Get out your hardcovers and smudge-proof autograph pens, because the celebrity riddled Brooklyn Book Festival is on its way.
On Friday at Borough Hall, Borough President Markowitz and Johnny Temple, chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council, offered a sneak peek at the lineup for this year’s highly anticipated fest, which will take place on Sept. 14 in Downtown and Brooklyn Heights.
Among the bold-faced literati expected to participate are Joan Didion (“The Year of Magical Thinking”), Jonathan Franzen (“The Corrections”), and GO Brooklyn guilty pleasure Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the “Gossip Girl” book — and television — series.
“I think that this festival will be the best yet — if the general buzz and list of early confirmed authors is any indication,” Temple told GO Brooklyn, promising nothing less than a “hip, smart, diverse” event in keeping with the borough’s “long, glorious literary history.”
“This year, there’s going to be an even heavier emphasis on international programming,” revealed Temple. “We made it clear from the start that the festival is not strictly Brooklyn, but anything with a Brooklyn focus. From around the world, [we have secured] very high profile, groundbreaking authors.”
In addition to writers of poetry, young adult novels, fiction, non-fiction and everything in between, the festival will feature hundreds of exhibitors such as literary magazines and literary agencies.
“[The fest] very much builds a sense of community,” said Temple, whose Akashic Books publishes the “Brooklyn Noir” anthologies. “It’s an international book fest on par with the Miami book fair, but with a strong drawing on Brooklyn’s beautiful diversity, creating a true community event with international ramifications.”
The Brooklyn Book Festival will take place on Sept. 14 inside and outside of Borough Hall (209 Joralemon St. at Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn) as well as the Brooklyn Historical Society (129 Pierrepont St. at Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights). Free. For updates, visit www.visitbrooklyn.org.
