C&B BOOKS DISTRIBUTION IS SPONSORING AUTHORS

C&B BOOKS DISTRIBUTION IS SPONSORING AUTHORS
@ Book Expo America 2006
MAY 19-21: WASHINGTON D.C. CONVENTION CENTER

EXTENDED DATE FOR EXHIBTORS - MARCH 26, 2006
This offer to exhibit with C&B Books Distribution at Book Expo America is a joint venture with fellow self-published authors. This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis...but the opportunity won't last for long. The fee to join our group of authors is $350.00 for three days of exposure. - Book signing schedules will be assigned to authors who attend this event. Authors who can not attend, but would like to display their titles there can send their books to C&B Books. The fee for this service is $150.00.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT?

Since the pavilion's inception in 2004, many licensing, distribution, and sales success stories have emerged from the roster of African American Pavilion exhibitors. For instance, Relentless Aaron, Owner of Relentless Content, in a recent New York Times interview, was credited with getting his four-book deal with St. Martin's Press to his discovery as a publisher/author/exhibitor at last year's African American Pavilion at Book Expo America. While exhibiting in the Pavilion last year, Tony Rose met Japanese publisher Hiroshi Sano of Transworld Japan, Inc. and made a multi-book Japanese language publishing deal.

Relentless Aaron is C&B Books' 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year, 2005 Urban Author of The Year - Needless to say we supported Relentless all the way and we are extremely proud of his success.

Join C&B Books so you can be our next star **********

This is your time to escalate your publishing business to a new level of success and showcase your products to the thousands of book buyers visiting the many exhibits featuring books and gifts by, for and about African Americans.

For further information on the African American Pavilion and Book Expo please contact

Sponsors: C&B Books Distribution - www.cbbooksdistribution.com
Carol Rogers, 718-380-9555 - cbbookdist@aol.com
Brenda Piper, 718-591-4525 - cbbookdist@aol.com
Renee Flagler- Coordinator -rflagler@aspicom.com www.aspicommedia.com
Phil Andrews- Public Relations Director -cbbookspr@aol.com www.powernetworkingseries.com

PAYMENT Schedule is as follows:

A deposit of $175.00 is due March 20, 2006 This guarantees your space to exhibit at the C&B Books Distribution booth.

Balance of $175.00 due April 4, 2006

Book Display Only: $150.00 due by March 20, 2006

The 1st Aspicomm Self Publishing Symposium & 1ST S’Indie Awards A Literary Success

The 1st Aspicomm Self Publishing Symposium & 1ST S’Indie Awards Produced BY Renee Flagler During Women's History Month is a Literary Success.

(PRWEB) March 16, 2006 -- The 1st Aspicomm Self Publishing Symposium & 1ST S’Indie Awards Produced BY Renee Flagler During Women's History Month is a Literary Success.

Where were the next top self-published authors from around the nation during Women’s History Month like Marc Lacy; author of (The Looking Heart & Reflux CD), Rodney E. Daniels (Only God Can Create a Woman), Sherry Brantley (Best of Friends), Shirley Green (God Within a Shadow), Vernelle Edwards (Missionary) James Nash (Truth Told), Naomi Douglas Davis (Write 1.com), Mel Hopkins (Sleeping With the D-Man), C. Renee West (Caught in the Struggle), Joan Robertson (In the Winter of Her Season), Sherry Brantley (Choices the Power Within You), Leon Dickerson (Dr. Dickerson, His Dissertation, and God), Shirley Green (God Within The Shadow), Vernelle Edwards (Missionary) and Lonetta M. Taylor (Fia and the Buttefly) on March 12, 2006 from 8:00am-5:00pm

These next happening authors fast on their way to the top of the African- American literary scene as many guests got to know about their lives and stories one- by- one were at The 1st Aspicomm Self-Publishing Symposium and S’Indie Awards, held at the monumental and historical Schomberg Center of Research in Black Culture and founded and produced by Ms. Renee Flagler (Aspicomm.com); Best Selling Essence Author of Mountain High, Valley Low and founder of Futures by Design; a non profit organization with “a mission to mentor and coach at risk teens for brighter futures.” Monumental history was made on this day!

