We are looking forward to the 2021 National Black Book Festival, Oct. 21-23, which will be entirely virtual again this year. Recent surveys of African-American book event attendees indicate the vast majority are waiting until 2022 to attend in-person events. We don't want registered authors to incur travel and book printing expenses if the audience will be substantially less than normal. We will return to our in-person event in 2022.
This year's virtual event will be exciting nonetheless! We are working on some creative activities to make this year fun, informative, and interactive. We welcome Harper Collins Publishers as new corporate sponsors for 2021.
For authors interested in participating, because the event is virtual there is limited space available. Therefore, we will be unable to accept any deposits or new author registrations after July 9, 2021.
All registered authors that have at least made a deposit by July 9th will be able to participate in the virtual 2021 NBBF based on the following criteria:
- Those authors that pay ONLY a deposit will be included in the virtual 2021 NBBF in a group interview with other authors in their genre(s). The deposit will be retained on the books for the 2022 NBBF and their final balance will not be due until Aug. 31, 2022.
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Authors that pay their balances in full by Aug. 31, 2021 for this year's NBBF will be included in the virtual event with a one-on-one interview, as well as individual social media marketing and other benefits. For those that pay in full, their entire payment will be carried over to 2022, and they will owe nothing for next year's in-person event.
The virtual 2021 NBBF will feature the following activities (more will be added):
- A ticketed opening virtual Welcome Reception on Thursday evening (Oct. 21), that will include interaction with high-profile authors, entertainment, and a gift bag that will be shipped to all ticketholders in advance of the event.
- Interactive games and other activities;
- A book club meet-and-greet activity;
- Free book writing, self-publishing, marketing, and book-to-film seminars;
- Online interviews with dozens of authors; and
- Featured author presentations that include Q&A.
Returning featured authors include author/actress Karyn Parsons and music executive Mathew Knowles. A detailed schedule will be posted on the NBBF website no later than July 31, 2021.
In the meantime, NBBF sponsors a weekly, live-streamed program called Black Authors Matter TV where we interview authors and other book industry experts every Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. CST. You are invited to tune in to the show on any Tuesday via the NBBF Facebook Page here. Information about being a future guest on Black Authors Matter TV is available online here.
Info about advertising at the 2021 NBBF is available online here.
Stay tuned for more details about the 2021 NBBF. Continued best wishes to you in all of your literary endeavors and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Gwen Richardson
Co-Founder and National Coordinator
National Black Book Festival
