The Miami Book Hub: Books, Belonging, and the Soul of Miami

A conversation with Lissette Mendez of the Miami Book Fair reveals how literature is building community in the Magic City.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:10am

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In a recent episode of The Miami Book Hub podcast, host Javier A. Betancourt sat down with Lissette Mendez, the executive director of the Miami Book Fair, for a wide-ranging discussion about the fair's role in cultivating Miami's literary culture. Beyond just an annual event, the Miami Book Fair has become a year-round engine for bringing people together through books, workshops, and affordable literary experiences that reflect the diversity of the city.

Why it matters

As a hub for aspiring writers, emerging authors, and curious readers, the Miami Book Fair plays a vital role in demystifying the literary world and making it more accessible to all Miamians, not just those in traditional academic or publishing circles. In a city as dynamic and diverse as Miami, the fair's mission to create common ground through shared stories is especially important.

The details

The Miami Book Fair, which is celebrating its 43rd year, has expanded far beyond its flagship annual event. Throughout the year, the fair offers workshops, author talks, and other programming to help writers of all backgrounds navigate the publishing industry and share their narratives. Lissette Mendez emphasized the fair's commitment to making these resources affordable and welcoming to working people, parents, and first-time authors, reflecting Miami Dade College's own mission of providing accessible education.

  • The Miami Book Fair is heading into its 43rd year.
  • The fair's upcoming 'Stories We Share' event will highlight Jewish life and culture through literature.

The players

Lissette Mendez

The executive director of the Miami Book Fair, an organization that has become a year-round engine for literary culture in the Miami community.

Javier A. Betancourt

The host of The Miami Book Hub podcast, a platform dedicated to spotlighting the people and institutions shaping Miami's intellectual and cultural life.

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What they’re saying

“In a world that often feels increasingly fractured, books still have the power to bring people together.”

— Javier A. Betancourt, Host, The Miami Book Hub

“These kinds of programs are not about separating communities into neat cultural boxes. They are about doing the opposite. They are about creating spaces where people can encounter one another's stories, histories, and humanity in ways that build understanding rather than division.”

— Lissette Mendez, Executive Director, Miami Book Fair

What’s next

The Miami Book Fair's 'Stories We Share' event highlighting Jewish life and culture through literature is scheduled for later this year.

The takeaway

The Miami Book Fair is not just promoting books - it is promoting civic life and creating common ground in a diverse city like Miami, where culture is not a luxury but an essential part of the community's infrastructure.