Aspicomm Media, Inc. presents Self-Publishing Symposium 2007!!!

Aspicomm Media is committed to continue the caliber of excellence that propelled the success of our first Self-Publishing Symposium, 2006. This year, we have assembled leaders and the major players of our industry to encourage, educate, and empower our diverse audience of people whose desire it is to make a positive contribution to the publishing world. We are proud to introduce our powerhouse of panelists...
(select any of our panelists' names to go directly to their bio)

TONY ROSE, Keynote Speaker

MARYANN REID, Emcee

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	About Our Keynote Speaker Tony Rose, Publisher & CEO Amber Communications Group, Inc. Tony Rose is the Founder, Publisher and CEO of Amber Communications Group, Inc. (ACGI) the Nation's Largest African American Publisher of Self-Help Books and Celebrity Biographies, and the Co- Founder of the African American Pavilion at Book Expo America. Rose is the Creator and Executive Producer of Literary Living, a unique television show on The Black Family Channel aimed exclusively at the African American book buying market, featuring African American book publishing professionals / personalities and celebrities. Rose is also a "Coordinator" for the Community of Color Pavilion / African American Exhibitors at the American Library Association Annual Conference and a Member of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. (BCALA) Amber Books Publishing, the corporation's first imprint, was founded in 1998 and has become the largest African-American publisher of self-help, career-guide and commercial/pop book titles written by and for African Americans. Amber Books has formed partnerships in the United States, South Africa, Europe, and Asia that include a multi book co-publishing/imprint deal with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Rose is the recipient of several awards including: The Chicago Black Book Fair and Conference Independent Publisher/Press Award; The BlackBoard Bestseller's African-American Publisher of the Year Award; The American Library Association "Reluctant Reader" Award; The 1st YOUnity Book Reviewers, Disilgold Soul Magazine Publisher of the Millennium Award, and The Cape Verdean News "MillenniumAward" for Book Publishing Excellence.
	Introducing Our Emcee MARYANN REID, Author/Visionary/TV & Radio Relationship Expert In 2002, Maryann Reid was invited by USATODAY to write a novella for the Open Book section of their website. In Jan/Feb, her series, "Single Black Female" ran for several weeks and attracted a new audience to her already popular first book, Sex and the Single Sister. In 2003, Reid wrote Use Me or Lose Me, a spin off to Sex and the Single Sister, published by St. Martins. Her third book Marry Your Baby Daddy was published by St. Martins Press in Sept 2005. Her fourth novel, Mrs. Big is her latest book and is available in stores everywhere. Reid is a regular guest and relationship advisor on radio and television shows, most recently, for Life & Style, a syndicated daytime talk show seen on Oxygen and UPN. Reid obtained her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The University of Miami. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
	MARK ANTHONY, AUTHOR. In addition to being the Essence magazine best selling author of Paper Chasers, Dogism, Lady's Night, The Take Down, and a contributing writer to the highly successful Girls From Da Hood series and two other anthologies, Mark Anthony is also the founder and publisher of the Urban Books imprint QBoro Books. Started with $5,000 of his own money in late 2003 QBoro Books has become one of the fastest growing independent publishers of African American fiction which is distributed by Kensington. Originally a self published author through his QBoro Books publishing company, Mark Anthony caught the attention of and landed with St. Martin's Press, but he continued to find and nurture other talented best selling authors such as Anna J and Darrien Lee to name a few. Back to Top
	Esther Armah, JOURNALIST. Esther Armah is an international award nominated journalist who has worked in the UK, US and Africa. Her work spans print, radio and television. She has written for ‘The Guardian’ newspaper in London, ‘Pride,’ the UK’s leading magazine for women of colour; ‘Essence’ magazine, and ‘West Africa’ magazine. She also pens a monthly column in ‘The New Ghanaian.’ She has made documentaries for BBC Radio and has hosted and co-hosted radio shows on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, she hosted ‘Up All Night’, a live, four hour talk show on BBC Radio 5 Live. In the US, she co-hosted ‘Wake Up Call’ on WBAI in New York and ‘What’s At Stake’ on WPFW in Washington DC. She’s founding director of multi-media production company ‘Centric Productions,’ a London and New York based company that develops radio programs; coordinates literary events and creates personalised marketing plans for writers using dramatised readings. Can I Be Me? is her first book. Her website is http://www.centricproductions.co.uk/ Back to Top
	Tom Campbell, Senior Vice President of Sales Adibooks and King Printing Company Tom has been with Adibooks and King Printing since 1999. He and the team at Adibooks.Com work directly with authors and publishers to develop the program that fits the goals and needs of that customer. Adibooks.Com provides all levels of book printing services for soft and hard cover books. Self publishing is one of the fastest growing markets. The African American market may be growing at a faster pace due to the non-traditional distribution methods. Now is the time to start your book. Prior to joining Adibooks and King Printing Tom held various executive positions at Hayes Microcomputer Product in Atlanta and Digital Equipment in New England from 1974. Back to Top
