The Bronx Book Festival will return on Saturday, June 8, with a full lineup of events and author-hosted workshops.
The day will start with the Bronx’s own Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court justice and author of My Beloved World (2013). Sotomayor will be in conversation with award-winning actress and author Sonia Manzano, most noted for her work on Sesame Street, at 10 a.m. on the Walsh Family Library lawn.
The all-day literary event is co-sponsored by Fordham and organized by The Bronx Is Reading, which was founded by book publicist and South Bronx native Saraciea Fennell.
“The Bronx Book Festival is more than just a festival, it’s a community event and all are invited. Even if you don’t read, come to Fordham Plaza and Fordham University to enjoy the entertainment!” said Fennell.
Last year, when the festival was in its first year, Fordham stepped in as a last-minute co-sponsor, thanks to alumnus Miles Doyle, FCRH ’01, a senior editor at HarperOne, and Rafael Zapata, special adviser to the president for diversity, chief diversity officer, and associate vice president for Academic Affairs.
This year, the event will be held on both Fordham Plaza and Fordham’s Rose Hill campus. Leading up to the Bronx Book Festival on June 7, The Bronx is Reading will also host author visits at Title I schools across the Bronx to foster a love of reading in children and teens.
“Hosting Bronx children, youth, and their families for a community event promoting literacy, engagement, and stories that are deeply resonant of the everyday experiences of Bronxites—especially those of immigrants and communities of color—is absolutely consistent with our mission as the Jesuit University of New York City,” said Zapata, “as is supporting the talented artists whose creativity and hard work beautifully and authentically convey those experiences in all their complexity.”
The festival boasts many notable writers, including Lilliam Rivera, author of Dealing with Dreams and The Education of Margot Sanchez, who will be a keynote speaker; Darnell Moore, Sulma Arzu-Brown, and many others. There will also be panels going on throughout the day, such as Reclaiming Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Imagining New Worlds and Seeds & Roots: Community (re)Building in Fiction.
This is a free event that requires all attendees to register in advance. Register here.
