Barbara Gutierrez is the associate director of communications and public relations at the University of Miami. She’s also a staunch advocate for Miami Book Fair.
What does your day to day look like at UM?
I’m basically a writer. We have an on-campus newsletter, which I call a newspaper because we put it out daily; that’s very rare in the academic world. I cover certain schools, research, the library, and topics having to do with Latin America and Cuba. I’m Cuban American; I grew up in Havana and Union City, N.J., and I went to Barnard and Columbia journalism school. So, I’ve really always considered myself a New Yorker. I love New York.
When did you land in Miami?
In 1980 I came here to work for the Herald. I like to say that I came with Mariel because that was one of the factors that led to my decision to come. I didn’t like Miami; I had family here so I was somewhat familiar. In 1980 it was still pretty much a beach town and there wasn’t much to write about, but Mariel changed everything. And then I was lucky enough to be here during the first Book Fair, the first film festival, and so I stayed. Another thing that kept me here was that I belonged to a women’s book group, and we’ve been together for 35 years now.
Wow!
I missed New York terribly, and I missed the intellectual life of New York, and these women – and they come from all walks of life, they’re journalists, lawyers, activists – they not only became friends but also great intellectual partners in a sense. They gave me a grounding to continue and to see that there was a future for me in Miami.
What’s something you love about Book Fair?
To me, Book Fair is like Disney for adults. You can pick from this, write on that, and I remember in the early years meeting one of my favorite writers – who has since become a friend – Edwidge Danticat. She’s an exceptional writer. And she went to Barnard, too. I remember following her into a bathroom at Book Fair [laughs] to say to her, “Hi! I’m Barbara and I’m your Barnard sister, and I love your work.”
I think that definitely counts as one of your memorable Book Fair moments.
Yes! [laughs] I think she was presenting Krik? Krak!, one of her first books. She’s a very gracious woman, and again, we’ve kind of become friends. She comes to the university and I go to practically every panel she’s on. Last Book Fair she sat with me and one of her beautiful daughters for the Pamela Paul panel on what the internet has given us and what it’s taken away. It was exceptional. Paul had the woman who wrote The Secret Lives of Church Ladies …
Deesha Philyaw.
Yes, and she had Dave Barry, too, and even though I’ve known Dave Barry all my life here, I always marvel at how funny he is and how spontaneous he can be. It was a wonderful, wonderful panel. That’s something else I love about the Fair – it brings surprises to you. It not only introduces you to new writers, but to new topics and new ways of looking at the world. As a matter of fact, as a writer I took that idea from the panel and I did it here with our students: What did the internet give you and what do you think it’s taken away? It turned into a really interesting story.
Do you consider yourself a big reader?
I would not say I’m a voracious reader but I think I’m a good reader, in the sense that I love books and read maybe 30-40 a year. But I don’t know what I’d do without Miami Book Fair and Books & Books. I live very close to Books & Books so I’m lucky. And even though I don’t partake as much as I should, I like the idea that I can meet and sit and watch panels with many of my favorite writers in English at the Fair, but then there’s a whole Spanish section that is also very rich. I have seen writers from Latin America that I like, Cuban American writers who write in Spanish, poets – and that’s a wealth Miami Book Fair has that not every book fair does.
Is there another Book Fair moment that has stayed with you?
Waiting in line to have my book signed by Anne Rice surrounded by all these people dressed as vampires. [laughs] I remember the friend I was with said to her, “You know that house you have in New Orleans? Well, I paid for one of those bricks on that house because I’ve bought all your books,” and Anne Rice just laughed. I loved meeting her. Another good memory is listening to Colm Tóibín, who’s also one of my favorite writers. He wrote something called The Testament of Mary which is just superb. A little bit disturbing, but I think that’s what good writing does. It makes you think and explore things you never would have imagined.
Who are some writers that you’ve discovered at the Fair?
Joyce Maynard; she was presenting Labor Day. I really liked her characters and she seemed so open and fun, like a person who enjoys life, and that came through in the writing. Joyce Carol Oates, too. I was familiar with her before seeing her at the Fair but hearing her speak – there was something about the way she delivered the presentation. I felt like I was listening to royalty. She has a very strong presence. That’s also part of what makes Book Fair so special; you realize that these people are people, first of all, and that each of them comes to writing from different perspectives and backgrounds. And you know that already, but when you’re looking at them and listening to them, it’s another experience. Oh, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. He really impressed me.
He’s fantastic; I saw him at Book Fair, too.
I saw him as Donald Trump was taking office, and a lot of what he said remained with me throughout that entire administration. He’s an incredible, thoughtful mind.
What are you reading now?
Horse by Geraldine Brooks. I saw her at the Friends event.
Oh, did you enjoy that?
Oh my god, I posted it on Facebook and Instagram! [laughs] I think I scared her, because I hugged her and she’s so tiny, you know? She has no idea how much I admire her.
And what was the last great book you read?
The last one I really enjoyed was The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. It’s her first book, and it’s about a young woman in Nigeria and how she struggles to rise from poverty. It’s beautifully told in a voice that’s very different from what we’re used to. She’s funny – her observations can be kind of wacky – and I hope she’s at the Fair.
If someone wrote a book that told the story of your life, what would it be called?
A Critical Eye. I’m the kind of person – and people here would agree – who brings up the elephant in the room. Not in a controversial way, because I’ve learned with age that controversy tends to shut people down, but I want us to always think of the other side of the coin, and the people who aren’t sitting at the table.
Interview by Elisa Chemayne Agostinho.
