second Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets
ASILI – The Journal of Multi-Cultural Heartspeak celebrates 10 years.
Readings by Opal Palmer Adisa, Reginald Lockett, Eugene Redmond and Al Young.
Tuesday, Nov. 6
7:30 p.m. – An Evening with Jenna Bush
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
First daughter Jenna Bush will acquaint audience members with Ana - a 17-year-old single mother infected with HIV and orphaned from birth - as she reads from the pages of Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Write Out Loud
Second Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets
Miniature Memoirs – writers read three-minute memories.
Wednesday, Nov. 7
7:30 p.m. – An Evening with Richard Russo
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
The Pulitzer-prize winning author will introduce the latest characters from his book Bridges of Sighs.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Write Out Loud
N.E Second Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets
Society for Latino/Hispanic Writers presents an evening of poems, songs and short stories in English, Spanish and Spanglish.
Thursday, Nov. 8
8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. – Translation Market
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
New to the book fair, this one-day, trade-only educational conference will examine the state of the market for books in translation, addressing world literature, foreign rights and licensing. Registration fee: by Nov. 2, $175; late registration (on-site) $195.
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – International Pavilions Inauguration
International Village, N.E. Third Street between Second and First Avenues
A fair favorite, the 2007 International Pavilions will feature the literature and cultures of France, Spain and Brazil. The kick-off celebration will include author readings in Portuguese, Spanish and French, as well as a reception where guests can sample a tasty array of international treats.
7:30 p.m. – An Evening with Nikki Giovanni
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
African-American poet, essayist and educator Nikki Giovanni returns to the book fair bringing with Acolytes, her most recent book depicting the struggle for justice by courageous people.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Write Out Loud
N. E. Second Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets
Poetry and music with poets Richard Blanco, Sandra Castillo, C.M. Clark, Deborah DeNicola, Michael Hettich, Catherine Esposito Prescott and Emma Trelles. Music: Singer/songwriter Mark Zolezzi – folksy fun.
Friday, Nov, 9
The Miami Book Fair International Street Fair officially opens featuring hundreds of book sellers and publishers, Children’s Alley, the International Pavilions, author presentations, and much more!
8:30 a.m. – Student Literary Encounters
Miami-Dade County students visit the fair and attend readings by authors planned just for them. This year, high school students discuss poetry with Nikki Giovanni; middle-schoolers get to talk with novelist Edward Bloor and elementary students will explore fiction with Donna Jo Napoli.
11:15 a.m. – Street Fair Parade
The Street Fair officially kicks-off with a parade through the streets of downtown Miami. CBS 4 Chief Meteorologist David Bernard will be the Grand Marshall as colorful storybook characters and local marching bands lead the spirited festivity starting at N.E. Second Avenue and Third Street.
7:30 p.m. – An Evening with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
Chapman Conference Center (Building Three, Second Floor)
Former first-daughter Caroline Kennedy will share stories from A Family Christmas. The book is a collection of Christmas poetry, prose, scriptural readings, and lyrics that are most dear to Ms. Kennedy.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Write Out Loud
N. E. Second Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth Streets
LIP SERVICE – Eight true stories told in eight minutes. The event is co-produced by Andrea Askowitz and Joe Clifford.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 – 11
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Street Fair
Admission: $5; Children 18 and under, FREE.
10:00 a.m. – after 5:00 p.m. – Festival of Authors
The Festival of Authors program will over flow with hundreds of the world’s most acclaimed and best-selling authors. For a complete schedule of author presentations, visit www.miamibookfair.com.
8:00 p.m. – Authors’ Party (Saturday only)
The Raleigh Hotel, 1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
A glamorous celebration with Book Fair authors under the stars at the very chic oasis of The Raleigh Hotel.
IBERO-AMERICAN SERIES
Monday, Nov. 5
6:00 p.m. – Authors Pedro Corzo and José A. Albertini
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
Authors will discuss the Cuban reality as well as present their most recent books. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
8:00 p.m. – Tribute to the late Cuban novelist Carlos Victoria by Liliane Hasson, Andrés Reynaldo and Orlando Alomá.
