April 3, 2010
By FELICIA R. LEE
Published: March 22, 2010
The New York Times
The 10th National Black Writers’ Conference begins on Thursday at Medgar Evers College in New York, an anniversary that prompted Walter Mosley to remember his first conference, in the 1980s. He was just one of many unpublished, struggling writers who showed up, he said. An editor had passed on his first novel, about the detective Easy Rawlins, with the rationale that the publishing house already had a black detective novel.
“Terry McMillan said you have to sell books out of the trunk of your car,” Mr. Mosley said.
But in the age of President Obama, when successful black writers can be found across genres and a Nobel Prize winner, Toni Morrison, can be tapped to be the honorary chairwoman of the event, do black writers still need a conference to call their own?
In interviews, many black writers and editors, and others in the book world said yes. Black authors are part of the broader society’s struggles with the legacy of discrimination and exclusion, they said, and often need a more strategic approach to getting their work promoted, reviewed and sold.
The conference, expected to attract 2,000 people, is a chance for writers to study and celebrate one another and for readers to hear writers presenting their work and dissecting social and literary themes. Over four days of workshops and discussions, the participants can also grapple with issues like the value of black sections in bookstores, the paucity of black editors in publishing and how to expand the list of black writers taught in schools.
For the full article, see The New York Times.
December 13, 2009
Title: 2010 AAMBC National Conference
Location: Chicago
Description: AAMBC presents the AAMBC National Meeting, a black author literary event that will be held June 12, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois.
The event will cater to the AAMBC Organization, fellow book clubs across the nation, and new and seasoned authors throughout the United States. Attendees will experience a family-oriented atmosphere and a social gathering that will build great connections with nationally and locally recognized authors and publishers. This is the 2nd annual event and it is sure to please, with a mixture of nationally best selling authors and independent authors alike. This year, the event takes place in one full day of fun-filled book signings, poerty showcases, beauty tips, and book club themes.
AAMBC, which stands for African Americans on the Move Book Club, is pleased to host a highly anticipated literary event that will bring readers and authors together in a more personal setting. To experience great food, music, book signings, and build new relationships, all while in the great city of Chicago, register today!
Date: June 12, 2010
April 2, 2009
Title: BookExpo America (BEA)
Location: Jacob K. Javits Center, New York City
Click here for more information
Description: Event for the North American publishing industry. Meet 500+ authors and discover hundreds of new titles on a Show floor bristling with 1,500 exhibitors and featuring the NEW Downtown Stage and Uptown Stage and the ever popular BEA Autographing Area. Learn the trends during 60+ focused sessions at the NEW “Big Ideas at BEA” Conference and don’t miss this year’s Global Market Forum: Books & Publishing in the Arab World. Experience the buzz of the book business at dynamic Special Events (buy your Special Events Tickets now).
Start Date: 2009-05-28
End Date: 2009-05-31
April 2, 2009
By Calvin Reid — Publishers Weekly, 3/31/2009 8:04:00 AM
The current downturn in the economy is creating problems for the African-American Book Publishing Professionals Conference, an annual event attracting a wide variety of black authors, self-publishers, booksellers and other book professionals, held each year at BookExpo America. This year’s event is scheduled for May 28 and offers an afternoon slate of events that include a panel on African-American books and social networking and another on comics and graphic novels for the African-American market.
Publishers Weekly
October 1, 2008
Title: 2009 Romance Writers of America Annual Conference
Location: Washington, D.C.
Link out: Click here
Description: RWA is proud to host its 29th Annual National Conference in Washington, D.C., at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
Be sure the join us in Washington, D.C., to enhance your writing and knowledge of the ins and outs of publishing at more than 100 workshops; get the inside track at panels and round-tables featuring publishing professionals; schedule a one-on-one pitch meeting with an acquiring editor or literary agent; attend parties and network with the stars of romance fiction; and be a part of RWA\’s massive, 500-author strong \”Readers for Life\” charity book signing. And let\’s not forget the 2009 RITA and Golden Heart Awards.
Date: 2009-07-15
