Two Florida writers whose work explores family, culture and identity are headed to Washington, D.C., this fall, to represent the state at one of the country’s most celebrated literary events.
Florida Humanities’ Center for the Book has selected Dressing the Saints, by Aracelis González, and Mango Memories, by Sita Singh, as this year’s “Great Reads from Great Places” selections for the 25th anniversary of the National Book Festival, hosted by the Library of Congress. The annual program showcases authors from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Both González and Singh are recent gold medalists at the 2024 Florida Book Awards and will participate in summer programming leading up to the festival including author talks at the Lynx, in Gainesville.
Now in its third year as Florida’s official affiliate of the Center for the Book, Florida Humanities continues to champion diverse voices that reflect the richness of the state’s literary landscape.
“These books are perfect examples of how Florida literature can shine a light on the many cultures that call the Sunshine State home,” said Patricia Putman, associate director of Florida Humanities.
The National Book Festival takes place September 6, 2025, at the Washington Convention Center and will include author talks, book signings and a “Roadmap to Reading,” featuring selected titles from across the country.
