Key West Sketches now available

The folks of the Key West Literary Seminar have some news to share:

We are thrilled to announce the publication of Key West Sketches: Writers at Mile Zero, a new anthology out today from Blair. Edited by Carey Winfrey, the former editor-in-chief of Smithsonian magazine and longtime KWLS board member, the 250-page volume tracks Key West's extraordinary and eclectic literary history. The book's many treasures include Thomas McGuane's account of a long-ago dinner with Tennessee Williams; Elizabeth Bishop's description of Key West folk painter Gregorio Valdes; Joy Williams on Ernest Hemingway in Key West; and Judy Blume's real-life story of becoming a bookstore owner-operator at the end of the road. There are poems by Billy Collins and James Merrill; heart-rending recollections of Harry Mathews by Ann Beattie; Richard Wilbur by Phyllis Rose; and David Wolkowsky by William Wright. And so much more, with contributions from Pico Iyer, Philip Caputo, Daniel Menaker, Brian Antoni, Alison Lurie, and many others.

Not since the beloved Key West Reader, published by the late George Murphy more than 30 years ago (and long out of print), has a book so deftly captured and conveyed the literary culture of our island city. This book has enough genius and wit to fill a volume ten times its size. Carey Winfrey has made an enormous contribution to Key West's rich life of letters.

If that weren't enough reason to go out and buy this wonderful book, Winfrey has generously donated 100% of his royalties to support the Elizabeth Bishop House. Click on any of the images or links below to buy your copies of Key West Sketches from Books & Books.