2009 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL IS HUGE, FREE
NATIONAL LITERARY DESTINATION EVENT
Programming announced!
Over 220 literary superstars and pop culture trailblazers at hip, smart, diverse festival of ideas

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 10AM - 6PM
BOROUGH HALL PLAZA, 209 JORALEMON STREET, BROOKLYN, NY

Major free public event featuring: Russell Banks, Jonathan Lethem, Anne Carson, Paul Auster,
Edwidge Danticat, Claire Messud, Colson Whitehead, A.M. Homes, David Cross,
Mary Gaitskill, Nicholson Baker, Oliver Sacks, Staceyann Chin, Gary Shteyngart, Amy Sohn,
Nelson George, Melvin Van Peebles, Siri Husvedt, Lupe Fiasco, Heidi Julavits, Sloane Crosley,
Tao Lin, Jeffrey Rotter, Esmeralda Santiago, Keith Gessen, Naomi Klein, Thurston Moore,
M.T. Anderson, Greg Milner, Francine Prose, Jonathan Ames, Kate DiCamillo, Mo Willems,
T. Cooper, Tom Tomorrow, Judi Barrett, Christopher Myers...and many more!

On Sunday, September 13, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn Literary Council and Brooklyn Tourism will host the fourth annual Brooklyn Book Festival, a huge, free public event presenting over 220 authors participating in panel discussions and readings, young adult and children’s programming and a literary marketplace of more than 150 booksellers, publishers and literary organizations. Readings are held at Brooklyn Borough Hall, in Borough Hall Plaza and Columbus Park, at St. Francis College and the Brooklyn Historical Society.

“Now more than ever before, Brooklyn is Booklyn,” said BP Markowitz. “And whether you’re browsing for books, listening to your favorite author read from his or her work, or attending one of the fascinating panels made up of literati of every stripe, Brooklyn is the place to be for booklovers from around the world.” The Brooklyn Book Festival “Best of Brooklyn” or “BoBi” Award for outstanding contributions to literature will be presented to Haitian author Edwidge Danticat, at the Festival Gala on Saturday, September 12.

The Brooklyn Book Festival will feature readings by Paul Auster (Man in the Dark), Russell Banks (The Reserve) Francine Prose (Goldengrove), Tao Lin (Shop Lifting from American Apparel), Yona Zeldis McDonough (Breaking the Bank), Nicholson Baker (The Anthologist), Ben Marcus (Notable American Women), David Cross (I Drink for a Reason) and Rakesh Satyal (Blue Boy), and poets Anne Carson, Sonia Sanchez, Philip Schultz and Arthur Sze. Jonathan Ames (The Double Life is Twice as Good).
Discussion panels include Jonathan Lethem and Mary Gaitskill in Conversation; Faith & Fiction with Benjamin Anastas, Rene Steinke and Chris Adrian; The International Graphic Novel with Guy Delisle (The Burma Chronicles), Peter Kuper (Diario de Oaxaca: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico) and Sarah Glidden (How To Understand Israel In 60 Days Or Less), moderated by Matt Madden; Satire and Comic Relief in 2009 with Jeffery Rotter (The Unknown Knowns), Gary Shteyngart (Absurdistan) and Sloane Crosley (I Was Told There’d Be Cake), moderated by New Yorker editor Ben Greenman (Superworse); The Great Recession with Justin Fox (The Myth of the Rational Market), Naomi Klein (The Shock Doctrine) and Kai Wright (Drifting Toward Love), moderated by New York Daily News columnist Errol Lewis; Independent Media Voices with Amy Goodman (Standing Up to the Madness), Jessica Hopper (Hit it or Quit It, The Girls Guide to Rocking) and Pamela Newkirk (Letters From Black America); Editor as Author: Discipline and Freedom with Heidi Julavits (The Uses of Enchantment), Hannah Tinti (The Good Thief), Sarah Rainone (Love Will Tear Us Apart) and Donald Breckenridge (You are Here); Rasskazy: New Fiction from a New Russia with Francine Prose (Goldengrove), Dale Peck (Sprout), Anya Ulinich (Petropolis) and Vadim Yarmolinets (Led Zeppelin ‘Jericho 86-89’); Inside Music with George E. Lewis (A Power Stronger Than Itself), Greg Milner (Perfecting Sound Forever) and Amanda Petrusich (It Still Moves), moderated by Sukhdev Sandhu (Night Haunts); Love, War and Adventures in Babysitting…Transforming Stories into Comics with Raina Telgmeier (The Babysitters Club graphic novel series), Danica Novgorodoff (Refresh, Refresh) and George O’Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country); and The ACT-I-VATE Renaissance with members from both DEEP6 and XOXOs Studios, featuring Dean Haspiel, Mike Cavallaro, Tim Hamilton, Joe Infurnari, Simon Fraser, Molly Crabapple and Mike Dawson.

