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

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.