National Black Book Festival DOUBLETREE HOTEL (DOWNTOWN) June 10 -12, 2011 400 Dallas St. • Houston, Texas www.NationalBlackBookFestival.com • 1-800-340-5454 Featured & special guest authors Isaiah Judge Mablean Gregg Washington Ephriam Alan Williams Tananarive Judge Vanessa Pamela Samuels Due Gilmore -Young Michelle Judge Oswald J. Carleen McKinney Hammond Scott Brice Joyce Carol Vickie J.M. Thomas Stringer Benjamin sponsored bY: 2 toneal Jackson akira bennett Partici Pating Chanda tracy lightsey Frank Clay Publishers sherry price toni Cole raw - the Cheatologist terrell dunnum INSIDE etched in stone publications Virginia, K. Jack lift every Voice books Fantasy Victor b. Johnson sr. pantheon Collective t . n. Jenkins nakia laushaul Zoe life Christian Communications Jeffery Martin National Black History evan Quitelle barron smith William t. everett Book Expo ........................... Partici Pating periete todd 4 robert Moore authors avery Washington e. arabis Zemill Beauty/HealtH mainstream angela h. brown FiCtion religious/FaitH rapper Md dr. anita august shawn Childers Schedule of Events ............. China ball Kontrena Clark 5 BiograpHy dominique barber leah l. davis regina blackburn brandy bullock nikia M. dillon lydia brew lawanna lynn Campbell elreta dodds Karen C. brown ondrea l. davis Quinn dodds sean Chandler J. r. holden Cheryl lacey donovan Cathy Clay ted Johnson samuel enyia Profile: .................................8 Michael Cowl gordon J’son M. lee robert Forbes, sandra hamer Judge Mablean ephriM allison t. Moore deMonica d. gladney C. s. hayes Justina r. page Joy harris Jacqueline luckett Jenee e. hudson John McCrary Business rowena Jackson Monique Mensah renee Jean paul bax tamika newhouse Kimberly Jenkins natasha owens linda bridgewater Johnson Profile ..................................9 CHildren tia reyes angela Joseph p atricia enyi isaiah Washington Michelle Janine robinson regina Mixon Michael hickman Charles n. smith Willie l. Monnet sr. amani Jackson rose Mary stiffin, ph.d. adrienne Mynatt robert lampkin terri d taiese l. nevels tanya Michelle greg alan Williams lisa ray Kristy K. taylor Marilyn reed terlene terry todd motivation/ Jan Whitaker Profile: .................................9 uncle e adrienne Wilson selF Help gregg alan WilliaMs James J. adams romanCe Carol s. batey anna black CHristian latisha brown rashawn Johnson FiCtion Charles e. Cox Jr. rhonda Jackson Joseph Cheryl Faye Vernelle nelson stephanie Morris Crystal n. Flanagan tara ratney alicia Wiggins “40 Seasons of Jazz” ........... latonya g. green, oswald scott 9 Kathy r. Jackson, stephanie C teens/young adults Fon James Jennifer d. Vargas s. dodson audrey McKay andi Williams Charmette Fontenot Mikasenoja lashell Williams a. hansley Jr. Kay Jay smith mystery/tHriller erotiCa urBan FiCtion Literary Breakthrough Jemmie adams olayinka aikens gregg burton e. M. lacey Malachi allen d. V. hent Conference ....................... Monique d. Mensah de’Monica n. Cooper 10 MJl Mark saint Cyr Claudia Moss non-FiCtion lawanna damous envy red orchester benjamin alvenia derban gwendolyn suarez Carriere Clifton dutton Family/ sheuvonda gina-nacole relationsHips nancy townsend Marcus henry Playing “The Game” t . C. Carrier tha genarall april gabrielle poetry Jason Williams belinda grimes stella alexander K. C. Williams to Win ................................ 10 g. l. henderson scott antwan 3 national Black Book Festival event shines spotlight on houston The founders of the National Black we utilize a variety of marketing ap- work of authors could meet, exchange insight. “It’s normally after writing and Book Festival believe it’s time for Hous- proaches and we specifi cally target book ideas and promote and sell their publishing three to four books that an ton to have a presence in the world of clubs and book readers in our marketing books,” she said. author has a true breakthrough, unless, publishing. efforts,” she explained. “We also consis- “We were brainstorming one day of course, they are already famous,” she Once again, thousands of book lovers, tently utilize social media, like Facebook, and the concept of the National Black said. “Then it’s a celebrity book. But I authors and industry insiders will con- to get the word out on a year-round basis.” Book Festival was born. It made sense think a lot of authors believe that, just verge on the nation’s fourth largest city for NBBF activities include book-sign- to have a national event, rather than because they wrote a book, someone is the festival, which takes place June 10-12 ings, seminars, workshops, exhibits, a local or statewide one, since our going to buy it. Nothing is further from at the downtown Doubletree Hotel. a children’s activity area, a reception, network of authors hails, literally, from the truth. A book, like any product, has The event is the brainchild of husband slumber party, get-acquainted