EURweb |
THE LITERARY DISH: Post Reflections on Harlem Book Fair 2005
The Ladies & Gentleman of Black Literature, Panel Discussion Highlights, National Book Club Conference, Author Happenings Then & Now & All About Responsible Media
If you did not make it to the Annual Harlem Book Fair on July 23rd, you missed “the Literary Heat,” a powerful, majestic and ethereal camaraderie of celebrated Black literati from around the world, a symbolic, holistic and utopian epitome of literary civilization on the “Black Gold Historical Streets of Harlem;” the official rebirth of the Neo-Soul Literary Renaissance of the Millennium, and one of the best events of the year celebrating African American literature in New York. Do not weep my child. Heather Covington “the Heat of the Literary World” has got the 411, and make no mistake about it, AUTHORS are the new celebrity! Rise up! Read on!
This is the final and 3rd installment of my Journaling as a team member of Fuent TV productions, Cine Seven Entertainment, Disilgold Soul Magazine and the Publicity Director of the Harlem Book Fair 2005 thanks to Mr. Max Rodriguez (Founder and CEO of Harlem Book Fair), who believed in my PR abilities from the start when I founded the YOUnity Guild of America. We’d like to thank Mr. Lee Bailey for giving the literary world a voice on www.EURweb.com and Mr. Tony Rose (Founder of Amber Books) who envisioned my team historically documenting Black literary artists and motivating me to hath journeyed this far.
The entire literary community is watching right here on the EURweb every week. We’ve connected media wise to high powered radio stations, news networks, magazine editors and television producers. There is more to come, but for now, sit back and pop on a song I am digging by Blk Sonshine entitled, “Building,”- Track 4. This is the group who performed at QBR: Black Book Review Phillis Wheatley Awards, an annual awards show held the evening before the Harlem Book Fair with honored guests; Haki Madhubuti, Rosa Guy, Ruby Dee, Phillip Rose, and Gordon Parks.
To understand how I flow as a journalist, readers must know that I am a poet, and music is my solace when writing. I request your permission to read, feel, and embellish my experience at the Harlem Book Fair 2005 like you’re reading a poem. There is a beauty and a certain joie de vivre here that you will feel and may even call you to read the books from the legendary new age of authors and books mentioned here. To own a Black Africana library of your own is to speak volumes of your responsibility in cultivating tomorrow’s generation with a new breed of literature to discover without bias or discernment because every literary voice counts.
July 23, 2005...
It is 12 p.m. on the dot as I ride through Lennox Avenue on Harlem Book Fair Day on July 23, 2005. I can already feel the heat of over 50,000 people nestled on the streets from 5th to 7th Avenue. What am I listening to from my car CD player? I’ve got on my favorite album of the year, “We Belong” by Mariah Carey.
The streets are packed with booklovers. Honestly, I am envisioning my ancestors’ journey here during the Triangle Trade between New England and Middle Colonies, the West Indies and African Ports where slaves were traded for molasses. My eyes swelter for a hot minute because Black America and its writing comrades are free to exchange and sell literature to feed their families, support their education and live their dreams with an honest living. I don’t knock chic-lit, shock-lit or any black-lit. Live my brother and sister. Literally live! It’s your world. We’re on the same block today.
The literary family is here like a family reunion. I park my car in the pavilion of Lennox Towers with no problem. The team arrives, Rosette M. Union (Cine Seven Entertainment), Mitchell Moreau (Fuent TV) and O’neill Miller (Video and Film Editor). I apologize to O’neill for wearing all white which does not show up well on camera. I respectfully ask O’neill to not film me at all while interviewing every author at the Harlem Book Fair we are blessed to meet.
Here we all are in the middle of 5th and 7th Avenue. It is crazy hot, muggy and soothingly uncomfortable, but Harlem Book Fair goers love the heat. This is what makes today a celebration like no other celebration as people sacrifice to fight the sun’s unapologetic hot rays. As each ray is blocked, a literary artist is discovered. Everyone looks good, rested, poised, distinguished, resound and serene. Black literary artists are beautiful and like a work of art by how they stand, sit, interact, walk around, meet and greet one another, the fans and strangers.
I caught their smiles, gestures, facial contortions due to the heat and every detail from head to toe. I noticed everything from jewelry, a wrinkle of one’s clothing, sweat beads cascading down one’s face, dew on the ear, a fresh foot mark from a stranger who stepped on an author’s brand new sneakers, bookmarks that have flown onto the ground premises of the Harlem Book Fair, blown up posters of book covers that occasionally fell down, and uneasiness because authors know that it isn’t a daily thing to face the literary paparazzi of a good kind. However, most authors let down their guard for the team to film their interviews and debut at the Harlem Book Fair in a rare moment all caught on video. The result is like capturing the last day of Mesopotamia with modern technology as opposed to Cuneiform Writing, but writing lasts longer than film so 10,000 years from now, someone may discover these dynamic authors I am about to write on my clay tablet, I call my computer screen.
