Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

with Christie Caliendo & Timothy Schmand

A side-by-side composite image featuring a headshot of Christie Caliendo and her book cover. On the left is Christie Caliendo, a blonde woman in a black v-neck shirt and gold chain necklace smiles warmly against a grey background. On the right, the book cover for
A side-by-side composite image featuring a headshot of Timothy Schmand and his book cover. On the left is Timothy Schmand, a man with white hair, a mustache, and round black-rimmed glasses looks into the camera. On the right, the book cover for

Books & Bites continues this spring with a special afternoon featuring two authors whose latest novels explore story, place and resilience in distinct ways.

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About the Authors:


South Florida native Christie Caliendo writes literary fiction inspired by Florida’s striking contrasts—beaches and swamps, beauty and decay, belonging and loss. Set near Lake Okeechobee, her new book, Lesser Haven, is a haunting blend of Southern gothic and psychological suspense.


Joining her is Timothy Schmand, a Buffalo-born writer whose fiction blends reality with adventure and imagination. A former museum and parks administrator with an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College, Schmand’s work has appeared alongside writers such as Charles Bukowski and John Updike and earned honors including the Calvino Prize for Short Fiction. His latest novel, The Danbury Chronicles, offers a rust belt magic realism tale of a snowy Thanksgiving weekend, in Buffalo NY, 1969.


When:

Tuesday, April 7

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.


Where:

Belmont Village Senior Living

1031 Seminole Dr.

Fort Lauderdale


About Books & Bites:

Attendees partake in light bites while enjoying a presentation by a local author followed by lively Q&A, book sales, and signings. This event is normally held in Fort Lauderdale three times a year: in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. The event is free to attend for Library Foundation members at the $50 level; all others are welcome to attend at a cost on a space-available basis.


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Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:

Recent Events

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Author Caren S. Neile spoke at Books & Bites about her latest book, Featuring Florida.


On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, author Diana Abu-Jaber spoke about her novel Fencing with the King.


On Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Zoo Miami's Ron Magill spoke about his book,The Pride of a Lion:What the Animal Kingdom Can Teach Us About Survival, Fear and Family


On October 29, 2024, Alyssa Maxwell, author of the Gilded Newport Mysteries, spoke at Books 'n' Bites, the new iteration of the Book with Brunch series, about her latest novel, Murder at Vinland.


On January 18, 2024, Book with Brunch featured Diane Bergner, local author of the novel Royal Coconut Beach Lunch Club.


On November 16, 2023, Book with Brunch featured New York Times bestselling mystery author, Charles Todd, who spoke about his latest novel, The Cliff's Edge.


On May 4, 2023, Book with Brunch featured author and lifelong swimmer, Carla Albano, who spoke about her book, Soul of a Swimmer.


Books & Bites is hosted by our Presenting Sponsor, Belmont Village Senior Living in Fort Lauderdale.

Carla Albano

May 4, 2023

Carla Albano

May 4, 2023