It was
announced today by Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief of the preeminent
magazine for more than seven million African Americans.com.
Patrik Henry Bass, books editor for ESSENCE magazine, has been an integral
part of this evolution and thus has become the voice of African American
literature. He is also the author of Like A Mighty Stream, The
March on Washington, August 28, 1963 (Running Press, 2002 ).

New Orleans Writers' Conference Returns; NOMCVB Brings the New York Literary Marketplace to New Orleans

, the conference is set for May 12-13 at the Hotel Monteleone.
Authors include John Barry , Dr. Doug Brinkley, Roy Blount, Jr.

ADVISORY/Slew of Best Selling Mystery Authors Visit Borders Books + Music in Bailey's Crossroads This June

Who: Author, John Connolly
What: John Connolly discusses and signs copies of his new book,
"The Black Angel."

When: Wednesday , June 15 at 7:30 p."
Why: With the late June release of "Cross Bones," Kathy Reichs's
eighth novel and the latest installment in the Temperance
Brennan series, fans of the author as well as those
interested in forensic science, will have the opportunity to
be one of the first to own a copy of "Cross Bones" and have
it signed.

authors genres

"Reading strengthens education," said Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief
of ESSENCE magazine , the preeminent lifestyle magazine for more than seven
million African-Americans. Book Club members will
receive a monthly e-mail containing details of the most recent book selection,
links to exclusive author forums, interactive internet chats, chapter
previews, upcoming book news and prizes.

"This is a great opportunity for writers and aspiring writers to gain
inspiration from the literary setting that New Orleans offers, as well as get
first-hand tips from the people who are in the business of writing.m.com

genres links

"The Book Club
provides a key place for the African American community to share its thoughts
about the books that inspire them the most.

genres thornley

ESSENCE Announces ESSENCE Book Club Recommended Read Program and Launches National Reading Campaign

Terry McMillan , Gloria Naylor and Edward P.
Sponsored by the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention + Visitors Bureau,
Inc.
In past years, publishers have signed some of today's recognized authors,
and others have garnered bylines as a result of NOWC.

diann t

95). Since its
inception, ESSENCE has been the leading portal of introduction for emerging
African American literary talent, celebrating established authors and
reflecting publishing trends within the African American community. Bass and photographer and artist Karen Pugh coauthored
In Our Own Image: Treasured African-American Traditions, Journeys and Icons
(Running Press, 2001). Stephen Perry, CEO
and President of New Orleans Metropolitan Convention + Visitors Bureau.

When: Thursday, June 9 at 7:30 p.

fiction science

"Education increases achievement and impacts social
change.
"We are thrilled that Pearl Cleage's newest book is the first selection of
The ESSENCE Book Club Recommended Read program," said Bass.essence.
Conference attendees registered at the Hotel Monteleone, will be invited
to a special cocktail reception with the above authors, agents and editors.m.

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All
participants who have attended this conference have established a business
relationship with an agent or editor, and some have even signed contracts for
work , garnering a first byline or book contract," said J. The conference will span all genres, including children's
literature, culinary writing, essays, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, writing
music for the stage and screen, faith-based writing, poetry, screenwriting,
short stories, and many more.
To register for the conference, please visit
http://www."
Why: A blend of historical facts and great fiction, "Dark Voyage"
is sure to appeal to both history and fiction enthusiasts ."
Why: "The Black Angel" is the fifth installment in the popular
Charlie Parker series.
Who: Four-time Edgar Award nominated author, Jeffery Deaver
What: Jeffery Deaver , author of "The Bone Collector," discusses
and signs copies of his new book, "The Twelfth Card.

