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Karen E.
Quinones-Miller, Keynote Speaker
Born and raised in Harlem, Karen dropped out of school
at the age of 13. At age 22, Karen joined the Navy, and
after spending five years in the military, Karen
married, had a child, and divorced -- all within a
two-year period.
She moved to Philadelphia at age 29, and enrolled at
Temple University three years later. Karen graduated
magna cum laude from Temple with a B.A. in journalism,
confirming her belief that the only thing she missed by
skipping high school was the senior prom. After
graduation she became a newspaper reporter, and worked
for the Associated Press, The Norfolk Virginian Pilot,
and lastly for The Philadelphia Inquirer where she
worked nine years. She also worked as a correspondent
for People Magazine.
Karen wrote Satin Doll in 1999, and after many
unsuccessful attempts at finding a publisher, she
decided to publish it herself. With the support of her
brother, Joe Quinones, and her daughter, Camille, she
started with an initial printing of 3,000 copies -- most
of which were housed in her living room -- and
ultimately sold 28,000 copies in eight months. Satin
Doll wound up on the Essence Bestseller’s List for
two months, and publishing rights were sold to Simon &
Schuster (via auction) for six figures.
Karen went on to write four other Essence Bestselling
novels for Simon & Schuster, I’m Telling,
Using What You Got, and Ida B. (which was
nominated for an NAACP Image Award for
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction.) and Satin
Nights. She's just completed a new novel, Passin',
which will be published by Warner Books in Feb. 2008
In 2005, shortly after signing a contract with Warner
Books to write Satin Nights, Karen was diagnosed
with a brain tumor and subsequently underwent brain
surgery. She has since received a clean bill of health
and has resumed a writing career.
Miller, who is included
in the book Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired
African-American Women In Literature, often gives
publishing and self-publishing seminars in her home and
Philadelphia, and is the CEO of Oshun Publishing
Company. In early 2006 she released a new book, by “Miss
T.” entitled The Guide To Becoming The Sensuous Black
Woman (And Drive Your Man Wild In and Out of Bed!),
under Oshun Publishing. |
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Relentless Aaron
Voted
"AUTHOR OF THE YEAR" 2007 at the 2007 Book Expo America
(African American Pavilion),
Relentless Aaron
is an Award Winning Author of over 32 novels. He's
achieved over 6 billion media impressions in the past 4
years, including The New York Times, TIME MAGAZINE, The
Daily News, NPR news, ABC World News, AOL Black Voices,
VIBE, EBONY & KING magazines not to mention hundreds of
websites online. Producer and editor of dozens of
features on YOUTUBE and GOOGLE video (including
interviews with authors, readers & notable
personalities), as well as he is published
(traditionally) by St. Martin's Press, G-Unit Books, and
independently.
Relentless
publishes and consults other authors, as well as he does
book reviews and ghost-writes for anyone who can afford
the fee. Visit:
www.relentlessaaron.com
to learn more about the author, publisher & visionary. |
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Esther
Armah
is an award winning
international journalist, an
author, playwright, a radio host
and a company director who has
worked in the UK, US and Africa.
As a journalist in the UK, she
has written for a mix of
mainstream and specialist
newspapers and magazines
including 'The Guardian'
newspaper, 'Pride' magazine and
'New Nation' newspaper. In UK
radio she has been an award
winning documentary maker, an
investigative reporter and a
radio host right across the BBC.
In UK television she has
produced documentaries and
appeared as a panelist on both
the BBC and commercial
television. In the US, she has
written for 'Essence' magazine,
is a radio host on WBAI 99.5FM
for 'Wake Up Call' and 'Off The
Page' a talk show about the
world of books, and has appeared
on BETJ's 'My Two Cents'. As an
author, her first self-published
book was 'Can I Be Me?'. It was
adapted into a play and one
woman show that featured as part
of New Heritage Theater's Roger
Fuhrman Play reading Series at
the Museum of the City of New
York to a 300 strong audience in
June 2007. Her next play
'Forgive Me?' is set to hit
theaters in 2008. Armah is the
founding director of Centric
Productions, a multi-media
production and creative
marketing company. Her website
is www.centricproductions.co.uk
She is currently writing her
second book. She now lives in
New York. |
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Assuanta Collins
established Asta Publications,
LLC in 2004 with her debut
novel, “Until the Next Time”.
Asta is growing in leaps and
bounds adding new authors to the
company, daily. Asta primarily
provides self-publishing
services to authors to include:
printing, distribution, editing,
cover design, and typesetting.
In addition, Asta Publications
provides traditional publishing
to authors whose manuscripts
meets the criteria. Collins is
an educator first and teaches
her authors how to market and
promote their books. She also
provides consulting services to
up-and-coming publishers on how
to set-up their new publishing
business. In 2007 Asta
Publications created a new
imprint, Nile Valley Press, with
Al “The Inspiration” Duncan,
motivational speaker as the
executive publisher. Nile Valley
Press will publish a series of
five motivational books a year.
