Fall Sweater and Virtual Book Festival Weather

This fall, we New York City book lovers get to share some of our free, book-centered events with a wider audience. Early-season virtual book fairs include the Schomburg Center Literary Festival and the Brooklyn Book Festival.

The Schomburg Center Literary Festival will run from September 21st – 26th, and will feature evening author talks. Topics include prisoner art, a talk featuring the poet and activist Audre Lord, and YA programming. The final day’s events on Saturday will begin featuring a new book about James Baldwin and end with a conversation about Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo. (Make sure you register in advance.)

Meanwhile, the 15th anniversary of the Brooklyn Book Festival (BBF) will take place virtually on September 28 – October 5. The main event (for adults) is a whole day packed with panels on Sunday, October 4, 2020.

Although the final BBF program is not yet available, I know I’ll be sampling panels ranging from history, politics, and science to new fiction and graphic novels. I’ll miss the crowds, the buzz, and the vendors lined up and down the plaza, though. And I know a lot of the WNBA-NYC crew will miss meeting people and recruiting new members at the WNBA booth.

Once you’ve read further to hear from some WNBA-NYC members about their Brooklyn Book Festival experiences, please go to our BBF marketplace page to join WNBA-NYC if you’re not already a member. Membership is open to anyone who wants to support and learn more about the work of women in the writing, editing, publishing/marketing, bookselling, library, and book preservation trades.

I’ve attended the Brooklyn Book Festival for the past three years, and it’s easily become one of my favorite annual events. Discussing new books with fellow readers, hearing from authors during panels, indulging in an apple cider donut and coffee, and stocking up on a couple books to add to my ‘to be read’ pile. What could be better? Like so many events this fall, the BBF will be virtual and although I’m sad we aren’t able to convene in person, I’m happy that we’ll continue to celebrate our love of books through the BBF’s numerous panels, and WNBA-NYC’s own virtual events. In this time of constant disruption, I am still finding comfort in the pages of my books, and the subsequent conversations with my fellow WNBA members and friends.

Laurel Stokes, President, WNBA-NYC

Unique, fun, and interactive are three words that describe the BBF. Each reader has their own story, and each organization has their own mission. Nothing beats having both come together for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Rachel Slaiman, WNBA-NYC Co-Recording Secretary

I renew for the WNBA-NYC gifts that keep on giving: for fabulous events, working across literary playing fields with extraordinary people, expert/author panels, the annual hyper-kinetic Query Roulette, connections forged with players across the publishing spectrum.

Sheila Lewis, WNBA-NYC Co-Recording Secretary

I’ve loved being a member of the WNBA-NYC chapter for the networking, friendships, opportunities to meet authors and participate in literary events.

Rosalind Reisner, WNBA-NYC Member and Volunteer

Are these virtual book fairs not enough for you? Join the WNBA-NYC tonight for our annual Fall Networking event! This’ll be a great chance to see what we have planned for this coming season and to meet other members.

Pamela J. Davis is a freelance editor and proofreader, who has a PhD in English and American Literature from New York University. Born and raised in Springfield, MA, she currently reads, writes, and walks around in New York City.