When: Thursday, June 30 at 7:30 p.

science thornley

The far-reaching
campaign is designed to inspire adults, teens and children to read more,
underscore the importance of parents reading to their children , and to
stimulate public support for libraries that are sorely lacking resources in
urban areas . Cleage
is also the lead author profile in ESSENCE's upcoming March 2006 issue, which
goes on sale February 7. The
Essence Best-Sellers List, which appears each month in the magazine and
on -line, is the foremost measure of book sales within the African American
community. He is an award -winning writer and editor, with an extensive
background in publishing covering books, lifestyle and popular culture. NEW ORLEANS, After a 10-year absence, the New
Orleans Writers' Conference (NOWC ) will return to bring the New York literary
marketplace down south for a weekend where aspiring writers can meet top
agents, editors and authors. Top-tier panel
participants for this year's conference include Random House, Penguin
Publishing, Simon + Simon Entertainment, Crown Publishing Group, Vintage
Books, Grove Atlantic, Thomas Dunne Books, St.

authors about

"
The main element of the campaign is The ESSENCE Book Club Recommended Read
program, one of the largest book clubs of its kind. In
addition, each selected title will feature The ESSENCE Book Club Recommended
Read logo on the book's cover, which will be sold in bookstores throughout the
country. Individuals can sign-up by logging on to http://www.
The first selection is New York Times best-selling author Pearl Cleage 's
newest book, Baby Brother's Blues (One World/Ballantine Books, $24. Also, the recently announced ESSENCE Short Fiction Contest received
more than 2,000 entries from regions as far as Africa and Japan. He has
also written and edited for a number of publications including The New York
Times , O: The Oprah Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, The Washington Post, Time
Out New York, Brooklyn Bridge , Entertainment Weekly and BET Weekend, where he
was a founding editor.com., Julia
Reed, Jeremiah Towers, Ken Wells, Berthe Amoss, Alice Pope, Tom Piazza, to
name a few..

----Borders Books + Music(R) (NYSE:BGP)

When: Monday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m."
Why: With the early June release of "The Twelfth Card," this
event allows fans of Jeffery Deaver the opportunity to be
one of the first to purchase a copy of the book and get it
signed by the author. In the "The Twelfth Card,"
enthusiasts will learn the answer to the missing -shoe murder
from the final chapter of "The Vanished Man.
Who: Edgar Award nominated author, Jane Stanton Hitchcock
What: Jane Stanton Hitchcock, author of "Social Crimes" signs
copies of her new book, "One Dangerous Lady.
Who: International renowned author , Kathy Reichs
What: Kathy Reichs reads from and signs copies of her new book,
"Cross Bones.

Where: Borders Books and Music
5871 Crossroads Center Way
Bailey's Crossroads, VA 22041
(703) 998-0121

Contact: Media contact Christine Hilferty at (443) 253-2037 or at
chilfert@bordersgroupinc.

fiction arts

Published by Essence Communications Inc.
Knopf, Red Dress Ink, MacAdam/Cage, Pelican Publishing, New York Times Book
Review, Viking and Zoetrope. "One Dangerous
Lady" is Hitchcock's fourth book.

science literature

This important campaign is an opportunity to affect large-scale
progress.essence."
Details about other components of the yearlong campaign, including a
parent's challenge to read to their children and ways to support public
libraries, will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information about
The ESSENCE Book Club Recommended Read program, see the upcoming March 2006
issue of ESSENCE magazine or visit http://www. Martin's Press, Alfred A.neworleanswritersconference.
This novel is set in 1941 during World War II.

When: Wednesday, June 8 at 7:30 p.

thornley about

NEW YORK, ESSENCE magazine will launch The ESSENCE
Book Club Recommended Read program and a national reading campaign. Throughout the year,
ESSENCE will select a recently released, classic fiction or non-fiction title
by an African-American author to be highlighted. ESSENCE editors will also provide
online discussion questions and reader guidelines about the featured book. Jones are among the
dozens of authors who launched their writing careers in the pages of the
magazine.

Business Editors/Entertainment Editors
ADVISORY.
Who: Historical espionage author, Alan Furst
What: Alan Furst reads from and signs copies of his latest book,
"Dark Voyage.m."
Why: Fans of Jane Stanton Hitchcock will have the opportunity to
meet the author as she discusses her work.

science genres

ESSENCE is the authority on African American literature.

ABOUT ESSENCE:
With more than seven million readers, ESSENCE is the preeminent lifestyle
magazine for African American women .,
it is the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of
African American women's lives. For more than 35 years, ESSENCE has celebrated
personal achievement, chronicled social movement, documented struggles,
showcased beauty, defined and set trends. In
addition to networking , the conference guarantees that the first
100 manuscripts submitted with the registration fee will be reviewed by a top
agent or editor, followed by a one-on-one critique.com or call 504-566-5045 .m.