The Fort Lauderdale International Book Fair has become a hallmark event for the local literary community. This event, which originated through the thoughtful planning of STA students, has been hosted annually at Esplanade Park for the past four years. On January 31st the fair will commence, and is set to showcase over 80 local authors including Amily D’nas, John Bowen, and Dean Artenosi.

For authors, it is a chance to showcase their masterpieces and gather as a community inspired by reading. At the same time, for the South Florida book community, it represents an opportunity to engage with the vibrant literary arts scene of downtown Fort Lauderdale. For one STA student in particular, it marks the culmination of a year-long process of continuous planning. Luigi Landi, currently a Senior, has played an active role in the event since its inception. “I became involved through a good friend of mine, Michael Bergstrom, who brought the idea to me the summer going into my freshman year,” Landi explained. Initially, Landi participated as a founding member, then advanced to Chief Financial Officer, and ultimately became president.

The event is structured around vendor-styled booths that allow authors to directly engage with their audiences in an open, social environment. According to Luigi, the goal of this initiative is to “promote local authors by giving them a platform to sell and showcase their books, while also allowing them to connect with other authors and form potential professional relationships.” This intentional emphasis on accessibility and interaction distinguishes the event from more traditional literary gatherings, reinforcing its role as a community-centered initiative.

In an era dominated by the growing consumption of digital media, short-form social media content and doomscrolling has steered traditional reading into a steady decline. Through hosting this event, Luigi hopes to push back against literature’s rapid disappearance. “Reading has always been a strong value of mine,” he reflected. “I do not want to see the literacy rate continue to drop. I want to do what I can to help reverse it.” By positioning reading as a shared, communal experience, the fair serves as a direct response to this cultural shift, encouraging engagement with literature beyond screens (or assigned classwork for students).

Landi’s tenure in organizing such a large-scale event has helped him develop valuable personal and professional skills: “I learned many qualities of a good leader, as well as communicator and public speaker. I also was able to structure and plan my days and times better since it is a necessity with my rigorous academic and athletic schedule as a soccer player”. Through direct involvement with the growth of this event, Luigi has been able to grow not just academically, but as a leader, communicator, and organizer, developing skills that will last beyond the classroom.

On average, the event hosts 900 to 1000 attendees annually. By setting a goal of exceeding 1,200 attendees at this year’s fair, Luigi hopes to elevate the event’s visibility and cement its status in Fort Lauderdale’s cultural identity. With dozens of authors, interactive booths, and an atmosphere built around connection, the fair offers something for both avid readers and curious newcomers.

If you would like to volunteer for the event, visit the Sign Up Genius. For more information on the event, visit the organization’s website or social media accounts listed below:

Instagram: @ftlbookfair

Facebook: @ftlbookfair

Website: ftlbookfair.org