Small Press Expo Sponsors Lynda Barry and Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez at the National Book Festival                                                          For Immediate Release            Contact: Warren Bernard                                                             Phone: 301-537-4615                                                   E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com Bethesda, Maryland; September 9, 2013 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce that it is a sponsor of the National Book Festival, held by the Library of Congress. As part of this sponsorship, Small Press Expo is bringing to the National Book Festival for the first time Lynda Barry and Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez. They will all appear on Sunday, September 22 at the Graphic Novels & Science Fiction Pavillion on The Mall in Washington D.C. "The Library of Congress is delighted to welcome Small Press Expo as both a supporter of authors Lynda Barry, Jaime Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez at the 2013 National Book Festival and as a reading promotion partner of the Library's Center for the Book," said John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book, which is the festival's author coordinator.  "Thanks to help from Small Press Expo, this year's Graphic Novels & Science Fiction pavilion at the National Book Festival is a knock-out." Here is the schedule  at the National Book Festival for these creators, all sessions will be held on Sunday, September 22 in the Graphic Novel and Science Fiction Pavilion: Lynda Barry will present from Noon - 12:45PM and sign books from 1:00-2:00PM Gilbert Hernandez will present from 12:55-1:40PM and sign books from 3:00-4:00PM Jaime Hernandez will present from 1:50-2:35PM and sign books from 3:00-4:00PM The primary goal of this sponsorship is to bring creators from the indie comics community to the National Book Festival to better expose them and their works to the diverse audience that attends this prestigious event. As a partner with the Library's Center for the Book, Small Press Expo looks forward to help promoting their various literacy initiatives and programs. More information about the National Book Festival can be found at http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/.   Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 600 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests will be featured. The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show. As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, visit their website at http://www.cbldf.org. SPX also supports the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, which preserves the history of both the artistic output of the creators who come to SPX, as well as the art that SPX itself generates as part of its yearly festival. It the first program of its type by a major institution in the United States to preserve the works of the indie comics community. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com. Copyright © 2013 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved.