Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Newsletter – Vol. 6

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  The second annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is quickly approaching (May 13!), and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to East Liberty for yet another year of literary fun! OUR FEATURED AUTHORS Jeannette Walls Register Here Ross Gay Register Here In addition to our featured authors, we’re proud to host over 40 locally and nationally known authors of a variety of genres including fiction, memoir, thriller, mystery, non-fiction and history, children’s and more. View Full Author Line-Up Here! VIP Tickets Available for Jeannette Walls’ Program Purchase your VIP ticket to Jeannette Walls’ program today to receive a copy of her new book, Hang the Moon, and priority access to seating and her book signing line. Buy Your VIP Ticket Here POETRY TENT Make sure to stop by the poetry tent to hear readings from our featured poets! Registration is not required, and walk-ins are welcome all day. View Full Poet Line-Up Here! PROGRAMMING & PANEL DISCUSSIONS Mark Whitaker and Leon Ford in Conversation with Tony Norman Award-winning writer Tony Norman will be moderating our program between authors Mark Whitaker and Leon Ford. Register Here Sujata Massey and Brendan Slocumb Join Sujata Massey, author of The Bombay Prince, and Brendan Slocumb, author of Symphony of Secrets and The Violin Conspiracy. Register Here Parable of the Sower by Pittsburgh Playhouse The Parable Path is Toshi Reagon’s framework for community organizing through artistic engagement, connected to her musical adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. At the Festival, you can hear from the Pittsburgh Playhouse panel as it focuses on local black women and their relationships to Octavia E. Butler's Afrofuturism and feminism. Register Here How to Start a Book Club: What are we going to read next? Join Dan Iddings as he discusses everything you need to know about starting a book club! Register Here Kristina Marusic Hear from Kristina Marusic as she discusses her book, A New War On Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention Register Here Tips for Aspiring Authors from a Professional Writer  Join J.D. Barker's workshop as he discusses his best tips that got his work to the bestsellers lists. Register Here Joshua David Bellin Join author Joshua David Bellin as he discusses his most recent science fiction title set in Pittsburgh, Myriad. Register Here Joseph Sassoon Hear from author Joseph Sassoon as he discusses his book, The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire. Register Here Short Story Panel Hear from authors Jolene Mcilwain and Anjali Sachdeva as they discuss writing short stories. Register Here Romance Panel Join romance authors Ashley Winstead, Vanessa Riley and Annie Rains for a panel discussion on writing romance novels. Register Here Thriller Panel Hear from mystery authors Kit Frick, Erin Adams and J.D. Barker. Register Here View the Full Festival Schedule Here! CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITIES Explore the wonders of reading with your child through our children and young adult activities! Registration is not required for children and young adult authors and activities, and walk-ins are welcome all day. Early Release of Penny Draws a Best Friend by Sara Shepard #1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard will be doing an exclusive reading of her unreleased book, Penny Draws a Best Friend, which is a humorous, heartfelt, highly illustrated new middle grade series about friendship, feelings, and finding your people. Duolingo  At this year’s Festival, Duolingo will be exhibiting Duolingo ABC, a free, step-by-step reading program designed for kids learn essential reading skills such as knowledge of the alphabet, understanding the meaning behind words and sentences and more. Seed Planting with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County After listening to the re-telling of The Secret Garden by Karuna Riazi, join us for a seed planting activity with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County! Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan and the Pittsburgh Zoo Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan will perform a reading of her book Animal Allies alongside a zookeeper from the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (and a few live animals!) to illustrate the theme of promoting STEM careers among young girls. Dance the Story with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Aligned with this year's theme of reading being three-dimensional, we're excited to have the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre present a story time of Sleeping Beauty! At the Festival, children will be able to experience the story of Sleeping Beauty through visual projections of dance while learning vocabulary and dance moves. Drawing A Picture Novel with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Learn step-by-step how to draw a picture novel with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Sign Up for a Library Card Sign-up for a library card to unlock access to thousands of items at the Carnegie Library such as books, DVDs, magazines and more! View Full Festival Schedule Here! OUR 2023 EXHIBITORS Make sure to stop by our exhibitors’ tables while visiting the Festival! A Poem's Purpose Autumn House Press Black Lawrence Press BOB FM 96.9 Buzzword PGH Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Comicsburgh Duolingo Engage Shadyside Heinz History Center Imagin8 Press Kards Unlimited KDKA Lefty Blondie Press Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians Literacy Pittsburgh Mystery Lovers Bookshop Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Parsec Ink. Penguin Bookshop Pittsburgh Regional Transit Pollia Designs Preservation Pittsburgh Q 92.9 Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh Riverstone Books Sandra Gould Ford – Succeed and Soar Stories Like Me United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Library System University of Pittsburgh Press University of Pittsburgh Program  in Visual Impairment Voter's Registration Yinz Are Good THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORING BOOKSTORES Special thank you to our sponsoring bookstores for their hard work and dedication to this year’s Festival! CHECK OUT OUR 2023 SPONSORS! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is only made possible with the help of our supporters. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for your generous contributions! Lamar | Pittsburgh Regional Transit Pittsburgh City Paper | Bakery Square We'll see you on May 13! Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Newsletter – Vol. 5

