The Miami Book Fair kicks off on Sunday at Miami Dade College’s downtown Wolfson Campus for a run through Nov. 23, culminating in the signature three-day street fair beginning Nov. 21.
Perhaps even more so this year, the depth and diversity of writers and voices coming in to take part are a distinctive achievement for the organizers.
Among the highlights this weekend is an appearance by songwriter Kenny Chesney, the country-music star of stadium-filling renown, who will talk about his memoir “Heart Life Music” with co-author Holly Gleason at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, a gathering long sold out.
Other highlights include:
photographer and culture warrior Sally Mann (7 p.m. Nov. 19)
newly appointed U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze (8 p.m. Nov. 20)
local pals Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen (4 p.m. Nov. 22)
chef and traveler Padma Lakshmi (10 a.m. Nov. 22)
restaurateur Keith McNally (noon Nov. 22)
sports journalist S.L. Price (3 p.m. Nov. 22)
DJ and producer Arthur Baker with music scribe and filmmaker Nelson George (5:30 p.m. Nov. 22)
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart (2:30 p.m. Nov. 23)
Reginald Dwayne Betts reading from “Doggerel,” his book of poetry set among dogs (3 p.m. Nov. 23)
Note that many author appearances can be accessed with a free ticket, others with tickets for purchase.
This year’s Miami Book Fair is featuring a Jewish Life & Culture program, with the popular Street Fair hosting appearances by notables in the literary world. Listen to cartoonist Art Spiegelman during a discussion on “Maus,” his seminal work on the Holocaust; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who will present her memoir “Heart of a Stranger”; and novelist Gary Shteyngart, who will participate in a panel discussion.
For more information, visit MiamiBookFair.com.
Jewish Journal Editor Jessica Tzikas contributed to this report.