Black Author Showcase

From Insurance Salesman to Bestselling Ebook Author

2011-09-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

From Insurance Salesman to Bestselling Ebook Author

2010-04-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

22nd Century Press: Google, HP, Nokia to Make Slate/Tablet PC's a la iPad

2010-04-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

More ebook/tablet/slate pc drama - 22nd Century Press: Google, HP, Nokia to Make Slate/Tablet PC's a la iPad

Andrew Zant Is Sick & Tired Of Bookscan - Monday Rant

2009-06-22T15:48:00.001-07:00

San Diego literary agent Andrew Zant is ranting in his blog about the inaccuracies in the publisher/BookScan relationship. He says his client is has had a book turned down because the publisher says his previous books did not perform well as reported by the BookScan system. Mr. Zant begs to differ, offering his clients' royalties as proof.

Read the rest on his blog entry: The Lie that is Bookscan

This Month’s BAS Featured Blogs

2009-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

brburns Day 21 - Happy Father's Day!

Sheba Jordan Extra Special Tribute to Black Fathers - You Deserve This!

D. A. Sears To The Fathers Of The World . . .

Nanette Buchanan The Lifeline of a Man

Monday Morning Author News TweetChat

2009-06-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

Are you working on your newest book? Need a little quick inspiration? Want to announce your latest book release or event?
Do it in 140 words or less on the Monday Morning TweetChat with the Black Author Showcase. It's a great way to get a little motivation before you bury your head in your work for the rest of the week.

The Monday Morning TweetChat starts this Monday at 9am on Tweetchat.com. Just sign into the site with your Twitter login (it's even easier if you click the Beta link on the site), then type in our Twitter hashtag for the 'Room to Enter': #blackauthors. That's it. Now all you have to do is share your news. We will be on the chat for an hour, so drop by and tweet!

This will be a regular feature of the BAS. Tell us if you think we should have an evening TweetChat and on what day.

Remember:
@blackauthors Monday Morning TweetUp starts this Monday, June 15, at 9am EST on Tweetchat.com #blackauthors

On 22nd Century Press: Respond To Your Crappy Reviews

2009-05-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

A new blogsite makes venting over a bad review an act of healing. Check it out on 22nd Century Press: Respond To Your Crappy Reviews

Writers - Your Story May Be An Open Book

2009-05-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

Open Book is a new weekly television program premiering Monday, May 11th on Link TV. Created and hosted by Ina Howard-Parker and directed by Diane Paragas, Open Book focuses on the writers and other storytellers living and working in a different spot on the planet each week.

The premiere features writers and other artists—including actors and musicians—currently living and working in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
The pilot will premiere nationally on Link TV (DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410) on Monday, May 11th at 8:30pm EST, with an additional airing on New York City’s Time Warner Cable channel 34 (MNN) at 11:00pm EST. The program will rebroadcast on Link TV on May 13th at 11:30pm ET. For additional local cable channels carrying Link TV, visit: http://www.linktv.org/reception

In addition to the weekly half-hour broadcast, each guest’s segment from Open Book will be released as an independent short film online through blogs, websites and social media—feel free to embed these videos on yours.

Open Book TV: Ishmael Beah from Open Book TV on Vimeo.

Is Screenwriting Your Dream?

2009-05-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

If so, and you are totally committed to learning to write for the big screen (or the little plasma), you might want to enroll into a screenwriter's program.

One program I recently took a look at is the Writers Boot Camp in Los Angeles and New York City and online. Writers Boot Camp was founded by president Jeffrey Gordon soon after he obtained his masters from the Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program at USC. He put together a six week course that guaranteed a complete script. This evolved into the present Basic Course and Think Tank programs - membership for screenwriters who want to fully develop their work. There is also a Career Development Program which includes industry speakers and actor readings of scripts-in-progress.

There are intern and even barter opportunities that may help you in your dream of becoming a screen writer. Right now the New York office is looking for a handyman in exchange for class time.

First posted on the Black Author Showcase Community site.

It's Not Too Late to Enter the StoryTubes 2009 Contest!

2009-02-10T07:44:00.001-08:00

StoryTubes 2009 Contest
Tell, Tube, Vote for Fun and Prizes
Be the star of your own movie! Tell about a favorite book by creating an online video. The contest is open to kids and teens as well as adults*.

Things to know:

Make your video two minutes long (or shorter)

Feature only one book in your video

Enter as an individual or as part of a group of two to five people

Enter between January 8 and February 15, 2009

Be creative!

For more information, please read the contest rules.

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*Videos featuring only students OR both students and adults are eligible for prizes. Videos featuring adults only are welcome, but are not eligible for prizes.

See the winning entries for 2008!

http://www.storytubes.info/

Writers & Thoughts on the Eve of the Election - 2008

2008-11-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist on the eve of such a momentous election:
Poet E. Ethelbert Miller gives us the words of Walt Whitman for Election Day on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and his E-mag Early Election Edition which features writers from around the nation chronicling the election happenings in their surrounds .

Author Tananarive Due demonstrates the importance of family in this election with her blog entry: "Why Does Grandma Wear Dark Glasses?": My Family & the 2008 Election

Style versus Substance on Obamesque

Thank you Charles Alexander
"Everybody my age is dying off. Everybody. Next four or five years, I probably won't be around. These young people are gonna take the lead. That's what I love seeing about all these people sitting here as volunteers - 'cause they are our tomorrow."

