Participating author tables for the 2010 National Black Book Festival are completely sold out.  However, here are some options for authors who would still like to participate in the Festival: 

• Waiting List.  The waiting list is now full and we are not accepting any more author or publishers for the waiting list.  However, other options you may wish to pursue are as follows.  
• Register for the Literary Breakthrough Conference.  The Literary Breakthrough Conference is being held in conjunction with the Festival on Friday, May 21^st.  The conference provides authors with invaluable information and access to some of the top agents, publishers and marketers in the book industry.  The conference is an all-day event and culminates with the Welcome to Houston Reception in the evening, the same reception which kicks off the Festival.  You’ll still be able to network with other authors, book club members and readers at the reception.  Attendees at the Breakthrough Conference will also be provided with FREE admission to the Festival on both days.  Although you wouldn’t be able to sell your books, you will still make important contacts that you could utilize for future marketing and sales opportunities.  Information about the Conference is available here:  http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/breakthrough.htm
• Host a Festival seminar.  Authors may opt to host a two-hour seminar at the National Black Book Festival.  During your seminar, you will be provided with a private meeting room where you can make your presentation, have a Q&A session and sell your books.  Your seminar will be added to the Festival web site, included in the souvenir program and announced from the floor of the Festival.   Seminar space is on a first-come, first-served basis.  The seminar room does NOT include A/V equipment and if your presentation requires A/V equipment, there is an additional cost.  The cost of the seminar is $350.00 and you can register for this option by utilizing the Author/Vendor agreement, which is the last page of the vendor packet here:  http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/authors.pdf  
• Attend one or more of the three major Festival events.  If you reside in the Houston area, it would be worthwhile to attend one or more of the three major Festival events:  Welcome to Houston Reception (May 21^st), Get Acquainted Breakfast (May 22^nd) and/or Prayer Breakfast (May 23^rd).  These three networking events are where authors indicate they make most of their key contacts and make new friends at the Festival each year.  Event ticket information is available here:  http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/eventtickets.htm
• Advertise before or during the Festival.  There are six primary ways to advertise your book(s) before or during the Festival:

1) Book announcement program - Provide two (2) copies of one of your books.  During the Festival, your book title, author's name and genre will be announced from the podium and given away as a gift to a Festival attendee.  NOTE:  Books are provided by author free of charge and will not be returned.

2) Supporting author link on the Festival web site (for authors who CANNOT attend), with link to the author's web site or Myspace page.  Link remains from time of purchase until June 2010.  Participating authors automatically receive a link to their web site upon registration. 

3) Book Feature in National Black Book Festival News, a monthly e-newsletter which is distributed to over 1,000 African-American book clubs and 25,000 consumers via e-mail. 

4) Festival Partner logo link on the Festival web site for publishers and entrepreneurs with link to the business' web site.  Link remains from time of purchase until June 2010.  

5) Gift bag marketing program (insert your flyer, brochure or postcard in the Festival gift bags which will be distributed to 3,000 Festival attendees).  Marketing item is provided by the author, publisher or business. 

6) Souvenir Program advertising (Full-page, half-page or business card size ads available in color and black-and-white.  Advertising information is available here:  http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/advertising.htm

 If you have any questions after reviewing the above information, please feel free to contact us. 

Gwen Richardson
National Coordinator, NBBF
E-Mail:  info@nationalblackbookfestival.com
Phone:  1-800-340-5454