Twenty Brooklyn scribblers and opponents of the Atlantic Yards 16-skyscraper-and-arena development are putting their money where their pens are, not only contributing to a collection of essays and short stories about life in Brooklyn — but allowing the proceeds to benefit the mega-development’s biggest opponent.
“Brooklyn was Mine,” the $15 paperback book that was released on Wednesday by Riverhead Books, features stories by Brooklyn literary lions Jonathan Lethem, whose story depicts Brooklyn in a dystopian future; and Jennifer Egan, whose story evokes Brooklyn’s ship-building past. The collection also features Colin Harrison, who wrote about his obsession with baseball.
The proceeds will go to Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the organization spearheading the fight against the project by Forest City Ratner. The writers are hoping that their meager contributions will offset the more than more than $2 million that Forest City Ratner spent in 2006 to lobby state and local lawmakers.
“[The] authors’ generous donation of their work to this anthology will go a long way in helping us achieve our goals,” said Daniel Goldstein, a spokesman for DDDB, referring to the groups two ongoing lawsuits.
Writer Phillip Lopate sums up the point of the book in his introduction: “Who is to say what will become of the place, or whether Brooklyn will retain its soul?
“Whatever happens to Brooklyn, its literary soul is sound and robust, and its writers fiercely loyal,” he added.
“Brooklyn Was Mine” Book Readings: Jennifer Egan, Susan Choi and Darin Strauss at the Park Slope Barnes and Noble, (267 Seventh Ave. at Sixth Street), Wednesday, Jan. 9, 7:30 pm. Emily Barton, Darcey Steinke and Alexandra Styron at BookCourt (163 Court St. near Pacific Street), Tuesday Jan. 15, 7 pm. Call (718) 362-4784.
