A native of Maine, Irene Sperber grew up in the Pine Tree State and as an adult lived for a time in London, Hong Kong, and New York City before making Miami her main base in 1998. A self-described “non-planner” and “creative being,” she enjoyed a career as a fine art photographer and is now writing a book about her travels.
Tell me about your book.
I travel a lot, and it’s kind of my take on the world and things that have happened to me – I think I’m riveting! [laughs] Also, I’m older than dirt, so it’s a look through the decades. I see life differently now and have different experiences, and I do like to go solo a lot because you pay more attention when you travel alone – you can just be who you are and react and not have to fit into a pre-set niche, and you discover new things about yourself.
The world had to press pause on travel for a while – have you been making up for that in the last couple of years?
I’ve gotten back on the road and now I’m discovering more of the U.S., as opposed to going overseas. And someone said to me, “Well, if you love Bisbee, Arizona, and Marfa, Texas, then you’re gonna love Eureka Springs, Arkansas.” And I thought, Mmm, Arkansas? I don’t know; it’s kind of not my brand. But I finally went and it’s so charming! I discovered a writers’ colony and got in and spent about a week-and-a-half there, not too long ago. I got a lot done; I’ll probably go back.
That’s so cool.
I’m doing that sort of thing now. I was in Palm Springs recently – a friend just moved there – and what is the name of that other place I went to? It’s a quirky little place … Oh, Salton Sea! A bizarre, crazy place in California that I’d been wanting to go to. Old Hollywood used to go there, it was a resort area, but then [the water and land] became toxic and dried up and now a bunch of artists are there and they’re taking all the old stuff and making things; it’s completely bizarre and not for everyone. It’s for the off, off, off, off, off the grid people. Let me put it this way: If you have a Birkin bag you’re probably not going to like it. [laughs] I like poking into corners.
What about poking into literary corners – how long have you been exploring Miami Book Fair?
I have absolutely no recollection; I’m sure I always knew about it. But in 2010 I was writing reviews of the Fair and got completely sucked into it, going to every program and seeing every author I could. And after that it was not up for discussion – I had to be a Friend of the Fair and I had to be there every year.
What’s the best thing about Book Fair for you?
I appreciate the quality of the people who are there – not just the “name” people but the “smaller” people – and that you offer so much diversity. Some of the smaller rooms are where you find the most incredible authors, it’s not all happening in Chapman. Everything is there, right there, for me to see, and I can make a plan and set things up so that I don’t miss anything. Spending that weekend downtown, hopefully in the sunshine, is just such a delightful thing to do. You can meander and look at books in between lectures and it’s an amazing gem of an event.
You enjoy traveling alone – do you Book Fair solo, too?
I try to do some things with my husband but he’s not going to do as much as I do or get there as early as me. [laughs] I know a lot of people in town and most of them go, so we might stop and have a coffee together, and sit and discuss things we’ve seen.
What’s a standout Book Fair memory for you?
I remember a year that Patti Smith was there and she sang a cappella and it was beautiful, it was a beautiful moment. And I thought to myself, I feel so lucky – you know, I can crawl here from my house, this is amazing! It makes me adore being in Miami.
Seeing Chuck Todd was another great moment for me. It was like sitting down with him and talking about the world and what’s going on. I think the Book Fair environment puts authors at ease and encourages them to loosen up and really talk to people.
Tell me about some good books you’ve read lately.
My attention span hasn’t been great, so I started doing audio books. I just plug in during a workout and I’ve been able to get through a lot of books that way. Recently I’ve listened to The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer – that was great because it went to all the places in Asia that I’ve been to – and I just finished Luke Russert’s book, Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself. That was terrific. And someone just gave me Viola Davis’ Finding Me; that one I’m going to have to actually read.
If you were taking off on a monthlong trip, just you and your thoughts, what books would you bring with you?
Anything by Iyer; he has a lot of inward thoughts so I think those would be good. And Sam Shepard’s Great Dream of Heaven. It concerns inner and outer struggles and important relationships. If you’re out somewhere on your own you’re going to be coming up against yourself, so that might be a good time to look through that little mess. [laughs]
Interview by Elisa Chemayne Agostinho; responses have been edited for space and clarity.