	NANCEY FLOWERS, AUTHOR. Nancey Flowers, paid tribute to her parents by using their native Jamaica, West Indies, as the setting for her first novel A Fool's Paradise. Nancey attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a minor in journalism. Nancey Flowers, is the author of novels A Fool's Paradise, #1 Essence Bestseller Shattered Vessels, No Strings Attached and publisher, editor and contributor of Twilight Moods, which was named Best Self-Published Novel in 2002 by Black Issues Book Review and Morning, Noon & Night: Can’t Get Enough. She is also the contributor to the acclaimed anthology Proverbs For The People. Nancey was the Program Director for the 2002 Harlem Book Fair. She is the books editor of Jolie Magazine, contributor to Black Issues Book Review, former managing editor of QBR The Black Book Review and is presently Editor-In-Chief of Game Sports Magazine. Nancey is a member of Black Americans in Publishing, NAMIC, WICT and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Back to Top
	Diane Gedymin, Editorial Director iUniverse Diane Gedymin is Editorial Director of iUniverse, a leading self-publishing service provider. With over thirty years of experience in traditional publishing, Diane has worked in nearly every area of the business including as a literary agent affiliated with Carlisle & Company; Sr. Vice President and Publisher of HarperSanFrancisco where she acquired and edited Sidney Poitier’s New York Times bestselling autobiography The Measure of a Man; and, Vice President and Senior Editor at the Putnam/Berkley Group where she acquired Sheri Reynolds, whose novel, The Rapture of Canaan, was Oprah’s third book club selection and a #1 New York Times bestseller. She is the co-author of Get Published! Professionally, Affordably, Fast. She lives in Brooklyn. Back to Top
	DONNA HILL, AUTHOR. Award winning author, Donna Hill has more than fifty published titles to her credit. Three of her novels have been adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence, the New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others. She has appeared on numerous radio and television stations across the country and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists, including Essence, Emerge and The Dallas Morning News. Donna co-wrote the screenplay Fire, which enjoyed limited theater release before going to DVD. As an editor she has packaged several highly successful novels, two of which were nominated for awards. She organizes author-centered events and workshops through her editorial and promotions company, Donna Hill Promotions, and provides publicity and marketing services for authors. She is also a writing instructor at The Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in New York. Back to Top
	DR. Cynthia Hunter, Author. After writing and self publishing her first explosive tell all book entitled "Diary of a Crack Addict's Wife," Dr. Cynthia D. Hunter’s debut novel was soon picked up by Kensington Publishing House and made the Essence's Best Seller List. The book was selected by the Forbes Book Club as required reading. Dr. Hunter has been awarded by Senate, Congress, General Assembly, City Council, The Mayor, and other various social and civic organizations for her outstanding contribution to humanitarian causes pertaining to Awareness issues addressing Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse. She has been featured on various TV and radio talk shows around the country and has even appeared on the highly rated syndicated radio talk show with the bad boy of radio Mr. Michael Baisden of Love, Lust and Lies and has been featured in numerous newspaper articles and magazines. Due to her sudden rise to popularity she has been hailed as "The First Lady of Truth." Back to Top
	Adrienne Ingrum has nearly three decades of experience in book publishing. She has worked with hundreds of authors and published fiction, nonfiction and sideline titles. She held VP editorial positions at G.P. Putnam's Sons (now Penguin Putnam), Waldenbooks, and Crown Publishers (a division of Random House) and now serves various clients as an independent publishing consultant and book packager. For the past 10 years, she has developed, managed and edited projects for publishers, corporations, agents and authors. She conceived, launched and, for its first eight years, oversaw Black Issues Book Review magazine for Cox, Matthews & Associates. She was the lead consultant for Doubleday Direct (now Bertelsmann) in the strategic planning of Black Expressions Book Club, which boasts 900,000+ members. She consulted for Urban Ministries Inc., the largest African American Christian publisher, and the religious publisher, HarperSanFrancisco and is a voted member of the American Book Producers Association. Back to Top
	RICHARD JEANTY, FOUNDER RJ Publications Richard Jeanty is the Founder and President of RJ Publications and the author of the novels, “Neglected Souls,” “Meeting Mrs. Right’s: Whip Appeal,” “Sexual Exploits of a Nympho,” and his most recent release, “Neglected no More.” Jeanty started his publishing company to both publish his own works and to provide an invaluable conduit for talented writers of color to have their works published. RJ Publications has also published the works of aspiring authors, K.M. Thompson, and W.S. Burkett. A former social worker and teacher at Morris High School in the Bronx, NY, Jeanty discovered his passion for prose while attending the University of Massachusetts. Jeanty’s mission is to educate and enhance the community by offering scholarships and other financial assistance to students who plan to study art, journalism or communication in college. Back to Top