The first series of books is
titled “Getting Fired Up” and is
scheduled for release in January
2008.
For more
information visit:
www.astapublications.com
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William
Fredrick Cooper
is the active secretary of
Brother 2 Brother Symposium, Inc, a non-for-profit
literacy program that encourages black men and young
adults to read fiction literature. Dubbed “The King of
Compelling Fiction” by Disilgold’s Heather
Covington, Mr. Cooper is the author of the critically
acclaimed novel Six
Days In January as well as the
African-American Literary Award-nominated, National
bestseller There’s
Always A Reason. Described by writing peers
as a message-delivering, emotional masterpiece within
the African-American Community, at press time
There’s Always A Reason
was a finalist for a 2008 NAACP Image Award Nomination
in the Outstanding Fiction Category. He as contributed
articles to national periodicals such as
EBONY MAGAZINE
and many anthologies and novels such as
Zane’s Dear G-Spot:
Straight Talk About Sex and Love, Twilight Moods:
African-American Erotica, Zane’s Caramel Flava,
Sistergirls.com, Morning, Noon and Night: Can’t Get
Enough and Erogenous Zones: A Sexual Voyage.
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Anita
Diggs
has worked as a
senior book editor for Random
House, Time Warner Trade
Publishing and Thunder's Mouth
Press. She has lectured across
the country on the topics of
novel writing, book proposal
development and how to get a
literary agent. The New York
Times, The Chicago Tribune,
C-Span, The New York Daily News
have all interviewed her about
various issues affecting the
book publishing industry.
Columbia Journalism Review
placed Ms. Diggs on their “The
Shapers” list for the year 2000.
The Shapers is a list of
prominent New Yorkers who shape
the national media agenda. She
is the author of
A Mighty Love,
A Meeting in the Ladies Room
and
The Other Side of the Game.
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Tonya M. Evans-Walls
is
a Visiting Professor of Law at the Harrisburg Campus of
Widener University School of Law and managing member of
a Philadelphia-based boutique law firm that represents
clients in the areas of entertainment law Professor
Evans-Walls has also served as Adjunct Professor of
copyright, publishing and licensing at York College of
Pennsylvania. Evans-Walls is also a published author of
an award-winning series of legal reference guides for
writers and publishing industry professionals that is
distributed internationally and was selected by Writer's
Digest Book Club as a club selection for its members.
Professor Evans-Walls is also a nationally recognized
speaker who presents to various audiences regularly on
publishing law, intellectual property law and estate
planning issues. |
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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 promotion
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.
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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 |
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Troy
Johnson
is the founder of the
AALBC.com, LLC (The African American Literature Book
Club). AALBC.com was launched in 1998 and is now the
largest and most frequently visited web site dedicated
to books by and about black people. Johnson serves as a
board member of the Literary Freedom Project, an
advisory board member of the Harlem Book Fair, and is
the Book Editor for Harlem World Magazine. Johnson is
also a technology project manager for a global financial
services firm and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering
from Syracuse University, an MS from Polytechnic
University, and an MBA from New York University’s Stern
School of Business and has completed Stanford
University's Publishing on the Web course.
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Gloria Mallette
is a
self-taught writer and an Essence Magazine and Black
Board best selling author. On the heels of
self-publishing her successful second novel Shades of
Jade, Mallette signed on with Random House and later
Kensington Books to write several more well-received
novels. Mallette has been profiled in numerous national
magazines and newspapers across the country. To her
credit, Mallette now has nine published titles including
her latest self-published novel, Living, Breathing
Lies. Returning to her roots as a self-published
author, Mallette is determined to stay the course to
greater success. |
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Moses Miller is an author, journalist and
co-founder of Mind Candy, LLC, which is a company
focused on book publishing and the development of
creative and thought provoking screenplays. A native New
Yorker, Moses exhibits the uncanny ability to capture
the pulse of the streets with intelligence, strong
character development and well thought out storylines.
In the past, he has contributed articles and written for
various websites and publications including The Voice,
Newsday and
88HIPHOP.COM
where he is currently the
Editor in Chief of content. He holds a Bachelors degree
in Business Management and a Masters of Science degree
in Technology Management obtained from Polytechnic
University. His first novel,
Nan: The Trifling Times
of Nathan Jones has received awards and
critical acclaim from critics, readers and book clubs
around the world. After selling thousands of copies of
his first novel, Mr. Miller cemented a deal with F.E.D.S.
magazine resulting in a joint venture to publish his
second release, Once
Upon A Time in Harlem in September of 2007.
