The Center for Fiction is a literary nonprofit that brings diverse communities together to support and celebrate the creation and enjoyment of fiction. Founded in 1821 as the Mercantile Library of New York City, The Center is now based in the heart of the Brooklyn cultural district. We connect writers and readers through author events and public programs, reading groups, and writing workshops. Our First Novel Prize and Emerging Writer Fellowships help launch important new voices, and our KidsRead program instills an early love of reading and writing in public school students. The Center also serves as a home for readers and writers with welcoming community spaces, a membership library, and a vibrant bookstore and café.