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Nov 9, 2009 5:50 pm US/Eastern
Miami Book Fair Co-Founder Recalls The Early Years
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
In the 1980s Miami was often seen as a 'wild and dangerous' place to those who only heard about the city through its reputation.
During that decade, Mitch Kaplan opened a bookstore and decided that he wanted to show off the literate Miami he knew existed, but he just wasn't sure the best way to do it. That's when he got a well timed phone call from a friend.
"Eduardo Padron, then the President of Miami-Dade College Downtown had just gotten back from a book fair in Barcelona. He wanted to do something to showcase downtown Miami," recalled Kaplan.
So in 1984, Kaplan helped launch the first Miami book fair which became an instant hit.
"When we saw the thousands of folks who came out to support what we were doing, and the crowds drawn by the authors, we knew had something very potent here," said Kaplan.
More than two decades later, the Miami Book Fair International has enjoyed unbelievable growth. Last year the book fair hosted more than 200 thousand visitors and 400 authors. In so doing, its co-founder Kaplan says the book fair has helped to re-shape, or at least re-balance, Miami's image.
"All of the writers in the early years especially, came to Miami and were smitten. So they all went back home and they wrote about it," said Kaplan.
Today the Miami Book Fair International lives up to its name, drawing visitors from across the globe including one serious journalism student from Venezuela who told CBS4's Jim Berry that he was drawn to a not so serious subject.
"I've heard they are going to be selling books, and I want to go to the comic book session because I read Archie," said Daniella Vicentini.
Despite a recession that has forced the book fair to trim some events, and charge for others, early signs this year are that the crowds won't be deterred this year. Proving what Kaplan wanted to promote all those years ago – Miami loves to read.
"Once you go there," said avid reader Hillary Compton "You see the crowds, you definitely get that sense."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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