The Aspicomm S’Indie Award winners were selected with much anticipation, nervousness and excitement in the air. Sherry Brantley; author of Best of Friends won for Best Fiction Novelist, Kevin Wayne Johnson; author of Give God the Glory (not present) won for Best Non-Fiction, Marc Lacy; author of The Looking Heart won for Best Poet of the Year, Joan Robertson won for Best Spiritual/ Inspirational Novel, Lonnetta M. Taylor; author of Fia and the Butterfly won for Best Children’s Book and Shirley Green; author of God Within the Shadow won for Best Cover. Heather Covington (President of the YOUnity Guild of America; editor-in-chief of Disilgold Soul Literary Review (Disilgold.com), EMCEE and judge of self-publishing contest, was awarded with the Aspicomm Trailblazer Award of Excellence for outstanding achievement in publishing, media, marketing and support of the literary community.

The self-published authors were asked to introduce themselves and share insight about their books. Key highlights were when self-published author Leon Dickerson (Dr. Dickerson, His Dissertation, And God) won iUniverse Self-Publishing’s 8 week showcase program on Barnes & Noble Bookstores.

JOLIE Magazine publishers attended the event and were surprised with a Best Beauty Magazine of the Year Award in commemoration of Women’s History Month for fostering high self image in woman and being a leading new beauty and wellness publication focusing on women of color.Currently, there is no magazine on the market that focuses strictly on beauty and style from an ethnic perspective.

Jolie Magazine was founded in 2005 by two African-American women, Alicia Marie Rivers & Rachel Breton after recognizing that African American communities, as well as Latino, Asian and other minority groups are grossly underserved in the quality and quantity of beauty, fashion, celebrity and style publications targeted to its audience. Jolie strategically caters to the needs and wants of this niche market.

The May 2nd Issue will feature Candice Dow (Caught in the Mix), and Darshell DuBose Smith signed to Amber Books,Tony Rose’s leading African-American Publishing Company of Self-Help Books, Career Guides and Celebrity Bios (Amber Books.com) and who also attended the 1st YOUnity Guild Awards featuring Michael Baisden and Def Jam’s Bruce George.

Poet Marc Lacy, all the way from Alabama,was announced for multiple awards by C& B Book Distribution and Disilgold Soul Magazine. He will also be featured in JOLIE Magazine; “the First Beauty Magazine for African- American Women of Color (www. jolieliveprety. com) thanks to Ms. Renee Flagler’s referral of the poet to the YOUnity Guild who won the Aspicomm Poet of the Year Award.

Self-Published author, Rodney Daniels expressed his plans to take his book, “Only God Can Create a Woman” to the top where to belongs. The audience was marveled by author Naomi Douglas Davis’s Write1.com featuring interactive email dialogue from characters. Best Selling author, Vincent Alexandria was called up for a surprise role play skit on how to get industry people to notice a new author’s work which added entertainment for a venue designed to bring less stress to the game of publishing and more motivation, encouragement and professional advice.

Other notable and talented self- published authors from around the nation attended the event, receiving a generous wealth of information on specially entitled panel discussions such as “How to Succeed in the Publishing Game,” “To Sell or Not Sell One’s Book,” “Distribute and Get Paid,”Rising Above the Masses; Marketing, Promotions & Publicity),” “Targeted Success by Market,”“Access to Capital & Smart Money Management by Small Business Administration,” and a special “Hot Button Topics” led by author Vickie Stringer who helped to expose the pros and cons of all publishing modes.

The venue was quite entertaining and very informative as many guests expressed their admiration for panelist speakers like Vickie Stringer; Hip Hop Queen of Literature (Triple Crown Publications Publisher & Author) who was also the Keynote speaker, Former William Morris Agent Mannie Barron (Menza Barron Literary Agency), Victoria Christopher Murray (Regional Editor of Black Issues Book Review & Author), Julia Shaw (Director of Harlin Jacque Publications), Phil Andrews CEO PA Public Relations www.papublicrelations.com and host of Power Networking Series www.powernetworkingseries.com.

