Gold Coast Book Fair comes to Oyster Bay | Herald Community Newspapers

The inaugural Gold Coast Book Fair will take place June 28-30, bringing a celebration of literature to Long Island University, Brookville and downtown Oyster Bay. With more than 50 authors participating, the event promises to be a significant cultural and economic boost for the hamlet.

The idea for the fair was the brainchild of former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, owner of Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay, who spent much of the past year preparing along with Meredith Maus, executive director of the Main Street Association, and organizers from LIU. The fair’s goal is to showcase Long Island’s rich literary heritage while promoting local businesses.

“I learned that book fairs are not only great celebrations of literature, but also important tools for economic development because they attract people from all over the country,” said Israel. “When I opened Theodore’s Books, I always envisioned running my own book festival in parallel.”

The fair begins Friday with a keynote address by best-selling author and historian Erik Larson, known for his latest book, “The Demon of Unrest,” as well as “The Devil in the White City,” which follows murderer HH Holmes during the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Larson’s appearance, which requires a ticket, includes a signed copy of his new book.

Saturday’s program at LIU includes a marketplace with arts and crafts and refreshments, as well as a full day of panel discussions with notable authors from a variety of genres.

“Erik Larson is widely regarded as the best history writer in the country,” Israel noted. “He will kick us off on Friday night and his presence will set a high standard for the event.”

The fair’s extensive program includes both award-winning authors and emerging voices in subject areas ranging from historical fiction to science fiction, romance and children’s literature. On Saturday, Pulitzer Prize finalist Alice McDermott will present her latest novel, “Absolution,” at LIU. Tickets are also available here, including a copy of the book.

On Sunday, the festivities move to downtown Oyster Bay, transforming Audrey Avenue into a literary street festival. Activities include a showcase of independent authors, bounce houses for children, live music and swing dancing.

Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, will also be on hand that day to answer questions. Although the event is already at capacity, a first-come, first-served line will be set up outside the venue that afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Author signings and book talks will be held at several local venues, including the Life Enrichment Center, First Presbyterian Church and the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

Maus emphasized the collaboration needed to make the fair happen. “We started working on this together about a year ago,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to bring a new focus to downtown Oyster Bay and highlight our community’s rich literary history.”

In addition to promoting literature, the fair is also intended to benefit local businesses. Maus emphasized that this is an important goal and an essential part of the Main Street Association’s mission.

“We’ve reached out to all of our local businesses to see how they can get involved,” Maus said. “The book festival isn’t just about celebrating literature; it’s also a celebration of what’s going on in our downtown area – the great restaurants, retail stores and general services.”

The event will not only be a boon to local commerce, Israel said, but also a celebration of America’s founding principles. He added that it is also a way to highlight the literary influence Long Island has had on the country thanks to iconic authors like Walt Whitman and Nelson DeMille.

“The focus of this fair is the celebration of reading and democracy,” said Israel. “I believe we have a chance to overcome our challenges if we are well-read and understand history and literature.”

Organizers have worked long hours to ensure the fair’s success. They have assembled a dedicated team of volunteers and staff to handle the countless details involved in such a large event. Without the efforts of so many people, Israel says, the fair would not be possible.

“I was very lucky because we assembled a fantastic team of volunteers and staff who coordinated a million details, from selecting authors to working with local retailers to ordering books,” he said. “So we assembled a small army of literature lovers who make this fair possible.”

According to Maus, the response from the public has been consistently positive. Residents and business owners are eagerly awaiting the fair.

“People say they’re really excited,” said Maus. “It’s going to be a really special event.”

Admission to the fair is free, but tickets are required for select events. For more information and the full schedule, visit GoldCoastBookFair.com.