Catching Up: Read all about it!

It is officially the end of my "fallow time" of rest and reflection, and I'm excited to jump back into the Brooklyn bookstore quest. Despite the break, lots has happened this month -- most importantly, the announcement of the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative's fabulous party on September 16!

The awesome Fort Greene volunteers and I have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, and the work goes on: inviting authors, finding donations of food, drink, supplies, etc., and getting the word out. And I've gotten to do a number of cool interviews in the last couple of days with local papers who are understandably interested in this unique project. So I'll let those reporters (and bloggers) tell the story. Here's some of the press we've been getting, with my favorite quote from each piece. (I updated this list on Monday 9/8...)

Bookselling This Week: "Neighborhood Organizes to Help Make Bookstore a Reality"
"The Fort Greene Association is working with Stockton Bagnulo to help make her bookstore a reality. The group has created a flier announcing the Fort Greene Bookstore Initiative as well as a Bookstore Kickoff Party scheduled for September 16."

The Brooklyn Eagle: "Fort Greene Drafts ‘Book Nerd’ To Open Indie Store"
"Jessica Stockton Bagnulo is a woman who knows what she wants.... Now, residents of Fort Greene have essentially drafted her to open a bookstore for them and are throwing their full weight behind her dream."

The Brooklyn Paper: "Granted, she vows to open a bookstore"
"The winner of $15,000 grant to open a bookstore in Fort Greene says she is confident she can break the spine on her shop next year — and is hoping a “Bookstore Kickoff Party” can help her find more investors and get some juicy real estate tips."

ClintonHillBlog: "Fort Greene: Moving Towards a Bookstore"
"I heard about the potential plans to open a bookstore in the ‘hood months ago. Now, a local advocacy group is working with BK Library Power Up winner Jennifer Stockton Bagnulo to make this happen here!"

Gowanus Lounge: "Fort Greene Working to Get an Indie Bookstore"
"It seems like a statement of incredible optimism these days that a neighborhood would be working to get an indie bookstore... yet that’s exactly what Fort Greene is doing."

The New York Observer: "Hello, Brooklyn Literary 100! Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative Announces Launch Party"
"Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo, the events coordinator at the Nolita bookstore McNally Jackson, has been public about her intention to open a new independent bookstore in Brooklyn since at least January, when she won a $15,000 grant for the project from the Brooklyn Public Library. Since then, she seems to have zeroed in on Fort Greene as her neighborhood of choice, and the Fort Greene Association, which administered a survey to 380 locals and found that 74% of them wanted a bookstore in the neighborhood, is trying to help her make it happen."

Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn: "Ft. Greene Wants An Indie Bookstore And They're Doing Something About It"
"It's a movement. Not only do Brooklynites organize to protect and support a beloved literary institution but they also organize to make a new one happen!"

Racked New York: "Fort Greene Needs a Bookstore"
"Fort Greene is so DIY and literary!"

The Real Fort Greene: "Is a bookstore finally on the way?"
"It looks like eager neighborhood residents have recruited a self-described “book nerd” to open up a store. Now all Jessica Stockton Bagnulo needs is a location and capital."

Shelf Awareness: "Notes: Surviving and Thriving in a Difficult Economy"
"The result: with the support of the Initiative, Bagnulo, who is events and publicity coordinator at McNally Jackson Books in New York City and a graphic novel columnist for Shelf Awareness, plans to open a store in Fort Greene."


And there's more to come, from the Daily News, the Observer, and others. If you haven't yet, RSVP by email to get the scoop on the party night, or email me here if you want to know more.

I'll be updating you on what I've been doing to prepare on Monday. Have a great weekend!