Afternoon panels included beneficial discussions by James A. Nemley former Director of Small Business Consulting Services for the Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc., and Mr. Miguel Centeno of the SBA, Vincent Alexandria (Author, multi- talented entertainer and founder of the Brother 2 Brother Symposium), Diane Gedymin (Editorial Director of iUniverse, a leading self-publishing service provider) and Nancy Flowers (Flowers in Bloom Publishing, Best-selling Essence author).

Takesha Powell (Author of The African-American Writer’s Guide to Successful Self- Publishing) was admirably referred to as a leading book on self-publishing, although not present, and Vickie Stringer’s “How to Succeed in the Publishing Game,” who sold out her books later on during post panel discussions. Also, missed was Maurice Brian Henderson, but mentioned and receiving a gracious applause as a critically acclaimed writer of 20 nationally produced plays and CEO of New Arts Production Publications.

Wanda Starkes was also a judge for event who could not attend and top reviewer for the renown C& B Books (www. cbbooksdistribution.com); a company noted as one of the Top 100 Most Influential and instrumental businesses in 2006 for promotion of literary artists by Black Issues Book Review (www. bibookreview.com). They’ve also supported authors like Cynthia D. Hunter (Diary of A Crack Addict’s Wife) now slated for a full play production this year.

Black Issues Book Review Editor, Adrienne Ingram made it possible to bring the event to Harlem’s own Schomburg as a resident of Harlem. The event expressed the need for authors and publishers to help and support each other by promoting books with entities like AALBC.com of which Mr. Troy Johnson attended, showcasing one’s titles at Book Expo America where many book deals have been made as featured in the current issue of Black Issues Book Review and taking out sizeable ads in all minority newspapers which reach the African-American community at large to better support sales and more exposure. The event ended with networking, powerful connections and memories that will last a lifetime thanks to the 1st Aspicomm Self-Publishing Symposium.

Renee Flagler has a new book entitled MisGuided that hits bookstores April 2006. She omitted her biography for event, but Heather Covington, historian and author of Literary Divas™ scheduled for release this year interviewed Renee at event while event was occurring to in return, surprise Renee with a YOUnity Guild Entrepreneurial Legend Award of the Year. She was also honored with a Proclamation from Senator David Patterson who named the month of March ,officially at the Aspicomm Awards, National Self-Publishing Month.

The event ended with a wonderful surprise for Vickie Stringer who has paved the way for aspiring literary artists. A gifted and talented artist, William West, The Chronicle Artist of New York City Historic Events, gave a painting valued at over $1000 to the talented literary artist who began her career as a self-published author. All photos by Mr. Seitu Oronde’ (Oronde’ Media- Seituo@ yahoo.com) To request to be added to email list for next year's Self-Published Authors Symposium log on to www.aspicomm.com and contact via email.

Heather Covington
DISILGOLDSOUL!
Literary Reviewplus
Att: (Music, Movie, Book, Poetry, Fashion,
Business & Event Review Department)
P.O.BOX 652
Baychester Station
Bronx, NY 10469
VOX & ORDER HOTLINE-1.718.547.0499
www.Disilgold.com
Author of The Disilgold Way: Countdown 101 From Writer to Self-Publisher,
Li'l PerSOULnalities: A Children's Book for Parents & Teachers

by Heather Covington
www. Disilgold.com

Queens, New York - Queens Book Fair 2006 Announces Early email sign-up

Queens, New York - Queens Book Fair 2006 Announces Early email sign-up

Queens Book Fair 2006 Announces Early Email Sign-up (Date to be announced). Last year the Queens Book Fair was held on April 30, 2005 and was featured in Newsday, May 3, 2005, article "This book fair’s for the self-published" New York City Edition Neighborhoods section pg. A52. Self-published authors from around the country flocked the 2005 Queens Book Fair, along with book lovers around the tri-state area.

