Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

Harlem Book Fair '08

Although the weather channel reported “baking hot” conditions in Harlem, NY for the 10th annual Harlem Book Fair, even Mother Nature couldn’t burn the phenomenal success of this event.  Saturday, July 19 was the long awaited fair, a date clearly marked on the calendars of authors, publishers and vendors galore. Booklovers flocked to Harlem by the thousands to experience the thrill and energy of this celebration of literature and culture, myself included.

We were there to help launch HBF Publishers, a publishing company born from a partnership with the Harlem Book Fair and QBR The Black Book Review organizations and Author Solutions Inc., parent company of Wordclay, AuthorHouse and iUniverse. Officially launching at the fair, HBF Publishers is an ideal marriage of literary passion and state-of-the-art publishing technology.

“[HBF Publishers'] fundamental mission is to provide a unique and simple opportunity for African American authors to share their stories with the world. It’s that easy,” says Max Rodriguez, founder and president of the Harlem Book Fair and HBF Publishers. “The publishing revolution of the past decade has left cultural gaps between African American readers and authors. HBF Publishers closes those gaps through technology and allows authors to inform, enlighten and entertain their target audiences.”

Authors Noreen Mallory and Kurt Boone were the first to publish through HBF Publishers with their book Urban Theory: Critical Thoughts in America. They had just a small number of presale copies of their book at the fair, and they represented HBF Publishers well. Watch for their book to be available soon through the HBF Publishers Bookstore. 

The Harlem Book Fair was not, however, focused on HBF Publishers – it was about authors, books (LOTS of books), music, discussions and enjoyment. Good vibes flowed throughout the streets as authors passed out flyers about their books. Writers looking for publishing advice attended instructional sessions. People interested in political debate, or cultural topics found a seat in the audience of a panel discussion.

It was truly remarkable to speak with authors, many of whom self-published their books. Like most writers, they had such a passion about their books, they all became naturals when selling their story. It was hard to pass up books. In fact, we ended up having to ship books back via Fed Ex because they wouldn’t fit in our suitcase.

Here are just a few of the authors and publishers that we had the pleasure of speaking to at the Harlem Book Fair:

• Savannah J. Frierson, author of Fiction/ Romance novel Being Plumville, whose book received excellent reviews on Amazon.com
• Lurea C. McFadden with Female Traits series with Bruce Publishing
• Leslie Kimbro introduced her newest Christian book Covenant of Healing
• Ambassador Lionel A. Hurst, who authored a non-fiction book Democracy By Diplomacy 
• Authors with Ghetto Heat, an independent multimedia publishing company specializing in urban fiction, incorporating hip-hip, pop and street-culture, poetry and contemporary novels 
• Authors with RJ Publications: “Bringing Excitement, fun and joy to reading,” specializing in street lit and romance novels  
• Poet and novelist Nikkea Smithers
• Ronald Peden who authored Notes on the State of America
• Aaron Anwar Smith, with his book Living on the Up High, Not the Down Low: The Movement to Uplift Good Black Men and the Empowerment of the African American Family

Not only was the Harlem Book Fair an event to remember, but the Wheatley Awards that preceded the fair on Friday, July 18 was a momentous occasion also, with entertaining spoken-word poetry and musical performances, appreciative speeches and theatrical performances. This first annual awards program was hosted by author Relentless Aaron commemorated 40 years of black publishing, honoring notables such as Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press; W. Paul Coates of Black Classic Press; Kassahun Checole, founder of Africa World Press; Cheryl Willis Hudson and Wade Hudson of Just Us Books; Tony Rose of Amber Books; and Dr. Osonye Tess Onwueme as the inaugural recipient the Flora Nwapa Award for Excellence in African Letters.

The enthusiasm of all involved – the event organizers, supporters, publishers, and authors – really made the entire Harlem Book Fair event something remarkable. If you’re an author, publisher or reader, you might want to consider a trip to New York next summer. You could even consider claiming your spot during the fair depending on your book’s target audience. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to attend the events of the fair next year. I look forward to it.

-Angie