This year the festival explores realms of popular romance with Love: The Unstoppable Bestseller, a panel of romance authors discussing the longevity of the industry: Rochelle Alers (Man of Fate), Anna DePalo (The Billionaire in Penthouse B), Donna Hill (Temptation & Lies) and Sarah Wendell (Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels); and enters the worlds of Poetry, Pop, and Hip-Hop with rapper Lupe Fiasco, musician Thurston Moore, poet Tracie Morris and poet Matthew Zapruder (The Pajamaist), moderated by Touré; and learns about Feeding Love in NYC with Giulia Melucci (I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti), Michelle Maisto (The Gastronomy of Marriage) and Jonathon Deutsch (Gastropolis, Food & New York City); as well as American Food with Mark Kurlansky (editor, The Food of a Younger Land), Jennifer 8. Lee (The Fortune Cookie Chronicles) and Liz Thorpe (The Cheese Chronicles). Moderated by “Serious Eats” blogger Ed Levine.

Looking back at few of the greats recently lost, the festival features a Tribute to Norman Mailer with author and journalist Pete Hamill, Paul Holdengräber and Norris Church Mailer; as well as a reflection on the Legacies of John Updike and David Foster Wallace, with Lev Grossman (The Magicians) and Salon book critic Laura Miller (The Magician’s Book). Moderated by David Ulin, editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review.

Robust international programming includes Africa in the Age of Obama, with Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenyan author and Director of the Chinua Achebe Center), Mohammed Naseehu Ali (Ghanaian musician and author of The Prophet of Zongo Street) and Breyten Breytenbach (South African poet, painter, author), moderated by Rob Spillman, editor of Gods and Soldiers: The Penguin Anthology of Contemporary African Writing.; and a panel featuring Philip Gourevitch, Rawi Hage, and Claire Messud in conversation.

“The Brooklyn Book Festival continues to support publishers big and small as well as authors around the world,” said Johnny Temple, chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council. “Our fourth annual Festival is quickly shaping up to be our best one yet—more diversity, more literary superstars, more up-and-coming voices.”

The Target Children’s Area will keep 2-year-olds to 9-year-olds captivated with book readings, a performance of children’s classics by the Troupe Theatre and author signings. Included in the lineup are Judi Barrett (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Pickles to Pittsburgh); picture book author Mo Willems, creator of the world’s most famous pigeon and the early reader Elephant and Piggie; Victoria Kann, co-author of the delicious, cupcake-filled Pinkalicious and current bestseller Goldilicious; syndicated cartoonist Tom Tomorrow, who pokes fun at conformity with his first picture book The Very Silly Mayor; Brooklyn’s own Ayun Halliday, who will entertain children with Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo; Nick Bruel, creator of laughs and mayhem in Bad Kitty Gets a Bath; Peter and Randall de Seve (The Duchess of Whimsy); poet and illustrator Christopher Myers (Black Cat, Jabberwocky); duo Maureen Sullivan and Alison Josephs, whose adventurous dog, Carlos, visits Grand Central Station and Coney Island in Ankle Soup and Custard and Mustard; and Sahar Simmons, creator of the series Briana’s Neighborhood.

