Join us at the BLK.INK Virtual Book Fair in celebration of new and indie authors from various cultural backgrounds and across a broad range of genres including general fiction, urban fiction, romance, sci-fi, crime, young adult (YA), non-fiction, poetry, personal & professional growth, faith, and children’s books. The one-night event will take place virtually on Friday, January 29, 2021, from 5-9 PM CST.

During the event, attendees will participate in an Interactive Author & Artist Showcase, the 'Ladies Night Out' All Male Authors Panel, Speaker's Series, a Cooking Demonstration, Music by a LIVE Performer, and Giveaways!

EVENT AGENDA

5:00 PM

Welcome: BLK. INK Founder, Author & Entrepreneur Michelle D. Jackson

5:10 - 5:30 PM

Live Performance: Award-Winning Jazz Guitarist Cashmere Williams/ Visit Virtual Exhibit Showcase

5:30 - 6:00 PM

Visit Virtual Exhibit Showcase

6:00 - 6:45 PM

Featured Speaker: Tracy Sherrod, VP, Editorial Director & Publisher of Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher that is focused on Black literature. Amistad is the oldest U.S. publisher dedicated to multicultural voices.

Topic: Thriving as a Black Author

Tracy will be joined by Author & International Jewel Thief, Doris Payne. Doris will discuss her book and upcoming movie, Diamond Doris, based on her life.

6:45 - 7:00 PM

Visit Virtual Exhibit Showcase

7:00 - 7:30 PM

Cooking Demonstration & Interview: Chef Terrell Manning, Author of “The Love Languages of Food.”

7:30 - 7:45 PM

Visit Virtual Exhibit Showcase

7:45- 8:15 PM

Interview with Jesse Washington, Author, Journalist & Senior Writer for ESPN's The Undefeated, a platform for exploring the intersections of race, sports, and culture.

8:20 - 8:50 PM

Panel Discussion: All-Male New & Indie Authors:

Dennis Martin, Author of “Financial Decision Making” (Self-Help Finance)

Brian Evans, Author of “The S.P.E.A.R. Paradigm: Encountering God” (Christian Non-Fiction)

Emmanuel Kulu, Author of "I, Black Pharaoh: Rise to Power” (Historical Fiction)

Sean Aeon, Author of “The Outsider’s Mind” (Dark/Fantasy Fiction)

9:00 PM - Event Ends

Throughout the event, meet with and purchase books directly from authors in our Virtual Author Vendor Spaces & Chat Rooms. Meet the authors LIVE, learn about their work, and find out how you can receive autographed copies and ebooks.

Vendor booths are only $75 for the one-day event. To register, go to https://my.boothcentral.com/v/events/blk-ink-virtual-book-fair, click the Apply for Booth link above.

Our first event held on November 6-7, 2020 was a great success. It was viewed by 1,100 + book lovers via livestream. There were 216 author/artist booth interactions, 120 author/author website clicks, and 163 live chats!