PART TWO Tony Rose, a giving individual who sold his successful - TopicsExpress

PART TWO Tony Rose, a giving individual who sold his successful record label, Solid Platinum Records & Productions, decided to enter the publishing arena after finding success self-publishing and selling over 80,000 copies of of a book he co-wrote with Yvonne Rose entitled, “Is Modeling For You: The Handbook & Guide for the Young Aspiring Black Model.” From there, he vowed to bring readers quality books and has excelled as a leader in the publishing business and unifying source of inspiration for the African American literary community at large. He is well admired, respected and is world renown with his titles having received international rights. His quest among AA publishers and authors excels beyond selling books. According to AA publishers, the BookExpo America is where powerful connections and deals are made. This is where exposure, alliances and cross-promotion is self-fueled with magnanimous support within the African-American community at large and visiting supporters. This is where “Literature is declared as the New Entertainment.” This is also, the place where literary dreams come true, and all wishes for quality exposure are granted. The events of the AA Pavilion received rave reviews and admiration from a diversified to mainstream audience of visitors who witnessed “The African-American Book Industry Event of the Year,” declared by Disilgold Soul Literary Review; a trade literary & media awards publication of the YOUnity Reviewers Guild of America. Over 2000 photos have captured literary history in motion to be featured on the AALBC, DisilgoldSoul and Disilgold photo gallery as well as a few making their way into Tony Rose’s Amber Communication’s on the Move Annual Newsletter. If you were there you also became a part of BEA history! If not, enjoy all captured and documented moments in time. Welcome to the BEA Story 2006: Behind the Scenes at the African American Pavilion. The African American Pavilion Reception & Awards Program celebrated on May 20th which paid homage to this year’s BEA Award recipients making for an educational experience itself as renowned literary giants rose to accept their honors one-by-one such as Haki Madhubuti, Chairman and Publisher of Third World Press, who was honored with The Glenn Thompson “Lifetime Achievement Award.” The keynote speaker for the awards program was none other than the legendary George C. Fraser, founder and executive producer of an annual PowerNetworking Conference, one of Black America’s largest gathering (17,000) of professionals, business owners and community leaders. Haki Madhubuti is owner of Third World Press, best-selling author of various titled poetry books and with over 3 million books in print. Madhubuti’s award was honored on behalf of the late Glenn Thompson who was a Harlem born Black publisher and well noted in the African-American community for his activism and influence on the Black book publishing movement. He also was honored with the “African American Pavilion at BEA “Book of the Year of Award for The Covenant and Yellow Black: The First Twenty-One Years of a Poet’s Life, A Memoir. W. Paul Coates, Founder and Director of Black Classic Press, was the second recipient honored with The Glenn Thompson “Lifetime Achievement Award.” A leader in the field of small press publishers, Coates founded BCP Digital Printing in 1995 to produce books and documents utilizing digital print technology. He formerly served as an African American studies reference and acquisition librarian at Howard University’s Moorland-Springarn Research Center and is the co-editor of Black Bibliophiles and Collectors: Preservers of Black History (Howard University Press, 1990). He currently serves as a chairperson for pma-online.org. Kassahun Checole, President and Publisher of Africa World Press/ Red Sea Press, was the third recipient of The Glenn Thompson “Lifetime Achievement Award.” His quest to disseminate current and historical information about Africa led him to develop two publishing and distribution houses focusing on African American issues. As a result, Africa World Press, Inc. was launched in 1983 with the publication of Barrel of a Pen: Resistance to Repression in Neo-Colonial Kenya by the renowned Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong’o. To date, AWP has published over 400 titles. In 1985, The Red Sea Press, Inc. was founded and served as the premier distribution network for over 250 publishing companies with special focus on books about people of African descent and the diaspora. In 1987, a title called Funu: The Unfinished Saga of East Timor by Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Jose Ramos-Horta was published by RSP. Faye Childs, CEO of BlackBoard Multi Media Entertainment; (Winner of The African American Pavilion at BookExpo Lifetime Achievement Award). Faye Childs created a list of top best selling books by African American authors based on Black bookstores’ sales figures and founded Blackboard Bestsellers in 1991. She is the publisher of the BlackBoard National Provider (The BNP), noted as the first African American Globally Distributed Daily Newspaper as amicably stated by Faye Childs. As stated, she will be airing the 1st BlackBoard WordStar Awards on television November 2nd at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, California. Wade Hudson, President and Cheryl Hudson, Publisher of Just Us Books, Inc. received The Haki Madhubuti “Publisher of the Year” Award. Just Us Books is noted as one of the leading publishers of Black interest titles for young people as featured at Justusbooks. The popular and recent title, “I Told You I Can Play” by author Brian Jordan was received by overwhelming fan fare by visitors of the BEA. Kevin Wayne Johnson, Publisher of Writing For The Lord Publishing was the winner of the Haki Madhubuti “Gospel Publisher of the Year” Award. He has published 5 of his 9 books from his “Give God the Glory” Book Series and is the host of the “Give God the Glory” held weekly on Blacktvonline. Dr. Ida Greene, President of People Skills International, received the Haki Madhubuti “Self-Publisher of the Year” Award. A personal development coach, ordained minister, motivational speaker and educator, she has authored over 13 books focused on personal empowerment, self esteem and even anger management skills. She began a popular phone and weekly tele-class on “How to Connect with Your Angels” and her presence at the BEA. Brother Nati Kamau-Nataki & Tabia Kamau-Nataki, co-owners of Afrikan World Distributors, received The African American Pavilion at BookExpo America “Book Distributor of the Year” Award. In 1988, Kamau-Nataki opened Afrikan World Books in Baltimore, Maryland. Since then, the company has been a leader in distributing wholesale books in their commitment to the spiritual, political and economic liberation of people worldwide. Dr. Raye G. Richardson; Owner, Blanche Richardson; Manager, Tamiko Johnson; Buyer and Cherysse Calhoun; Assistant Manager of Marcus Bookstore, Curtis Rivers, CEO and Marie Rivers, President of Moodmakers Books, Jawanza Kunjufu, President of the African American Images Bookstore, Simba Sana; CEO and Brother Yao, COO of Karibu Books and Ezel Mc Donald, owner of the Heritage Bookstore, all received the Clara Villarosa/Emma Rodgers “Bookstore Award” which was presented by the beautiful and well admired Clara Villorosa herself. Terrie Williams - One of the most heart warming moments was when Terrie Williams received “The Toni Trent Parker “Author” Award for her Bestselling titles such as The Personal Touch: What You Really Need to Succeed in Today’s Fast-paced Business World, (1994, Warner Books), Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens (Schoolastic, Inc. 2001), and A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance and Harmony Through The Seven Living Virtues (Warner Books, 2002).