All Things Key West Literary Seminar
+ a list of all the books Rebecca came home with!
Howdy Friends,
Rebecca is home from an eventful week at the Key West Literary Seminar. She had a great time and was happy to meet so many of her literary heroes including Jeff Vandermeer, Lauren Groff, Karen Russell, and more.
During her conversation with Craig Pittman, Rebecca discussed the vital role that environmental journalists have in reminding us that nature is a treasure and that we are capable of doing it some good, (as evidenced by how crocodiles have flourished thanks to successful mangrove conservation efforts crocodile has flourished alongside successful mangrove conservation efforts and has even returned to its “ancestral land” north of the Keys).
She even wrestled an alligator while she was on stage! (See picture below.)
Last week was also eventful because Rebecca’s debut book Gator Country was on the bestseller page of the New York Times as an Editors’ Choice. They said the book is “not just an engaging story of people fighting to preserve wildlife but an impassioned love letter to the [Everglades].” This is a huge accomplishment!
Rebecca gave TikTok an update on her book publishing journey thus far, describing publication, “as a beginning and not an ending.” She followed that up by saying, “For me, it’s created so many more opportunities.”
And speaking of opportunities: if you missed Rebecca at the Key West Literary Seminar, she will be speaking at the University of Florida on January 30th at 6:00pm EST in Pugh Hall Ocora. A book signing will take place after the talk, and the event is free and open to the public.
Additionally, on February 2nd, Rebecca will speak at McIntyre’s Books Crime Scene Mystery Bookfest in Fearrington Village, NC.
Rebecca will be posting more content from the Key West Literary Seminar in the coming weeks, so be sure to follow her on all your favorite social media platforms @rebeccarennerfl.
Thanks for reading.
Yours truly,
Team Rebecca
These are the books that Rebecca purchased at the Key West Literary Seminar, all of which come highly recommended:
The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony by Annabelle Tometich (available for preorder)
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capó Crucet
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Are any of these books also on your TBR list?
This shot was taken by Rebecca’s cat cam while she was away at the Key West Literary Seminar.
PS - Hazel and Jojo are very happy to have their human back.