2019 Lecture Series
Dennis Beaver is the curator of the Tennessee Williams Museum. He has been fascinated with Key West’s history since moving here in 1979. This year’s Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration will focus on the author’s patronage and devotion to the Key West Library.
Admission is free and seating begins at 5:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis with the program starting promptly at 6:00 p.m.
David Garrard Lowe is a well-known cultural historian, lecturer, and author of books about great cities and their architecture. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, American Heritage, House & Garden, and City Journal.
Admission is free and seating begins at 5:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis with the program starting promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Chelsea Rathburn is a poet and writer who grew up in Miami. She now directs the creative writing program at Young Harris College. Her third collection of poems, Still Life with Mother and Knife, will be published by Louisiana State University Press in February 2019
Admission is free and seating begins at 5:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis with the program starting promptly at 6:00 p.m.
David Lawrence Jr. served as publisher of the Miami Herald for a decade before retiring in 1999. He chairs The Children’s Movement of Florida. His memoir, A Dedicated Life: Journalism, Justice and a Chance for Every Child was published in 2018.
Admission is free and seating begins at 5:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis with the program starting promptly at 6:00 p.m.
2018 Lecture Series
P. Scott Cunningham is a poet, translator, essayist, publisher, and all-around human arts juggernaut from Miami. He is the director of the O, Miami Poetry Festival. His new book of poetry, Ya Te Veo, was selected by Billy Collins for the Miller Williams Poetry Series
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries: Clammed Up, Boiled Over, Musseled Out, Fogged Inn, Iced Under and Stowed Away. Barbara’s books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel.
Willie Drye is an author with extensive knowledge of hurricane history and science. He wrote Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 as well as other works on recent storms in South Florida. He is an editor at National Geographic News and his writing has won numerous awards..
Carol Munder is a photographer and lithographer who creates hauntingly evocative monochrome images of artifacts ranging from Etruscan figurines to objects found at flea market. Her work has been exhibited her work in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Stephen Kitsakos is a writer, director, performing arts administrator, and professor of theater arts. Most recently he has written the libretto for A Thousand Splendid Suns, an opera based of the Khaled Hosseini novel, which will premiere at the Seattle Opera in the 2019-2020 season.
Arlo Haskell is a writer, historian, publisher, and executive director of the Key West Literary Seminar. Much of his work focuses on the literary and social histories of Key West, Florida. His new book is The Jews of Key West: Smugglers, Cigar Makers, and Revolutionaries (1823-1969).
Chantel Acevedo is a Cuban American author from Miami who often utilizes Cuba as a backdrop for her prose and poetry. She has written five novels, a poetry chapbook, and a historical novel for young adults. Her most recent novel, The Living Infinite, is about the Infanta Eulalia.
Lee Smith grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia. By the age of nine she was already writing stories – and selling for a nickel apiece. Since 1968, she has published eleven novels, three collections of short stories, and has received many writing awards.
Edmund White is the author of dozens of books. His long and successful career spans fiction, memoir, biography, drama, and essays. His work centers on the gay experience in America from the 1950s to present, as well as in French culture.
Teju Cole is a writer, art historian, and photographer. He is the author of four books, including the novels Open City and Every Day Is For The Thief. He is the photography columnist at the New York Times Magazine, and has had gallery shows in several countries.