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Photos from 2011 event will be available after 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, September 19

September 18, 2011

SIXTH ANNUAL BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL: FOUR DAYS OF BOOK BLISS FOR LITERARY LOVERS

Larry McMurtry, Terry McMillan, Jennifer Egan, Eoin Colfer, John Sayles, Joyce Carol Oates, Craig Thompson, Walter Mosley, Adrian Tomine, Amitav Ghosh, Jean Valentine, Jules Feiffer, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Pete Hamill, Rachel Hawkins, Jon Scieszka and
Jacqueline Woodson among record 260+ authors and panelists

On Sunday, September 18, 2011, the sixth annual Brooklyn Book Festival, one of the nation’s top free literary events, attracted thousands of bibliophiles to Downtown Brooklyn, joining more than 260 top national and international authors, literary organizations and booksellers at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Columbus Park, St. Francis College, St. Ann’s Church and the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Target Children’s Area and the Youth Stoop kept the younger set busy, and 30 expanded “Bookend” literary-themed events took place in venues from clubs to bookstores and theaters to libraries across the borough September 15 – 18. For a complete list of authors, panels and events at the Festival, visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is an initiative of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presented by Brooklyn Tourism and the Brooklyn Literary Council. It presents an array of literary stars and emerging authors representing 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.

“As the ‘Creative Capital of New York City,’ Brooklyn is the perfect host for one of the world’s most prestigious free literary festivals, and that’s why I officially re-named our borough ‘Book-lyn’ for the four days of incredible Bookend events this year—from BAM and the Brooklyn Public Library to Brooklyn Bowl and the Bushwick Book Club—all celebrating the character and characters of our diverse literary community. Whether you’re a voracious reader or someone who just likes to pick up the occasional ‘good read,’ make sure you ‘book it’ for the 2012 Brooklyn Book Festival next fall.”

“Now in its sixth amazing year, the Brooklyn Book Festival is, without question, one of the premier literary destinations in the world,” said Johnny Temple, chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council. “From our award-winning authors to our publishers big and small, from musicians and comedians to humorists and graphic novelists, the Brooklyn Book Festival represents our growing literary universe—and this year’s expanded four days of events was our biggest and best celebration yet.”

This year’s expansion to four days included “Bookend” events at diverse venues throughout the borough, including BAM, BookCourt, Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Winery, DUMBO Arts Center, Floyd Bennett Field, Galapagos Arts Space, Greenlight Book Store, ISSUE Project Room, MoCADA, powerHouse Arena, St. Ann’s Warehouse and The Tobacco Warehouse.

On Saturday, September 17, The Brooklyn Book Festival “Best of Brooklyn” or BoBi Award for outstanding contributions to literature was presented at The Green Building in Carroll Gardens to Pulitzer Prize recipient Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri also holds the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, a PEN/Hemingway Award, an O. Henry Prize, and the Addison Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (among others). In 2010 she was appointed as a member of President Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Previous recipients of the BoBi Award, established in the Festival’s second year, are John Ashbery (2010), Edwidge Danticat (2009), Walter Mosley (2008) and Paul Auster (2007).

Four of the six 2011 Brooklyn-based Pulitzer Price recipients were also in attendance at the Festival. In addition to Jennifer Egan, the trio of Jesse Eisinger, Clifford Levy and Jake Bernstein participated in a panel discussion on Brooklyn’s prominence in the Pulitzer competition.

Major partners include St. Francis College and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. Major sponsors are AT&T and Target, with additional support from Astoria Federal Savings, Boarshead Brand, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Citi, Con Edison, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, NYC & Company Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts. The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is the official hotel. Media Partners include ABC, The New York Times and Time Out New York/Time Out New York Kids.

Cultural and programming partners are BAM, Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn Public Library, Cave Canem, The Center for Fiction, Housing Works Bookstore Café, The Nation, the National Book Foundation,  The New York Review of Books, PEN American Center, Poetry Society of America and St. Francis College.

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CONTACTS: Mark Zustovich, 718-802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Jon Paul Lupo, 718-802-3831; jplupo@brooklynbp.nyc.gov