Check out our interview with Leslie Adame, the author of "Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen."
A&E
The tone for the indie, queer coming-of-age “Mouse” (IFC), written by Kelly O’Sullivan (and co-directed by O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson), is set in the first seconds when the words “North Little Rock, Arkansas 2002” appear onscreen. With apologies to the natives and residents of the 25th state, it’s almost a warning to the audience that there might be some scenes or dialogue that could be considered unsuitable for some viewers.
Founder and artistic director Elaine Rinaldi was conducting “La Traviata” when she met former Florida Philharmonic violinist Jerry Miller and Juilliard-trained cellist Steven Sigurdson. They approached her about starting a new orchestra in Miami. Rinaldi recalls that in 2003 the Florida Philharmonic had gone bankrupt, leaving many musicians looking for work.
Queer, Tamil American writer Malavika Kannan has accomplished something extraordinary with her aptly titled debut novel “Unprecedented Times” (Henry Holt and Company, 2026). With humor and pathos in equal measure, Kannan deftly covers a variety of topics, all of which she gives just the right amount of attention. As narrated by main character Rishi, the subjects include Florida, being the child of immigrants, college campus life, coming out, first queer sexual experiences, climate change, activism, COVID, the country’s response to the pandemic, and sexual assault, to mention a few. Kannan was gracious enough to make time for an interview in the autumn of 2026.
In 1999, pianists Glen Inanga and Jennifer Micallef traveled the world, competing internationally. One of their stops was the Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in Miami, where they earned a prize for their performance of a newly commissioned composition that competitors had just months to learn and perform from memory.
From nearly 100 modernist works at PAMM to immersive installations exploring migration, memory and identity, Artburst Miami’s editor picks a selection of what’s happening now in Miami-Dade’s galleries, exhibitions and artist-run spaces. Here are some must-sees before Art Week takes over in December.
Queer poets had a good year in 2026. New books by Dan Vera (“Celestial Fire: Song for a Love That Dares”), Bryan Borland (“Listen, Kid: Selected & New Poems”), Ed Madden (“I Asked Him What He Needed”), Richie Hoffmann (“The Bronze Arms” which was longlisted for the National Book Award), and the long-awaited third book by Hieu Minh Nguyen, “Staying Still” (Tin House, 2026), all served to remind readers of the necessity of poetic voices at this time. Oakland-based poet Nguyen’s book is a collection of accessibly rendered poems that linger long after the book is closed. Standouts include “Powderhorn Park,” “Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, San Francisco,” “Crisis,” “Away Message,” “Saint Paul,” and “Reunion Speech.”
Check out our interview with Susan L. Katz, the author of "Pole Dancers at the Red Barn."
In his author’s note for his astonishing debut book “The Nightingales” (Avid Reader Press, 2026), San Franciso-based gay illustrator and comic book artist Emil Wilson writes that the “basic setup” of the story is true, but it “isn’t a memoir” and he took “several liberties.” Regardless, in addition to essentially reinventing the visual presentation of a graphic novel, he has created unforgettable characters. Set in 1985 Oregon, there’s wise teenager Lou (aka Louise), kid sister of gay brother Emil; helpful father Donald; self-involved mother Annemarie (who is on a first name basis with the Virgin Mary); Donald’s gay co-worker Jim, a man with AIDS whom Donald invites to move into the family’s home when he loses his apartment; and Jim’s Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, who function as a kind of Greek chorus and add a dose of levity. Be sure to have a box of tissues close by when you get to part five because you will need it.
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