Event Announcements – Story Circle Schmooze, and African American Book Fair!

Hello to all!

Hope you are enjoying the first week of the #LoveMadeVisible show as much as I am. Thanks to all of you who have contributed and commented. What a wonderful, talent-filled region we have! Here are a few announcements concerning upcoming events….

There are still a few spots left for the Story Circle Schmooze in Lancaster! It’s free, but you do need to register. Sign up today, because space is limited!  Remember that this is NOT a craft workshop, but a relaxed, fun-filled opportunity to get acquainted with others in our community interested in writing and illustrating for young readers. It’s all about mutual support!

On a related note, we have a few members who would like to share rides for the Schmooze. If you need a ride, or are willing to provide one to a friend near you, please either say so in the comments, or e-mail me at LKBandy84@yahoo.com. We’ll see what we can do to get you there….Sandy and I can’t wait to meet you!

• Also, thanks to Anna Forrester for giving us all a heads-up about the African American Children’s Book Fair in Philly this weekend:

If you’re free this Saturday — and anywhere near Philly — come check out this year’s 23rd African-American Children’s Book Fair at the Community College of Philadelphia (17th & Spring Garden Streets), from 1 to 3pm. It’s a great place to find (and purchase) all sorts of titles featuring African-American kids and families, plus titles addressing subjects related to African-American history, culture and lore.

Scores of authors and illustrators will be in attendance, signing books and chatting: Jerry Pinkney, Gloria Pinkney, Jerry Craft, Floyd Cooper, Zetta Elliott, Eric Velasquez, and many more.

You can find the full list plus more info at: http://theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org/ And you can read a little more about the fair’s founder and history in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20150205_African_American_Children_s_Book_Fair_keeps_authors__families__and_kids_coming_back.html

One technical note if you do go: the fair is very much geared towards children. If it is organized the same way that it was last year, the line and wait to enter may be slow because kids get the opportunity to meet authors and illustrators and receive free books right as they enter the hall, and this takes some time. If you come WITHOUT children, and so are not collecting a free book, you might want to walk up to the front of the line to see if you can just go ahead in.