Born and raised in Virginia, Tim Minerd most recently spent 10 years as a New Yorker before a career opportunity brought him to Miami, where he met his now-hubby, Davis, in a gay kickball league. The couple live in South Beach with their two rescue mutts, Atticus and Scout.
I understand you became a Friend when someone gave you a membership. Were you aware of the Fair prior to that?
Yes, I’d read about the Fair in Miami New Times but had never been until I got a gift membership. Best. Gift. Ever. Seriously, if you have a book lover in your life, I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift than a membership paired with a favorite book.
What do you think the Fair has brought to Miami?
I love that it brings Miamians from all walks of life together in a way we don’t usually see beyond our local ventanita. Despite its size, the Fair feels like an event for locals just as much as it does for all the big names and book fans who come from all over.
You upped your membership level last year – what led you to that decision?
Immediately after becoming a Friend, I felt like I’d joined the best, brightest, and most welcoming group of people in Miami. I’m a transplant from New York City (yes, one of those) and thought Miami was all about exclusive members’ clubs, which isn’t my scene at all. I’m more of a Golden Girls “thank you for being a friend” kind of guy. So, I found my people!
There are a lot of great benefits to being a Friend – which ones do you enjoy the most?
The Friends are really fun – seriously, you meet lots of great people! And with extra tickets to share I’ve been able to invite my friends along for Evenings With sessions and other special events. It’s a great way to introduce new folks to the Fair.
Cuéntame sobre un momento o experiencia de MBF que realmente se destaque para ti.
Helping Bookleggers give out thousands of free, donated books. I volunteer at the shop – it’s located in Bakehouse Art Complex; come see us! – and it was so cool to get to bring our Traveling Book Trailer to the Fair. The only thing better than a good book is a free good book.
¿Cuál fue el último gran libro que leíste? ¿Estás leyendo algo bueno ahora?
I just reread The Giver by Lois Lowry – the copy with all my middle school notes in the margins. It’s wild and fun to reread YA books as an adult and reflect on what kind of impact they’ve had on your life. The Giver taught me empathy, the hardest language to learn. I’m lucky I learned it at a young age, in large part thanks to Lowry.
Right now I’m reading Barry Diller’s memoir, ¿Quién lo iba a decir?. Honestly, I wish this book had been written when I was younger. Knowing that a hugely successful media mogul was also quietly gay would have given me way more trust and confidence in the world. And now I’m learning that he really was a trailblazer this whole time. As the title suggests, who knew? It’s a very inspiring memoir and I hope it reaches a wide audience.
Which MBF 2025 program did you find most delightful?
The live music, believe it or not. It was so great to settle in with a new book and new friends and enjoy all the live acts while reading in between. I didn’t expect to dance at the Fair, but that’s what happened.
What’s your fave book-to-screen adaptation, and why?
Clueless. The fact that it’s literally an adaptation of Emma still blows my mind. It’s just so clever, and still faithful to the original. Jane Austen was obviously ahead of her time, or she’s just timeless.
Cracking open a book or putting in your earbuds?
Cracking open a book, preferably on the beach. I especially love used books – if there’s a dedication or maybe some notes, or even just pages that have been earmarked by a previous reader – I pay attention. Once I found love notes scattered throughout a copy of Call Me by Your Name. Call me old-fashioned, but physical books can tell stories of their own.
Entrevista realizada por Elisa Chemayne Agostinho; las respuestas se han editado por motivos de espacio y claridad.