Miami, March 8, 2024 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Book Fair will participate in The Big Read, an annual initiative supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Arts Midwest dedicated to supporting organizations across the country in developing community-wide programs that encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences.
Each year, Miami Book Fair (MBF) selects one book to read as a community and features events connected to themes found in the book. This year, MBF will focus on author Madeline Miller’s bestselling and critically acclaimed novel Circe, an epic adaptation of the ancient Greek enchantress who crosses paths with Zeuss, Odysseus, the Minotaur and more. As an NEA Big Read recipient, MBF has planned an exciting lineup of complimentary workshops, a keynote address and family-friendly events around major themes in Circe from March 1- April 30.
The Big Read Miami will kicked off on March 1 with an Open House at the MDC Koubek Center where participants requested a personalized poem on demand, contributed to an interactive poetry game, receiveed free books and much more. Miller will deliver the online NEA Big Read Miami keynote address on Tuesday, April 2, followed by a moderated discussion with George O’Connor, the author and illustrator of The Olympians series, on the themes found in Miller’s book, including the retelling of myths and the persistence of thousand-year-old tales.
A trio of award-winning science/speculative fiction writers who have worked in STEM will discuss the intersections of science and fiction writing on Wednesday, March 20 at Florida International University. The Koubek Center will host Cuatrogatos’ Picnic de Libros: ¡Monstros y Mitologia! for a day of multicultural mythological explorations of ancient Greek monsters, East Asian spirits and Afro-Latino folklore, with select children’s books in Spanish and English being given away while supplies last. Other highlights include choreographic debut with classical Indian dancer Bijayini Satpathy on Saturday, March 9 at MDC North Campus presented by Live Arts Miami in partnership with MBF, creative writing workshops for teens and adults, book discussions at library branches throughout the Miami-Dade County Library System, and much more.
Miller is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of two novels: The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into more than 32 languages.
Complimentary copies of the featured book will be distributed at Big Read events while supplies last.
View a complete list of Big Read initiatives hosted by Miami Book Fair here.
For more information about the NEA and Big Read, visit www.arts.gov
For information about Arts Midwest, visit www.artsmidwest.org
For more information about Miami Book Fair, visit www.miamibookfair.com, call 305-237-3528 or email wbookfair@mdc.edu.
Follow the Miami Book Fair on social media @miamibookfair.
For more information, please contact Ismery Pavon at Ipavon@mdc.edu.
To register, visit https://www.miamibookfair.com/speakup/
Follow the Miami Book Fair on social media @miamibookfair.
#MBF2024 #MiamiReads
About Miami Book Fair
Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year-round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. Throughout the rest of the year, Miami Book Fair responds hosts an ongoing schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival; creative writing and publishing workshops; author presentations; reading campaigns; and Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 150,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County. Miami Book Fair programming is made possible through generous support from the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Miami Downtown Development Authority; and Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.
Miami Book Fair contact: Lisa Palley, Palley Promotes, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net.