Opportunities for authors

Publishers, authors, literary agents, retailers and anybody  connected to the book industry will converge on Los Angeles May 30- June  1 to attend the giant BookExpo America, and those interested in finding  about African American books can visit the African American Pavilion at  the Expo.
This is the largest book trade show in North America.  About 80,000 people come every year, explained Tony Rose, head of Amber  Communications Inc., which for the last two years has coordinated and  produced the African American pavilion
When we started (our business  in 1994) Third World Press, Johnson Publishing, Just Us Books and maybe  one or two others were exhibiting at BookExpo, explained Rose, adding  at that time black folks gathered on the Thursday of the convention to  network with one another.
In 2003, we got together and said why  dont we begin an African American pavilion where we can come together  as a group and exhibit. So instead of us being spread out, where people  cant find us, they can come to us all in one place.
The suggestion  became reality in 2004, when Rose company joined forces with Adrienne  Ingrum L.L.C. and Genesis Press to put together the pavilion. The  results have been well worth it, believes Rose, who said prior to the  pavilions existence, African Americans attending the Book Expo made up  about half a percent of the 80,000 attendees. In 2007, that figure had  jumped to 15 percent, and Rose believes the African American Pavilion  has become the draw.
Not only do exhibitors come, but publishers and  book sellers. They want to come to the pavilion, and they come to the  expo to network. It has become a place to buy and sell (African American  books), added the pavilion organizer.
Rose said the pavilion  consists of five rows (more than 80 vendors) of African American  publishers and book industry professionals. There is also a staging  area where we have speakers, performances, readings, and this year we  will have a special appearance by Denise Nicholas, who has written the  book Freedom Road.
The pavilion also features food, music, author  signings as well as seminars and information on getting into the  industry. An exhibitors forum is scheduled May 31 from 1-3 p.m., and an  award program from 3-5 p.m. the same day will celebrate the  achievements of African American publishing professionals including Haki  Madhubuti named independent publisher of the year.
Others to be  recognized include Self Publisher of the Year, Christian Book Publisher  of the Year, Book Store of the Year and Distributor of the Year. The  Glenn Thompson Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Lerone  Bennett, author of numerous books including the seminal work Before the  Mayflower: A History of Black America, and Tavis Smiley, who wrote  What I know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America
George C.  Fraser, best selling author and motivation speaker, is the keynote  speaker at the awards program.
In the past, seminars have included  how to market and sell your book online, and this years workshops will  feature a presentation by Marcella A. Smith, director of small press and  vendor relations at Barnes and Noble.
BookExpo is open to those  connected to the industry. This includes librarians, teachers,  retailers, publishers, authors and others. The cost of admission ranges  from $65 to $225 depending on your profession and how many days you plan  to attend. For admission information, visit www.bookexpoamerica.com.
Those  interested in exhibiting in the African American pavilion can contact  Amber Communications at (602) 743-7211 or amberbk@aol.com.