Brooklyn Book Festival
Sunday 22 September, 2013
10am - 6pm, $0
Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn
BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2013
10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
(Programs Subject to Change)
BOROUGH HALL COURTROOM (209 JORALEMON ST.)
10:00 A.M. The So-Called 'Post-Feminist, Post-Racial' Life in Publishing: Best-selling author Deborah Copaken Kogan sparked a firestorm with her explosive essay in The Nation, and her experience as a 21st-century female author was marked by slut-shaming, name-calling and an enduring lack of respect. Poet, activist and author of sixteen books,Sonia Sanchez (Homegirls and Handgrenades) has consistently addressed the lack of respect for the struggles and lives of Black America. Author and founder of Feministing, Jessica Valenti, has devoted considerable time to transforming the media landscape for women. Moderated by Rob Spillman, Tin House.
11:00 A.M. Who? New! The Brooklyn Book Festival picks five of the year’s most impressive debut novelists who will read from their work: A.X. Ahmad (The Caretaker), Caleb Crain (Necessary Errors), Ursula DeYoung (Shorecliff), Michele Forbes (Ghost Moth), and Ayana Mathis(The Twelve Tribes of Hattie).
12:00 P.M. On Truth (and Lies) in Beauty: Theater critic Hilton Als(White Girls) and philosopher Alexander Nehamas (Only a Promise of Happiness) join philosopher Simon Critchley (Stay, Illusion: The Hamlet Doctrine) to explore the notion of beauty as defined in the bold new opera Anna Nicole. Co-Presented by BAM and the Onassis Cultural Center NY.
1:00 P.M. Sin City: Every city has its secrets. Violence, crime and intrigue fill the streets of Harlem, Red Hook, Miami and beyond. K'wan Foye(Animal), Albert “Prodigy” Johnson (H.N.I.C.), Ivy Pochoda (Visitation Street), and Miasha (Sistah for Sale) discuss what makes urban areas so fascinating and, for their trapped characters, so hard to escape. Moderated by S.J. Rozan (Blood of the Lamb by Sam Cabot)..
2:00 P.M. Creating Dangerously in a Dangerous World: How do different forms—fiction, reportage, memoir and essay—capture different realities, especially when the principal subject is the trauma of war and violence? Join three authors whose work explores horrific visions from a variety of angles: Edwidge Danticat (Claire of the Sea Light), Courtney Angela Brkic (The First Rule of Swimming) and Dinaw Mengestu (How to Read the Air). Moderated by Bhakti Shringarpure, editor of Warscapes.
3:00 P.M. The Faces of Brooklyn: New York’s coolest borough is home to hipsters, people who dislike hipsters and literary stars—among them, Brooklyn enthusiasts Pete Hamill (The Christmas Kid), Adelle Waldman(The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.) and Adrian Tomine (New York Drawings). These powerhouses plant uniquely different characters in a nostalgic Brooklyn, a contemporary Brooklyn and a colorful Brooklyn that jumps off the page. Moderated by Penina Roth (Franklin Park Reading Series).
4:00 P.M. The Ugly Duckling: Join three authors who tell the age old story of transformation. James McBride (The Good Lord Bird) tells the story of a young male slave who joins the abolition movement by passing as a girl. Meg Wolitzer (The Interestings) traces the unexpected changes that occur between childhood and adulthood. And Audrey Niffenegger(Raven Girl) takes transformation to a whole other level, in the form of a coming-of-age raven trapped in human form. Moderated by David L. Ulin.
5:00 P.M. Visitors and Intruders: Talented writers A.X. Ahmad (The Caretaker), Jessica Hagedorn (Manila Noir) and Robert Antoni (As Flies to Whatless Boys) remind us of the thin line between visitor, intruder, and citizen in these tales about immigration, lost homelands, and, always, the power of location. Moderated by Karolina Waclawiak (The Believer).
10:00 A.M. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: We love to talk about love: new love, old loves and—the worst kind of all—love interrupted. More than that, we love to read about love. Jess Row (The Train to Lo Wu), and J. Courtney Sullivan (The Engagements) bring us stories about the history of the diamond ring across America, the decline of a marriage in London, and the intimate lives of characters in Hong Kong. Moderated by Rachel Fershleiser.
11:00 A.M. Personal Stories, National Memory: Fiction can be as narrow or contained as a single consciousness, or open up and embody something intrinsic to an era or nation. Alexander Maksik (A Marker to Measure Drift), probes the shattered inner world of a Liberian war refugee; Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez (The Sound of Things Falling) captures the dread and violence of his country’s drug war years, andOonya Kempadoo (All Decent Animals) offers a polyrhythmic, panoramic view across contemporary Trinidadian society. Moderated by Anderson Tepper. Special thanks to the Colombian Film Festival New York.
