BIBR and NBCC form partnership, NBCC Chicago Conference in Aug 2007

BIBR and NBCC form partnership to expand black book club conference
http://www.bibookreview.com/storiesid040207.htm

(March 26, 2007 ) Black Issues Book Review and the National Book Club Conference have announced that they are forming a partnership to further expand one of the nation’s most unique literary events.

Four years ago journalist and author Curtis Bunn founded NBCC, a not-for-profit organization, which brought together African-American reading clubs and authors for a celebration and exchange of ideas. What began with modest support from publishers, book clubs and authors has grown into a major three-day event that last year attracted more than 700 participants.

The NBCC conference offers panel discussions with leading African-American authors and publishing professionals. It also bestows awards to upcoming writers, issued by literary pillars like Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan and Terrie Williams, and to book clubs for civic and literacy projects. This year, the NBCC will issue its inaugural  award in the name of the late Bebe Moore Campbell.

As part of the newly formed alliance, BIBR will become the exclusive marketing and media partner of NBCC. In this role, it will work with sponsors, advertiser and media partners to build greater support for the event. “Our magazine has been affiliated with Curtis and the NBCC since the beginning,” said Ken Smikle, publisher of BIBR. “As partners, we look forward to growing the conference to its full potential and providing attendees with an even more unique experience.”

"Black Issues Book Review is the leading resource on literature for and about blacks," Bunn said. "Its support over the years has been significant. Now, with Ken's initiative, we will collaborate to make a wonderful yearly experience that much more memorable and rewarding."

This August, NBCC will take nearly two hundred participants to Ghana, West Africa for its first overseas conference. Among the authors attending will be Bernice McFadden, Nina Foxx, Ghana-born Ekow Eshun and Akosua Busia, among others.

Also this summer, Black Issues Book Review and NBCC will present the first regional conference, NBCC Chicago, to be held in August following the return of the Ghana gathering. The Chicago event will give those clubs that have not been able to travel to the Atlanta conference the opportunity to come together. The date and location of the day-and-a-half conference will announced shortly.

Black Issues Book Review is the nation’s only magazine devoted to reviewing books by black authors and of interest to African-Americans. Now in its eighth year, the award-winning magazine is published by Target Market News, Inc., a Chicago-based company that specializes in publishing news and research about African-American marketing and media.

The National Book Club Conference is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization founded by Curtis Bunn on the principles of promoting the wonder of books, both to adults and youths. In addition to the annual conference, NBCC also operates the Youth Book Club Program, which works with public schools to support and develop reading groups as a way of addressing the alarming literacy rate among children. Please visit www.nationalbookclubconference.com

For further information about the upcoming NBCC Chicago conference, please call Black Issues Book Review at 212-947-8515 or e-mail us at bibookreview@aol.com.