About Us - Site Ownership

[Black Author Showcase]

The Black Author Showcase™ was originally conceived as an offline private venue to promote the books of authors Stafford L. Battle and Rey O. Harris. While preparing for their first showcase, Stafford's noisy, pushy, 'gotta have things right all the time' missus - Diane Williams - saw the opportunity to assist other writers.

She had been looking at the publishing industry and noticed the ordeal involved in promoting books. Ms. Williams thought that since she had gone through all of this work contacting press, media, and the public - why not share with other authors? From this idea rose the first Black Author Showcase™ offline in May 2007. The event featured readings from all authors and refreshments - something like the big book parties that Ms. Williams could only look at in her ultra short time in publishing in NYC.



A month later, she created this Ning site with the spirit of comraderie and support that is not often seen in the Black community. The next October saw the first event co-hosted by the Howard University Continuing Education division. There were refreshments (if you call wine, cheese and smoked salmon refreshments) and presentations from over 20 authors.

The events have never operated at a profit - they are intended to give struggling authors a chance to let the world know about their works. That's not saying we don't like profit - we just don't think we should try to overcharge anyone - just cover costs. We feel that the amenities of the showcase (author's gifts, speaking time, 16 page program/magazine and more) make the events a good value. Ms. Williams truly believes that when you do good, you can do well.

The vision for the events and this site is intended to mentor, inspire, assist and inform. This is not just a place to stick your ad in everyone's face or spam them with your book title or service. The idea is to give freely of your knowledge and much will come back to you. Share the latest publishing news, or that printer that gave you great service, or new distributing and promotional ideas.

Members can help and support others begin or expand their careers. They can encourage others to pick up a pen and leave their legacy. Members can find artists to complement their works, or even foster a partnership or two.

If we work together, we can turn this industry around to embrace all of our works. We can create better, more literary books. We can embrace Publishing 2.0 and any new technologies. We can make this business our own. That's what is meant by "Agents of Literary Change" - that's what you are - a change agent.

Leave the ego and envy behind and let's make something great together.


This site is solely the creation of 22nd Century Press,LLC, owned and operated by Diane Williams. It is a free membership site and is not connected with any other sites other than 22nd Century or Black Author Showcase™. It is the creator of the Black Author Showcase™ Members show and Poetry show on Talkshoe.