12:00 P.M. Cities and their Ghosts, Past and Future: What phantoms continue to haunt the landscape of our cities and our dreams? And how will these apparitions appear to us in the future, in a world even more shrouded in mystery? Basque author Kirmen Uribe (Mean While Take My Hand) searches for roots in Spain and abroad; Patricio Pron (My Fathers’ Ghost is Climbing in the Rain) reckons with his father's hidden life andChang-Rae Lee (On Such a Full Sea) depicts a bleak vision of an apocalyptic Baltimore. Short readings and discussion. Moderated byValeria Luiselli. Thanks to Etxepare Basque Institute.
1:00 P.M. Storytelling: How Do We Tell Our Most Essential Stories?This discussion about narrative and the art of storytelling features a trio of voices from around the globe. With Antiguan-American writer Jamaica Kincaid (See Now Then), Guatemalan writer Eduardo Halfon (The Polish Boxer) and Nigerian writer Chinelo Okparanta (Happiness, Like Water). Moderated by Eric Banks.
2:00 P.M. André Aciman and Claire Messud in Conversation: The experience of otherness and dislocation are preoccupying themes forAndré Aciman (Harvard Square) and Claire Messud (The Woman Upstairs). The conversation will explore how these themes inform their sense of character, as well as their understanding of the very nature of the fictional enterprise. Moderated by Albert Mobilio (Bookforum).
3:00 P.M. Historical Secrets and Lies: Lying never gets old. A young writer discovers his dying father’s less-than-desirable secrets. A Colombian man relives an old friend’s murder and a decades-old drug war. A travel agent in post-apartheid South Africa learns something that might change her identity forever. Patricio Pron (My Fathers’ Ghost is Climbing in the Rain), Juan Gabriel Vásquez (The Sound of Things Falling), and Zoë Wicomb (Playing in the Light) talk history and its endless lies. Moderated by Michael Miller (Bookforum). Special thanks to the Colombian Film Festival New York.
4:00 P.M. Lost and Found: The Journey Begins at Home. Where do we discover our truest selves, and what journeys—and what experiences—are ultimately the most transformative? From Prix Médicis-winner Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès’s doomed expeditions through the Brazilian backlands (Where Tigers Are at Home) and Austrian graphic novelist Ulli Lust’s recollections of a youthful romp through Italy (Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life) to Shani Boianjiu’s fierce but wise coming-of-age tale set within the Israeli army (The People of Forever Are Not Afraid), life’s lessons can be found in the most unexpected—and familiar—places. Moderated by David Kaufman, (Telling Stories: Philip Guston’s Later Work) George Mason University. Special thanks to Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the Goethe-Institut New York.
5:00 P.M. What Fills the Void After War? Three acclaimed writers from countries that have known conflict and political unrest discuss war's aftermath and how it informs their work. With Irish writer Colum McCann(TransAtlantic), Sri Lankan writer Ru Freeman (On Sal Mal Lane) and Iraqi writer Sinan Antoon (The Corpse Washer). Moderated by Rob Spillman (Tin House).
11:00 A.M. Celebrate Banned Books Week! Join YA authors Francesca Lia Block, Lauren Myracle and David Levithan in a provocative and thoughtful conversation about censorship. No strangers to controversy, Block's books (Weetzie Bat, Baby Be Bop, Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories, I was a Teenage Fairy and Witch Baby) have been actively challenged by censors, and Myracle has ranked number one on the American Library Association’s top 10 most frequently challenged books list from 2007-2011. With NYT bestselling author David Levithan, (Two Boys Kissing), Editorial Director at Scholastic. Moderated by Betsy Bird, NYPL.
12:00 P.M. Poets Laureate Past and Present Reading: Tina Chang(Brooklyn Poet Laureate), Ashley August (New York Youth Poet Laureate),Marie Howe (New York State Poet Laureate) and Charles Simic (US Poet Laureate 2007-08) read from their work. Introduced by Alice Quinn, Poetry Society of America.
1:00 P.M. Ashley & JaQuavis In Conversation: New York Times and national bestselling authors - America’s first couple of urban fiction- Ashley and JaQuavis talk about their new book (Murderville 3: The Black Dahlia) and their writing life together.