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  Don't miss the second annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, May 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Register now for author talks, panel sessions and workshops!  Register DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE EXCITING PROGRAMS W. Bruce Cameron Bring your furry friends to the Festival and hear from A Dog's Purpose author W. Bruce Cameron as he discusses his dog-based novels. Register Here United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh Curious about how to start a book club? Don’t miss United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh’s workshop on starting and running a book club. Register Here Heinz History Center on Kennywood and the Heinz Family Emily Ruby, Heinz History Center Curator, will share select stories from her book, 57 Servings from the Heinz Table, which tells the story of a boy from Sharpsburg, PA, who went from bottling horseradish in his childhood home in 1869 to creating a global packaged food company. You will also learn how the company both shaped and reacted to the changing foodways at home and abroad. Register Here Pittsburghers love their history, and how many other businesses are still going strong after 125 years? Brian Butko, Heinz History Center Director of Publications, will share some of Kennywood Park’s lesser-known history and rare photos as he works on the final book in his Kennywood Trilogy. Register Here Mark Whitaker and Leon Ford in Conversation with Tony Norman Enjoy an inspiring conversation with authors Mark Whitaker and Leon Ford, moderated by award-winning writer Tony Norman. Register Here Celebrating Pittsburgh Neighborhoods Don’t miss out on Stewart O’Nan and Kathleen George’s discussion about their novels and places they love around the Steel City! Register Here City of Asylum Writers-in-Residence Panel In this panel discussion, three of City of Asylum's current writers-in-residence, Rania Mamoun of Sudan, Jorge Olivera Castillo of Cuba, and Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko of Ukraine, will discuss their literary works, recent publications, and explore their experiences as writers and activists in their respective home countries. The conversation will be moderated by Catherine Skolnicki, City of Asylum's Residency Manager.  The City of Asylum Exiled Writer and Artist Residency Program is a long-term residency for literary writers and other artists who are in exile from their home countries and under threat of persecution because of their work. The goal of the sanctuary program is to enable each writer- and artist-in-residence to continue to create while transitioning to a stable, independent life in exile.  Register Here Parable of the Sower Panel The Parable Path is Toshi Reagon’s framework for community organizing through artistic engagement, connected to her musical adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. At the Festival, you can hear from the Pittsburgh Playhouse panel as it focuses on local black women and their relationships to Octavia E.Butler's Afrofuturism and feminism. Register Here Learn How to Get Published Learn everything you need to know about how to get published! Register Here Learn about World Building for Different Genres Hear from Janet Pierce, Janyce Brawn and Chuck Kienzle as they discuss the process of world building across different genres. Register Here Short Story Panel Hear from authors Jolene Mcilwain, Noley Reid and Anjali Sachdeva as they discuss writing short stories. Register Here Romance Panel Join Romance authors Ashley Winstead, Vanessa Riley and Annie Rains for a panel discussion on writing romance novels. Register Here Thriller Panel Hear from mystery authors Kit Frick, Erin Adams and J.D. Barker as they discuss their thriller novels. Register Here Writing Tips from New York Times Bestselling Author J.D. Barker From hitting the publish button to hitting the bestseller lists, J.D. Barker will share what it takes to become a successful author. Register Here And so much more! Check Out All Authors & Poets Here CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITIES Explore the wonders of reading with your child! In our Children and Young Adult Area, you can expect storytimes, hands-on activities, educational workshops, author talks and more!    Registration is not required for children and young adult author talks and activities, and walk-ins are welcome all day. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORING BOOKSTORES Special thank you to our sponsoring bookstores for their hard work and dedication to this year’s Festival! CHECK OUT OUR 2023 SPONSORS! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is only made possible with the help of our supporters. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for your generous contributions! Lamar | Pittsburgh Regional Transit Pittsburgh City Paper | Bakery Square Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Newsletter – Vol. 4

