I'm so distracted by the scene that by the time I grab the phone, I have missed the call.
A few minutes later, my phone pings, alerting me of a text message with a transcript of the voicemail. "Hi, this is Patti Smith," it reads. I almost drop my dog's leash, and I quickly call back before I finish reading the message.
"Hi, I'm returning a call," I say, still unsure if the stress of the past few days is playing tricks with my mind.
"Hi, this is Patti Smith. I was calling to let you know that I'm back in New York, and we can schedule the interview anytime within the next couple of days," she says.
The voice on the other end is distantly familiar. I have heard it so many times before — in the songs that defined my teenage years, reading passages from her books at the Miami Book Fair, and even audiobooks. But now, she is speaking directly to me — kind, warm, and to the point. We agree to talk the next morning, weather permitting, of course.
Music and Literary Icon
Smith, often referred to as the "Godmother of Punk," is not only a musical icon but a literary powerhouse. She's a unicorn artist who blends music, poetry, and visual art seamlessly, with her works spanning decades of cultural relevance. Best known for her 1975 debut album Horses, lauded as one of the greatest rock albums, Smith's rebellious spirit and intellectual lyricism have made her a key figure in the punk movement.Beyond her role as a music legend, her influence stretches into the world of literature with her acclaimed memoir, Just Kids, a poignant account of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and their life in New York City's art scene in the 1970s. This memoir, which won the National Book Award, cemented her as a literary force.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is set to return to the Miami Book Fair this year to discuss her 2022 book, A Book of Days. It's an event she has been participating in as an author for more than a decade. Many Miamians still cherish that time in 2010 when she sang "Because the Night" a cappella, giving the public a second gift after reading passages from Just Kids.
Her most recent book is an intimate window into her daily life, featuring 366 photographs — one for each day of the year, including a bonus for leap year. The images range from snapshots of her beloved coffee cup to pictures of cherished books and significant places she's visited during trips. Each image is paired with a short reflection, combining the mundane with the profound, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of an artist who, in her own words, has "a permanent ticket down the rabbit hole," triggering the reader's curiosity and imagination.
A Book of Days was born, in part, from her unexpected journey into social media.
"I wasn't involved with social media at all," she says, kickstarting our conversation. "But my daughter pointed out that people were using my name on Instagram, pretending they were me. She showed me how to set it up, and it appealed to me as a way to show something positive every day." Like so many of us, the pandemic left Smith isolated, and Instagram became a way for her to stay connected with the outside world, even if from a distance. "I thought, maybe I could make something as a gift, something that people could have on their bedside table, something they could open up and find interesting," she reflects.
The Instagram project, where she shared a daily photo with a short message, quickly became a popular feature. Her followers connected with her personal reflections, and this eventually evolved into A Book of Days. However, Smith emphasizes that while Instagram inspired the book's format, she didn't simply transfer her online posts into print. "Most of the things in the book are new," she shares. "It's an extension of Instagram, but I wanted it to be more personal and diverse."
The book feels like a gift from Smith to her readers. Each page offers a small, thoughtful reflection that invites contemplation and connection. The saying "an image is worth a thousand words" could not be more apt when describing A Book of Days. Each photograph opens a portal into Smith's mind, allowing readers to experience the world as she sees it. You don't necessarily need to start the book from page one; you can open it on any page and be part of the story.
"I'm not really a musician. I sing, I'm a performer, but I've never thought of myself as a musician," says Patti Smith.
Miami Book Fair photo
Nothing and Everything
Flipping through the pages, I land on January 29, featuring a picture of a pensive Smith sitting in her room. The caption reads, "Thinking of Nothing." Nothing can mean so many things."I looked at that picture, and I thought, That really reminds me of my mother," Smith explains. "She would be sitting in the '50s or the early '60s, and usually with a cigarette, with that same look. And I'd say, 'What is it, Mommy? What's the matter? What are you thinking?' And she'd say, 'Oh, nothing. It's nothing.' And I really didn't realize till I was older that when she said it was nothing, it probably meant it was everything. She had much on her mind. She didn't have enough money to buy food that week, or she was worried 'cause one of us was sick, or she was sad, but she would always just say, 'Oh, it's nothing.' And then, you go through life, and you realize that the word nothing is a word that encompasses many, many things."
I flip the page again and see a picture of a messy room, with Smith joking about her organizational skills being judged by aliens. Although it's a playful caption, I wonder if she did believe in extraterrestrial life. "In a certain way, I believe in everything. My mind has the ability to accept many, many possibilities. I can think of angels and aliens and God and, um, all kinds of things," she shares, speaking to the versatility of her thoughts.
Music, unsurprisingly, also plays a significant role in A Book of Days. One image shows many of the CDs Smith listened to at the time. In conversation, she reveals that she often listened to the soundtrack for the 1995 cyberpunk anime film Ghost in the Shell on repeat, even dancing to it. "The soundtrack is embedded in this book," she adds. "I would play it over and over while putting the book together." Other artists like Jimi Hendrix and Fleet Foxes also helped with the creative process. This connection between music and her writing has always driven Smith. "I love soundtracks because they inspire me to write," she says, explaining how instrumental music allows her imagination to roam freely.
Another constant theme in Smith's book is beds, which, for her, represent much more than simple pieces of furniture. These images capture not only her own bed but also those of iconic figures, such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Virginia Woolf, and Leo Tolstoy, inviting viewers into the intimate spaces where rest, dreams, and creativity intersect. Reflecting on her fascination with these everyday objects, Smith explains, "I find people's beds so touching because it's where we dream, where we spend a lot of our time." Whether it's a humble bed bathed in sunlight or the somber bed of John Keats during his final days, these images offer a glimpse into the profound connection between physical rest and the inner world of reflection, creation, and even pain.
A Book of Days is not just a reflection of music and images; it's also a carefully crafted aesthetic experience. As Smith worked on the book, she realized that each photograph had to relate to the image on the opposite page, creating a visual dialogue. "On Instagram, each image stands alone, but in the book, I had to think about how the pictures worked together," she says. "It took time, but I wanted every page to have a relationship, even if abstract." The result is a beautifully designed book, where each turn of the page offers a new layer of meaning.
This year, Smith will not only present A Book of Days at the Miami Book Fair but will also be honored at the second edition of the Next Page gala, where she will be recognized for her contributions to the arts. Alongside Smith, other honorees include Jan Mapou, Brad Meltzer, and longtime Book Fair booster Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors. The event is a highlight of the Miami Book Fair, allowing attendees to sit down with some of the most renowned authors of our time. "Patti has always been fearless. She represents the kind of artist who doesn't limit herself, and we at the Miami Book Fair are proud to recognize her contributions to both literature and music," says Lissette Mendez, executive director of the Miami Book Fair.
Whether a musician, poet, or photographer, Smith has been able to capture the spirit of a generation and speak to new ones from a place of wisdom, experience, and imagination for the last half-century. "I'm not really a musician. I sing, I'm a performer, but I've never thought of myself as a musician, really, or primarily as a musician. I always think of myself as a writer. I came into performing and recording through poetry, and really, all roads lead back to poetry. I'm always attuned to the language of poetry, and it finds its way into everything I do."
Patti Smith at Miami Book Fair 2024. 6 p.m. Saturday, November 23, at Miami Dade College's Chapman Conference Center, 300 NE Second Ave., Bldg. 3, Room 3210, Miami; 305-237-3258; miamibookfair.com. Tickets cost $30.