The festival’s Youth Stoop, geared toward readers ages 10 – 18, boasts an array of bestselling authors and a menu of genres to please any appetite from fantasy and vampires to graphic novels and fiction about love. Best selling author Kate DiCamillo (The Tale of Despereaux; Because of Wynn Dixie) will read and discuss her new book The Magician’s Elephant together with Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm). For teenagers, or teenagers at heart, the festival presents National Book Award finalist Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak; Chains); and M.T. Anderson (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, National Book Award winner). Dealing with tough issues in their books are Coe Booth (Kendra), Gayle Forman (If I Stay) and Matt de la Pena (We Were Here). Masters of heartbreak and longing at the festival include Anna Godbersen (The Luxe) and Aimee Freidman (Sea Change, a love story with a hint of enchantment). Graphic novelists Danica Novgorodoff (Refresh, Refresh), George O’Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country) and Raina Telgemeier (The Babysitter’s Club) will speak about their work, and fans of vampires and the supernatural will also be delighted with the authors at the festival.

New York Comic Con (NYCC) will have a powerful presence at this year’s Brooklyn Book Festival, with its premiere pop culture convention and stars at a colorful and exciting programming area that will include a performance tent, guest presentations, guest autographing sessions and a dedicated marketplace area. NYCC’s participation will be a positive way to spread further awareness of comics and graphic literature while providing free interaction and entertainment for thousands of NYCC fans.  

“The Brooklyn Book Festival is an awesome gathering and I have had tremendous respect for the festival from the moment it started,” said Lance Fensterman, vice president and show manager for New York Comic Con. “We are proud to bring an intense graphic lit and pop culture presence to such a great festival. I am sure this will provide our customers with the opportunity to connect directly with lots of new fans. Plus, it’s all for free! This is a win-win in every respect.” 

The Brooklyn Book Festival is also proud to expand its partnership with St. Francis College, which has created a $50,000 literary prize for an author’s fourth book of fiction. Named as the short list of finalists are Chris Abani (Song For Night); Aleksandar Hemon (Love and Obstacles); Jim Krusoe (Girl Factory); and Arthur Phillips (The Song Is You). The distinguished jury includes Michael Chabon, Heidi Julavits, Jonathan Lethem, Ben Marcus and Ayelet Waldman. The winning author will be revealed at the Brooklyn Book Festival Gala.

“The Brooklyn Book Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the students and faculty of St. Francis College to participate in the exciting and growing literary life of Brooklyn and New York City,” said Tim Houlihan, vice president for Academic Affairs and academic dean at St. Francis College. “We look forward to opening the College to writers, poets and playwrights from around the world, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the Brooklyn Book Festival.”

The 2009 Brooklyn Book Festival is presented by Brooklyn Tourism and the Brooklyn Literary Council, initiatives of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Sponsors include the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation; the NYC & Company Foundation; New York Comic Con; Astoria Federal Savings; Citi; Boar’s Head Provisions; the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge; and Time Out New York, media sponsor again this year. Cultural partners are BAM; the Brooklyn Historical Society; Brooklyn Public Library; and the National Book Foundation. Programming partners include Housing Works Bookstore Café; PEN American Center; Poetry Society of America; The New York Review of Books; St. Francis College; and The Nation.

For more information about the Brooklyn Book Festival, visit www.visitbrooklyn.org or check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-Book-Festival-Official-Site/20650359836. On Twitter, follow the Brooklyn Book Festival at bkbf. For photos of the Brooklyn Book Festival, visit www.flickr.com/brooklynbookfestival09.

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CONTACTS: Mark Zustovich (718) 802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
Laura Sinagra (718)802-3831; lsinagra@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Brooklyn Book Festival 2009 Authors & Program Moderators (Confirmed through 8/26/09)
Visit www.visitbrooklyn.org for updates as additional authors are added