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is thrilled to welcome many talented authors and poets across a variety of genres to the 2023 Festival of Books line up. OUR 2023 AUTHORS Jeannette Walls Ross Gay W. Bruce Cameron J.D. Barker Sara Shepard John Vercher Russell Shorto Kathleen George Brendan Slocumb Rinker Buck Erin Adams Emily Tamkin Mark Whitaker Ed Simon Stewart O'Nan Marylynne Pitz Tom O'Lenic Leon Ford Joseph Sassoon Vanessa Riley Laura Warrell Kit Frick Don Bentley Ashley Winstead Rebecca Yarros Joshua David Bellin Andrew Conte Camryn Garrett Karuna Riazi Torrey Maldonado Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan Shadra Strickland Noley Reid Sara Walters James Klise Jolene McIlwain Sujata Massey REGISTRATION FOR YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR IS NOW OPEN! Registration is FREE and allows you to have a secured seat at your favorite authors' programming. Register Today! MEET OUR 2023 POETS Jen Ashburn Jan Beatty Charlie Brice Judith Brice Deborah Bogen Sheila Carter-Jones S. Brook Corfman Veronica Corpuz Liza Duncan Barbara Edelman Lynn Emanuel Natalie Homer Lori Jakiela Nancy Koerbel Nancy Krygowski Jane McCafferty Ellen McGrath-Smith Danielle Obisie-Orlu Judy Robinson Michael Simms Richard St. John Patricia Jabbeh Wesley Sarah Williams-Devereux Lawrence Wray Make sure to check out our poets at the Poetry Tent while attending the Festival! Registration is not required and walk-ins are welcome all day.  LET'S GET LIT LAUNCH PARTY: REGISTER TODAY! Join us for an evening of honoring Pittsburgh’s literary community as we kick-off the second annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books! Mix and mingle with Festival authors and poets, enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and listen to live entertainment all while celebrating our region’s love for reading. When: May 12 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary 616 N Highland Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Purchase your tickets here! CHECK OUT OUR 2023 SPONSORS! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is only made possible with the help of our supporters. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for your generous contributions! Lamar Pittsburgh Regional Transit Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2023 Festival. We remain committed to enhancing education and literacy in our communities and invite you to participate in our mission as a sponsor. Learn more about our Sponsorship Oppounities here! SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS: MAY 13 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Something Good: Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books returning with 60-plus authors, poets and more

See the article over at Union Progress.

Registration Now Open for the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Registration Now Open for the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

PITTSBURGH (March 28, 2023) – The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books announced today that free registration is now open for its second annual community-wide book and literary celebration, planned for Saturday, May 13, 2023, on the campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in East Liberty. The Festival, which is free and open to the public, is encouraging registration to secure seats at various literary offerings. Although walk-ins are welcome and expected, space may be limited for popular authors.

The 2023 Festival will be campus-wide at the Seminary, gathering readers, writers, publishers, educators, families – and those in search of a fun and informative weekend activity – to explore Pittsburgh’s rich literary community to meet and hear from over 60 creators, literary organizations, publishers, libraries and others. 

"For our second year, we’re excited to highlight a diverse mix of authors and poets – with works ranging from mystery and romance to thriller, history, personal life stories and nonfiction,” said Marshall Cohen, Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Chairman and Founder. “An outstanding range of poetry will be read all day.”

Some of the featured writers, poets, exhibitors and performances include:

·       J.D. Barker, Bram Stoker Award Nominee and international bestselling author of suspense thrillers

·       W. Bruce Cameron, bestselling author, columnist and screenwriter, most known for A Dog’s Purpose

·       COMICSBURGH, a collective of comic book creators from the Pittsburgh area

·       Duolingo, for a hands-on demo of their new app to help promote literacy in children

·       Ross Gay, National Book Critics Circle award-winner, poet and essayist, most recently of Inciting Joy

·       Kathleen George, author of procedural thrillers set in Pittsburgh including MIRTH

·       Stewart O’Nan, award-winning fiction author living in Pittsburgh

·       The Heinz History Center, for a history of Kennywood amusement park and of the Heinz family

·       Joseph Sassoon, author of The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire

·       Russell Shorto, journalist and author of narrative nonfiction history including Smalltime

·       Brendan Slocumb, musician, music teacher and author of Good Morning America’s February 2022 Book Club Pick, The Violin Conspiracy

·       Jeannette Walls, #1 New York Times bestselling author, most recently of Hang the Moon

·       Mark Whitaker, former Editor of Newsweek, CBS Sunday Morning contributor and author of Smoketown, in conversation with Leon Ford, author of An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son

·       John Vercher, Edgar Award Nominee and author of After the Lights Go Out

·       The full list of authors and poets, as of today, can be found here: pittsburghbookfestival.org/authorspoets.Additional authors and creative participants are expected to join over the next several weeks.

A vibrant literary history
Pittsburgh has a track record of being ranked one of the most literate cities in the United States. The city is also home to about 120 literary organizations and over 250 authors, publishers, opinion leaders, literary event organizers and more. This makes Pittsburgh a big draw for nationally and internationally recognized writers of all genres.

“From those who are learning to read to those who have been reading for years, the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books has become an invaluable piece of Pittsburgh’s culture that offers opportunities for inspiration and knowledge that everyone can benefit from,” said Carmen Anderson, interim vice president of Learning at The Heinz Endowments. “We are happy to support this chance for all to experience the joy of discovery and community that reading can bring.”

Community relationships are at the heart of the Festival, with partnerships spanning local independently owned bookstores including Riverstone Books, Penguin Bookshop, Stories Like Me and Mystery Lovers Bookshop; libraries including Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Library System; Littsburgh; organizations such as Reading is Fundamental, Heinz History Center, Autumn House Press, University of Pittsburgh Press, Black Lawrence Press and many more. The support for and interest in being a part of the Festival has been extraordinary going into the second year.   

“We are honored to continue our support of the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books and what it stands for—a celebration of books, reading and, ultimately, knowledge for all.” said Dr. Kornelia Tancheva, Hillman University Librarian and Director of the University of Pittsburgh Library System.

For the kids: Making reading three-dimensional
Worth noting are the Festival’s planned activities for children and youth, with intentional programming centered around making reading three-dimensional – by exploring themes of books in a tangible way.

