2009 Literary Awards Show Introduction

Welcome to the Sankofa Literary Society’s 2009 Online Awards Show

Click the links to open BAN Radio. Listen to the full shows. Join us in paying tribute to our brightest stars and literary greats! Prepare to be entertained to the fullest!

Session One: Legends and Literary Leaders
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/black-author-network/2009/02/22/edc-creations-virtual-award-show


Session Two: Community Leaders and Book Club Tribute
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network/2009/02/23/Black-History-Book-Fair


In the next 4 hours we hope to enrich and enhance your knowledge of African American literature, art and music. Join us as we showcase 50 of the brightest stars in our community. Through our love for reading, we want to encourage readers to meet new authors and poets tonight. The SLS will uphold literacy in every way possible and tonight is a example of our dedication to support our people.

The spirit of "Sankofa" teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward. Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of, can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated. The Sankofa Literary Society uses examples from our colorful past as lessons to provide wisdom for a better future. We are true followers of the quote, “ You have to learn to follow, before you can learn to lead!”




2009 Online Awards Show- Session 1

Time: 6:00-6:30 Session 1, Introduction and Worship Ceremony

• EDC Creations Introduction and Advisory Board
• Cheryl Lacey Donovan-Prayer and Unity Message
• John D. Evans Legends Tribute to the Kings
• Program Directives and Award Categories/Nominees
• Announce all Presenters, Performers and Speaker

Celebrating Community
The SLS pays tribute to Social, and Civic Institutions, recognizing that African-American groups can raise awareness in the community, increase literacy as well as confront injustices and expand opportunities. The SLS believes in the potential and worth of every person, no matter what race they are or ethnic background. We strive to set a positive example for readers and authors around the world. Here you will find the emerging writer artist or musician, talented poet and established published author. We support reading and African American history 365 days a year!

Time: 6:30-7:40 Session 1, Entertainment, Speeches, Awards Presentation
• Mozell Fleming-Is Black History Important and Legends presenter
• Shelia Lipsey-The Dreamer and Legends presenter
• June Rochelle- Music, Good is Good
• Ella Curry-Legends Presentation
• Debra Owsley-Why Black History is Important to Me speech and Legends Presentation
• Caroline Brewer-Black History speech and Community Leader Presentation
• Dr. Niama Williams-Ju Ju poem and Legends presenter
• Sharen Rooks-Personal Profile and Community Leader Presentation
• Selena Winston- How the Obama's Changed a Nation and Legends Presentation
• John R. Williams- Beautiful Twins Speech and Shaper of Dreams Presentation
• Ella Curry, EDC Creations- Shaper of Dreams Presentation


Time: 7:40-7:55 Session 1 Meet the Presenters and Authors
Intermission: 10 minutes as Presenters join the chat room participants

Cheryl Donovan present the first Legends Awards to:

SORMAG-Shades of Romance Magazine
SORMAG – Shades Of Romance Magazine was started because of editor LaShaunda Hoffman’s love of AA romance novels and the lack of support for them. SORMAG was an extension of an online forum called Aspiring African-American Romance Writers she started on delphiforums.com in 1999. In 2000 SORMAG became a bi-monthly online magazine. As the romance writers began to expand into the mainstream market the magazine evolved to feature not only romance but all literature. In 2005, SORMAG advanced to the blog concept which offers readers interactive freedom. The blog lead to SORMAG becoming a publishing industry legend! Website: http://www.sormag.com/

Mosaic Literary Magazine
Launched in 1998, Mosaic is a quarterly magazine exploring the literary landscapes of Black and Latino writers. Each issue contains a unique blend of essays, profiles, and reviews. Mosaic is published by the Literary Freedom Project, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit arts organization that supports the literary arts through education, creative thinking, and new media. Editor/Publisher Ron Kavanaugh. http://mosaicmagazine.org/


