2013 Brooklyn Book Festival Announces 'Fan Fave' Competition; Voting Ends Tomorrow

The Brooklyn Book Festival and AT&T today announced the 'Fan Fave' competition to reward top authors with donations to their preferred literary or literacy programs. Voting began on Monday, September 16th with the start of the more than 60 "Bookends", literary-themed events taking place throughout the borough, and it will conclude on the main day of the Festival on Sunday, September 22nd, which takes place from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. Attendees can vote now on their favorite author by using the official AT&T Brooklyn Book Festival app, available for download on both the iPhone and Android; voting will also take place on the 22nd at the AT&T Lounge in Borough Hall Plaza. The top three will receive a cash prize to be donated to the nonprofit of their choice.

The competition is one of many to take place at the eighth annual Brooklyn Book Festival - New York City's largest literary event, featuring more than 340 authors and 90 panels, workshops and readings across 14 stages; sites include Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, Columbus Park, St. Francis College, Brooklyn Law School, the Brooklyn Historical Society as well as St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church. All Brooklyn Book Festival events on Sunday, September 22rd are free and will once again feature a "Clix Not Tix" system, meaning no more tickets or ticket lines.

"Book lovers agree that the Brooklyn Book Festival is one of their all-time favorite events so now we're "calling" all book worms to vote for their 'Fan Fave' Festival author," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "It won't be easy picking just one of the more than 340 noteworthy authors on the bill, but AT&T will make sure that your 'Fan Fave' vote is counted super fast. I'm one of AT&T's biggest fans for once again partnering with the Brooklyn Book Festival and I want to send a "ringing" endorsement for their ongoing support of the arts."

The Brooklyn Book Festival, the largest free literary event in New York City and the Northeast's largest book festival, is presented by Brooklyn Tourism and the Brooklyn Literary Council, initiatives of Borough President Markowitz, and is proudly supported by AT&T. This hip, smart, diverse-and free-gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages. Last year, more than 40,000 visitors and media from around the world converged on Borough Hall to enjoy the Brooklyn Book Festival's lively literary marketplace and a dazzling array of national and international literary stars, emerging authors and programming, from lowbrow to highbrow.

With support from AT&T, smartphone users will be able to use the official Brooklyn Book Festival app to choose from hundreds of different events and plan their day. Eight mobile charging stations will be stationed through the Festival to recharge mobile devices.

"The Brooklyn Book Festival is a great way to spend a fall weekend, and the Fan Favorites competition is an added bonus that will help extend the joy of reading to others," said Marissa Shorenstein, New York State President of AT&T. "We hope the festival App help fans plan their day and the charging stations keep them plugged in to vote for their favorite authors. The Festival is always an exciting event and we are thrilled to again partner with the Borough President, Brooklyn Literary Council and the all the partners who work to put on an event that attracts writers from around the world and New Yorkers from across the five boroughs."

Major partners of the Brooklyn Book Festival include the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and St. Francis College. Additional sponsors include: Astoria Federal Savings, Citi, Con Edison, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and Target. The Festival is also supported with grants from the Brooklyn Community Foundation, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC & Company Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts. The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is the official hotel. Advertising partners include the Joey Company. Media partners include ABC, The New York Review of Books, Time Out New York/Time Out New York Kids and WNYC.

Cultural and programming partners are BAM, Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn Public Library, Cave Canem, National Book Foundation, PEN American Center, Poetry Society of America, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, St. Francis College, The Nation, and The New York Review of Books.

Brooklyn Borough Hall is located at 209 Joralemon Street between Court and Adams Streets in Downtown Brooklyn. For information, call 718-802-3846.

For more information on the Brooklyn Book Festival, visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org, and follow the Festival on Twitter #BKBF and Facebook.