Families can check out readings, workshops and Q+A sessions with renowned children’s book writers who will be paired with special guests including the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a larger-than-life learning experience.  

"What we look forward to most about the Festival is providing a space for people all across Western Pennsylvania to gather, learn and engage,” said Andrew Medlar, President and Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “We are proud to be a part of this new annual tradition and to give literacy the growing spotlight it deserves on Pittsburgh’s stage.”

To register for the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, visit Eventbrite.com. Those interested in volunteering at this year’s Festival can fill out the sign-up form found on the event’s website.

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ABOUT THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS:
The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is a nonprofit initiative committed to nurturing, celebrating and sharing Pittsburgh’s vibrant literary community with the greater region. With a strong emphasis on inclusion and eliminating barriers to literacy, the festival is free for all and includes programming across several genres and age groups. The inaugural festival held in 2022 gathered locally and nationally renowned authors, poets, publishers, bookstores and thousands of registrants and more in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. Learn more at pittsburghbookfestival.org and follow us on Instagram@pghbookfestand our Facebook page:Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books.

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Newsletter – Vol. 3

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  LET'S GET LIT LAUNCH PARTY: REGISTER TODAY! Join us for an evening of honoring Pittsburgh’s literary community as we kick-off the second annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books! Mix and mingle with Festival authors and poets, enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and listen to live entertainment all while celebrating our region’s love for reading. When: May 12 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary 616 N Highland Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Purchase your tickets here! FESTIVAL PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Register today for Festival programming at the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books! Registration is free and allows you to have a secured seat at your favorite authors' programming. Register Here AUTHOR NEWS Laura Warrell, featured author of this year's Festival, has been announced as a PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction finalist. The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction honors the best published works of fiction by American permanent residents in a calendar year. Three writers are chosen annually by the Board of Directors of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation to serve as judges, ensuring that its awards selection process is free of commercial influence.    SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER'S ROW Are you a self-published author looking to bring awareness to your work? Attend this year’s festival as part of our Self-Published Writer’s Row. You’ll be provided a space to sell your books and connect with Festival attendees while joined by fellow self-published authors. Act fast! Spots are limited. Submit your application here! CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS. WE NEED YOU! With the help of our volunteers, the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books will once again successfully bring together Pittsburgh’s literary community this May. Volunteering is a fun way to show your support and give back to the community! Visit pittsburghbookfestival.org/volunteer to sign up as a volunteer today! An email will be sent in the coming weeks to those who signed up to choose your time slot. A SNEAK PEEK AT THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITORS Duolingo We’re thrilled to have Duolingo as both a sponsor and a part of our programming this year. At this year’s Festival, Duolingo will be exhibiting Duolingo ABC, a free, step-by-step reading program designed for kids to learn essential reading skills such as knowledge of the alphabet, understanding the meaning behind words and sentences and more. You can find Duolingo ABC in your device’s app store or test it out at the Festival in May! Parable of the Sower From March 30 to April 2, the Pittsburgh Playhouse will proudly present Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower. Based on the classic sci-fi novel by Afro-futurist author Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower is a genre-defying, triumphant, mesmerizing work of rare power and beauty that illuminates deep insights on gender, race, and the future of human civilization. This fully staged “congregational” opera brings together over 30 original anthems drawn from 200 years of Black music to recreate Butler’s sci-fi, Afrofuturist masterpiece live on stage. At the Festival, you can hear from the Pittsburgh Playhouse panel as it focuses on local black women and their relationships to Octavia E. Butler's Afrofuturism and feminism. The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore comes to us as a mobile book retail store founded in 2022 for young children and their families. The store proudly features books that have protagonists of African descent from across the globe and/or are written by talented and culturally diverse writers. Connect your children with books that meet them at their dreams and literacy needs at The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore! Heinz History Center on Kennywood and the Heinz Family Join Brian Butko and Emily Ruby from the Heinz History Center as they discuss the history of Kennywood and the Heinz Family Celebrating Pittsburgh Neighborhoods Don't miss out on Stewart O'Nan and Kathleen George's program as they talk about places they love around the Steel City while using their novels!  Pittsburgh Zoo At the Festival, Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan will hold a reading of her book Animal Allies alongside a zookeeper from the Pittsburgh Zoo (and a few live animals!) to illustrate the theme of promoting STEM careers among young girls. COMICSBURGH We’re thrilled to welcome back COMICSBURGH to this year’s Festival! COMICSBURGH is a collective group of independent comic book creators from the Pittsburgh area who present their publications together both in the immediate region and on the road at various conventions. The original collaborators are Marvin Wynn (The Edge), Heroineburgh Comics and Videos, and Grant Lankard (Beowulf, Memoirs of the Morbid), and they have more recently been joined by D.P. Brown (Theme of Thieves) and S.K. Malveaux (MusicMaker). Their creations range from original interpretations of the superhero genre to fantasy and science-fiction, all conceived and published right here in the Steel City. Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Aligned with this year's theme of reading being three-dimensional, we're excited to have the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater present a story time of Sleeping Beauty! At the Festival, children will be able to experience the story of Sleeping Beauty through visual projections of dance while learning vocabulary and dance moves. CHECK OUT OUR 2023 SPONSORS! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is only made possible with the help of our supporters. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for your generous contributions! Lamar Pittsburgh Regional Transit Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2023 Festival. We remain committed to enhancing education and literacy in our communities and invite you to participate in our mission as a sponsor. Learn more about our Sponsorship Oppounities here! SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS: MAY 13 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Newsletter – Vol. 2

