Jersey City Public Library Announces Lineup for 3rd Annual Book Festival
By Jon Whiten • Aug 23rd, 2010 • Category: Arts, Blog
The Jersey City Free Public Library has set a date and unveiled the 18 authors lined up for its third annual book festival, “A Tale of Our City.” Among the writers who will descend on Van Vorst Park this September 18 are Seton Hall Law School professor John B. Wefing, local historians Bob Leach and Cynthia Harris, the Nigerian-born and British-based Adeyinka Makinde and the Hudson Reporter‘s Al Sullivan.
Wefing is the author of the recently released The Life and Times of Richard J. Hughes: The Politics of Civility, which explores the influential public service of the two-term governor, who was the only person in New Jersey’s history to serve as both governor and chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Leach and Harris need little introduction to local history buffs, with Leach serving as director of the Jersey City Historical Project and Harris managing the invaluable New Jersey Room at the library’s main branch. They will both be on hand to discuss and sign recent books (Young Frank Hague and the Lucky Horseshoe by Leach, and Changing Jersey City: A History in Photographs, which Harris co-authored with Leon Yost). Sullivan is another fixture on the local scene as a longtime staff writer at the Reporter chain of newspapers; he’ll be presenting his 2001 book, Everyday People: Profiles from the Garden State.
One of the most interesting authors on the schedule is Makinde, a boxing expert who has penned the recent book Jersey Boy: The Life and Mob Slaying of Frankie DePaula, which examines the life and times of the Jersey City cult boxing hero, as well as the involvement of organized crime in both DePaula’s life and Jersey boxing as a whole.
Other authors slated to appear: Jemmie Adams, Shobhan Bantwal, Morning Dew, Hisani DuBose, Cynthia Fabian, Kenny Hall, Jacqueline Hallenbeck, Gioya McRae, Jane Pedler, Derek & Gina Roche, Sonia Roman, Keith Smith, Patricia Squires and Michael Walters.
“A Tale of Our City is getting well-known throughout the state, and our author roster reflects this,” says assistant library director Sonia Araujo, who chairs the book festival committee. “We’ve opened up from just considering Jersey City-based authors to authors throughout New Jersey because there’s so much talent out there — though Jersey City is certainly well represented.”
The festival will feature author readings in Van Vorst Park’s gazebo, as well as plenty of chances for the public to talk with the authors, purchase books and have them signed. There will also be face painting and storytelling for children, as well as live music and entertainment for all.
THE DETAILS
A Tale of Our City; Saturday, September 18 from 10 am to 4 pm; Van Vorst Park.
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Jon Whiten is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
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