Florida. The Sunshine State, although some would call it a state of humid confusion, a state of permanent political parody, often a state of disbelief.
Now in its 41st year, the upcoming Key West Literary Seminar, Jan. 11-14, explores the theme “Florida: The State We’re In,” and gathers about 30 of the state’s top writers — novelists, columnists, satirists, essayists and poets — to discuss and dissect the state we’re in today.
“This year, we’ll turn our attention to this weird, wild, always-going-underwater bellwether of a state that (for better and for worse) we call home — Florida,” states the seminar website at kwls.org.
“Florida is again at the center of the national conversation, with pressing environmental and political issues that those in the rest of the country can’t afford to ignore,” Arlo Haskell, executive director of the KWLS, told the Keys Weekly. “Throughout American history, Florida’s dynamic character and culture have produced an incredible body of literature, and this year’s seminar is an opportunity to hear from some of our very best — writers who know exactly how we got here and, perhaps, where we are going next.”
The seminar has assembled writers who know the Sunshine State better than anyone. Distinguished authors, including Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry and Jeff Vandermeer, will guide participants on a literary trek from the Panhandle dunes to the Ocala forests and the limestone archipelago of the Florida Keys — across the swamps, concrete condos and coral reefs that make up this beautiful, complicated, ecologically vulnerable state.
“We may not solve all the problems of this crazy place, but we’ll sure have a good time talking about it,” Haskell said. “We’re expecting approximately 650 people on opening night; then with separately ticketed Saturday passes, Saturday night’s concert by Terry Allen and Sunday afternoon’s free session, I’d guess we see about 1,000 total attendees.”
Established in 1983, the seminar explores a different literary theme each January. The best writers of our time join readers from all over the world for four days of readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions and parties that add up to one of today’s smartest and most high-spirited literary gatherings.
For a complete schedule and individually ticketed events, visit kwls.org.