The highly anticipated second installment in the Nan
series, The Game of
Trife, will be released through his company
Mind Candy, LLC in the spring of 2008. Mr. Miller is a
socially conscious individual that strives to play a key
role in helping to improve the literacy rates amongst
African American and Hispanic teens. Through his
American Me “Voices of
Our Youth” program, he has partnered with
several other organizations in an effort to decrease the
high school dropout rates plaguing lower income
communities. The program encourages teens to read and
also offers exposure to aspiring authors and creative
writers. |
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Gilda N. Squire
is the founder of Gilda Squire Media Relations,
which she began earlier this year. Prior to
establishing her own public relations firm, Gilda
was the Director of Publicity for Amistad where she
was responsible for overseeing publicity and book
tours for HarperCollins’ imprint dedicated to
publishing fiction and non-fiction works by and
about people of African descent. The Amistad imprint
is the publisher of such prestigious titles as the
Pulitzer prize-winning
The Known World by Edward P. Jones;
supermodel Alek Wek’s
ALEK: From Sudanese Refugee to International
Supermodel; actress/comedienne
Mo’Nique’s
Skinny Cooks Can’t Be Trusted; the
New York Times bestselling
Confessions of a Video Vixen by
Karrine Steffans and
Off the Record: A Reporter Unveils the Celebrity
Worlds of Hollywood, Hip-Hop & Sports
by Newsweek
reporter Allison Samuels, for which she acquired,
edited and executed the publicity campaigns; and #1
New York Times
bestseller
The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris
Gardner.
In addition to Amistad, Gilda also managed publicity
campaigns for select non-fiction and fiction titles
of the HarperCollins General Books imprint, which
includes Super Bowl winning quarterback
Phil Simms
and MSNBC’s Joe
Scarborough. Gilda began her career in
publishing at Penguin Putnam where she worked with
best-selling authors such as
Suze Orman
(The Road To
Wealth),
T.D. Jakes
(God’s Leading
Lady),
Dr. Hilda Hutcherson
(What Your
Mother Never Told You About S-E-X), and
Drs. Sampson
Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins (The
Pact). From there, she worked at a
private public relations firm, Hilsinger Mendelson,
where she continued to work with
Suze Orman,
Food Network’s
Sandra Lee, as well as fitness
guru/entrepreneur
Suzanne Somers
and mega-magazine
Parade.
Her crown jewel was developing and executing the
campaign for
Bling, the
New York Times
best-selling debut novel by
Erica Kennedy
from Miramax Books. Prior to entering book
publishing, Gilda worked for nearly six years at
investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, where she
began as an executive assistant in the investment
banking division and after two years, was promoted
to the Corporate Communications department as a
global brand marketing manager during which she
established the firm’s first U.S. diversity
marketing program. Gilda graduated cum laude with a
B.A. in Communications from George Mason University.
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Dr. Maxine Thompson
is the owner of Maxine Thompson’s Literary Services,
Black Butterfly Press and the founder of non-profit,
Maxine Thompson's Literary and Education Services. Dr.
Thompson joined with Sheba Media as an independent
literary agent brokering book-to-film deals. She has
conducted 1,000 of hours of live Internet radio
interviews and is also a host with Artistfirst.com. She
launched her own Internet Radio network on March 1, 2005
at
www.maxineshow.com. Dr. Maxine
Thompson is the author of novels, The Ebony Tree, No
Pockets in a Shroud, Short story collection, A
Place Called Home, Ebooks, The Hush Hush Secrets
of Creating a Life you Love, The Hush Hush Secrets of
Writing Fiction That Sells, How to Write, Market and
Sell your book Via e-book Publishing, and included
in anthologies,
Saturday Morning, (Published under Black Butterfly
Press), Proverbs for the People, Secret Lovers, Never
Knew Love Like This Before, and All in the Family. |
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Jessica Tilles
is a best-selling author, publisher of
Xpress Yourself Publishing,
LLC
and founder of
The Writer's Assistant.
A native of Washington, DC, she is a creative writer in
all genres of fiction, with several titles in print:
Anything Goes,
In My Sisters' Corner,
Apple Tree,
Sweet Revenge,
Fatal Desire, Unfinished
Business,
editor of the best-selling anthology,
Erogenous Zone: A Sexual
Voyage,
and contributing author to
The Triumph of My Soul
edited by Elissa Gabrielle. Listed in Heather
Covington’s Top 100 Literary Divas, Jessica
remains humble in her literary endeavors and continues
to assist authors with the business of self-publishing
through The Writer’s Assistant.
As publisher of Xpress Yourself Publishing
(affectionately known as XYP), she is molding the
literary careers of 21 talented authors, which includes
two ESSENCE Best Sellers, an award-winning author,
several award nominees, and a finalist for the 2008
NAACP Image Award nomination in the Best Debut Novel
category. Annually, XYP publishes 10 to 20 titles. |
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