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  ROSS GAY The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is pleased to announce poet and essayist Ross Gay at the 2023 Festival! Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, winner of the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. His first collection of essays, The Book of Delights, was released in 2019 and was a New York Times bestseller. His new collection of essays, Inciting Joy, was released in October of 2022. In Inciting Joy, Gay considers the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life's inevitable hardships.  OUR 2023 AUTHORS Check out some of the authors you'll hear from at this year's Festival! Stay tuned for more authors to be announce in the coming weeks.  Emily Tamkin Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities Writer and former US Editor of the New Statesman Emily Tamkin will be featured at this year's festival with her book Bad Jews. In Bad Jews, Tamkin examines the last 100 years of American Jewish politics, culture, identities and arguments. Drawing on over 250 interviews, she tracts the evolution of Jewishness throughout American history.   Laura Warrell Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm In her debut novel, Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm, Laura Warrell writes about the perennial temptations of dangerous love, following a jazz musician and an ensemble cast of women--some charmed by him, others scorned--who discover the power of their own voices.   Rinker Buck Life on the Mississippi: An Epic American Adventure In Life on the Mississippi, New York Times Bestselling author Rinker Buck tells a story with an enchanting blend of history and adventure in which Buck builds a wooden flatboat from the grand “flatboat era” of the 1800s and sails it from Pittsburgh down to the Mississippi River, illuminating the forgotten past of America’s first western frontier.   Leon Ford An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son In 2012, Pittsburgh native and activist Leon Ford was shot by a Pittsburgh police officer five times as he was racially profiled during a case of mistaken identity. In An Unspeakable Hope, Ford reveals how he faced becoming paralyzed as a new father after the incident and discovered the power of forgiveness and letting go of his hatred.    Joseph Sassoon The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire In The Sassoons, Joseph Sassoon tells the riveting untold story of the gilded Jewish Bagdadi Sassoons, who built a vast empire through global finance and trade--cotton, opium, shipping, banking--that reached across three continents and ultimately changed the destinies of nations.    MEET OUR 2023 POETS Check out some of our featured poets for this year’s festival. You may recognize some familiar faces! Patricia Jabbeh Wesley National award-winner Patricia Jabbeh Wesley is the author of five previous collections of poetry, including When the Wanderers Come Home, Where the Road Turns, The River Is Rising, Becoming Ebony, and Before the Palm Could Bloom: Poems of Africa. Her new collection is Praise Song for My Children. She teaches creative writing and African literature at Penn State Altoona.   Lynn Emanuel Lynn Emanuel is the author of five previous books of poetry, most recently, The Nerve Of It: Poems New and Selected which was awarded the Lenore Marshall Award by the Academy of American Poets. Her poetry has been published and reviewed in, Poetry, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Review of Books, LA Review of Books, BOMB Magazine, Best American Poetry, and Publisher’s Weekly.  She has been a judge for the National Book Awards and has taught at the Bread Loaf Conference, the Warren Wilson Program and many other venues. Her new book, Transcript of the Disappearance—Exact and Diminishing, will appear in fall of 2023.   Michael Simms Michael Simms, who identifies as a person with autism, is the editor of Vox Populi, an online forum for poetry, politics and nature, as well as the founder of book publisher Autumn House Press. He’s the author of four full-length collections of poetry including American Ash and Nightjar, and two novels: Bicycles of the Gods and The Green Mage.   Deborah Bogen Deborah Bogen’s volumes of poetry include her new book, Speak Now This Charm, In Case of Sudden Free Fall, Landscape with Silos, Let Me Open You a Swan and Living by the Children’s Cemetery. She lives in Pittsburgh where she tries to balance the poet’s life with grassroots political responsibility, playing music with family and friends, and growing a few things in the garden.   Charlie Brice Charlie Brice began writing poetry about 20 years ago and has since released six full-length poetry collections, including his most recent collection, Pinnacles of Hope, published by Impspired Books. His seventh collection will be coming out around the time of this year’s festival. Brice feels lucky to be a part of the thriving and supportive community of poets in Pittsburgh.   Judith Brice Judith Alexander Brice has had over 80 poems published in journals and anthologies, including The Golden Streetcar, Voxpopulisphere.com, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and more. Brice has received multiple awards in The Allen Ginsberg Poetry Prize and has authored four poetry books: Renditions in a Palette, Overhead From Longing, Imbibe the Air, as well as the chapbook, Shards of Shadows: A Covid Diary.   Jan Beatty Jan Beatty’s seventh book, American Bastard, won the Red Hen Nonfiction Award, 2021. Her last book, The Body Wars, received praise by Naomi Shihab Nye in the New York Times. For fifteen years, Beatty directed creative writing at Carlow University where she ran the Madwomen in the Attic and the MFA programs. Her new chapbook, Skydog, was just released.   Ellen McGrath Smith Ellen McGrath Smith teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and in the Carlow University Madwomen in the Attic program. Her poetry has appeared in The Georgia Review, The New York Times, The American Poetry Review, Talking Writing, Los Angeles Review, and other journals; and in anthologies, including Beauty Is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability and Choice Words: Writers on Abortion. Her books include Scatter, Feed and Nobody's Jackknife; her chapbook Lie Low, Goaded Lamb was published in January 2023 as part of its Keystone Series.   Lori Jakiela Lori Jakiela is the author of seven books, including most recently the poetry collection How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen? Poems at Midlife, which received the Wicked Woman Prize from Brickhouse Books. Her latest book, a hybrid memoir entitled They Write Your Name on a Grain of Rice: On Cancer, Love, and Living Even So, is forthcoming this Spring. Jakiela is the recipient of multiple Golden Quill awards. She currently directs the undergraduate Creative & Professional Writing program at The University of Pittsburgh's Greensburg campus, where she is a professor of English and Creative Writing. She also teaches in the doctoral program in Ministry/Creative Writing at The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.   Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter to see the other poets we have lined up for this year’s festival!   A SNEAK PEEK AT THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITORS Heinz History Center We’re thrilled to have the Heinz History Center as part of our programming. At this year’s festival, you’ll hear from Director of Publications Brian Butko on the history of Kennywood as well as Curator Emily Ruby as she discusses the history of the Heinz Family. The Heinz History Center is also an exhibitor at this year’s Festival, featuring products and books for sale and interactive activities. University of Pittsburgh Library System Serving students, researchers and more in our area and beyond, we look forward to having the University of Pittsburgh Library System as a sponsor and exhibitor for this year’s Festival. Hosting first-class collections of over seven million print and electronic books, journals, databases, archival materials and special collections, the University of Pittsburgh Library System is committed to preserving the past and present work of our communities as a node in a vast network of global knowledge. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: OUR 2023 VENUE Have you heard the news? The 2023 Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books will be held on the campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary this May! Keeping the Festival in its home of East Liberty, this new venue allows for a single campus environment with increased indoor and outdoor space that will make for an improved experience for all in attendance. Stay tuned for more information on our expanded plans for more programming, authors, poets, exhibitors and literary fun for all!   HOT OFF THE PRESS! OUR 2023 PUBLISHERS. Without publishers, authors’ ideas could never come to life! Thank you to our 2023 Publishers who continue to make our literary dreams come true. Parsec Ink. CHECK OUT OUR 2023 SPONSORS! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is only made possible with the help of our supporters. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors for your generous contributions! Lamar Pittsburgh Regional Transit Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2023 Festival. We remain committed to enhancing education and literacy in our communities and invite you to participate in our mission as a sponsor. Learn more about our Sponsorship Oppounities here! REGISTRATION DETAILS COMING SOON Keep an eye out for official details on when registration will open for the 2023 Festival! Registration is free and allows you to have a secured seat at your favorite authors’ programming. SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS: MAY 13 Campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books – January Newsletter

