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Dispatches from the Miami Book Fair International
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This was the first year ever that Bluewater Books & Charts attended the Miami Book Fair International, one of the biggest literary events in the world. So maybe it doesn't have that much to do with boating, but most boaters are avid readers so it seemed like a good fit. Actually, in my three days of attending our booth in the vendor area, which was right downtown at the Wolfson Campus of Miami-Dade College, I talked to many boaters. Some knew about Bluewater, and some didn't, but they were all happy to see us there!

The Miami Book Fair is where literature happens. As Bluewater's owner John Mann noticed, at least a third of the vendors and publishers were carrying books with an international audience—mostly Latin. Troops of students of all ages roamed the fair hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite authors, and both aspiring and accomplished writers mingled with the crowd. Christine Kling spent an hour Sunday afternoon signing books at the Bluewater Booth, and she and other prominent South Florida authors read together for the debut of their collection Miami Noir (Kling, Vicki Hendricks, Les Standiford, Barbara Parker and James W. Hall all have stories in the collection). Miami Noir will be available at Bluewater soon—call for details.

This winter and spring promise to be a great time for fans of Florida fiction. Christine Kling's new book, Wreckers Cay, will be available at the end of February. It is the fourth Seychelle Sullivan book, and Bluewater will be co-hosting a book release party for Kling on February 27 at the Downtowner Saloon in Fort Lauderdale. Tim Dorsey's next book, Hurricane Punch, will be out in January, and James O. Born and Jonathan King will be publishing new books in the spring. Check in the next Bluewater newsletter for future events with these authors!

If you're a Tim Dorsey fan, you'll love the autographed hats I picked up at the Book Fair! They are each designed to match a certain Dorsey book, with images from the covers or inspired by Dorsey's characters ("Coleman's Night Tours and Bail Bonds" is one of my favorites!), and each has Dorsey's authentic signature on the brim. Bluewater is offering them for only $19.95 apiece. They are only available in our Fort Lauderdale store or through phone order, so call or stop by! Our staff will be happy to let you know which hat goes with which book.

Anne Brevig's 9 Years on the 7 Seas was one of our top sellers at the fair, with its fabulous photos and fantastic story of a couple's circumnavigation. It's enough to get even the most city-bound sailor dreaming, and makes a great Christmas gift!

And, of course, people watching at the Book Fair was spectacular...