Author's Showcase: Adobe - Online PDF converter from Acrobat.com

2008-07-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Author's Showcase: Adobe - Online PDF converter from Acrobat.com

Joy & Pain: Everyday in Publishing

2008-07-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

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Walden Media & Harper to Publish Children's Books

2008-05-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

As reported in Variety ( Walden, Harper team up - Variety ), Walden Media will launch Walden Pond Press with it's new partner, HarperCollins Children's Books.

Marc Graser reports "As part of the multiyear pact, the venture will acquire and publish books for young readers. Naturally, it also plans to turn several of its tomes into film adaptations or pair up properties with other filmmakers."

First published title will be "The Will of Will Wolfkin," by screenwriter Steven Knight, who penned the pics "Dirty Pretty Things," "Eastern Promises" and "Amazing Grace."

This is the media/publishing team that gave us "The Chronicles of Narnia" franchise, "Charlotte's Web" and "Bridge to Terabithia" film adaptations.

Ta-Nehisi Coates Blogs on the Comic that Influenced His Life & Writing Career

2008-05-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Coates is a journalist and the author of the new memoir The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood, Spiegel & Grau (2008).

Here is an excerpt from the blogpost, Blogging TBS: The Uncanny X-Men:
"I tell you these days, it almost feels cliche to cite the X-Men as an influence. But what can I say? I don't think I'd have much of a memoir, without them. If it's true, it's true. I mentioned in one of my other posts that absence of religion in my house caused me to search for god-like figures in other places. The X-Men seemed cut right out of what you'd expect from Greek mythology, but with a twist--they were like us. I think in some respect all kids feel alienated. I just knew it was my destiny to be living out in Columbia or Randallstown, going to a school where every day I wasn't thinking about how to not catch a bad one. I just knew there'd been some horrible mix-up. And I just knew I was possessed with something that the wider world wasn't recognizing. Later I discovered what that was--a huge ego.But in those days, when I was trapped in a victim narrative, the X-Men were an allegory for my life--or at least how I wished my life was.

Here it was--It's not because of jacked-up fade, my NBA kicks (Next time Buy Adidas), my ashy knees or big lips that I got teased. It's because I can walk through walls, because my bones don't break, and eyes shoot that sort of darts that punch through steel. Later, as I got older, and became conscious, I developed a more mature interpretation and came to see the X-Men, and all mutants, as like a stand-in for West Baltimore, the South Bronx, and North Philly. In other words, the X-Men repped for anyone in the grand scheme who was under pressure. "
Read the rest here: http://www.ta-nehisi.com/2008/03/blogging-tbs--1.html

Too bad there was no black comic book that could have given this much influence and support. Unfortunately, I think we all suffered from the lack of comics that looked like us. Just a few weeks ago, I asked my brother if he would attend the ECCBAC and he replied, "No, I'm only into the classics I grew up with." I nearly cried. I know he has other issues, but this broke my heart. Specifically because I know he is not alone.

Read an excerpt from his new book on The Root, here: http://www.theroot.com/id/46279

X-Men, Coates, comics, writers, books

Immerse Yourself in Poetry this April

2008-04-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

April is National Poetry Month and on the Black Author Showcase™ we are celebrating by posting a new member poem each day in April on the Main page. Days one and two were Marc Lacy and Afrika Midnight Asha Abney. Don’t miss the other talented poets we have lined up for you.

You’ll also want to check this out: BAS is hosting a live poetry panel & podcast April 23rd with our member poets to discuss their work and offer advice (on either writing or the publishing process) for aspiring writers. There will also be a big surprise for our participating poets. Call in and share your words and rhymes, everyone is invited. Click here for more information on the BAS Poetry Spotlight.

BAS Member Poetry Readings and Interviews: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=17383&cmd=tc

Black Author Showcase Online Community: http://blackauthors.ning.com/

Warnings and Cautions for Writers--Writers' Alerts

2008-02-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

Author's Showcase: Warnings and Cautions for Writers--Writers' Alerts

A quick reminder that there are always scoundrels ready to capitalize on naivete.

Amazon Bestseller Campaigns - Are They Worth It?

2007-08-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Author's Showcase: Amazon Bestseller Campaigns - Are They Worth It?

We've all seen the phrase on many a website or book "Amazon Bestseller", but what does that really mean? It turns out that Amazon updates it's sales rankings hourly. That means if you can get hordes of people buying your piece at the same time, you will be that hour's bestseller.

Exactly how does that affect your overall sales?
Amazon Bestseller Campaigns - Are They Worth It? - Black Author Showcase

If sales rankings make your day, perhaps you might enjoy using one of the online book trend trackers:
Easy Trackers for Book Trends

I, Catalyst

2007-05-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Author's Showcase: I, Catalyst

Striking literary change can be a bear. However real change in any field is difficult for most organizations and/or individuals. Just think of the last time you tried to trim a few pounds, get used to a new job or boss, or learn a new software program. Life is just sooooo much easier when we do things the way it's always been done.

The way everyone else does it.
Without making waves.
Without discovery.
Without spark.
No life.

Boring.

I for one intend to embrace change and even act as a catalyst for others (misery just loves company). We are blessed to live in an unprecedented communicative age. Technology is expanding exponentially and everything we say or do is on a continuously sharpening edge.

Nothing is as it seems and frankly, everything you 'think' you know may be wrong.
So what.
We adapt.
We've got it like that.

Welcome to the Blogging Home of the Black Author Showcase

2007-05-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

Our network of black authors and anyone else that can bring a book to life.