2:00 P.M. Love, Villainy, Ethics and Karaoke: Chuck Klosterman and Rob Sheffield in Conversation. With trademark wit and insight, essayist, novelist and New York Times "Ethicist" Chuck Klosterman (I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains Real and Imagined) and Rolling Stone scribe and memoirist Rob Sheffield (Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love and Karaoke) grapple with issues of life and love, fantasy and memory, heroes and villains past, present, pop cultural and personal. Moderated by Ed Park.
4:00 P.M. Purple Reign: The Legacy and Significance of Prince. One of the most iconic artists of our times, Prince seems to be having a cultural moment – his landmark Purple Rain was recently named the #2 album of all time (EW) and in 2013 he was the subject of various high-profile events, from a tribute at Carnegie Hall to a master class at NYU. JoinToure (I Would Die 4 U), Alex Wagner (MSNBC), and Alan Light (The Holy or the Broken) as they discuss the Purple One and his enduring influence. Moderated by Parul Sehgal (New York Times Book Review).
5:00 P.M. Let's Talk About (Writing) Sex: Everyone’s writing about it.Sam Lipsyte (The Fun Parts) pens sardonic short stories about sex in a misanthropic world. Amy Grace Loyd (The Affairs of Others) depicts an apartment building filled with violence, mystery, and, of course, sex. AndSusan Choi (My Education) puts a (sexy) new twist on the student-teacher relationship. Short readings and discussion. Moderated by Angela Ledgerwood (Cosmopolitan Magazine).
10:00 A.M. – St. Francis Presents the Finalists of the St. Francis College Literary Prize: Carol Anshaw (Carry the One) David Vann(Dirt), Jami Attenberg (The Middlesteins), Tony D'Souza (Mule) andChristopher Tilghman (The Right-Hand Shore). Moderated by Timothy Houlihan, Provost, St. Francis College, and Peter Cameron, juror, SFC Literary Prize.
11:00 A.M. Mommy Dearest: Some women would sacrifice anything to have a child. Others consider having a child a sacrifice in itself. The complications of adoption, of lost chances, and of the relationship between past and present are all held together by a mother’s instinct, or lack thereof. Jennifer Gilmore (The Mothers), Claire Messud (The Woman Upstairs), and Jamaica Kincaid (See Now Then) debate the different roles that motherhood plays in their latest novels. Moderated by Harold Augenbraum, National Book Foundation.
12:00 P.M. The World (According to Cartoonists): Border Crossing Comics. Adrian Tomine (Optic Nerve #13), Rutu Modan (The Property),Dash Shaw (New School), and David Prudhomme (Rebetiko) all explore characters crossing borders -national and personal, real and imagined. Discover how these award-winning cartoonists translate the world through art and story. Moderated by Kent Worcester. Featuring screen projection. Special thanks to Cultural Services of the French Embassy and Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel.
1:00 P.M. Brooklyn Book Festival Presents Lois Lowry, 2013 BoBi Honoree: Enjoy the Newbery award-winning author of The Giver andNumber the Stars. She is one of the most important figures in youth literature today and admired for boldly writing about dystopian societies and the importance of cherishing human connections. In conversation with 2013 Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate (The One and Only Ivan).
2:00 P.M. The Future: Big New Books in Comics Sci-Fi. Award-winnersJeff Smith (RASL), Paul Pope (One-Trick Rip-Off) and Faith Erin Hicks(Last of Us) discuss their new books - representing some of the best, genre-bending sci-fi comics today- from RASL's epic, mystical noir to Hicks' edgy charm, and Pope's lush, captivating style. Moderated by Calvin Reid,Publishers Weekly Comics World. Featuring screen projection.
3:00 P.M. Real People, Imagined Stories: These novels are so fascinating that it’s easy to forget they’re based on the lives of very real historical figures. Amy Brill (The Movement of Stars), Colum McCann(TransAtlantic), and Montague Kobbé (The Night of the Rambler) examine the lesser-known stories of the first female astronomer, a fifteen-hour revolution in Anguilla, and three generations of Irish women whose stories of hope and survival are played out against a century and a half of Irish-American history. Moderated by Jeffrey Lependorf (CLMP).
4:00 P.M. Art Spiegelman and Jules Feiffer in Conversation: Pulitzer-Prize winning graphic novelist Art Spiegelman's newest release, Co-Mix, is a career retrospective that covers his work from Raw to Maus to the New Yorker (and Garbage Pail Kids in between). Joined by Jules Feiffer (Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer), also a Pulitzer winner, they debate the purpose and impact of comics art, its history and development, and their visions of its future. Featuring screen projection.
