New York City Book Fests Collide
By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 11/13/2007 8:16:00 AM
Brooklyn Book Festival organizers are not happy: New York Is Book Country, on hiatus for the past three 
years, has been revived—and while it was initially planned to run in July 2008, it has changed its date and will now run the very same day as the Brooklyn fest next year: September 14. Akashic Books publisher Johnny Temple, one of the Brooklyn fair’s lead organizers, said, “I’m flabbergasted by their poor decision making. The spirit of the book publishing business is very collegial, and it’s rare to see such a flagrant violation of that spirit.” Even the AAP, which is not officially involved in either event, seems baffled by NYIBC’s decision. “There are 365 dates in the year to choose from, where the city can celebrate its literary richness and culture in many a borough and community. I would hope that there is a way to spread the bookish wealth in New York across multiple days throughout the year,” said AAP v-p Tina Jordan.
But NYIBC is not changing its date. Show head Tore Erickson, who is also sales director at Kirkus Reviews, which owns NYIBC, told PW, “We’re too far along in the process.” Erickson said the decision to hold NYIBC on the same day as the Brooklyn festival was not made “maliciously.” Still, he and his colleagues were well aware that the Brooklyn Book Festival was being held Sept. 14 when they chose that date. NYIBC’s first mailing to publishers went out about six weeks ago, advising participants that the festival would be held in July. As Akashic publisher, Temple received exhibitor materials with a July date. However, about three weeks ago, NYIBC announced it had rescheduled the event for Sept. 14. Erickson said he moved the date from July to September because he and his colleagues worried many New Yorkers would be out of town in July.
Erickson did not seem worried that the having the fairs on the same day would siphon potential attendees away from either event, since he said NYIBC appealed to a different demographic. Temple didn’t agree. “I would say our [event] appeals to a much broader demographic, but it totally encompasses theirs as well." The Brooklyn Book Festival has grown considerably in its first two years; the first year (2006) drew 10,000 people, 100 exhibitors and 80 authors, and the 2007 fair saw 20,000 people, 100 exhibitors and about 120 authors.
Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz, whose office sponsors the Brooklyn Book Festival, sent a letter to Nielsen, which owns Kirkus, asking them to change their date for the sake of nurturing the literary communities of New York City and not putting the public, publishers or writers in the position of having to choose between the two events. He has not received a response. Erickson said, “I’m sure we will [respond], but not me personally.”
One obstacle NYIBC could face is obtaining of permits. NYIBC plans to hold its event on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, between 47th and 52nd Streets. However, it is unclear whether or not NYIBC has obtained permits to do so. Erickson did not respond to multiple calls asking about the permits.
