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We provided this image alone to our four No, YOU Tell It! “Fly By” storytellers to inspire their true tales for our upcoming Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend Event on Thursday, September 28th at 7 pm.

What personal stories did this graphic created by Queens artist Annie Shi inspire? Get your tickets here to find out!

Come to the show to learn about The Flying Flapper Elinor Smith, who beat out Amelia Earhart for the title of “Best Woman Pilot in America” in 1930.

Shi’s graphic art depicts Smith’s legendary 1928 flight under not one but four East River bridges – Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg … and Queensboro!

Join us at Grove 34 to see more of Elinor Smith’s story illustrated by Annie Shi and hear the modern-day true tales inspired by this piece of history from the Greater Astoria Historical Society.

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THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2023 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT.

The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.

This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

Tonight! Honored to read my award-winning essay “My Timeline Stops March 10, 2020” from The Corona Chronicle Anthology at this book launch event in celebration of Robert Kaplan’s latest collection.

Click here to get your ticket and join us at Grove 34 in Astoria.

Get your tickets here for our 9/28 show at Grove 34 in Astoria.

For this special Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend Event, four curated storytellers are trading tales inspired by Queens history from the archives of The Greater Astoria Historical Society. Plus, story trivia for the chance to win fun literary prizes!

No, YOU Tell It! (noyoutellit.com) storytellers work together to develop true tales on the page, then swap stories to embody their partner’s culture, identity, and life experience on stage.

Storytellers:

Robin Gelfenbien

Ben Katzner

Briana McDonald

Lowell Stephens

Hosted by Ellie Dvorkin Dunn.

Featuring illustrations by Annie Shi. Follow @noyoutellit to learn about the storytellers, Queens history, and more.

***

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2023 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT.

The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.

This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

“I would definitely recommend this workshop because of the great feedback I got from KJ and the additional scaffolds.”

“I used to hate writing, but this class made me realize my full potential.”

“I can understand the beauty in reading someone else’s story and finding out about a person’s life.”

What an honor leading House Of SpeakEasy’s summer College Readiness: Personal Essay Writing Workshop in partnership with Union Settlement. Watching these rising seniors from Talent Unlimited High School gain a deeper understanding of their peers and themselves as they pushed each other to improve their writing filled me with such joy. As you can see here!

My fall is filling up fast. Contact kjfitzsimmons@gmail.com if you are interested in setting up workshops or private coaching for your school or student.

Along with our September No, YOU Tell It! show, we’ll also be out in Montclair on Saturday, 9/23 at the Montclair Book Center for an anthology event. Save the date and come hang, New Jersey!!

Switch up your story with the producers of No, YOU Tell It!

No, YOU Tell It! (noyoutellit.com) storytellers work together to develop true tales on the page, then swap stories to embody their partner’s culture, identity, and life experience on stage. In 2022, the series celebrated 10 years with the launch of a vibrant anthology detailing its development over the past decade.

Join producers Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and Tim Lindner for behind-the-scenes insights on creating a new kind of nonfiction series. Hear anthology selections from contributors Heather Quinlan and Tazio Ruffilo. Followed by story trivia for fun literary prizes.

Plus, generate and trade your own tiny true tale!

Follow @noyoutellit for more.

Our next No, YOU Tell It! team-up show with The Greater Astoria Historical Society is a 2023 Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend Event – in QUEENS at Grove 34!