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  INTRODUCING OUR 2023 VENUE: PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Exciting news! We are thrilled to share that the 2023 Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books will be held on the campus of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary this May. With this new, larger venue, we’re able to offer more programming, vendors and entertainment, convenient on-site parking and easy access to public transportation all on one central campus. Plus, this new venue keeps the GPFB rooted right where it all started— in East Liberty. We can’t wait to share more with you as we continue planning for the second annual festival. It will be here before we know it! SPONSOR, DONATE AND SUPPORT LITERACY Last year, the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books set a precedent of how valuable an event like this can be for any community. Not only did the festival gather people from across our region together but it highlighted our  cultural strength, making the greater Pittsburgh area even more appealing as a home and place to work. The GPFB is open to working with the region’s literary, charitable and business communities through partnership or collaboration to make sure this exciting, FREE, book festival has longevity here in the greater Pittsburgh area. We remain committed to enhancing education and literacy in our communities, and invite you to participate in our mission as a sponsor or donor.  Sponsor  Donate  Thank you in advance for supporting our region’s literary community! POET SPOTLIGHT: DANIELLE OBISIE-ORLU As we ramp up for our 2023 festival, we’re excited to welcome Danielle Obisie-Orlu as a returning poet to the 2023 festival! Danielle is a Nigerian-American student, actress and poet who grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the former Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County and the National Youth Poet Laureate Network’s Northeast Regional Runner-Up 2022. Danielle is currently a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, double majoring in International & Area Studies and Political Science, where she conducts research on the comparative expressions of xenophobia. She is devoted to using her voice to foster environments of intersectional community and build bridges of belonging. This year's Poetry Tent will be even bigger and better, packed with the finest poets from around our region. There's more to come on our official poetry lineup! A FIRST PEEK AT THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMMING Check out some of the programming and vendors you can expect to see at this year’s festival! Children's Activities As an inclusive festival for all ages, we're hard at work curating this year's children's programming. With the help of our friends at Stories Like Me, Duolingo and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, we're excited to offer exciting educational activities that allow children of all ages to discover the magic of literature. Stay tuned! Program in Visual Impairments at the University of Pittsburgh The Program in Visual Impairments at the University of Pittsburgh is back again as a featured program of this years’ festival! At the festival, you can find them exhibiting braille books and demonstrating to children how to use a braille writer. Stories Like Me We welcome children’s bookstore, Stories Like Me, to the GPFB family this year! Recently opened in Greenfield, Stories Like Me seeks to be the most comprehensive and accessible resource for diverse and empowering children’s literature. Parsec Ink New to the GPFB this year, Parsec Ink joins us as a small press publishing house local to Pittsburgh. Parsec Ink is part of the Parsec non-profit organization, which is known as Pittsburgh’s premiere science fiction and fantasy organization. We're looking forward to sharing all that we have planned for this year's festival. Stay tuned for more information! GET INVOLVED. VOLUNTEER AT THE FESTIVAL! Volunteering for the 2023 Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is a great way to get involved in our literary community. We are currently seeking volunteers for our second annual festival taking place May 12-13, 2023. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form below and we will be in contact with more details. Feel free to spread the message to friends and family who may also want to get involved! Volunteer GPFB AND THE COMMUNITY What Are You Reading?   This month, Sean Beauford, Manager of Community Relations, Carnegie Museum of Art, kindly shared what his current read is. Inciting Joy by Ross Gay “I just finished it but it's the kind of book you repeat right away, like a new album that makes you feel good. Gay's lyrical essays meditate on finding delight in that which most people take for granted, almost making the case that mundanity is a myth. Additionally, he challenges our perception of joy, what it is, and what it can be, and shows us how it works collaboratively with darker emotions like sorrow, loss, or fear. It's a beautiful read.” We’re also thrilled to welcome Sean onto the GPFB team as a community outreach partner! If you’re interested in ways you or your organization can get involved with the festival’s programming, contact Sean at seanbeauford@gmail.com. Let us know what you're reading by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook. You might just be featured in our next newsletter!  SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS: MAY 12-13 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

