OVERVIEW
A CELEBRATION OF READING, LITERACY and BUFFALO'S HISTORY
Join the celebration. The Buffalo Book Fair is truly an experience that you do not want to miss.
NEW LOCATION: BBF at the GALLERY
- Tents will be set in the Hoyt Lake area of Delaware Park and on the back of the Albright Knox Art Gallery.
- Events will also be held inside the Gallery.
The Buffalo Committee will host the 4th Buffalo Book Fair (www.buffalobookfair.com) on Friday July 18, 2008 from 12:00 Noon – 10:00 pm in the beautiful setting of Delaware Park and the Albright Knox Art Museum. The Buffalo Book Fair, free and open to the entire Western New York Community celebrates the power of reading through author presentations, book signings, interactive activities for children, seminars and panel discussions. The opportunity to meet and greet authors is one of the favorite activities of past book fair participants along with vendor shopping. This entertaining literary event attracted over 4,000 people last year.
2008 Special Features Include:
Specialty Literary Pavilions –national, regional and local authors will present followed by book signings
Literary Café - featured vendor Starbucks Coffee – Attendees enjoy author presentations and other scheduled entertainment events in a café setting.
Summer Family Read In Tent and recreation area
WNED ThinkBright Main Stage - Join WNED’s ThinkBright for special presentations for kids and families under the tent at the ThinkBright Children’s Main Stage! Hear from Children’s and Young Adult authors, hear the winners of our Share a Story Contest, see exciting demonstrations, enjoy story time with some of your favorite characters and personalities and join in the hands on fun as we celebrate kids reading and writing in the ThinkBright Children’s Main Stage!
READ TO SUCEED Children Activity Pavilion: Children and families will enjoy storytelling, author readings, kid’s book reviews, hands - on projects and much more!
Historical Feature: The Underground Railroad from Buffalo to Canada Pavilion
Featured Author: Beverly Lowry, a former Buffalo resident and author of six novels and the new book HARRIET TUBMAN: IMAGINING A LIFE. She is the recipient of the 2007 Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award.
Panel Discussions – Panel discussions with national and local authors as panelists
Topics include current events and popular culture
Featured Discussion – The Literacy Roundtable (event hosted by community partners - WNED ThinkBright TV, Read to Succeed and WBLK Radio)
Seminars: Heritage/Genealogy, the Art of Storytelling, Book Club Roundtables, Author 101: What it Takes to Get Published.
Mayor’s Summer Reading Program Tent
ART of The Book Pavilion – Invited authors and Illustrators will showcase select art work from their books and provide a reading followed by Q&A
* Book signing Tent
GUSTO AT THE GALLERY CONNECTED EVENTS
Read Me A Picture Tours ( tours for groups of 15 start at 1 pm)
The Literacy Roundtable (event hosted by community partners - WNED ThinkBright TV, Read to Succeed and WBLK) (Time: 3 pm – 5 pm) LOCATION: Albright Knox Auditorium
Featured Author Presentations :
4 – 5 pm – Lawrence Block
5: 30 pm – 6:30 pm - Allison DuBois, author of the bestselling books, Don't Kiss Them Good-Bye and We Are Their Heaven. Her unique story, which started during her final semester at an Arizona university, is the inspiration of the hit NBC-TV show Medium.
* Friday, July 18 starting at 7 pm – The introduction of the BBF Awards – Buffalo Book Fair Literary Awards. This event will highlight some of Buffalo literary leaders and authors. An awards ceremony combining the love of the written word with Buffalo’s musical and other performing artists. LOCATION: Clifton Hall
National Authors scheduled to present include:
Allison DuBois, author of the bestselling books, Don’t Kiss Them Good-Bye and We Are Their Heaven. Her unique story, which started during her final semester at an Arizona university, is the inspiration of the hit NBC-TV show Medium.
Beverly Lowry, a former Buffalo resident and author of six novels and the new book HARRIET TUBMAN: IMAGINING A LIFE. She is the recipient of the 2007 Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award.
Lawrence Block (Buffalo born author) Lawrence Block's novels range from the urban noir of Matthew Scudder (HOPE TO DIE) to the urbane effervescence of Bernie Rhodenbarr (THE BUGLAR IN THE RYE), while other characters include the globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner (TANNER ON ICE) and the
introspective assassin Keller (HIT LIST). His new book, HIT AND RUN, will be published at the end of June 2008. He has been named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America and been awarded every major prize given to mystery writers.
Shane W. Evans (Illustrator (Children’s Books) Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of many books for children, including Hold the Flag High by Catherine Clinton. He has exhibited his art in West Africa and Paris and in Chicago, New York, and other major U.S. cities. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
To date, Evans has illustrated 30 children's books, including the critically praised titles "Bintou's Braids," "Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper's Daughter" and "No More! Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance."
Before his success as a children's book illustrator, Evans worked as a designer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. He recently fulfilled a childhood dream and opened the Dream Studio in Kansas City, his primary work space that also serves as an art gallery, music venue and as a community space for kids.
His latest book, "Olu's Dream," will be released in the fall by HarperCollins and marks the first time Evans has both written and illustrated a children's book.
Kayla Perrin - Toronto Ontario author of numerous bestselling romance novels. Kayla Perrin lives in Southwestern Ontario. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology and a Bachelor of Education. She has twice won a spot on Romance Writers of America's Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year list. In January 2003, Kayla's novel, SAY YOU NEED ME, was voted one of Romance Writers of America's Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year. In 2002, Kayla hit the Essence Bestseller List with her first mainstream novel, THE SISTERS OF THETA PHI KAPPA. Kayla also signed a deal in 2006 with Harlequin Enterprises to write three novels for their SPICE line. She is frequently interviewed by print and television media regarding Romance writing. She was recently featured in Buffalo News.
Virginia Deberry (Buffalo Born author) and Donna Grant - authors of the bestselling book Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made and the new sequel Gotta Keep on Tryin.
LOCAL and REGIONAL AUTHORS:
There will be local authors participating as presenters and vendors.
SPECIAL VENDORS:
Starbucks Coffee – They have a Gazebo and will provide attendees with free samples of coffee and Ice tea drinks
BOOKSELLERS:
National Sponsor – Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Community Book Seller – Talking Leaves Books
MEDIA SPONSORS:
WKBW – Channel 7, WNED (PBS), Buffalo Spree
The Buffalo Book Festival Committee is a collaboration and community initiative that includes The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, WNED TV ThinkBright, Literacy Volunteers, Dr. James Williams and The Buffalo Public Schools, Buffalo National Black MBA Association of WNY, Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau, Black Capital Network, Talking Leaves, Barnes and Noble and many dedicated volunteers. Our goal is to make the book fair a regional event that celebrates literacy and promotes the region’s diverse, historic and rich cultural heritage.
Events Manager: Jennifer J. Parker
Call – 716 – 881 – 6066 or email jparker@thebcn.com for additional information
