An Evening with J. Adrian Betancourt in conversation with Dr. Paul George
About this Event
🎟 This event is FREE and open to the public and books will be available for purchase the night of the event! An RSVP grants general entry, but seating is not guaranteed, so please try and show up early. Please RSVP only if you intend to join us. Can't make the event? Buy your copy here.
About The Book
Maya Lin & the Ancient Order of Seshat, in the arQitect is an upmarket science-fiction thriller that blends ancient wisdom, metaphysical mystery, artificial intelligence, and globe-spanning adventure.
When Maya Lin, a young Chinese/Latina-American historian in Miami, receives a mysterious gold medallion from her grandmother, she is pulled into a hidden conflict that stretches back to the burning of the Library of Alexandria. The medallion is more than an heirloom — it is a cipher tied to sacred scrolls guarded for centuries by the Ancient Order of Seshat, a secret society dedicated to protecting humanity’s most powerful metaphysical knowledge.
As a visionary tech empire seeks to exploit that knowledge through AI-powered wearables capable of manipulating Qi energy, Maya joins forces with an unforgettable band of allies: a prominent bookseller, a wise kung fu master, a rebellious Egyptian cultural pirate, and a witty aristocratic tech genius. Together, they must decode ancient clues, evade dangerous enemies, and uncover the truth before sacred wisdom becomes a weapon of global control.
Part Dan Brown, part Indiana Jones, with a touch of The Matrix, the arQitect launches an ambitious nine-volume saga inspired by Taoist philosophy, secret history, and the hidden architectures that shape both cities and consciousness.
About The Author
J. Adrian Betancourt is the pen name of Javier Adrian Betancourt, a Miami-based writer, community leader, podcast host, publisher, and lifelong lover of stories that blend mystery, history, philosophy, and adventure. By day, he serves as an executive at Miami-Dade County. By night, he writes fiction inspired by ancient wisdom, emerging technology, and the multicultural spirit of Miami. He is also the host and co-producer of The Miami Book Hub Podcast, a Miami-focused literary program produced in partnership with Miami’s Community News; and publisher of The Miami Book Hub Newsletter, a digital newsletter celebrating and promoting Miami's literary community.
About The Moderator
Dr. Paul S. George is one of South Florida's most respected historians and public educators. A native Miamian, he serves as Resident Historian at the Museum of Miami, formerly HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate. For more than three decades, his acclaimed walking, coach, and boat tours have brought the history of Miami and the surrounding region vividly to life for residents and visitors alike.
Dr. George is a graduate of Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami and holds both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in history from Florida State University. He has taught at Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Miami, and Miami Dade College, where he served as a history professor from 1991 to 2016 and now holds emeritus status. His distinguished teaching career has earned him numerous honors, including Miami Dade College's Excellence in Teaching Award.
A prolific author and scholar, Dr. George has written seventeen books, including two award-winning titles, as well as hundreds of articles, columns, book reviews, and historical essays. He is the editor of Tequesta, the Museum of Miami's scholarly historical journal, and has curated exhibitions for both the Museum of Miami and the Jewish Museum of Florida. His civic and professional leadership has included service as president of the Florida Historical Society, vice chairman of the City of Miami's historic preservation board, director of Broward County's historic preservation board, and president of the Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archive.
Among his many recognitions, Miami New Times has twice named him Miami's outstanding historian and has called him "Mr. Miami History." He has received the Dade Heritage Trust's Henriette Harris Award, the Coral Gables Community Foundation's Education Award, and, in 2026, the Museum of Miami's Preservation Award. That same year, Miami Dade College selected him for induction into its Alumni Hall of Fame. Few people have done more to preserve, interpret, and share the story of Greater Miami. In fact, he could probably, and easily, spend the entire hour talking about the history of the very building we’re sitting in.
It is an honor and privilege to welcome Dr. Paul S. George as moderator of this evening's conversation with his longtime friend, Javier “J. Adrian” Betancourt.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
