MDC’s Miami Book Fair to Host National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Young Fiction Writers

Miami, April 18, 2017- Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Book Fair (MBF) will host the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 program, which honors young fiction writers at the beginning of their careers, at 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 3. The event is free and open to the public.

Every year, five National Book Award winners and finalists, or previous 5 Under 35 honorees, select one promising fiction writer each to recognize. Each honoree is under 35 and has published one novel or short story collection.

This year’s honorees are Brit Bennett, The Mothers; Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing (she will not be in attendance); Greg Jackson, Prodigals; S. Li, Transoceanic Lights and Thomas Pierce, Hall of Small Mammals. The honorees will be in Miami for a night of readings and conversation, moderated by author and Rolling Stone editor Jason Diamond.

“The Miami Book Fair brilliantly engages its community in reading, making them an essential partner in our efforts to celebrate literature, build new audiences, and help readers discover their next book to treasure,” said Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to both expand our relationship with the Miami Book Fair and continue celebrating the amazing young writers recognized by 5 Under 35 at the Miami Writers Institute.”

Previous honorees include Valeria Luiselli, Téa Obreht, ZZ Packer, Karen Russell, Merritt Tierce, Claire Vaye Watkins, and Phil Klay.

The event is in partnership with the National Book Foundation and Books & Books, with the support of the Knight Foundation.

WHAT:            MBF to Host National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Young Fiction Writers

 

WHEN:            Wednesday, May 3, at 8 p.m.

 

WHERE:         Gramps, 175 N.W. 24th St., Miami, FL 33127

 

About Miami Book Fair

Miami Book Fair, widely considered the largest and finest literary event in the U.S., is part of MDCulture, the Cultural Affairs Department of Miami Dade College. In addition to the annual, eight-day festival that takes place on the Wolfson Campus of the College in Downtown Miami, Miami Book Fair presents literary programs throughout Miami all year long. Miami Book Fair 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; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.

 

About Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College (MDC) is the higher education institution with the largest undergraduate enrollment in the America, with more than 165,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. The college’s eight campuses and outreach center offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, engineering, biological sciences, and others. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs are national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami International Film Festival, the MDC Live Arts Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a major sculpture park and large art gallery and theater systems. MDC has admitted more than 2,000,000 students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. For more information please visit www.mdc.edu.

 

Miami Book Fair media contact: Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132 lpalley@bellsouth.net.