Drawing on the success of last year's event, the second annual Jewish Book Festival is broadening its scope. Hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax, festival will incorporate more authors, more events and a wider variety of books, said JCCNV community engagement director Laurie Albert.
With events and authors from ambassador Dennis Ross and author Iris Krasnow to popular children's performer The Great Zucchini, Albert said the festival's focus this year was on variety.
"We certainly love to promote literacy," she said. "We're incorporating a wide variety of authors and different types of genres, opening people up to new ideas and though-provoking books."
The celebration of reading begins with a "Bagels, Books and Local Author Expo" Sunday, Jan. 13 from 12-14 p.m. at the JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Over 10 local authors will attend, said Albert, many of whom heard of the first-time event through word of mouth.
What follows is nine days' and two weekends' worth of literary events, three days longer than last year's festival.
"It's exciting to do this for the second year and we hope for continued growth in the next year," said Albert.
For information on the festival, call Laura Adler at 703-537-3036 or see <a href=http://www.jccnv.org> www.jccnv.org</a>.