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Book Expo America 2000 (BEA), held in Chicago May 31st to June 4th 2000 was a tremendous event.  Anything you wanted to know about books and publishing could be found there.  The event was highlighted by a schedule of events which catered to African Americans.  There were scores of African America authors in attendance many signing free copies of their books.  Black Expressions Book Club hosted an dinner evening event.  It was more like a gala with food, author signings.  They even had, would you believe, male exotic dancers.  Authors in attendance included Pearl Cleage, Tananarive Due, Yolanda Joe, Camika Spencer, Vincent Alexandria, E. Lynn Harris and many more!.  Blackboard gave out a series of awards including one for bookseller of the year which was given to Carl Webber of book store in Queens New York.


Tananarive Due & Patricia Stephens Due 
Tananarive is the author of one my favorite novels, My Soul to Keep. Her newest novel is about fictionalized account of Madame C. J. Walker. Tananarive's Mother, Patricia Stephens Due was instrumental in our civil rights struggle. In fact, to this day, Patricia Stephens Due wears shades because her eyes were hurt by mace during a protest.

 


Pearl Cleage
Cleage's book, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, was selected by the Oprah book club and was also an AALBC bestseller.


Eric Jerome Dickey & Robin Green-Cary.
Eric Jerome Dickey (signing) is the author of several very popular novels including, his most recent, Liar's Game - which I hear will be on the New York Times bestsellers list. Robin Green-Cary (standing in the background in the African headdress) is the owner of Sibanye a popular book store in Baltimore Maryland - visit next time you are in the area.

 


Sharon Ewell & Troy Johnson 
Sharon Ewell is the author of Passing by Samaria. Troy Johnson is founder and webmaster of the African American Literature Book Club (this website).

Carl Weber 
Author Carl Weber is also the recipient of the Blackboard Bookseller of the year award. The award was given at Book Expo America 2000 in Chicago
Mannie Barron, Leticia Barnes & Earl Cox
All friends of AALBC.com; Mannie Barron is the Publisher of Amistad Press an imprint of Harper Collins; Leticia Barnes works with Dana Press and Earl Cox is a Regional Sales Manager for John Wiley and Sons.

I had to include some technology.  This machine can spit out a book faster than you can read this sentence (well almost).  Technology vendors were in abundance at BEA 2000.  There were vendors who, at no cost to the author, would publish your book for free!  One will even print a single copy of you at no additional cost.  Your book can be made available when ordered either in print or eBook format.  The technology makes this possible.  Visit http://aalbc.com/ebooks/Allaboutebooks.htm for more information.

~ Troy Johnson

Photo Credits: Troy Johnson, AALBC.com