John R. Williams, the author, presents the Shaper of Children's Dreams Award

Evelyn Coleman
Evelyn Coleman is the author of Shadows on Society Hill which was nominated for the EDGAR AWARD. She is also the author of Freedom Train, a Parents' Choice Recommended Title, set in Cabbagetown in Atlanta, this story is about the train that traveled to 322 cities in the US in 1947-49. Evelyn Coleman was the first African American to win the North Carolina Arts Council $5,000 fiction fellowship. Her young adult novel "Born in Sin" was selected as a Junior Literary Guild Selection in 2001 as well as the Young Hoosier Book Award. "The Riches of Osceola McCarty" was a recommended book in the February 1999 issue of Essence magazine as well as awarded as a Carter G. Woodson Honor Book in 1998. Evelyn Coleman is a treasure in the children's literature community who values a well-written story and her audience. [Source]Website: http://www.evelyncoleman.com/


Andrea Pinkney
Andrea Pinkney is one of the most influential people in the children’s publishing business. As Vice President, Executive Editor for Scholastic Trade, Andrea has acquired and edited many titles, including the upcoming Sassy series by New York Times bestseller Sharon Draper. Andrea acquired and edited many award-winning books, among them Toni Morrison’s Remember: The Journey to School Integration and A Wreath for Emmett Till. Andrea also published the teen book Serving from the Hip by World Class tennis pros Venus and Serena Williams.

In addition, Andrea will soon publish Crow Call, the first picture book by two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry and Beautiful Ballerina, a gift book featuring the principal dancers from Dance Theater of Harlem, to be published for Dance Theater of Harlem’s 40th anniversary. Andrea Pinkney was named one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business” by The Network Journal, a publication for Black professionals. Andrea Pinkney is truly a legend in the children publishing business. [Source] To find out more about Andrea and her impressive career, visit this website: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2861


Mozell Flemings--- Community Leader Award presented to Tia Ross founder of the Black Writers Reunion & Conference. The next Black Writers Reunion & Conference is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 18-19, 2009.
Website: http://www.blackwriters.org/


Shelia Lipsey--- Community Leader Award presented to TruVue Radio with Roland Hines. Tru Vue Radio is committed to upliftment and encouragement. TruVue Radio with Roland is the newest online radio network to discuss real relationships and topics that empower the community. Nothing is off topic! The show airs live every Thursday at 5:00PM PST. Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/truvueradio


Caroline Brewer--- Literary Legend Award presented to Kwame Alexander is a poet, publisher, and an award-winning producer of literary programs, Dubbed a "phenom" in the poetry world by The Charleston (SC) City Paper, Alexander has written for television, the stage, and authored ten books including the best-selling Do The Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success, Dancing Naked on the Floor: poems and essays, Tough Love: The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur, and most recently a young adult title, Crush: Love Poems.

He speaks, and conducts writing/publishing workshops at schools and conferences throughout the country. Alexander resides in the Washington, DC area, where he produced the annual Capital BookFest presented by The Washington Post, and currently serves as the President of Book-in-a-Day, a literacy program that teaches and inspires youth in the writing and publishing process. The Kwame Alexander Papers, a collection of his writings, correspondence, and other professional and personal documents is held at the George Washington University Gelman Library. Website: http://www.kwamealexander.com/



Dr. Niama Williams--- Community Leader Award presented to Sylvia Hubbard --AUTHOR, MOTHER, SPEAKER, JOURNALIST, CONSULTANT & MORE! Founder of Motown Writers Network & The African American Electronic Literary Network & Motown Romance Network, Editor of The Essence of Motown Literary Journal. Sylvia is the owner of HubBooks Literary Service and Co-Founder of Essence of Motown Writers Alliance Literary Conference. Moderator of Detroit Writers Galore & Lulu’s Romance Writers Board Member of National Association of Black Writers, Michigan Black Independent Publishers. Website:
http://sylviahubbard.homestead.com/



Sharen Rooks--- Community Leader Award presented to Danielle Hobbs, Social Coordinator. Danielle Hobbs is a five foot nothing powerhouse from the small town of Piscataway, New Jersey. Her humanitarian efforts in the world of event planning are a force to be reckoned with. In a riveting response to the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe she personally facilitated the donating of $15,000 in cash and services to a handpicked family. It eclipsed the most productive charitable effort by any student organization at her college. Within the same year, she implemented a scholarship to honor the life of a former colleague and college friend, which continues at Raritan Valley Community College to this day.