breakfast, every region of the country.” to be marketed. Marketing is the key to and wife team Willie and Gwen Richard- worship service, jazz brunch and poetry One Houstonian who has been any successful author’s career.” son, the owners Cushcity.com, the world’s slam. involved with the event from the begin- She added that it’s important for an largest African-American online retailer More than 100 authors from the U.S. ning is Judge Oswald Scott Jr., author author to perfect his or her craft. “Get with over 20,000 products online. Willie and the Caribbean will attend, including of The Promise: A Black Man’s Guide your book edited by a professional,” is national director of the National Black actor Isaiah Washington, former Di- to Money, Power & Respect and Big she said. “Have your book cover cri- Book Festival (NBBF) and Gwen serves vorce Court host Judge Mablean and the Momma’s Ten Commandments for tiqued before you publish your book. as national coordinator. urban fi ction duo Ashley and Jaquavis. Abundant Living. You want your fi nished product to look Why is there a need for such a Other noted authors scheduled to “The Festival has been a great event as professional as possible. Too many festival? “We noticed that there was intend include Joyce Carol Thomas, in terms of meeting other authors and books, particularly self-published nothing on this scale in terms of literary Michelle McKinney Hammond, Lavaille fi nding out who’s who among Black au- ones, are riddled with grammatical, events in the Southwest region,” Willie Lavette, Carleen Brice, Tananarive Due, thors,” Scott said. “There is no event in spelling and syntax errors. The covers Richardson said. “These types of events Pamela Samuels-Young and K’Wan. America that brings together this many look like they were produced by el- always seemed to take place in New Genres represented include main- Black authors covering every genre ementary school kids, and the plots are York, the D.C. area or Atlanta. We felt it stream fi ction, urban fi ction, mystery/ under one roof.” nonexistent. Don’t half step; strive for was about time Houston made its mark thrillers, children’s literature, Christian Poet and publisher Avery Washing- excellence!” in the book industry.” literature, non-fi ction, self-help and po- ton agrees. Washington, the author of Avery Washington said his experi- etry. Just Speaking My Mind and Letters to ences as a publisher, “have opened my My Daughters, said: “This type of Festi- eyes to how inexpensive it is to become a val is needed to promote literacy in our published author if you do it yourself.” BiGGer and Better communities and also to help showcase, He said beware of certain self- Willie Richardson explained how educate and supply a platform for us to publishing companies that might take NBBF is able to attract so many well- come together and celebrate the art of advantage of eager writers. “Study your known authors. “For more than 12 expression.” craft inside and out. Learn everything years, Cushcity.com has been one of you can about publishing and compare the leading online destinations that your cost of doing it yourself to paying feature African-American literature. aspirinG authors someone to do the very same thing you Over this span of time, we’ve devel- NBBF can be of particular benefi t are capable of doing. You will see that oped a substantial network of thou- to writers who dream of becoming there is a huge difference in cost.” sands of authors from around the published. In addition to best-selling Oswald Scott said aspiring authors country,” he said. authors, prominent publishers, liter- must also network, and NBBF is a good “We also begin working on each ary agents and marketing experts are place to start. “The National Black nbbF Founders Willie and gwen richardson year’s Festival about 16 months in ad- participating in the festival. Book festival is the place to be for any- vance, contacting high profi le authors Willie Richardson also has some one who has written a book, is working “Also, the events that do take place to get them locked in before their advice for aspiring authors. “Don’t expect on a book or has dreamed of writing a tend to not be as comprehensive, fam- schedules get full,” said Gwen Richard- to become a best-selling author with your book,” he said. ily-friendly and affordable for both the son. “We try to make each year’s event fi rst book,” he said. “Being an author is “You will not only meet some of the authors and the general public,” added fresh, new and bigger and better than like starting a business. Your book is your top writers in Black America but you will Gwen Richardson. “We wanted to make before.” product and you have to get the public be around some of the top Black names in sure all of these elements were present at She also recalls how the Festival to know about you, like you and what book publishing and marketing.