	Troy Johnson, Founder AALBC.com, LLC Launched in 1998, AALBC.com is now the largest and most frequently visited web site dedicated to books by and about black people. Johnson is also a board member of the Literary Freedom Project, an advisory board member of the Harlem Book Fair, and was recently named Senior Book Editor for Harlem World Magazine. Mr. Johnson is also a technology project manager for a global financial services firm, holds masters degrees in both engineering and business and lives in Harlem, New York with his wife and two daughters. Back to Top
	Linda Pate, FOUNDER Precious Memories Reading & Collectibles In 2000 Linda Pate revived her life long dream, to own a bookstore and in 2004 Precious Memories Reading and Collectibles opened for business. Located off the beaten path in Carytown, the bookstore is unique not only in its physical stature but in its purpose, it’s an ‘outreach bookstore’. As a visionary, Linda wants to make a difference in her community. She doesn’t just wait for customers to come to her, she reaches out to them. Her bookstore sponsors several reading programs for Richmond area schools. The Dream Readers program involves a long-term commitment to reading with school age children through nine week long book clubs, designed to help students excel with reading by making it fun. The Let’s Read Program provides an opportunity for students to visit the ‘outreach’ bookstore to listen to a community ‘reader’. Back to Top
	TAKESHA POWELL, AUTHOR. Takesha Powell self-published her first two books through iUniverse.com and became an instant success with Tender Headed: Poems for Nappy Thoughts I Left Uncombed and The Goode Sisters: A Novel. Her latest title, The African-American Writer’s Guide To Successful Self-Publishing (Amber Books; 2004), has generated a huge following. Takesha enjoys public speaking and touring to inspire African American writers! Back to Top
	Felecia Pride, Founder TheBackList.net Felicia Pride is a writer, consultant, and teacher living in New York City. She is the founder of BackList (www.thebacklist.net) a website and publishing blog dedicated to keeping books in style. As a publishing consultant she’s worked with bestselling and award-winning authors, independent presses, and major publishers including Agate, Harpercollins, and South End Press. She is also a regular contributor to Publishers Weekly and other publications. Her forthcoming book Beats and Life will be published by Thunder’s Mouth Press in 2007. She teaches at the College of New Rochelle and holds a M.A in writing/publishing from Emerson College. Back to Top
	DR. MAXINE THOMPSON, FOUNDER Black Butterfly Press Dr. Maxine E. Thompson is an award winning writer, an up and coming literary agent, and the founder of Black Butterfly Press. She has been a host on Voiceamerica.com since March 2002 and currently has one of the top rated shows. In 1989, Dr. Thompson won Ebony Magazine’s first writing contest with her short story, “Valley of the Shadow.” She received a small PEN award for her novel, “The Ebony Tree,” and an international Black Writers Association award for her short story, “The Rainbow.” She is the author of eight titles, which include two novels, a short story collection, two novellas, and three non-fiction ebooks. Dr. Thompson’s most recent work under Urban Books/Kensington’s Anthology, “Secret Lovers: (novella “Second Chances),” made the Black Expressions’ Book Club bestsellers list in July of 2006. Dr. Thompson also pens a monthly column in Booking Matters Magazine and has published articles on the many aspects of writing and publishing throughout the internet. Back to Top
	GEORGIA WOODBINE Author/Motivational Speaker/Marketing Consultant Sparking an inspirational phenomenon wherever she goes, bestselling author/motivational speaker, and marketing consultant - Georgia Woodbine shares her experiences, secrets to success and strategies from the entertainment industry that transitioned into her publishing company Spiritual Focus Publishing. She gives it to you straight in her powerful book, How To Make BIG BUCK$ Without Selling Your Soul!. Following an extraordinary career in the entertainment industry and over 10 years of experience working for a variety of companies such as; Def Jam, PolyGram, WNYU Radio, WQHT-Hot 97, Black Enterprise Magazine, and the Apollo Theatre, she honed her management, promotions, and marketing skills. With heart and a vision, she formed tailored business G&J Consulting Services with her partner. A copywriting/marketing consulting company that provides promotional, marketing, and advertising campaigns to maximize exposure and increase visibility for your business and/or product. Her affiliations include; National Association Female Executives, NAACP Metuchen-Edison Area Branch, Women Rights Information Center, African American Chamber of Commerce, Minority Investors Network, and American Marketing Association. Even with this impressive track record, she states that it means nothing without a spiritual foundation and life of purpose. Back to Top
	TERI WOODS, OWNER/AUTHOR Teri Woods Publishing As the owner of Teri Woods Publishing, Teri Woods has published 12 novels: **True to the Game, DUTCH I, DUTCH II, Deadly Reigns I, Deadly Reigns II, Angel, B-More Careful, The Adventures of Ghetto Sam, Triangle of Sins, Rectangle of Sins, Tell Me Your Name and Double Dose. Teri Woods Publishing has sold over 1 million copies independently. Her novels caught the attention of Karen Thomas, editor at Warner Books, who facilitated a multi-million dollar book deal; Warner Books will re-release the blockbuster, True To The Game and the sequel, True To The Game II, in the fall of 2007. Teri Woods is also concentrating on film projects under her film companies, Teri Woods Films and Tahluu Films, Inc., as well as building her non-profit organization, The Teri Woods Foundation. The foundation will donate proceeds from all the novels to the Teri Woods Scholarship Fund, which is designed to provide financial assistance to inner city youth interested in pursuing a career in journalism and literary arts. Back to Top**
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