What an amazing weekend. On Friday I went to Javits for Book Expo America. Ron Kavanaugh invited me to sign copies of Crystelle Mourning at the Mosaic literary magazine table since they put me on the cover of the latest issue. I feel so blessed to be recognized by folk who dedicate their work to promoting quality literary fiction, and the opportunity to share my work with librarians, booksellers, and culture workers was a real gift.
Laylah Barrayn interviewed me for the Mosaic article. I first met this sister years ago when she worked as an assistant to Kevin Powell. In the years since, she has been at almost every significant arts and culture event that I have attended – and many of the ones that I miss. She is a photographer and writer, an enthusaistic lover of art, and a beautiful spirit.
At the BEA African American Pavilion, I saw virtually everyone who makes Black Books happen: my editor and founder of the UpSouth Festival, Malaika Adero; Walter Mosley, who always comes through to be with folk; Linda Duggins, PR whiz; writer Pittershawn Palmer; Troy Johnson of the African American Literary Book Club; Susan McHenry, Ken Smikle, and Clarence Reynolds of Black Issues Book Review; Terrie Williams, whose new book exploring depression in the African American community should be out soon; Linda Villarosa and her two beautiful children; Stacey Barney of Penguin Group; Max Rodriguez of Quarterly Black Review of Books; the great Haki Madhubuti; Jannell Agyeman of Marie Brown Associates; and the elegant one, Marie Brown.
The night before, Mosaic, Harlem World magazine, and aalbc.com hosted a BEA par-tay uptown at Tribal Spears, where Sister Marie was honored for her 40 years of contributions to African American literature. One of the few Black women literary agents in the country, Marie has made the careers of countless Black writers. Poet Willie Perdomo, who worked in Marie’s office back in the day, came through; as did Clara Villarosa, founder of the African American Pavilion and recipient of an award herself at this year’s BEA; Zane; Paul Coates of Black Classic Press; journalist Sekou Writes; author Nicole Blades; Angeli Rasbury; Camille Acker of Wiley with her colleague Connie; Felicia Pride of Mosaic and Black Voices; and the recently promoted Lasharah Bunting of the New York Times.
It was an honor to sit at the Mosaic table on Friday and mingle with the sisters and brothers working in Black books all weekend. Writing is such an isolated activity; it is people like Ron Kavanaugh, events like the celebration at Tribal Spears, and venues like the Pavilion that put me back in community, our community.
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Hey, Eisa! Look at me–mentioned in your lovely list of folks you crossed paths with last week. Thank you, again, for making sure you intro’d me to every and anyone who stood near you (and always with a smile). You’re the best “hype man” a girl could want.
I had great time at the BEA par-tay. Being a Brooklyn girl, I don’t venture to Harlem much, and it was so good to see all of these joyful people come out to celebrate black books, black art…black life.
And I saw you on the Mosaic mag cover (on the web site). Gotta scoop up a copy and read about your continuing success!
See you next week at the Caribbean Heritage Week panel, Madame Moderator. It’ll be on and poppin’, for sure.
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It was great to see you too, Eisa.
The BEA is overwhelming. It is great to meet/see so many wonderful authors, publishers, editors, etc. but it is definitely a lot. A part of me wonders if it is worth it to go more than one day (I actually ended up going only on Friday, even though I planned to attend all 3 days).
I don’t feel I missed anything. But again, it is great for networking.
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Thanks for the shout out! It was so great to see you. And I enjoyed myself Tribal Spears; I’m going to add it to my list of favorite hangouts.
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Hey Eisa,
Thanks for the mention and for the run down on BEA. It was a good year I think, and especially nice to have celebrated Clara’s tenth year organizing the African American Pavillion. And catching up with all the peeps was a joy!
See you soon.
Stacey