As an aspiring author she founded her own publishing company with the intention of publishing not only her own future works, but also the works of other aspiring authors. Now, as the Social Coordinator for the BWRC it is a privilege and honor that the two worlds she loves the most, writing and event planning, have finally collided. [Source of Danielle's story]


Ella Curry presents the Literary Legends Awards to:

Gary Johnson founder of Black Men In America.com
Black Men In America.com is one of the hottest web sites on the Internet. BMIA is 100% black owned and features ordinary men and women, living extraordinary lives. BMIA believes in diverse views, opinions and posts content to reflect that. BMIA has visitors from over 92 countries from around the world. One of their goals is to be inclusive. Don't let the name of the site fool you. The BMIA goal is to unite and focus on issues that they believe are unique to black men and in many cases black people. Many of the things BMIA gets involved with are relevant to all people. The idea for Black Men in America was conceived by founder Gary Johnson on an airplane flight home to DC from Las Vegas, the day of the Million Man March in October 1995.
Website: http://www.blackmeninamerica.com/


C&B Books Distribution
C&B Books Distribution was started in 1995 by Carol Rogers & Brenda Piper. The motivation behind their book business was the lack of affordable books written by African American authors. C&B decided to become an asset to our Youth and the community as a whole. C&B offers their books for less than the major distributors. The owners C&B knew this would provide their readers with a wide variety of reading materials.

C&B Books Distribution started out as an online bookstore. C&B Books Distribution mission was to sell books at a discount price to the African American community. Since then, their mission has broadened to include supporting, self-published authors. In addition to selling books, they are committed to helping authors' establish a relationship with the public. C&B Books Distribution's primary goal includes, organizing book signings, delivering press kits, promotional materials to bookstores, and agents. This dedication to community services makes them Legends in Our Literary Community. Website: http://www.cbbooksdistribution.com/


Debra Owsley presents the Literary Legends Awards to:

The Harlem Writers' Guild
http://www.harlemwritersguild.com/
The Harlem Writers Guild is a community of writers of African descent whose mission is to preserve the experience of black people in the written word. The Guild was founded as a writers workshop in the "Village" of Harlem in New York City in 1950. The founding members included: Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Rosa Guy, John Oliver Killens, Walter Christmas.

John Henrik Clarke was born January 1, 1915 in Union Springs, Alabama and died July 16, 1998 in New York City. His mother, Willie Ella Mays Clark, was a washerwoman who did laundry for $3 a week. His father was a sharecropper. As a youngster Clark caddied for Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley "long before they became Generals or President," Clarke recalls in describing his upbringing in rural Alabama. The Harlem Writer's Guild is truly a legend as well as its founders.


Legendary Author Donna Hill
http://www.donnahill.com/
Donna Hill has more than fifty published titles to her credit, three of which were adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence, The Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise magazine, among many others. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes full-time. (2006).

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 among others. Donna now has her own radio show which showcases other authors. Donna has received numerous awards for her body of work including The Career Achievement Award, the first recipient of The Trailblazer Award among others, as well as commendations for her community service.

Donna organizes author-centered events and workshops through her editorial and promotions company Donna Hill Promotions. She is also a writing instructor at The Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in New York. Donna's contributions to literature opened doors for other African America female writers.


Selena Winston---- Presenting the Shaper of Dream Awards to Children's Author Marilyn Nelson, author of Carver: A Life in Poems. I am also here to present the Shaper of Dream Awards to Children's Author Joyce Hansen author of The Gift Giver published in 1980.

John R. Williams---- Presenting the Shaper of Dream Awards to Children's Literature Legend, Virginia Hamilton the author of The People Could Fly and the legendary author and poet, Dr. Maya Angelou for her new book, Letter to My Daughter.


Ella Curry---- Presenting the Shaper of Dream Award to Motivational Author Stephanie L. Jones for her passionate and life changing book, The Enemy Between My Legs. I am also here today to present the Community Shaper of Dream Award to Judine Slaughter the founder of the United Black Writers Association. Website: http://bwgpg.org/


Black Author Network Sponsors Showcase
---Sistah's Ministry
---Renee Flagler
---EDC Creations
---Circle of Seven Productions (aka COS Productions


Meet the Authors and Speakers of the Program; giving out contact information

Closing of the First Session; Intermission for 10 minutes; Second Session Starts

-----------------------------------------------------
Join the Conversation, leave questions or comments below. Each day active bloggers are selected to win free books and prizes, so leave your email address with each post. Thank you!EDC Creations Book Promotions