The Miami Book Fair kicks off on Sunday at Miami Dade College\u2019s downtown Wolfson Campus for a run through Nov. 23, culminating in the signature three-day street fair beginning Nov. 21.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Among the highlights this weekend<\/a> is an appearance by songwriter Kenny Chesney, the country-music star of stadium-filling renown, who will talk about his memoir \u201cHeart Life Music\u201d with co-author Holly Gleason at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, a gathering long sold out.<\/p>\n Other highlights include:<\/p>\n photographer and culture warrior Sally Mann (7 p.m. Nov. 19) Note that many author appearances can be accessed with a free ticket, others with tickets for purchase.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Miami Book Fair is featuring a Jewish Life & Culture program<\/a>, with the popular Street Fair hosting appearances by notables in the literary world. Listen to cartoonist Art Spiegelman during a discussion on \u201cMaus,\u201d his seminal work on the Holocaust; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who will present her memoir \u201cHeart of a Stranger\u201d; and novelist Gary Shteyngart, who will participate in a panel discussion.<\/p>\n
\nnewly appointed U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze (8 p.m. Nov. 20)
\nlocal pals Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen (4 p.m. Nov. 22)
\nchef and traveler Padma Lakshmi (10 a.m. Nov. 22)
\nrestaurateur Keith McNally (noon Nov. 22)
\nsports journalist S.L. Price (3 p.m. Nov. 22)
\nDJ and producer Arthur Baker with music scribe and filmmaker Nelson George (5:30 p.m. Nov. 22)
\nPulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart (2:30 p.m. Nov. 23)
\nReginald Dwayne Betts reading from \u201cDoggerel,\u201d his book of poetry set among dogs (3 p.m. Nov. 23)<\/p>\n