Black Writers and Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Festival

Stepping to the stage is: Sheila Lipsey

The Black Writers and Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Festival has a goal, desire, and dream to promote literacy in the mid-south and ultimately throughout the United States by hosting this unique festival. The upcoming festival will be held September 14 and 15th in Memphis, Tennessee, at HBCU LeMoyne Owen College. As a celebration of literacy, displaying books by some of the country’s top black authors and writers, its goal is to unite authors, book clubs, readers, and the public for the sake of encouraging a love of reading. “The mission of the festival is to provide encouragement, support, and information to anyone desiring to learn more about the wonderful world of reading along with the gift to write stories that inspire others to READ.”

BWABC Literacy Festival has partnered with Literacy Mid-South and LeMoyne Owen College to bring this inspiring event to Memphis. As a writer, author, mother, and grandmother, literacy is extremely important to me. It is such a passion that I wanted to do something in the city of Memphis to help bring this important issue to the forefront - thus the birth of BWABC Literacy Festival.

Local elementary and high schools are encouraged to participate in the festival by contributing essays about the importance of literacy. These students will be eligible to win prizes from a Kindle e-Reader to a basket of books. Most importantly, BWABC Literacy Festival has a goal to improve literacy one community at a time. I truly believe that people can better achieve their dreams if they are literate. 

The Literacy Rocks! Awards will also be presented at the festival. Literacy Rocks! Author Awards will be presented to one male and one female author who have made a positive impact in the literacy community. Book Clubs Literacy Rocks! Awards will be presented in the following categories to book clubs.  BWABC Most Books Read, BWABC Book Club Community Service Award and BWABC Best Book Club Host Award.

The 2012 BWABC Literacy Festival will be held at LeMoyne Owen College. The festival will include writing workshops, a literacy forum hosted by Literacy Mid-South and Central Library, book signings, author panels, and networking with publishing professionals and authors.

For more information about the 2012 BWABC Literacy Festival, please call email bwabc1@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwabc. Our website is www.bwabcliteracyfestival.com. You can also find us on twitter at www.twitter.com/bwabclitfest.

Shelia Lipsey is a nationally acclaimed, multi-award winning author.  Lipsey is not only a writer/author, but she is a literary expert, copyeditor and a highly sought after inspirational speaker who shares her messages of empowerment, living your dreams now, and overcoming obstacles with audiences all over the United States. In addition to being an author, speaker, editor and literary expert, she is the founder of Living Your Dreams Now and the Black Writers and Book Clubs Literacy Festival.