[ClickPress, Wed Mar 22 2006] Queens Book Fair 2006 Announces Early Email Sign-up (Date to be announced). Last year the Queens Book Fair was held on April 30, 2005 and was featured in Newsday, May 3, 2005, article "This book fair’s for the self-published" New York City Edition Neighborhoods section pg. A52. Self-published authors from around the country flocked the 2005 Queens Book Fair, along with book lovers around the tri-state area. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall proclaimed the month of April as Book Month in Queens.

The Queens Book Fair presented a Power Networking Breakfast prior to the opening of the Queens Book Fair to "Connect the Dots" between Corporate, government, Small Businesses and the literary world.

The fair has generated local buzz for emphasizing the growing phenomenon of self-published African-American authors. The writers have seized mainstream publishers’ attention by independently printing small quantities of their work and controlling all of its creative and financial aspects.

The authors’ success hinges on marketing strategies as diverse as door-to-door sales, street vending and arranging book signings at popular restaurants or nightclubs. But before this year, only Harlem had established an annual book fair where writers are exposed to thousands of readers in one setting.

The Queens Book Fair attracted hundreds of people to Jamaica Market, and Piper and Rogers were counting on the event to introduce some writers to a bigger audience than they've ever enjoyed.

"It was packed," Rogers said. "And I was shocked. It was rainy and we didn’t think people would show up. But they still came out."

To some degree, the women are all about taking chances. They started their book business almost by accident a decade ago, while selling gift baskets and floral arrangements at the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Flea Market in Jamaica.

C & B Books Distribution began bringing used books from their own collections to sell at the market, selling out each week. A frequent customer soon asked if the pair could get their hands on books by other African-American authors.

"She asked how soon we could get them, and I said we'd have them for her the next Saturday," Rogers said. "And I thought, ‘I don't know how I'm going to get these, but I'm going to find out.’"

Rogers, 44, not only supplied the requested books, but soon found herself fielding requests for work by other black writers. Within weeks, she and Piper were visiting distributor warehouses that stacked dozens of titles from tiny imprints around the country.

By 2001, the women sensed a revolution stirring in the African-American literary community. Sister Souljah’s 1999 cautionary coming-of age novel "The Coldest Winter Ever" had reinvigorated an urban-literature market that had hibernated for decades, provoking a new generation of black writers to eschew the mythic glamour of drugs and violence.

Other genres took shape around the same time, including revenge melodramas, romance thrillers and inspirational memoirs about overcoming abuse, addiction and lives of crime.

"It’s a whole industry booming within an industry," said Angela Wallace, whose self-published novel, "Secret Dramas," earned acclaim for its unique hybrid of soap opera and mob intrigue. "[Writers] are implementing their own imprints. As a result of that, they're bringing other black authors in under their umbrella. I think mainstream publishing is noticing that."

Brenda Piper and Carol Rogers established their own tiny umbrella on the Internet in 2002. In March 2002 Mr. Phil Andrews joined C & B Books as its Public Relations Director to strengthen C & B Books brand name recognition in the literary community. C&B Books Distribution eventually opened its first physical location at the Jamaica Market in October and introduced its newest location in a compact corner store in Flushing in January.

The partners built their stock through consignment deals with self-published authors, advising writers through labor-intensive processes such as mission statements, cover design, press releases and book signings.

While she tirelessly provides encouragement and advice, Piper, 53, insists that no book will sell without its author’s own follow-through.

"They have to be willing to get out," she said. "They can't just drop their book at the store and expect the stores to sell their book. We support authors through C & B Books authors club which promotes self-published authors.

But the women treat the Queens Book Fair like a community service as much as they do a business endeavor.

The event, which offered seminars and workshops for published and unpublished writers alike, kicked off with a networking breakfast to help forge partnerships in New York’s independent literary scene. Readers had the chance to meet and solicit advice from their favorite authors, as well.

"Harlem and Brooklyn, they already have their recognition - even the Bronx," Piper said. "Queens was very low-key, and it’s just starting to blossom."
To be placed on our email list for the 2006 Queens Book Fair or to join our authors club you may log on to our web site at www.cbbooksdistribution.com or you may email us at cbbookdist@aol.com

Phil Andrews
PA Public Relations Company
www.papublicrelations.com