Press Release
Black Ink: A Charleston African American Book Festival has opened registration for attendees of the virtual and free festival taking place Jan. 14-16, 2021. The festival will be focused on amplifying the voices of black authors and the programs for authors and readers include panels and workshops featuring authors, publishing professionals, librarians and more.
Attendees will have the opportunity to attend live virtual programs and discussions, engage with presenters, authors and attendees. Through the virtual festival platform, attendees will also be able to chat with each other, discuss topics of interest, visit authors, sponsor virtual tables and more.
“The Black Ink Festival has been working to showcase the works of black authors for more than five years during its annual event, which has attracted hundreds of attendees” said Black Ink Committee Chair Djuanna Brockington. “This year, Black Ink will further highlight the diversity of our literary landscape.”
Topics include marketing your writing project, a self-publishing workshop, a discussion on advocating for black voices, a panel on influencer marketing featuring Instagram Influencer Jeanell Marvin, and a discussion on how calls for diversity are changing the publishing landscape, featuring New York Times bestselling author Kiley Reid and a representative of We Need Diverse Books.
The festival will also host New York Times bestselling author Kwame Mbalia as its keynote speaker. Mbalia is a middle-grade writer who authored the novel Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. His sequel Tristan Strong Destroys the World was published in October by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion. He is a graduate of Howard University and currently resides in North Carolina with his wife and children.
For the full program list, visit https://www.
For more information about Black Ink, which is hosted by the Charleston Friends of the Library in partnership with the Charleston County Public Library, the Avery Research Center, Live 5 News and KDP Direct Publishing, visit www.blackinkcharleston.org. Attendees who need assistance during the virtual festival may email support@blackinkcharleston.org