5:00 P.M. On Nonfiction: American literature is in the midst of a renaissance of sorts, from the glossies to the blogosphere, with an unforeseen proliferation of investigative journalism, memoir, and personal essay. Join Svetlana Alpers (Roof Life), George Packer (The Unwinding) and Clifford Thompson (Love for Sale and Other Essays) in conversation with Phillip Lopate (Portrait Inside My Head) about the renewal and relevance of nonfiction writing today.
12:00 P.M. For Whom the Whistle Tolls: As the Obama administration targets whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning, the question remains: Who has committed the real crimes? Chase Madar (The Passion of Bradley Manning) critiques Manning's revelations of U.S. misdeeds; Dean Starkman (The Watchdog that Didn't Bite) examines the failure of the business press to expose the practices that created the 2008 financial crisis and Susan Herman (Taking Liberties) analyzes the impact of the War on Terror on our First Amendment rights. Moderated by Jon Paul Lupo, Brooklyn Borough President's Office.
1:00 P.M. The Wonder Years: With friends like these…In these novels byMeg Wolitzer (The Interestings), Ben Dolnick (At the Bottom of Everything), and Elliott Holt (You Are One of Them), childhood friends weave in and out of each other’s lives as they grow into adulthood and out of each other. These friends are bound by history as much as they are by hidden jealousy, guilt, and deathly deception. Friendship is complicated. Moderated by Steph Opitz (Texas Book Festival).
2:00 P.M. Belly Battles: The Politics of What We Eat. Everybody knows that salt, sugar and fat are killing us, but just how did toxic food and empty calories become the norm? Michael Moss (Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us) and Nick Saul (The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement) explore how and why food empires traffic in unhealthy food and the ways that communities are fighting back.
3:00 P.M. Rolling the Dice: These characters are doing some risky business. A woman leaves behind a life in New York City to return to Jamaica as an outsider. A man ditches an unfulfilling but innocent life of cab-driving to steal a Nigerian artifact. A woman terrorizes another woman’s wedding with a wedding dress, a gas mask, a shotgun and a bomb trigger. Okey Ndibe (Foreign Gods), Lisa Zeidner (Love Bomb), and Diana McCaulay (Huracan) discuss what drives us to risk everything—love, honor, or the greater good? Moderated by Jon Fine (Amazon).
4:00 P.M. The Poet & the Poem: Natalie Diaz (When My Brother Was an Aztec), Alex Dimitrov (Begging For It), Lynn Melnick (If I Should Say I Have Hope) and Tim Hernandez (Mañana Means Heaven) will examine politics and identity in poetry, and the complex ways in which a poet's work can become intertwined with the poets' personal narrative. Moderated byHafizah Geter, Cave Canem Foundation.
5:00 P.M. Shame On You, Or Me: Lust, passion, and chaos narrate these masterfully told stories about reckless couples, families and cultures. Shamefulness and shamelessness both thrive in these vivid settings:Pamela Erens’s (The Virgins) 1970s elite boarding school, Justin Torres’s (We the Animals) poverty-stricken New York, and Elissa Schappell’s (Blueprints for Building Better Girls) shifting American landscape, and Tim Z. Hernandez’s (Mañana Means Heaven) fictionalized account of Jack Kerouac’s cross-cultural romance. Moderated by Albert Mobilio(Bookforum).
2:00 P.M. Writers Who Read: These stories come alive on paper, but nothing’s better than hearing Jonathan Ames (Wake Up, Sir!), Sapphire(The Kid) and Tao Lin (Taipei) read their vivid prose aloud. Colorful, memorable characters riddled with tragedy and emotional issues truly come to life when embodied by their brilliant, charismatic creators.
3:30 P.M. Idols, Gods, and Kings: Literary forces Teddy Wayne (The Love Song of Jonny Valentine), Tom Wolfe (Back to Blood) and Cristina García (King of Cuba) explore the concept of power with three very different casts: an eleven-year-old superstar’s road to fame; the varied, shady folks running an election in Miami; and a fictionalized Fidel Castro and his vengeful exile. Moderated by Greg Cowles (The New York Times).
5:00 P.M. Something to Hide: Writers Against the Surveillance State. Recent leaks have revealed the breathtaking reach of the National Security Agency’s secret surveillance programs. Should writers and readers be concerned? A fast-paced mosaic of readings by leading PEN members and others to provoke reflection on the dangers surveillance poses to the freedom to think and create, and to celebrate the role writers have played in defying those dangers. Join Brooklyn Book Festival authors Edwidge Danticat, Francine Prose and Andre Aciman, radio host Leonard Lopate and NSA whistleblower, Tom Drake, and others. Presented by PEN American Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the New York Civil Liberties Union.
