Brooklyn Book Festival
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brooklyn Book Festival | |
|---|---|
 Paul Auster and John Ashbery discuss their work at the 2010 festival. | |
| Genre | Book fair and book reading |
| Location(s) | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | September 16, 2006 |
| Founder | Marty Markowitz |
| Attendance | 30–35,000 |
| Website | brooklynbookfestival |
The Brooklyn Book Festival is an annual book fair held in the fall in Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1] It was begun in 2006 by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, co-producers Liz Koch and Carolyn Greer,[2] who wanted to showcase the "Brooklyn voice" in literature, as numerous authors reside in the borough.[3] In subsequent years, the fair has expanded its scope and hosted many non-Brooklyn and international writers, including Joan Didion, Dennis Lehane, John Reed, Rosanne Cash, Salman Rushdie, Karl Ove Knausgård and Dave Eggers.[4]
In 2009, attendance reached 30,000.[5] Also in 2009, St. Francis College established a biannual Literary Prize worth US$50,000 to support a mid-career writer.[6] The winner of the prize is announced by a panel of authors during the Brooklyn Book Festival every other year in September.
The festival includes themed readings, panel discussions, vendors, and author signings.[7] In recent years, the Book Festival has expanded to include a Children's Day[8] and Bookends, literary-themed events,[9] such as book readings, parties, stand-up shows and performances in various public venues in Brooklyn.
