Mary Higgins Clark, Billy Collins and More Set for Brooklyn Book Festival, 9/23

On Thursday, June 14, the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the Brooklyn Book Festival, members of the Brooklyn Literary Council and top authors, publishing industry leaders, editors and literary agents to announce AT&T as the first presenting sponsor for the 2012 Brooklyn Book Festival and publicly reveal the more than one hundred national and international authors who have already agreed to participate in the seventh annual Brooklyn Book Festival. The Festival will take place on Sunday, September 23, 2012, at Borough Hall, St. Francis College, Brooklyn Historical Society, St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church and Columbus Park. And for the first time, an entire week of Brooklyn Book Festival “bookend events” will be held at clubs, bookstores, parks, theaters and libraries throughout the borough from September 17-23. For an up-to-date list of confirmed authors, visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org.

The partnership with AT&T will also allow for the development of a new app to guide Festival-goers through the plethora of literary events taking place during the Brooklyn Book Festival’s extended literary week. Details of the app will be announced at a later date.

“Brooklyn, or ‘Book-lyn’ as I like to call it, has more writers per square inch than almost anywhere else in the country, all contributing to our growing reputation as the epicenter of the literary universe—where authors from across the globe gather each fall for the Brooklyn Book Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious free literary festivals. This year, the Festival expands from four days to an entire week of exciting and diverse literary offerings, and we’re thrilled to have AT&T as the Festival’s first presenting sponsor. No ‘seven year itch’ here—the seventh annual Brooklyn Book Festival will prove to be our most popular yet. So whether you find it nearly impossible to put down your book or e-reader, or just like the occasional ‘good read,’ be sure to make your plans now and ‘book’ September 17-23 for the 2012 Brooklyn Book Festival.”

“With an entire week of literary events celebrating the written and spoken word, the seventh annual Brooklyn Book Festival will be bigger, better and ‘bookier’ than ever,” said Johnny Temple, chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council. “The Festival has matured into one of the world’s premier literary destinations, attracting renowned authors, publishers of all sizes, musicians, humorists, graphic novelists, and all of the creative forces that make up our eclectic and constantly evolving literary universe.”

“AT&T is proud to be the first presenting sponsor of the Brooklyn Book Festival, a favorite fall tradition among New Yorkers young and old,” said Marissa Shorenstein, president, AT&T New York. “The Brooklyn Book Festival reminds us all that great literature is an essential part of New York’s story and this year, we’re excited to announce the development of a new app to help festival-goers navigate the many literary events.”

The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in New York City presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the exciting world of literature today. One of America’s premier book festivals, this hip, smart, diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages. More than 35,000 visitors and media from around the world converged on Borough Hall last year. The Festival is organized around themed readings and is devoted to timely and lively panel discussions. The inclusion of top national and international authors and new partners has expanded the Festival’s reach while continuing to celebrate and enhance Brooklyn’s contemporary and historic literary reputation.

This year’s Brooklyn Book Festival will again feature outdoor stages in Borough Hall Plaza as well as venues inside historic Borough Hall. Programming will include panels and readings on an outdoor main stage, Target Children’s Area and special programming for teens, and a Literary Marketplace that includes local and national bookstores, publishers and literary organizations.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is an initiative of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and is presented by the Brooklyn Literary Council and Brooklyn Tourism.

For more information about the Brooklyn Book Festival, visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org or check out the official Facebook page and follow the Festival @bkbf. For photos, visit www.flickr.com/photos/brooklynbookfestival09/.