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The Written Nerd

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Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is a self-proclaimed book nerd. She has channeled her passions for books, authors, literary culture and especially, independent bookstores into a “litblog” called The Written Nerd. Jessica says, “I started it because I was working in a bookstore where I didn’t feel like my coworkers shared my nerdy excitement about books and bookstores, and I just needed someone else to talk to!” Jessica finds great used book sales, like the one where she found an early Joan Silber novel, organizes events to promote new releases and often rails against the naysayers who write about the demise of the bookstore and reading in general. Jessica’s faith holds strong, and will be evidenced when she opens her own independent bookstore in Brooklyn, sometime very soon.

We got some of Jessica’s thoughts on life outside of the bookstore in NYC.

What brought you to New York?
I grew up in a small town in California, and for college wanted something completely different. I think it was a college brochure that mentioned Billie Holiday singing in the jazz clubs of the West Village that actually convinced me to come to NYU (along with a great scholarship that included study abroad). There was some culture shock at first, but ultimately I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else. After graduation I fell in love with working at bookstores, and then found myself feeling totally at home in Brooklyn, and just stayed and stayed!

What do you love about living in New York?
Not having to drive (I’m a terrible driver), and the wonderful street and neighborhood culture that walking everywhere creates. Having any cultural experience at the tips of my fingers, but also having my own sweet neighborhood and brownstone apartment that I can retreat to. Being at the center of the book publishing world, so I get to meet lots of great authors and publishing folks.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Hmm, I don’t know. Perhaps some are born New Yorkers, some achieve New Yorker-hood, and some have New Yorker status thrust upon them. =) It’s certainly a definition in flux, since lots of the people I know come here for a short time and then leave again — are they New Yorkers while they live here, or not? I don’t think it’s exactly like a club you have to earn admission to. Everyone who makes their home here, for no matter how short a time, is part of the infinitely complex mix that makes the city what it is. And sometimes when you leave you remain a New Yorker, too.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
Sometimes the number of subcultures, both ethnic and otherwise, that are fairly isolated is surprising: the fact that there are the equivalent of little villages in the midst of this cosmopolitan city. The SEX IN THE CITY version of New York is just one tiny segment of the population; there are the Russians of Brighton Beach and the Arabic community of Atlantic Avenue and the Italian community in the Bronx, not to mention the baby-stroller culture of Park Slope, and I know of some folks in Crown Heights who almost never go into Manhattan and think of their neighborhood as the world. And then it surprises me in the other direction when depictions of New York equate the city with midtown skyscrapers, when it really just happens to be a small(if the tallest) part of a vast and segmented metropolis.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
Sushi! Seriously, the variety of food you can get within a few blocks of wherever you are. And the fact that you can stay out as late and drink as much as you like and not have to worry about driving home. =)

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Hmm, not much. Barnes & Noble always has relatively clean public restrooms, and they’re open late. The roasted peanuts from street vendors are actually addictively good. My bookstore, McNally Robinson, has author readings that are always free and often hosts authors who are reading at the 92nd Street Y or elsewhere that you have to pay to see.

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
My blog The Written Nerd is part of the “litblog” genre, talking about books and authors and literary culture, with a particular focus on my experience in New York and on independent bookstores, which are my passion. I started it because I was working in a bookstore where I didn’t feel like my coworkers shared my nerdy excitement about books and bookstores, and I just needed someone else to talk to! I’ve found my niche as a rare optimist about books and bookstores — one hears so much about how reading and literature and bookstores are in decline, and I’m able to share a counter to that prevailing view because I see so much good stuff in that world. I’ve made lots of connections in the book industry because of the blog, and it’s been a great way to connect both with the New York and Brooklyn community and with the community of readers and booksellers.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Coney Island, hands down. It’s still got a seediness that makes it feel like a county fair, even as it gets more slick and family-friendly.

Best neighborhood bar?
The Brazen Head on Atlantic for good beers on a Sunday afternoon. O’Connor’s on 5th Avenue for a real dive (it’s always dark, and they open at 10:30 AM)

Best late night joint?
Used to be Hank’s, a honkey tonk on Atlantic that had Brooklyn country music and was always good for a cheap beer on the stumble home… but I’m not sure if they’re still open. I haven’t been having as many late nights lately. =)

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I host author readings at McNally Robinson three or four nights a week, so that’s a lot of my cultural experience! I saw PERSEPOLIS at the Angelica recently — beautiful, but not as good as the graphic novel.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Convivium on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. It’s a wonderfully warm and cozy yet sophisticated place, with an incredibly delicious menu of Mediterranean food including rabbit and quail. And it’s where my husband proposed, so I’m a little partial to it!

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Well, I’m happily married as of last June, so I haven’t been on the lookout lately! And honestly, I don’t know that I ever met anybody worth dating or even hooking up with at a place I could mention — house parties or workplaceswere always the best bet!

Best place to hear live music?
Southpaw on 5th Avenue (I’m very Brooklyn-centric these days) — a great variety of performers and an awesome space.
www.writtennerd.blogspot.com

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