After rousing success, Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books returns in May

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is Back in East Liberty This May With a New Location, New Author Lineup and More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2023

 Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is Back in East Liberty This May With a New Location, New Author Lineup and More

PITTSBURGH (January 24, 2023) — The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books will be back for its Second Annual event May 12-13, 2023. With plans for more authors and expanded programming, the festival will be taking place at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in the heart of East Liberty, offering a larger space to celebrate our region’s literary offerings.

 The free festival welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the city’s literary treasures. You can expect all of this:

• Local bookstores

• Nationally and locally renowned authors and poets

• Local publishers

• Children’s activities

• Live entertainment

• Food

• And more!

“The success of last year’s festival was more than we could have ever anticipated, and we only plan on going up from here,” said Marshall Cohen, Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Founder and Chairman. “The new festival location this year will allow for better accessibility to the event and the ample space to host even more programming, vendors and entertainment, making it an improved experience for all in attendance.”

 Hosting this year’s event at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary not only allows for a single campus environment with increased indoor and outdoor space, but keeps the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books rooted where it all started— in East Liberty.

 “It’s an honor to partner with an organization that shares similar priorities of education and community,” said the Rev. Dr. Asa Lee, President. We’re excited to bring the region’s literary community together in one place here on our campus.”

 With an outpouring of support from local organizations such as Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Duolingo, The Heinz Endowments, the PA Department of Education and more, the impact that the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is leaving on our community will surely be a great one.

“Pittsburgh consistently ranks in national studies as one of our country’s most literate cities,” said Andrew Medlar, President and Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books celebrates all of the benchmarks for an informed and literate community - access to books, publications, authors, robust cultural venues, and strong libraries. The success of last year’s event is a testament to our community’s engagement in literacy and learning and we’re delighted to help grow this important festival as it expands into its second year.”

To learn about 2023 sponsorship opportunities and view the sponsorship agreement, please visit pittsburghbookfestival.org/sponsorships. Individuals who wish to get involved in this year’s event can sign up to be a volunteer by visiting the official volunteer sign-up form.

ABOUT THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS:
The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is a nonprofit initiative committed to nurturing, celebrating and sharing Pittsburgh’s vibrant literary community with the greater region. With a strong emphasis on inclusion and eliminating barriers to literacy, the festival is free for all and includes programming across several genres and age groups. The inaugural festival held in 2022 gathered locally and nationally renowned authors, poets, publishers, bookstores and thousands of registrants and more in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. Learn more at pittsburghbookfestival.org and follow us on Instagram @pghbookfest and our Facebook page: Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books.

