Read Sista Read Book Club Hobnobs With the Authors We Love To Read

If the opportunity to learn from those who are already sucessful published authors appeals to you, find your way as soon as you can to the National Book Club Conference website and register for next year's event. Almost without exception, the writers in attendance very graciously made themselves available to discuss writing, pose for pictures, or just hang out. Some of the more noticeably approachable included from left to right in the collage below (skipping obvious duplications): Lolita Files (Child of God...you've gotta read it!), Francis Ray (discover that black folks are romantic too!), Walter Mosley (without question the creme' de la creme' of the lot!), Bebe Moore-Campbell (grace personified, and What You Owe Me, I need not say more!), Tayari Jones (I can't begin to describe the beauty of her spirit, nor the quality of her work!), Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant (the dynamic duo package deal who are the dopplegangers of my best friend Angie and me!), Dr. Ian Smith (whose Blackbird Papers took the world and our club by storm), Crystal McCrary & Tonya Lewis Lee (who I have had the pleasure to meet twice and found to be genuine, informative, and so very uplifting!), Dr. Obery Hendricks (who is without question the most sensitive brother I've met in a long time...and let's face it, any brotha who raises his daughter alone is alright with me!). Others in attendance included J. California Cooper, the high priestess, Bertice Berry, my new idol, Terrie Williams, for whom the English language has not yet created a word positive enough to be applied, as well as a myriad of others. Whatever you do, if you love writers or just like being around good people, don't miss this event!