On Thursday, February 16, 2012, the Friends of Hackney Library sponsored a book signing with author, editor, and comedic performer Jane Borden. The book signing took place from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in Hackney Library. More than 50 people attended the event.

(If you weren't able to join us, view a video filmed of her presentation at the event, or view photos from our Facebook photo album.)

Borden signed copies of her first book, I Totally Meant to Do That, a memoir in essays; copies were available for purchase during the book signing. Refreshments were provided at the event, which was free and open to the public.

A Greensboro, North Carolina native and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumna, Jane Borden is a writer and comedian who made the move from North Carolina to New York City in 1999. Her memoir, which among other things features her experiences as a Southern transplant to New York, has been hailed by Garden and Gun as “a must-read for displaced Southerners everywhere.” Vanity Fair called the book “affectionate” and New York Magazine deemed it “lowbrow-brilliant.” The Brooklyn Paper dubbed Borden “the new ‘It’ girl.” In the book, Borden contrasts her Southern debutante upbringing with her acquired Brooklyn-hipster persona.

Her humorous writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Modern Bride, in two anthologies, and on Saturday Night Live. As a comedian, she’s appeared on Comedy Central and VH1, and she performs regularly at storytelling and stand up shows, and in festivals.

Borden was a staff editor at Time Out New York for seven years, predominantly covering comedy and theater, and health and wellness. She appeared regularly on local morning news programs (NBC, Fox, CW) as a guest expert. In addition, she has interviewed a variety of celebrities, including Ricky Gervais, Christopher Guest, and Garrison Keillor, among many others. She now resides with her husband in Sewanee, TN.