10:00 A.M. Family Inheritances: It’s all in the family. Sometimes it’s the one we’re born into and sometimes it’s the one we make for ourselves.Joanna Hershon (A Dual Inheritance), Caroline Leavitt (Is This Tomorrow), Callie Wright (Love All), and Donna Hill (What Mother Never Told Me) discuss the secrets, mysteries and hidden truths that permeate these generational relationships and lifelong bonds. Moderated by Brigid Hughes, A Public Space.
11:00 A.M. History, Myth, Fable: Comics that Play with Old and New Forms. Audrey Niffenegger's Raven Girl is a dark illustrated fairy tale.Frank Santoro's Pompeii is a romantic comedy of errors set in the doomed ancient city. Anders Nilsen's Rage of Poseidon is satire that makes myths modern day. These titles push form as well as story, playing with how art and text interact and how the structure of a book makes its statement. Moderated by Nick Sousanis (Teachers College at Columbia University). Featuring screen projection.
12:00 P.M. Arts and Politics in Fiction: Art has always been a tool for political and social change. In these novels, it comes in the form of protest-pop songs, motorcycle photography and high-end fashion. Alex Gilvarry(From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant), Rachel Kushner (The Flamethrowers) and Nicholson Baker (Traveling Sprinkler) shed new light on the timeless relationship between art and politics. Moderated by Joel Whitney.
1:00 P.M. Mundane/Profane/Profound: What We Draw About When We Draw Comics. Gag cartoonists and graphic novelists talk about the weird, wonderful, and sometimes shocking choices they make in their craft.Ben Katchor (Hand-Drying in America) offers urban fables where daily details lead to socio/political revelations. Lisa Hanawalt's sexy/snarky one-pagers in My Dirty Dumb Eyes hinge on the vulnerability of showing it all.Miriam Katin's thoughtful, witty memoir Letting it Go explores profound loss and forgiveness in the context of teeth whitening and stomach troubles. Ulli Lust's punk travelogue This is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life lays bare body and soul. Moderated by Anne Ishii, translator,The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame. Featuring screen projection. Special thanks to Goethe-Institut New York.
2:00 P.M. The New American Dream: What is today’s Great American Novel, anyway? Ayana Mathis (The Twelve Tribes of Hattie), Dash Shaw(New School), and Adam Mansbach (The Dead Run) give us glimpses into a new kind of American Dream: a fifteen-year-old mother of nine; a boy’s island adventures in graphic novel form; and in one case, an American nightmare. Moderated by David Unger.
3:00 P.M. The Real: Comics Nonfiction. Three artists represent the diverse spectrum of topics taken on by nonfiction comics-Ed Piskor's Hip-Hop Family Tree offers an encyclopedic comics history of the formative years of hip hop; Lucy Knisley's Relish: My Life in the Kitchen is a loving memoir of growing up gourmet and Tom Kaczynski's Trans-Terra: Towards a Cartoon Philosophy is a mutant memoir that melds comics, politics, and philosophy. Moderated by Professor Jonathan W. Gray, John Jay College. Featuring screen projection.
4:00 P.M. The Fantastic and the Strange. Three visionary writers take the world as we know it and flip it on its side. Manuel Gonzales (The Miniature Wife), Karen Russell (Vampires in the Lemon Grove), and A.M. Homes (The Safety of Objects) weave together the realistic and the unbelievable to create a magical, sometimes chilling approach to storytelling. Short readings and discussion. Moderated by Halimah Marcus(Electric Literature).
5:00 P.M. Art on the Mind: Comics and Education. Françoise Mouly(Toon Books) in conversation with National Book Award finalist Gene Yang(Boxers & Saints), R. Kikuo Johnson (The Shark King) and Professor Barbara Tversky of Teachers College. In this era of high-stakes testing, comics aren't just a refreshing change of pace for students-they take on deep subjects and teach multimodal literacy, offering educators, librarians, and parents a new way to approach learning. Featuring screen projection.
10:00 A.M. Brooklyn Book Festival Reception for Librarians with Lois Lowry: The Brooklyn Book Festival invites librarians to a special morning event hosted by the Brooklyn Historical Society. Special guest appearance by two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry, author of more than 40 books including the universally beloved The Giver, Number the Stars and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series.
