Where Literature Lives, and Voices Rise
When the Guadalajara International Book Fair first opened its doors in 1987, it wasn’t trying to impress the world with scale or spectacle. It wanted something more meaningful—an open, inclusive space where Latin American voices could stand proudly beside global storytellers. Founded by the University of Guadalajara, FIL grew by staying true to that purpose. Year after year, it expanded through passion, cultural exchange, and literary curiosity until it became the largest Spanish-language book fair and one of the most influential cultural events anywhere.
Today, FIL feels like a living city of ideas. The halls buzz with book launches, creative workshops, panel talks, academic discussions, film programs, illustration exhibits, and international rights trading. With more than 900,000 visitors and exhibitors from over sixty countries, the fair has become a home for readers, thinkers, and creators who want to share their stories with the world. It’s the kind of place where new voices rise and established authors deepen their impact.
This year’s spotlight shines on Barcelona as the Guest of Honor—a city known for its artistic courage, multilingual identity, and deep literary roots. The theme brings Barcelona’s spirit to life through performances, Catalan literature, cultural showcases, and conversations that highlight the city’s evolution. It’s a celebration of imagination, tradition, and transformation all at once.
Amid this vibrant global showcase, Kravitz & Sons proudly steps into FIL 2025, bringing stories that carry heart, history, and humanity. We’re honored to feature MIBURN: 1964 Mississippi Burning Tragedy, a gripping novel that brings one of America’s most pivotal Civil Rights moments into sharp, unforgettable focus.
A Writer Built by Witness & Experience
Don VanLandingham grew up in Jackson, Mississippi during some of the most turbulent years of the Civil Rights era. His father, a career FBI agent, instilled in him a grounded understanding of justice, truth, and the complexities of the human experience. After earning his accounting degree, Don returned to Mississippi and began a career in forensic accounting—a field that sharpened his eye for detail and real-world investigation.
His storytelling reflects that same clarity: straightforward, deeply informed, and shaped by the landscapes and tensions he lived through. Although he later moved to Georgia and retired in 2000, Don continued exploring the world through writing. Alongside MIBURN, he has written two other novels—Corruptacy and Powhatan Justice—each rooted in crime, human conflict, and the quieter truths people often overlook.
A Story That Exposes a Turning Point in History
MIBURN: 1964 Mississippi Burning Tragedy brings readers back to one of the most defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement. The book follows the events leading up to the murders of Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman—three young men who traveled to Mississippi as part of Freedom Summer, the voter-registration campaign organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
The novel opens with tension and threat, capturing the intimidation and hatred embodied by the Ku Klux Klan in Neshoba County. Through detailed storytelling, it explores the victims’ backgrounds, the desperate search for their bodies, and the brutal determination of their killers. Don brings readers into the landscape of fear, courage, and resistance that shaped the era.
While the story is written as a novel, it stays faithful to the core events: the murders that galvanized national outrage, the pressures leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the trial that placed a White Mississippi jury at the center of national scrutiny. The characters, settings, and emotional stakes carry the weight of real history—inviting readers to feel, reflect, and understand what was at risk during those days.
This is a book that not only recounts tragedy—it highlights the bravery of those who stood for justice when it was most dangerous to do so.
A Powerful Read That Still Matters Today
This novel isn’t just a look back at history—it’s a reminder of the cost of change and the courage required to challenge hatred. If you’re drawn to real stories that shaped the world, or narratives that illuminate the struggle for equality, MIBURN is a book worth bringing home.
