Brooklyn Book Festival Unveils 'Bookends' Programming, Running 9/16-22

Today, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Brooklyn Literary Council announced the"Bookends" programming to be held throughout the borough from September 16th until the 22nd, leading up to eighth annual Brooklyn Book Festival, supported by AT&T, on Sunday, September 22, 2013, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. These unique literary-themed events, all free or low-cost to attendees, include film screenings, parties, literary games and author appearances; they will be held at clubs, bookstores, parks, theaters and libraries across Brooklyn. Authors range from the iconic Edwidge Danticat and E.L. Doctorow, the hip Jennifer Gilmore and Ron Sheffield as well as a 15-year-old author, Tori Nighthawk.

"What better way to begin our Brooklyn Book Festival than with a 'Bookend' or two?" said Borough President Markowitz. "These events are wonderful celebrations of Brooklyn's rich literary culture, where the magic of books literal-ly jump 'off the page' and into local fun-filled venues. For fans young and old, no matter what your reading interest, there will be stories to tell from this year's 'Bookends'!"

There will be numerous literary trivia sessions, special author readings and interactive events that intersect books with food, art, music, movies, sports, history, animals and more. Hands-on opportunities include photography workshops, open mic sessions, literary improvisation and a book pitch contest.

"One of the biggest areas of growth for the festival in the past few years has been with our Bookend events, which have added many layers of depth to our programming," said Johnny Temple, the chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council. "We've always prided ourselves on how the Brooklyn Book Festival offers something for everyone, and our Bookend events seal this deal by providing many additional venues, many additional authors, and many additional audiences to what is now widely recognized as one of the very best literary events in the United States."

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.

Major partners of the Brooklyn Book Festival include the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and St. Francis College. Additional sponsors include: Astoria Federal Savings, Boar's Head Brand, 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 and Time Out New York/Time Out New York Kids.

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. For photos: www.flickr.com/brooklynbookfestival09.

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