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Heinz Endowment Announcement

AN EXCITING UPDATE FROM THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS Dear reader, In partnership with our fiscal sponsor, New Sun Rising, we are pleased to announce that The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books has received a $50,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments to support the 2023 festival! This grant helps us get one step closer to securing the necessary funding for the second Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, scheduled for May 13, 2023 in East Liberty. After a successful inaugural year, plans to make the 2023 festival bigger and better are underway.  The GPFB is a free community event that enables us to expose individuals of all ages to the region’s robust literary community. The first festival demonstrated and enhanced Pittsburgh’s historic support for literacy and equality, while proving that there is a desire in the community to continue exploring and expanding the city’s literary offerings. For the GPFB to be recognized by The Heinz Endowments, one of Pittsburgh’s cherished cultural organizations, is a wonderful validation of what we started out to do 3 years ago, and I invite others to join The Endowments’ generosity to ensure next year’s festival exceeds what last year’s accomplished. While grants like this one from The Heinz Endowments are what allow us to continue celebrating the Greater Pittsburgh area and Western Pennsylvania’s rich literary community, there are other ways you can support us, too. Whether you’re looking to attend the 2023 festival, interested in volunteering, or seeking a sponsorship or partnership opportunity, there is a way for everyone to be involved in building our community’s literary legacy. Donate   Sponsor  Volunteer  Partnerships  Author Inquiries ABOUT THE HEINZ ENDOWMENT The Heinz Endowments seeks to help our region thrive as a whole and just community and, through that work, to model solutions to major national and global challenges. The Heinz Endowments is devoted to advancing our vision of southwestern Pennsylvania as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Their work is supported by reliable data based on equitable, results-focused goals to cultivate a world where all are treated with fairness and respect and have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Thank you to The Heinz Endowments for this generous contribution! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is honored to receive this support, and we know all will benefit as we continue to plan the second annual festival. As always, keep reading, Marshall Cohen Founder and Chairman SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS 2023: MAY 12-13 East Liberty

December Newsletter

Help us continue to grow our literary community! Donate  IT'S THE SEASON OF GIVING! Literacy and creativity are the gifts that keep on giving— and you can gift them to the Pittsburgh region by supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books! As planning for the 2023 GPFB is underway, we’re working to make our second annual festival even bigger and better than the first. To do this, we need your help! Donations and sponsorships help us fund expanded programming, allow us to welcome more authors and enhance the overall festival experience. Learn more about donating and sponsorship opportunities today! Donate   Sponsor  The show can only go on with the help of our wonderful volunteers! We are actively seeking volunteers for our 2023 festival. Join the GPFB network today! Volunteer  We sincerely thank you for your support! The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books could not take place without our partners, sponsors, and all of you. Wishing you a very happy holiday season and healthy New Year, Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Team EXCITING UPDATES We are pleased to share that the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books has been awarded a $50,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments. These funds will help us continue celebrating Pittsburgh’s literary legacy, and we are so very grateful to the Heinz Endowments, one of our city’s cherished cultural organizations. NEW VENUE for 2023 We're thrilled to announce that the GPFB has found a new home for the 2023 festival. We'll still be in East Liberty, but we are excited to bring you and our programming to one location with plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to celebrate our region's literary offerings. Any guesses where it might be!? Stay tuned for details in the new year! Thank You Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh! We're thrilled to once again partner with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and deeply appreciate their generosity as a sponsor of the GPFB. Stay tuned for more details- we have some big plans in store! Learn more about sponsorship opportunities today!  Sponsor  GPFB AND THE COMMUNITY Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Founder, Marshall Cohen, was recognized by the Allegheny County Council for his illustrious career and passion for reading.  What Are You Reading? We want to know what books are keeping our community turning the pages! Though the holidays are busy, they also offer a chance for some down time. Reading a good book is the perfect way to fill this time!   To start the fun, we asked Andrew Medlar, President and Director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to share what book he's had his nose in recenty: A Visible Man by Edward Enninful (Penguin 2022) “Such a phenomenal life story! Enninful’s account of his experiences growing up to Ghana, finding his path as a refugee, and climbing the heights of power and influence in the international media industry is captivating, bold, entertaining, distinct, inspiring, and beautiful.” – Andrew Medlar Submit your current read here for a chance to be featured in the next newsletter where we'll share recommendations with the GPFB community! NEED A LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA? Many of our city’s wonderful bookstores have you covered! What did we say about the gift of a good book before? It keeps on giving! Check out these local treasures to grab a new read for a friend or loved one. Mystery Lovers Bookshop 514 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, PA Penguin Bookshop 417 Beaver St., Sewickley, PA Riverstone Books 5841 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 8850 Covenant Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 CALLING ALL BOOK CLUBS Is your book club interested in partnering with the GPFB? We'd love to start a conversation about some fun ways we can do so. Contact Us! REFLECT ON THE FUN As 2022 comes to a close and we reflect on everything we accomplished together this year, we invite you to do the same. PRESS PLAY to relive the magic of the Inaugural Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books! SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO SAVE THE DATE GREATER PITTSBURGH FESTIVAL OF BOOKS 2023: MAY 12-13 East Liberty Donate  Sponsor Volunteer  Partner

Book Lovers Unite: Previewing The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

From Pittsburgh Magazine

Interview with Kayla Sargeson of Madwomen in the Attic

Poet Kayla Sargenson, and others of Madwomen in the Attic, are some of the many poets who will be at the Festival’s Poetry Allowed Tent at Bakery Square on May 14th. Check out the conversation between Kayla and Veronica Corpuz.