12:00 P.M. Only the Dead Know Brooklyn. Literary history comes alive with readings of works by revered authors who are no longer with us and with a special homage to Elmore Leonard. Readings by Pete Hamill and Troupe.
1:00 P.M. Get a Job!: To Have and Not Have In America Today. Mark Binelli (Detroit City is the Place to Be), D. W. Gibson (Not Working: People Talk About Losing a Job and Finding Their Way in Today's Changing Economy) and Alissa Quart (Republic of Outsiders: The Power of Amateurs, Dreamers and Rebels) discuss the state of working and not working in America today, and the new landscape of working in America today. Moderated by Rich Benjamin.
3:00 P.M. Publish and Perish? E-books are killing publishing! The corporations are killing publishing! Self-publishing is killing publishing! While headlines continually bemoan the end of the literary world as we know it, others argue that the reports of publishing’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Janet Groth (The Receptionist) and Boris Kachka(Hothouse) take a look inside two of our most storied institutions—The New Yorker and Farrar, Straus and Giroux—and consider the past while taking the pulse of the literary world today.
4:00 P.M. Dirty Wars and Dangerous Reporting:Jeremy Scahill’s celebrated book and companion documentary film, Dirty Wars, uncovers the most important foreign policy story of our time - America’s new covert wars. Anabel Hernández (Narcoland) is one of Mexico's leading investigative journalists whose best-selling book exposed the close ties between the Sinaloa cartel and the Calderon government, making her the target of both. This wide-ranging discussion will make the socio-political connections of global violence. Moderated by Betsy Reed, The Nation.
5:00 P.M. Belief in the Age of Doubt: They say never to talk religion or politics at the dinner table, but in the information age, the internet is the dinner table. Rosie Schaap (Drinking With Men), Scott Korb (Light Without Fire: The Making of America's First Muslim College) and Anthea Butler (Women in the Church of God in Christ: Making a Sanctified World) talk about the ways religion, faith and spirituality continue to inform our politics, lives, families, and schools and have changed in an era marked by war, hyperconnectivity, distrust, and a need to believe in something. Moderated by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, co-host, Religion on the Line, WABC (AM).
11:00 A.M. Found: Writers on Loss: Lost innocence. Lost love. Lost opportunities. Lost faith. Our lives are marked as much by that which is missed, missing, or no longer. Join Mary Williams (The Lost Daughter),Leanne Shapton (Swimming Lessons), Emily Raboteau (Searching for Zion) and Sarah Manguso (The Guardians) in discussion about the search for home, family, possibility and meaning, and the profound role that loss plays in our own sense of self. Moderated by Nick Flynn (The Reenactments).
1:00 P.M. What Hope for Human Rights? David Cole, Georgetown University Law Center, Yasmine El Rashidi (The Battle for Egypt), Amy Knight and Ken Roth, Human Rights Watch. Presented by the New York Review of Books. Moderated by Ian Buruma.
3:00 P.M. Writers on Writing: Dana Spiotta (Stone Arabia), Philipp Meyer (The Son), and Chang-Rae Lee (The Surrendered) write about different family structures in settings spanning 1980s LA, the eighteenth-century American West, and a Korean orphanage. The one thing these stories all have in common? Their authors are talented, accomplished, and here to talk about what they do best: writing. Moderated by Julie Bosman.
12:00 P.M. Lessons Learned: We all like to think of what could have been. Christopher Beha (What Happened to Sophie Wilder), Paul Harding (Enon), and Robert Antoni (As Flies to Whatless Boys) discuss how their characters look to the past to find peace in the present, whether that means reconnecting with ex-lovers, facing the death of a loved one, or reflecting on decisions could have, should have, would have changed the world. Moderated by Erika Goldman.
2:00 P.M. As the World Turns... Will the wave of democratic upheaval sweeping from Istanbul through Egypt to Brazil reach U.S. shores? Or was Occupy all that we're likely to see? A discussion of the state of dissent and democracy in the U.S. today featuring David Graeber (The Democracy Project), Moustafa Bayoumi (Midnight on the Mavi Marmara), and Astra Taylor (Occupy!). Moderated by Nathan Schneider (Thank You, Anarchy!).
4:00 P.M. Mind Over Matter: There’s something weird going on here. A man’s cultish promise to cure loneliness leads to an unexpected situation. A woman discovers her gift to fix the scandals of those around her but not her own. A fishy epidemic of advanced dementia rages in a hospital in post-9/11 America. Fiona Maazel (Woke Up Lonely), Jonathan Dee (A Thousand Pardons), and Lore Segal (Half the Kingdom) show that, often, what we seek to control ends up controlling us instead. Moderated by Ken Chen, Asian American Writers Workshop.
