Female authors are conveying a message that speaks for itself, amplifying their messages in meaningful ways that demand the attention of the public. The Miami Dade College’s Miami Book Fair is a hit, riding the coattails of 40 years of success. The venue is hosting the event through November 19th, and locals are racing to become a part of the experience.
Community members are lining up in downtown Miami, bringing exceptionally crafted works to the table. Singer Joan Baez, New York Times columnist David Brooks, and mystery writer Walter Mosley were in attendance, as well as actors Jada Pinkett Smith, Kerry Washington, and Henry Winkler. Home-grown authors including Kristal Brent Zook, “The Girl in the Yellow Poncho: A Memoir,” M. Evelina Galang, “When the Hibiscus Falls,” and confessional poet Nicole Tallman, “Poems for the People,” and “Fersace,” are present and ready to speak to the public, enticing more individuals to check out the site while it’s in town.
The team of female authors at the event is operating on a mission to change lives through education with an unwavering commitment to being a force for good. Professor Galang of Creative Writing at the University of Miami spent 18 long years working on her book, “Lolas’ House: Filipino Women Living with War.” Her most recent work is also available to read, entitled, “When the Hibiscus Falls.” The writer’s work focuses on women affected by the perilous effects of war, no matter their age. She just returned from a summer book tour, energized by discussions she had with her former students. Having grown up in a Polish and German suburb in Wisconsin, the writer put her past experience to use in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the matter in question. Now, she’s using her talents for gratifying and all-encompassing creations that promise to deliver what the reader is looking for. She’s out to inspire, motivate, and comfort each guest. And she’s back to work already. Her latest work, “Beautiful Sorrow, Beautiful Sky,” is a love story between two 70-year-olds that has a potentially everlasting effect.
Journalist and author Kristal Brent Zook is there as well, with her coming-of-age memoir “The Girl in the Yellow Poncho”. The work recalls her experience growing up struggling with identity hardships. She’s an accomplished professor of journalism at Hofstra University in New York, as well as a former contributor to The Village Voice and LA Weekly, and a creator of freelance solutions for The New York Times Sunday Magazine. What began as a work of journalism evolved rapidly into a memoir that can effectively transport others to an experience like no other. From her headquarters in Coconut Grove, the author has proudly completed four books that resonate with her audience.
“I’m interested in social justice and fighting for representation of women and women of color,” Zook says. “This is a multi-layered book – about generational addiction, sexual assault, and the search for my white father.” She states that the book is one of generational healing for the black women in her family, putting purposeful work forth to the benefit of all who have the pleasure of reading it.
Tallman, a poet and author in her own right, is the poetry ambassador for Miami-Dade County and has been hard at work since early childhood. “I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing,” the 47-year-old Tallman recalls. Instead of pursuing an easily lucrative career, Tallman went into public relations, eventually landing a career in poetry, releasing a book entitled “Something Kindred” that expressed her fearless vulnerability during the COVID-19 lockdown. With unhindered emotional expression and inspiration from the greats, she’ll pen a draft on her favorite device and edit it accordingly, working as quickly as possible to render effective results. She focuses on writing one poem per week, currently working on her latest book with the pending title, “La Dolce Vita”. “Let’s celebrate our poets while they’re alive,” says Tallman, who will also host a tribute to Seton and her last book of poems, “The Sky is an Elephant” at the MBF.