Brooklyn Book Festival 2009 Authors and Program Moderators

Jessica Abel
Chris Adrian
Michael J. Agovino
Laura Albert
Rochelle Alers
Mohammed Naseehu Ali
Jeffrey Renard Allen
Greg Ames
Jonathan Ames
Benjamin Anastas
Sinan Antoon
Paul Auster
Nicholson Baker
Liz Balmaseda
Russell Banks
Jaqueline Bishop
Elizabeth Bradley
Donald Breckenridge
Peter V. Brett
Breyten Breytenbach
Gloria Browne-Marshall
Brendan Burford
S.C. Butler
Yvonne Bynoe
Anne Carson
Dominic Carter
Mike Cavallaro
Staceyann Chin
Steven Cleaver
T Cooper
Jonathan Coulton
Molly Crabapple
Sloane Crosley
David Cross
Dmitry Danilov
Edwidge Danticat
Cynthia Dantzic
Tom DeFalco
Guy Delisle
Anna DePalo
Anita Desai
Carolina De Robertis
Jonathan Deutsch
Robert Dunn
Cornelius Eady
Alberto Ferraras
Lupe Fiasco
Danny Fingeroth
Marc Fitten
Justin Fox
Paula Fox
John Freeman
Judith Freeman
Mary Gaitskill
Rivka Galchen
Dwight Garner
Ben George
Nelson George
Keith Gessen
Ethan Gilsdorf
Sarah Glidden
Amy Goodman
Matthew Goodman
Matthew Aaron Goodman
Emily Gould
Philip Gourevitch
Lev Grossman
Rawi Hage
David Haglund
Pete Hamill
Donna Hill
A.M. Homes
Paul Holdengraber
Jessica Hopper
Brigid Hughes
Siri Hustvedt
Marlon James
Geeta Sharma Jensen
Heidi Julavits
Fady Joudah
Alyssa Katz
Steven G. Kellman
Brad Kessler
Walter Kirn
Naomi Klein
Peter Kuper
Mark Kurlansky
Lewis Lapham
Victor LaValle
Tao Lin
Jennifer 8. Lee 
Jonathan Lethem
Ellen Levitt
Ed Levine
George E. Lewis
David Lida
Phillip Lopate
Leonard Lopate
Fiona Maazel
Matt Madden
Michelle Maisto
Lou Manfredo
Sarah Manguso
Ben Marcus
Yona Zeldis McDonough
Maureen N. McLane
Tim McLoughlin
Giulia Melucci
Claire Messud
Laura Miller
Steven Millhauser
Greg Milner
Marie Mockett
Thurston Moore
Tracie Morris
Brad Morrow
Paul Muldoon
Walton Muyumba
Meera Nair
H. M. Naqvi
Pamela Newkirk
Josip Novakovich
Elizabeth Nunez
Achy Obejas
Michael Palmer
Valeria Parella
Dale Peck
Marisha Pessl
Amanda Petrusich
Darryl Pinckney
William D. Pointer
Francine Prose
Brian Raftery
Sarah Rainone
Joanna Smith Rakoff
Richard Rayner
Roxana Robinson
Daniel Asa Rose
Jeffrey Rotter
Nina Revoyr
Oliver Sacks
Sonia Sanchez
Sukhdev Sandhu
Esmeralda Santiago
Eddie Sarfaty
Rakesh Satyal
Hirsh Sawhney
Sarah Schmelling
Philip Schultz
Shanthi Sekaran
Cheryl Harris Sharman
Gary Shteyngart
Joan Silber
Robert Silvers
Leonore Skenazy
Esther K. Smith
Amy Sohn
Christopher Sorrentino
Martha Southgate
Elmer Sprague
Rene Steinke
Amanda Stern
Robert Sullivan
James Surowiecki
Arthur Sze
Astra Taylor
Craig Morgan Teicher
Liz Thorpe
Michael Thomas
Hannah Tinti
Paul Tough
Toure
Anya Ulinich
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Tom Vanderbilt
Lisa van Drasek
Melvin Van Peebles
Binyavanga Wainaina
Rabbi Simcha Weinstein
Jane Weissman
Sarah Wendell
Colson Whitehead
Kai Wright
Vadim Yarmolinets
Matthew Zapruder

Youth and Teens
M.T. Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson
Coe Booth
Michael Buckley
Matt de la Peña
Kate DiCamillo
Gayle Forman
Aimee Friedman
Anna Godbersen
Claudia Gray
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Marilyn Nelson
G. Neri
Danica Novgorodoff
George O'Connor
Raina Telgemeier
Ned Vizzini

Children’s Authors
Judi Barrett
Nick Bruel
Peter and Randall de Seve
Ayun Halliday
Alison Josephs
Victoria Kann
Grace Lin
Christopher Myers
Sahar Simmons
Maureen Sullivan
Tom Tomorrow
Mo Willems
Paul O. Zelinsky