The Ladies of Literature Spotted at Harlem Book Fair:
Kashamba Williams, best selling author of “Grimey” and “Blinded,” showcases her newest author protégé, Lenaise Meyeil , author of “Stilett 101,” (www.lenaisemeyeil.com). Desheene Evans, upcoming author of MINK, requested for me to walk her over to Kashamba to meet the growing publishing queen. Look out for her new book. Angela Wallace, (www.secretdramas.com) author of Secret Dramas, Gina C. (www.vigil-ante.com) with power reviews from Tony Rose (Amber Books Communications Group, Inc.) and Booking Matters Magazine (www.bookingmatters.com), along with authors like Stephany Rose, (www.stephanyrose.com) “ Stilettoed Roses Bleed,” TaRessa’s (www.betbooks.com), “The Hot Spot,” Collen Dixon (www.collendixon.com), with a “Quadrilogy of books like “Simon Says, Every Shut Eye, Behind Closed Doors and Relative Secrets,” Donna Hill (www.Donnahill.com), “Getting Hers,” Niqui Stanhope (www.niquistanhope.com), “She’s Gotta Have It,” Denise Campbell (www.universalwrite.com), “Man Killer,” Kieran Bates Morrow and Tiffany Anderson (www.fabthebook.com) “Fab,” Anita Bracey (www.bookmarketing.com), “The Time is Right,” and “The Closer I Get to You,” Sonya Hubbard (www.hubbardpublishing.com) “Embraced by God”, Takesha Powell (www.Amberbooks.com) "The African American Guide to Self- Publishing," Valerie D. Bankhead (www.blackforestpress.com) “The Monkey Who Lost His Tail” and Gammy Singer (www.gammysinger.com) “A Landlord’s Tale” all make for a powerful summer debut of hot new titles for everyone’s reading pleasure from the ladies of literature.
The Gentlemen or Literature Spotted at the Harlem Book Fair:
Relentless Aaron (www.relentlessaaron.com) discussed the success of “Push,” his latest urban fiction blockbuster hit and participated in panel discussion on publishing. Omar Tyree (www.OmarTyree.com) signed copies all of his novels and latest entitled, “Boss Lady.” He also, introduces the literary community to his new magazine publication, “Flyy Girl; The Urban Statement. Al- Sadiq Banks , (www.true2lifeproductions.com) introduced 3 of his books, “No Exit,” “Sincerely Yours,” and “Block Party” which he states “captures 15 years of Hard Core Street Captured in a 3 Book Series.” Dr. Ian Smith (www.iansmithbooks.com), signed copies of the “Blackbird Papers” and was scheduled to share excerpts of his mystery thriller on the Author Stage. Gregory Williams (www.atapublishing.com) generated new fans for his latest, “Brotherwood.” Dwayne S. Joseph (www.urbanbooks.net) lured high interest for his soon to be released, “Never Say Never” as he signed copies of prior titles with the entire Urban Books family. Several new authors like Kelvin K. King ( www.kelvinkind.com), “Kiss by Betrayal,” Ras Baraka (www.MooreBlackpress.com), collection of poems, Black Girls Learn Love Hard,” Joe Black (www.hampsteadpub.com) “Street Team,” Baron L. Rowe (www.iuniverse.com) “Legal Outsiders,” Mevin Blackman (www.Amberbooks.com) "Urban Suicide," and Zachary Marcus Cesare Harris (www.mensdumpsurvivalguide.com) “The Men’s Dump Survival Guide & Field Manual” all make for a powerful summer debut of hot new titles for everyone’s reading pleasure from the gentlemen of literature.
We were so enamored by the Harlem Book Fair authors outdoors, Disilgold Soul was unable to attend any panels this year, but plenty of media were present to capture these panel discussions that are always exciting to attend. Last year, I introduced Michael Baisden who was the moderator for the “Love, Lust & Lies” seminar featuring J.L. King, Carl Weber , Earl Sewell , Tia Williams , and Crystal Anthony McCrary which was one of the best panel discussions I have ever attended among a well attended crowd. To see archived panel discussions 2005, visit www.BookTv.org.
Some of the well noted highlights are a librarian’s poignant introduction of Mr. Herb Boyd who is a martyr in the literary world for his work as a journalist and an author. Michael Eric Dyson made plenty of relevant points, although Mr. Bill Cosby regardless, is a man who is loved in the African American community and like most grandparents, very opinionated, but respected. It is quite amusing to see the young generation challenge the man who brought the Black Buppie family to the mainstream with success. Kevin Powell addressed the significance of Malcom X’s effect on America. Another audience member mentioned how there is no responsible media reporting on events like the Harlem Book Fair but C-Span TV .
Media comes in so many forms from television, radio, magazines, newspapers, billboard ads, online web sites, and e-newsletters. This means that even media has to promote media to get the word out that wonderful outlets do exist that support great events like the Harlem Book Fair. What counts most is that a Black literary community exists and that we hear each others voices about each other from each other. This is responsible media.
Right now, many of the authors are enjoying the rest of their summer, and returning from the National Book Club Conference. Many book club members like Linda Washington Johnson and literary artists like Anita Doreen Diggs and Yolanda Buick with a hot new novel on the way entitled, Indiscretions, contacted Disilgold to share in the celebration of authors like Walter Mosley and Terri McMillan who received the “Trailblazer 2005 Walter Mosley Award,” made possible by conference founder, Curtis Bunn . Booking Matters, Shunda Leigh shared some wonderful prospects for 2006 in “Hotlanta” (Atlanta, Georgia) and Denise Campbell (Universal Write) went to Disney World with her daughter, Cheyanne, who is writing her very own Children’s Book Series. By reading the Literary Dish every week, you’ll stay informed of the latest news to hit the literary wave.
Everyone is reading books thanks to the joy the Harlem Book Fair sparks for new literature every year. Look out for Harlem Book Fair 2006 and future spotlight of advisory board members. Many are on a well deserved vacation break. Visit www.HarlemBookFair.com.
Visit Heather Covington’s website at www.Disilgold.com or contact her at Disilgold@aol.com to promote your work.
.jpg)
