The annual Literary Feast continues the goal established 35 years ago by the Broward Public Library Foundation: to support literacy programs in Broward County by connecting best-selling authors with Florida readers.
Each year, the foundation brings in best-selling and emerging authors who participate in free panels about their work and dinners at private homes and restaurants around Broward County. A welcome reception, silent auction and book sales add to the fund-raising for literacy programs.
Last year, the Literary Feast raised $155,000 to support programs such as the Summer Learning Program, Children’s BookFest and a new project — the Scientist in Residence program at the North Lauderdale Library.
The Literary Feast begins with LitLive panels on April 12 in the Horvitz Auditorium at NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
The Fiction panel begins at 5:30 p.m. with moderator Gail Bulfin and authors Kristin Harmel, “The Paris Daughter”; Michelle Wildgen, “Wine People”; and Thomas Mallon, “Up With the Sun.”
Nonfiction begins at 6:30 p.m. with moderator Jill Sears and authors Aida Rodriguez, “Legitimate Kid”; Leah Lax, “Not From Here: The Song of America” and “Making Waves: A Woman’s Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage.”
Mystery begins at 7:30 p.m. with moderator Oline Cogdill and authors Lisa Unger, “The New Couple in 5B”; Alex DeMille, “Blood Lines”; Jonathan Santlofer, “The Lost Van Gogh”; and James R. Benn, “Proud Sorrows.”
The Literary Feasts welcome reception begins at 5:30 p.m. April 13 in the Commodore Ballroom at Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach. The reception alone will feature each of the authors, who will be available to sign their books, an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction. The reception is $75.
The Literary Feast dinners begin around 7:30 p.m. with tickets beginning at $175.
Visit bplfoundation.org/literary-feast for details and tickets on LitLive and the Night of Literary Feasts.
Palm Beach literacy luncheon
April seems to be the month to appreciate literacy.
Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks will be the guest author at the 33rd Annual Love of Literacy Luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. April 11 at the Kravis Center, Cohen Pavilion, in West Palm Beach.
Tickets are $175; contact LiteracyPBC.org for more information. Book sales and a silent auction also will be featured.
Australian-born Brooks is best known for her meticulously researched historical books that include “Caleb’s Crossing,” “People of the Book,” “Year of Wonders” and “March,” which won the 2006 Pulitzer. Her latest book is “Horse,” based on a true story of a record-breaking racehorse, touching on science, art and injustice.
Our Voices: Festival of Words
Our Voices: Festival of Words returns with an array of performances, author readings, children’s activities, a meditation garden, food trucks, music and more, from April 25 to 27 in Fort Lauderdale.
This free, family-friendly community event celebrates the power of words and the diversity and joy of literature. Visit ourvoicesfest.com for more information.
Speakers and events include:
Lit Lounge: The opening reception and artist showcase featuring local and regional writers, poets and musicians beginning at 7 p.m. April 25 at The Circuit @ Destination Sistrunk Cultural Center, 1033 NW Sixth St. Fort Lauderdale
An Intimate Evening: Poetry reading and conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, also Christell Roach and a short play reading beginning at 7 p.m. April 26 in the Bienes Gallery in the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale.
The Festival of Words: Begins at 11 a.m. April 27 in Samuel Delevoe Park, 2520 NW Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale, featuring book giveaways, artists, panel discussions and more.
The festival host is Art Prevails Project, a Broward-based cultural arts organization working to strengthen communities through creative and performing arts. The project, founded in 2015, is in partnership with local community groups and businesses. For more information on Art Prevails Project, visit artprevailsproject.org.
Mystery series headed to TV
Miami author Raquel V. Reyes has found the right ingredients in food, culture and humor to fold into her highly entertaining mysteries about food anthropologist Cuban-American Miriam Quiñones-Smith.
In Reyes’ award-winning series, subtitled Caribbean Kitchen, Miriam and her husband, Robert, and their 4-year-old son, Manny, have moved back to Miami for his work. Miriam becomes a local celebrity as the host of two popular cooking shows. Reyes’ series will now be the foundation of a new TV series called “Miami Spice.”
According to Variety, Gato Grande, an Amazon MGM Studios company, has announced that “Miami Spice” will be the next project from its recently launched English-language division. “Miami Spice” will be based on Reyes’ novel debut, “Mango, Mambo and Murder.” Cuban-American showrunner Art Alamo, best known for his work on “Law & Order,” will be writing and producing “Miami Spice.”
“I am thrilled that Gato Grande has chosen a Cuban-American showrunner, Art Alamo, to transform ‘Mango, Mambo, and Murder’ into the ‘Miami Spice’ series for screen,” said Reyes in an email. “My story set in Miami with a Cuban-American main character and Spanglish speaking assemble characters will get the love it deserves with Alamo at the helm.”