5:00 P.M. Reality Check. The transition from 20’s to 30’s - school to work, dating to relationships, moving in, out and on is not just a work in process but a creative process! Iris Smyles (Iris Has Free Time) Adelle Waldman (The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P) and Royal Young (Fame Shark) represent the self examination of this generation in memoir and fiction. Moderated by Matthew Love, Time Out New York.
NORTH STAGE
10:00 A.M. Brooklyn Choices Lit Match: Come hear the finalists of the Brooklyn LOL Lit Match borough-wide writing contest—some of the most talented students writing in the borough read from their work. Emceed byAlexander London (Accidental Adventures series).
11:00 A.M. Canine Conversations: NYT bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron (A Dog’s Purpose) and Ken Foster (I’m A Good Dog), which sings the praises of pit bulls and traces their history of famous pit bull owners, in conversation about dogs in life and literature! Moderated byDavid Kaufman, George Mason University.
12:00 P.M. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage in Conversation with screenwriter and author, Rebecca Miller (Jacob’s Folly) and Lemon Andersen (County of Kings) about choices--writing for stage, screen or books –for performers and audience or readers. Moderated by Bill Goldstein, NBC New York.
1:00 P.M. Best Laid Plans: Net Losses and Capital Gains in a Technological World: Smartphones, iPads, Google and Facebook have certainly changed our lives, but digital innovation seems to pose just as many questions as it solves. Our panelists explore the moral and practical challenges of our new connected lives: Clive Thompson (Smarter Than You Think) and Tumblr's Rachel Fershsleiser talks about bridging the gap between new and old technologies.
2:00 P.M. Kitchens, Kith and Kin:A Food Memoir Mash-up. Eat your heart out, Food-o-verse, as we dish with three spicy culinary raconteurs - Baohaus bad boy Eddie Huang (Fresh off the Boat: A Memoir) finds the sweet spot where Taiwanese street food, revelry and identity co-mingle;Anya Von Bremzen (Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing) reaches back into her family’s past to capture the anxiety, idealism, soul and sustenance of Soviet life; and cartoonist Lucy Knisley (Relish: My Life in the Kitchen) entwines witty vignettes with illustrations of the essential recipes that make it all worthwhile. Moderated by Elizabeth Thacker Jones.
3:00 P.M. Same Problem, Different World: Three fantasy authors explore the human condition in supernaturally enhanced Earths and non-Earths. Felix Gilman, (The Rise of Ransom City), N.K. Jemisin, (The Dreamblood series) and Naomi Novik (Temeraire series), discuss the narrative power of placing ordinary people in extraordinary worlds. Moderated by Lev Grossman (The Magician King).
4:00 P.M. Noir-ish: Abductions, murders, cults, satire, and the supernatural are all in these concept noir-ish novels by Adam Mansbach(The Dead Run), Nelly Reifler (Elect H. Mouse State Judge) and Keith Ridgway (Hawthorn & Child). Short readings and discussion.
5:00 P.M.Poetry in Performance: LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs (TwERK),Tyehimba Jess (leadbelly), Taylor Mali (The Last Time As We Are), andQuincy Troupe (ErranCities) read their recent work and speak about the influence of music and performance in their poetry. Moderated by Mary Gannon, Academy of American Poets.
10:00 A.M. Love to Laugh? Loud and Long and Clear? Bestselling authors Jeff Smith (Bone series), Sherri Winston (President of the Whole Fifth Grade) and Michael Buckley (Nerds, The Sisters Grimm) open the festival with a feel-good laugh session for the soul, proving once again that the best books are the funniest. Moderated by Eric Luper (Jeremy Bender vs the Cupcake Cadets).
11:00 A.M. Comics Quick Draw! Three cartoonists face off in this fast-paced battle of the sharpies. Drawing from audience suggestions, the award-winning and reader-adored Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Platypus Police Squad: the Frog who Croaked), Eisner Award-winner Raina Telgemeier(Drama), and Printz Award and National Book Award-winner, Gene Yang(Boxers & Saints) will battle with pen and pad. And, everybody wins; finished art will be gifted to some of the lucky young people in attendance. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publishers Weekly Comics World).
