Once again, it’s a wrap.
The thirteenth annual Black Writers on Tour is done, completing a day of workshops, seminars, contests, speeches and most of all, authors and networking.
I have to commend Dr. Rosie Milligan and her staff for hosting another outstanding writers conference that some may argue was the biggest in quite some time. This year I served more as a spectator than an actual participant, but I found myself very happy to be among my literary colleagues regardless. Although I wasn’t selling books this time around, I contributed by conducting video interviews with authors in attendance such as Derrick O’Neal, Audrey Muhammad, T. Smith, Linda Coleman-Willis and Frederick Williams for Empire Beat Magazine and Mixed Matters. Various seminars of how to write a best selling novel, what you need to know when writing poetry, creative writing class for beginners, how to market via the internet, and turning your book into a movie script were given by seasoned professionals throughout the day capturing the ears of many new and aspiring writers in attendance.
There were other activities including a open mic for poets, and a children’s writing contest. But it was the many authors and exhibitors who appeared at the tour that makes it worthwhile every single year. Bern Nadette Stanis signed copies of her book “Situations 101” while taking pictures with her many fans who watched her on Good Times, former Compton mayor Omar Bradley signed copies of his book “The King of Compton” and spoke with fellow authors during the day, and friends of mine who I haven’t seen in a while made a reappearance. There was CC Taylor, a local author who used to frequent Willmax Bookstore before it closed down, poetess Lily holding her little girl in her arms greeting potential customers and authors who plan to attend the L.A. Black Book Expo in June. It was a pleasure meeting them and I’m looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks.
You know, when you attend these conferences or festivals, it’s the same story of how you paid for a table, sat there all day and get bored. You do get a few feel good stories out of it though. I had finished an interview with one of the authors when Linda Coleman-Willis, a best-selling writer on how to self publish your book met the author and the author’s face lit up. This author told Linda when she bought her book, tried the steps in the book and even followed Linda’s advice when they had conversations over the phone. After eight years, that author finally had her book published and thanked Linda for helping her every step of the way. I don’t know how it feels to be T. Smith right now, the author of Miracles of My Mistakes, but I hope this encourages every new and aspiring author that if T. can make it through all her troubles (read her book to find out), then you can make your dream come true no matter what the circumstances.
Truth be told, I guess that’s why we have events such as the Black Writers on Tour, Harlem Book Fair, expos, festivals around the country. It’s not just about sales and platitudes, but it’s about dreams coming true, legacies created and most of all, helping to at least contribute to something that you can look on years later and pick up someone who doesn’t have a way of dealing with their daily problems, or not enjoying their life’s situation or better yet, needs a break from the everyday stresses of life. Maybe that’s too deep but judging by the faces of new and established authors, talented poets and interested attendees, I’d think for that one day, someone’s dream came true or is on the way to becoming reality and you can’t argue with that.
Charles Chatmon
Executive Director
Los Angeles Black Book Expo
