April 13, 2013
The current changing media scene leaves many questioning the relevance of books and even the written word in the 21st century. One annual, national event proves again that that question is essentially, on its face, irrelevant.
This year, the Rainbow Book Fair will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 and take place from 12:00Noon-6:00PM at the Holiday Inn New York City-Midtown-57th Street, located at 440 West 57th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. There is a $3 suggested donation.
National in its reach and scope, over 100 exhibitors, authors, poets and publishers will share one floor in one enormous exhibition ballroom. Appearances, panels, and readings will be held a short flight up from the exhibition hall in a suite of meeting rooms. All areas are wheel chair accessible. Some events will have ASL interpretation.
Although over 1000 attendees will come to see and sample thousands of printed works, including, book, plays, poetry, periodicals, comic books, graphic novels, and photography books, the hallmarks of the Rainbow Book Fair are the panels, appearances and readings featured every year, throughout the day of the event.
The Rainbow Book Fair has never shied away from news-makers and controversy and this year is no different. Lesléa Newman, the author of Heather Has Two Mommies is used to being at the center of a firestorm and is appearing at the book fair to meet readers of all ages, sign books and answer questions about her latest adult title, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Sarah Schulman, an activist in all media: film (UNITED IN ANGER: A History of ACT UP), theater at PS 122 and La Mama and prose (The Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination) brings her wit and candor to discuss her newest work, Israel/Palestine and the Queer International. Any triumphs that LGBT people experiences today is built on the blood, sweat and tears of those that walked the walk before them. Reminding us of this is novelist Julian Earl Farris, author of The Sin Warriors, a story of what Florida academics do when they must face anti-gay witch hunts in the 1950's. Also joining this group of literary luminaries is David Leddick, author, cultural observer, photography expert, (The Male Nude) and playwright (Rent Boy, the Musical) to sign his new book, The Beauty of Men Never Dies and meet the people who love books, culture and the male form.
The Rainbow Book Fair prides itself on its deep commitment to diversity and the real examination of current topics and themes. This year's panels entitled, "From Poetry to Prose & Back", "Queer Sleuths", "New Trans Fiction: New Work from America's Transgender Underground", "Queer Asian-American Writers" place RBF5 on the front line of any discussion about the present and future of the LGBT zeitgeist.
Many attendees come to the Rainbow Book Fair for only one reason: The Poetry Salon. This year the Salon will be curated by Nathaniel Siegel and Regie Cabico and over 75 poets will be reading nonstop.
With a full day of literary offerings of this range of scope, it is clear that this years Fair will be another event for the history books.
The Rainbow Book Fair is presented under the aegis of The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies and headed by a steering committee and sponsored by publishers, writers and local businesses.
For complete panel and exhibitor information, please go to the website: www.RainbowBookFair.com
