Patricia Johnson-Harris presents the 6th Annual African American Authors Expo in Timonium, MD on Aug. 15. Please read her guest blog post.

Are you a book lover? The 6^th Annual African American Authors Expo will be held at the Radisson North Baltimore Hotel this weekend. The address of the venue is 2004 Greenspring Drive in Timonium, MD. Patricia Johnson-Harris stopped by the blog to explain what she does and why. I hope that you enjoy her five minute interview at The Nook.

 

 

Behind the scenes with Patricia Johnson-Harris

RAABN: What you do?

PJH: I  am the founder and visionary for the African American Authors Expo and Multi-Cultural Book Festival.

RAABN: What is your mission?

 

PJH: Our mission is to create a platform that exposes local  and independent authors of all nationalities to the general public, and have dedicate ourselves to helping authors connect with national and local book clubs, organizations and readers abroad.

RAABN: How did you get started with the African American Authors Expo?

PJH: I was working with my husband, Roger Harris, producing jazz concerts and my first contacts with independent authors were as vendors at the various jazz events.  That’s where my vision through pray came to fruition.  

RAABN: Why did you do it and when? 

PJH: I began to talk with the authors when they would vend at our events. I discovered the struggles they faced in publishing, editing, printing, and getting recognition. It heavied my heart and something needed to be done to help these authors, but I had no experience with authors or publishing, so I did the one thing I  knew at the time, to do and that was pray. I prayed for months and was finally given an answer to have an event that highlight and showcase local authors. Why do we have to always pick up a book by a national author, when we have so many talented authors right here In our own back yard? This platform to support authors at the time was for our local authors, but it has grown so much for authors all over. My very first expo was in August of 2009 in Columbia, Maryland. Today, we are still going strong.

RAABN: Do you have a favorite book genre?

PJH: I do. Romance. It's nothing like reading a good love story because you also get a little bit of suspense in romance novels. 

RAABN: How many authors will be at the expo? Are they all local? Are they traditionally and self published? 

PJH: At the 6^th Annual African American Authors Expo, we will have about 50 exhibiting authors from all over the states like New Jersey, New York, Cleveland Ohio, North Carolina, Atlanta and Pennsylvania. Yes, we will have just as many authors who were published through a traditional publishing company as self-published authors at this year’s expo.

RAABN: Tell me a little about the event and activities that will be held.

PJH: The event is a great networking opportunity for authors, aspiring authors and entrepreneurs. We are hosting 7 workshops for the author and business-minded individual.  You can attend a workshop on how to start your writing project, to branding your book or business, so there is a workshop  designed for almost everyone.  We have author speaking panel, a book club panel for anyone wanting to learn how to have a successful book club, and a publishing panel. We also host the Youth Writers challenge. We support our youth who have a desire to write. All of the participants get school supplies to prepare them for the upcoming year.  There are games and actives for children. The expo is a free, family fun event.

RAABN: Why should book clubs and readers attend this?

 

PJH:  I encourage books clubs to attend the expo so that they get the opportunity to meet our independent authors, and the authors get to connect with clubs who enjoy reading. This is the place where we bring the clubs and authors face-to-face and make connections.

RAABN: What is one thing people don't know about you?

PJH:  Let’s see. One, I love roller skating. I get on the floor and just skate away. It’s a great way to exercise, but it also allows me to leave everything at the door and just have fun.  I also love to sit at home with a bowl of popcorn in the middle of me and my husband, Roger and watch Law & Order SVU. I love that show.

Please visit  www.aaaexpo.net for more information. Grab your bookish friends in the DMV and attend this event!


Have you read my recent interview with Victoria Christopher Murray? She will be there, too. Click here.

 

The Barefoot Spirit Is A Must Have Business Read.

    

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey's The Barefoot Spirit is an effective, action-packed teaching tool about clearing a path to become successful in business. The book opens with a precarious situation that was linked to their mission to help a friend collect a debt in the wine industry. However, their position unexpectedly shifts from helpers to leadership. A brainstorming session leads to creation of a new wine brand called Barefoot Wine. 

Although the well-known brand is a runaway success today, the founders of the wine company take readers back to early days when they had no capital, struggled to build partnerships, and when the couple knew little about their industry. As they recount real stories of a financially rocky time, lessons unfold frequently in an uncertain adventure. The tips provided in their book are priceless lessons worth far more than the cost of The Barefoot Spirit. There's just as much showing us what happened as telling. The balance of this presentation lends itself to crisp dialogue and reader engagement. 

This book should easily inspire, entertain and educate struggling, young or aspiring business owners, leaving them to question what essential changes they too can make to improve their own venture. Additionally, I appreciated that The Barefoot Spirit's information could be used in any business setting. This is the most down to earth business book that I've read thus far, due to the admission and inclusion of the ugliest part of making mistakes. The difficulty to carve out a niche in the business world was not romanticized, but unbridled honesty gives insight to possibly help others to prepare better. I highly recommend reading The Barefoot Spirit and extracting tips for future reference. I typically am not impressed by most business books, but I easily rate this one five stars. I strongly encourage others who are hungry for business and marketing knowledge to buy The Barefoot Spirit. Kudos to the authors for reminding us that climb isn't easy, but making it to the top is possible.

An interview with Michael Houlihan is in this new edition of Grove Street:

http://issuu.com/bloggertime/docs/grove_street_august_2013