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
7:00 p.m. – Prometeo Theater: El pueblo de Esteban
Building One, First Floor
Students will perform El pueblo de Esteban, inspired by the short stories of Gabriel García Márquez, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Admission is $10. A discounted rate is available for students.
Tuesday, Nov. 6
7:00 p.m. – Prometeo Theater: El pueblo de Esteban
Building One, First Floor
Students will perform El pueblo de Esteban, inspired by the short stories of Gabriel García Márquez, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Admission is $10. A discounted rate is available for students.
8:00 p.m. – Panel Discussion
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
Ana Flor Raucci, María Antonieta Collins, Enrique Gratas and Rosaura Rodríguez discuss the ups and down of relationships and present their most recent books. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
Wednesday, Nov. 7
6:30 p.m. – Author Readings
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
Professor Eduardo Zayas-Bazán who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba presents El pez volador and Julio Fernández León presents Jose Antonio Echeverría. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
7:00 p.m. – Prometeo Theater: El pueblo de Esteban
Building One, First Floor
Students will perform El pueblo de Esteban, Inspired by the short stories of Gabriel García Márquez, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Admission is $10. A discounted rate is available for students.
8:00 p.m. – A Night of Nicaraguan Poetry
Jorge Argüello, Roberto Cuadra, Luis Rocha and Julio Valle Castillo present a compilation of 20th century works. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
Thursday, Nov. 8
6:30 p.m. – Cuban poetry and music
Room 3208/09 (Building Three, Second Floor)
Cuban poet, essayist and editor German Guerra joins Cuban pianist Gustavo Corrales to share poetry and prose. Readings and discussion in Spanish
8:00 p.m. – Federico Andahazi
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
Bestselling Argentian author Federico Andahazi presents El conquistador a novel where the papers are reversed since the conquered is the conqueror. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
Friday, Nov. 9
6:30 p.m. – 39 Under 39: A Special Presentation
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
Ibero-American authors under the age of 39 will read from their new works. Peruvian author Daniel Alaracón, Cuban author Karla Suárez and Colombian author Antonio García Angel present from their books. Readings and discussions will be in Spanish.
8:00 p.m. – Cuban author and columnist Carlos Alberto Montaner
Batten Room (Building Two, Room 2106)
One of the most widely-read columnists in the Spanish Language, Cuban author Carlos Alberto Montaner will present Las columnas de la libertad. Readings and discussion will be in Spanish.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 - 11
10:00 a.m. – after 5:00 p.m. – Ibero-American Festival of Authors
The Ibero-American Series continues with more of the world’s most acclaimed and best-selling Spanish-language authors. For a complete schedule of author presentations, visit www.miamibookfair.com.
The Miami Book Fair International is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development Authority; and the Friends of the Fair. Corporate sponsors as of this date include: Chrysler Jeep, Target, AARP, American Airlines, Bank of America, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Publix Super Markets Charities, Starbucks, Miami Parking Authority, Miami-Dade Transit, Southern Vines, Inc., Big Chef, Octavio Taylor Nurseries and The Raleigh Hotel. Media sponsors include: The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, CBS4 and MY33, Univision23 and Telefutura69, WQBA 1140AM, WAQI 710 AM, WAMR FM 107.5, La Kalle 98.3 FM, Comcast, Diario las Américas, 940 WINZ, NewsRadio 610 WIOD, The New York Times, Miami New Times, WLRN Public Radio and Television, WPBT Channel 2, 88.9 FM Serious Jazz, Plum TV, Mother & Daughter Magazine, FUEL Outdoors, Caribbean Today, Coral Gables Gazette, and the Welcome Channel.
For more information on these events contact: Miami Book Fair International at (305) 237-3258 or visit www.miamibookfair.com.
Media-only contacts: Juan Mendieta, MDC director of communications, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu; Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations, 305-237-3949, brodrigu@mdc.edu; Alejandro Rios, MDC media specialist, 305-237-7482, arios1@mdc.edu or Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net.