3rd Annual Books N Brunch Gala

​I had the honor of attending the 3rd annual Books N Brunch Gala on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The event was hosted by Darryl Harvey, founder of the Chicago Black Authors Network. It was a great way for literary professionals and enthusiasts alike to come together to connect, be educated, and support black authors and other vendors.

Darryl welcomed the audience and introduced some of the authors, including Marsha Yates who, despite being told she would never be able to work again due to a disease, defied the odds and has been able to complete three books, including Angels In The Rye. Marsha offered this advice: "Whatever you're going through, don't ever give up on your dreams." Also featured was Terrance Leftridge, author of Unstoppable. He said that the title of the book came to him during a low point in his life and affirmed, "We must decide not to live in the past and be stuck, but move into our purpose."

Author and public speaker James Barnes conducted a brand building workshop. According to James, the most important aspect of branding is your story. "You have to literally become your brand." He urged us to share information, encourage one another, be able to stand out, and make sure our voices get heard. Joining him onstage was Ericka Glorious Moore, marketing specialist and motivational speaker, who mentioned that some of the best advice she received was to create her website and build a following before writing her book. She stressed the importance of sharing your mission, letting people know who you are, promoting yourself all the time, and highlighting what makes you unique.

After reiterating the importance of selling ourselves and allowing people to get to know the person behind the writing, Darryl introduced Tamika Newhouse, who wrote her first book at the age of 12. Named as a best-selling author, Tamika uses her life as research for her books and focuses on keeping stories relevant and staying consistent. She believes in integrating the work of service into her writing career in order to help others become successful. She advised us to remember why we got started and to not allow ourselves to be limited by our brands but let our brands show who we truly are. Tamika will release her 17th book this fall.

Following a break to enjoy a delicious meal, do some networking, and browse books for sale, the vendors had an opportunity to introduce themselves and their works. First-time author Demetrius Miller talked about her book titled Dream, which is her true story about overcoming hardship and domestic violence, as well as raising her disabled sister. Jada Sharise Moore, also a first-time author, stepped out on faith to write her book, Brokenness That Made Me Whole. The story takes the reader through stages of Jada's life, from losing who she was after being hurt by a man she loved to becoming whole again and finding true love. Jada is grateful for the process she went through and says her book is for women who have been hurt but want to love again.

A screenwriting workshop was presented by Eunice Smith, founder of The WordSmith Writer's Lab, who offered valuable advice on what to keep in mind when creating a script. Some of the tips she offered were to understand the market and find something unique to write about.

National best-selling author Earl Sewell brought the event to a close with the performance of a reading from his book, Lenny Gray. "The story is really about a journey into the past so that I could understand the present." Earl talked about getting into audiobooks and taking advantage of all the technology that has made it easy to get your message out to the world. He advised us to use the power of technology and social media to sell ourselves and market our work in a way that will encourage people to be responsive.

The Books N Brunch Gala was a powerful and memorable experience. I walked away with a wealth of useful information that will empower me as a writer.