Monday night books: Literary coordinators share their work at a BookCourt ‘Salon’

January 31, 2013 By Samantha Samel Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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This Monday, Feb. 4, BookCourt will be hosting ‘The Salon’ — a conversation on literary and visual culture featuring some of the curators of New York’s greatest literary events. The speakers, all of whom are accustomed to coordinating readings, will now have the chance to share their own work with the public. In addition to reading, these literary experts recommend their favorite books and authors.

Monday’s discussion will feature Penina Roth, the founder and curator of the Franklin Park Reading Series. The series, which consists of monthly readings at the Franklin Park Bar and Beer Garden in Crown Heights, features poets, fiction writers, and comedians. The program has been named one of the Best Reading Series of 2012 by Time Out NY, and has featured numerous acclaimed writers, including Jennifer Egan, Colson Whitehead, and Emma Straub. In addition to coordinating the Franklin Park Reading Series, Penina works as a freelance writer. Her writing has been published in The New York Times and L Magazine, among other publications.   

Julia Fierro, a Brooklyn-based writer and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, also will speak at Monday’s event. She founded and directs the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop, and also curates the Sackett Street Reading Series, a bimonthly program that takes place at BookCourt. Her debut novel, “The End of the World as We Know It,” will be published in 2014.

Another of the evening’s speakers, David Gutowski, is a writer and blogger who created Largehearted Boy, one of the first literary and music blogs. After starting the blog over ten years ago, David began curating the related series Largehearted Lit, which focuses on the overlaps between literature and music. David also has founded a program called BookBoroughing, a calendar that promotes New York’s literary events.   

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Michele Filgate –  a writer, book critic, and event coordinator at Park Slope’s Community Bookstore – will be featured at Monday’s event as well. Michele currently coordinates Community Bookstore’s Brooklyn By The Book program, which is co-curated by Park Slope’s Congregation Beth Elohim. She has also coordinated events at Manhattan’s McNally Jackson Bookstore. Her writing has been published in The Brooklyn Rail, Bookslut, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among other publications.

Jason Diamond, a New York-based writer and editor, also will appear to speak at The Salon. Jason has extensive experience with New York’s lit scene; founder of Vol. 1 Brooklyn, he also serves as the New York Deputy Editor of Flavorpill, and formerly edited Jewcy.com. His writing as appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, NPR.org, The Awl, The New York Observer, and The Rumpus, among many other publications. He is currently writing a book.

New York – and Brooklyn, especially – is known for its rich literary culture. Monday’s discussion will offer a glimpse into how exactly this scene continues to flourish, highlighting those who are responsible for organizing the most innovative of the city’s literary events.

The event begins at 7 p.m., and will consist of a panel discussion and audience Q&A. The Salon is curated by writers Chiwoniso Kaitano-Price and Martin Rowe, who will host the event. BookCourt is located at 163 Court St. in Cobble Hill.


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