Monday’s event was a success! What a great evening at Books & Books! Reading & Discussion by FIFTEEN VIEWS OF MIAMI contributors and editor Jaquira Díaz.

“The city that emerges from the stories in 15 Views of Miami is not the impossibly sunny, shiny place we see on television but the humid, crowded, less glamorous one we know (and love and sometimes hate) because we live here. It’s the city where you can hear the cry of a heron and the scream of traffic in the same breath. Where we still mourn the loss of Wolfie’s and Burdines and Zayre (OK, maybe not Zayre). Where people still identify themselves by where they were when Hurricane Andrew struck.” (Connie Ogle, The Miami Herald)

I was in great company with writers Lynne Barrett, Geoffrey Philp, M. Evelina Galang, John Dufresne, and (of course!) editor Jaquira Díaz. I was among friends: Lynne is one of my heroes, M. Evelina was my mentor at VONA, John was my thesis advisor, and Jaquira and I both attended Florida International University. As for Geoffrey, he’s such an inspiration!

If you missed the event, you can see it on Livestream here.

Here’s what people had to say about it:

“I’m running out of superlatives to describe last night’s reading from 15 Views of Miami.” (Geoffrey Philp)

“Gahhhhh, I couldn’t ask for a better MLK night! The 15 Views of Miami reading showcased so many of the awesome cultures and colors of Miami, represented by literary heavyhitters Lynne Barrett, Michele Jessica Fievre, Geoffrey Philp, Evelina Galang, and John Dufresne. Superbrain Jaquira Díaz put together the 15 Views of Miami anthology, and gave a fantastic intro tonight. And I finally got to meet Amina Gautier, one of my favorite writers. So yeah, Miami rocks.” (Jennifer Maritza McCauley)

“Some wacky stuff in that collection. I think it gets to the essence of the wider Miami.” (Jennifer Hurst)

“Such a fun night. I’m proud of you, Miami!” (Andrea Askowitz)

We also got a wonderful write-up in the Miami Herald, thanks to reporter Connie Ogle