12:00 P.M. Dazzling Heroines: From murders to managing an employment agency for sorcerers, Newbery Honor winner Sheila Turnage(Three Times Lucky), bestselling author Jasper Fforde (The Song of the Quarkbeast) and Catherine Jinks (How to Catch a Bogle) talk about the amazingly resourceful and resilient female protagonists at the heart of their award-winning novels for young readers. Moderated by Ben Rosenthal, freelance children's book editor.
1:00 P.M. Growing Up Elsewhere: Children often find themselves having to be braver than they ever should have to and surviving unimaginable challenges and hardships with grace and hope. Two-time National Book Award Finalist Patricia McCormick (Never Fall Down), Lebanese authorZeina Abirached (A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return) and acclaimed newcomer Tara Sullivan (Golden Boy) talk about what it means to be brave beyond the U.S. borders amid war and discrimination. Moderated by Elizabeth Kiem (Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy).
2:00 P.M. Survey Says! Join young adult authors John M. Cusick (Cherry Money Baby), Kekla Magoon (Fire in the Streets), Leila Sales (This Song Will Save Your Life), and Eric Luper (Jeremy Bender vs the Cupcake Cadets) as they chat about their most recent novels and battle each other in a lively game of FAMILY FEUD moderated by the one and only Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked).
3:00 P.M. The Secret Lives of Girls: There's a wide range of mystery in a girl's life: understanding it all comes with learning the secrets they hide in their hearts. This is captured by New York Times bestselling authorsLauren Myracle (The Infinite Moment of Us), Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) and Sharon M. Draper (Panic). Join these three superstar young-adult authors as they discuss the ups and downs of girlhood, whether it's independence, love or finding one's voice. Moderated by Mitali Dave.
4:00 P.M. A Great, Big, Beautiful World: Lately, it seems like we're all obsessed with Young Adult fiction. But what about books for 8-12 year olds? Some of the most exciting writing in children's books today is happening in middle grade novels. Newbery winner Katherine Applegate(The One and Only Ivan); Sonia Manzano, aka Maria of Sesame Street fame, and author of The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, and award-winningDaddy Day Care screenwriter Geoff Rodkey (The Chronicles of Egg) talk inspiring gorillas, El Barrio and pirates and the vast, imaginative world of middle grade. Moderated by Nan Marino (Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace).
5:00 P.M. Realms of Illusion and Imagination: A crumbling, abandoned world of decay and desolation. A futuristic Brazil teeming with life, passion, and rebellion. And perhaps the scariest of all--junior high school in a small town. Join three critically acclaimed authors whose work transports us to other worlds: two-time Carnegie Medal-winning author Patrick Ness (More Than This); stellar YA debut novelist Alaya Dawn Johnson (The Summer Prince); and Jane Yolen (B.U.G.), who has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America. Moderated by Delia Sherman (Changeling).
10:00 : Troupe Reads beloved classics
10:30 : Peter Brown—Mr. Tiger Goes Wild
11:00 : Sean Qualls-- Lullaby (For a Black Mother)
11:30 : Herman Parish-- Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card
12:00 : Donald Crews, Nina Crews—Freight Train—The Neighborhood Sing-Along
12:30 : Laura Vaccaro Seeger--Bully
1:00 : Betsy Bird—Giant Dance Party
1:30 : Draw-Off with David Ezra Stein, Joyce Wan—Dinosaur Kisses—You Are My Cupcake
2:00 : Ricardo Liniers—The Big Wet Balloon
2:30 : Tom Lichtenheld, Sherri Duskey Rinker—Steam Train, Dream Train
3:00 : Adam Rubin, Daniel Salmieri—Secret Pizza Party
3:30 : Lulu Delacre—How Far Do You Love Me?
4:00 : Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin—Click, Clack Boo
4:30 : Tonya Bolden—12 Days of New York
5:00 : Tori Nighthawk—Don’t Judge a Bird by its Feathers
Workshops (Borough Hall Conference Room – 1st Floor)
1:00 P.M. Teachers & Writers Collaborative: Your Secret Writing Recipe Workshop. A writing workshop with Caron Levis that will get young writers imaginations cooking! Ages 8 – 12.
2:00 P.M. You Can Do A Comic Book: Barbara Slate, illustrator and writer for over 300 comic books and graphic novels, will teach students how to create a character bible, develop a plotline, and make a layout pop. Bring your sketchbook and pencils. Ages 8 – 10.
3:00 P.M. Instant Comic Book: Robyn Chapman, the author of Drawing Comics Lab, demonstrates three ways to make a book out of a single sheet of paper! A few simple folds and a cut or two will result in an instant comic book. Each participant will create a comic using the “foldy” method. All materials will be provided. Age 12 and up.