Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Media Contacts:
Lucy Friedman-Bell, PULSE Fellow
friedman@trustarts.org | (412) 894-4202
Rebecca Hansborough, Digital Engagement and Communications Manager
hansborough@trustarts.org | (412) 456-7021
Bookish in the ‘Burgh Author Headshots and Assets
Registration Open for Free Teen Day at Bookish in the 'Burgh
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's teen book festival, sponsored by Riverstone Books,
celebrates its second year with expanded Teen Day programming
March 27 - 28, 2020 | Pittsburgh’s Cultural District | TrustArts.org/Bookish
In September 2019, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced the return of Pittsburgh’s first free two-day Festival dedicated to teen literature: Bookish in the ‘Burgh, presented by Riverstone Books. Registration for the Teen Day on March 28 is completely free and is now open! Attendees can expect all of the fun activities from last year’s Teen Day, including author panels on diverse themes, book signings, author meet-and-greets, and writing workshops, at double capacity. Teens can register for this exciting day and see the full schedule by visiting TrustArts.org/Bookish.
During the Festival’s Teen Day, attendees will enjoy panel sessions themed around diverse topics common in teen literature and of interest to teen readers and writers. As part of the Festival’s mission to offer diverse and inclusive programming and conversations, highly anticipated sessions such as “We Need Diverse Books: Race and Representation in YA” and “It’s all Rainbows Here: LGBTQIA+ Representation in YA” work to amplify and champion the voices of marginalized people. Attendees will also have the option to follow recommended “tracks” if they choose, so teen writers can enjoy sessions including “Twists & Turns Plotting Strategies” and “Paths to Publication” while teen readers can attend sessions such as “Power & Agency: The Intersection of Fantasy and Feminism” and “It’s All in the Family: Family Dynamics.” Another new highlight for 2020 is the inclusion of a panel specifically for pre-teens called “Meet Me in the Middle: Authors Who Write for Pre-Teens.”
Teens are also able to participate in free workshops, including writing workshops in many genres as well as an Anti-Racist Workshop for Teens and Tweens with Tiffany Jewell, author of This Book is Anti-Racist. There will also be opportunities to join book clubs discussing topics from teens’ favorite novels, purchase books from the Festival’s presenting sponsor Riverstone Books, and participate in other free hands-on activities for teens led by community organizations throughout the day. In addition to post panel book signing opportunities throughout the day, the Teen Day ends with the Author Signing Party, where attendees will have a chance to meet the 35 featured authors and get their books signed. Some of the 2020 Bookish in the ‘Burgh featured authors include New York Times bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi (The Star-Touched Queen, The Gilded Wolves), Brittany Cavallaro (A Study in Charlotte, A Question of Holmes), Adrienne Young (Sky in the Deep, The Girl the Sea Gave Back), S. Jae-Jones (Wintersong series), Rachael Lippincott (Five Feet Apart), and Siobhan Vivian (Stay Sweet, The List); award-winning and acclaimed authors Emery Lord (The Names They Gave Us, When We Collided) and Mark Oshiro (Anger is a Gift); a number of Pittsburgh authors including Kit Frick (See All the Stars, All Eyes on Us); and many more. See the full list of author bios at TrustArts.org/Bookish.
Bookish in the ‘Burgh is the brainchild of Kelsey Ford, Senior Programming Manager at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Festival’s creator and director. Local “Teen Ambassadors” help her plan different aspects of the Teen Day. Teen Ambassadors can be seen co-moderating panels with adult moderators in an effort to ensure teen voices and opinions are highlighted throughout the entire Festival.
“It’s such a joy to plan Bookish in the ‘Burgh, Pittsburgh’s Teen Book Festival, alongside my team of Teen Ambassadors,'' says Kelsey. “Because we’re designing this festival not only for teens but with teens and keeping the festival free, I feel like the event is one that welcomes and celebrates all sorts of teenagers – teens who can’t stop reading, teens who aren’t really into reading but might like to try something new, teens who write, teens who are creative, teens who are into comic books or fantasy worlds, and teens who want their voices and stories amplified, not ignored. Between our first and second years of the festival, we went from seven featured authors to thirty-five featured authors, and my hope is that all of the teenagers in our community will be able to see themselves and their stories on the pages of one of the books written by our visiting authors as the festival grows and expands its reach and diverse representation.”
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The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. TrustArts.org | @CulturalTrust on Facebook · Instagram · Twitter
Opened in the fall of 2017 and located in McCandless Crossing, Riverstone Bookstore features a well-curated selection of literary and popular fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. In addition, we offer a variety of gift items, greeting cards, and children’s puzzles, educational games, and literary stuffed animals. Our experienced booksellers are voracious readers who love to match readers to books they will love. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and if we do not have the book you are looking for, we will be happy to order a copy for you.