Heartbeats & Heartache
Don't Go in There!
Kaylynn Hunt and Tanisha Stewart weave stories that pulse with suspense, secrets, and survival. From layered romance and betrayal to psychological thrills and fractured trust, their fiction reminds us that passion and paranoia can live on the same page.
Panelists:
- Kaylynn Hunt (Satisfaction Guaranteed)
- Tanisha Stewart (The Babysitter)
Moderator:
Truths Too Long Hidden
Don't Go in There!
Through legal suspense and sharp social commentary, Wanda Morris and Kellye Garrett explore the lies we’re told—and the ones we’re forced to live with. Their thrillers center Black women uncovering secrets buried by power, silence, and systems that were never built to protect them.
Panelists:
- Wanda Morris (What You Leave Behind)
- Kellye Garrett (Missing White Woman)
Moderator:
Supernatural Love: A Black Romantasy Panel
Black to the Future
Black supernatural love is in the air!! Listen to Shanora Williams and Rachel Howzell Hall speak about writing in both the romantasy and thriller genres: from world building, to craft and especially the importance of loving Black women!
Panelists:
- Rachel Howzell Hall (The Cruel Dawn)
- Shanora Williams (Mayhem and the Mortal)
Moderator:
Politics, Diaspora & Personal Truth
Real Talk, Real Life
In Kamala, The Motherland, and Me, Dr. Nii-Quarterlai Quartey explores identity, belonging, and what it means to see yourself reflected in power. This conversation unpacks heritage, hope, and the political awakening that bridges Ghana, America, and everything in between.
Panelists:
- Dr. Nii-Quarterlai Quartey (Kamala, the Motherland and Me)
Moderator:
The Body They Don’t Listen To
Real Talk, Real Life
From everyday care to chronic conditions, Black women are often unheard and underserved by the very systems meant to protect them. Grounded in Dr. Ian K. Smith’s latest book Eat Your Age, and joined by women’s health expert Dr. Pauline Rolle, this conversation tackles wellness, aging, and the urgent need to advocate for the body they keep trying not to hear.
Panelists:
- Ian K. Smith, MD (Eat Your Age)
- Pauline Rolle, MD
Moderator:
Claudia Jordan
Who Gets Erased
Real Talk, Real Life
In Erased, Anna Malaika Tubbs examines how systems of power make Black women and girls disappear—on paper, in policy, and in public life. This conversation sheds light on the data, the damage, and the fight to be seen.
Panelists:
- Anna Maliaka Tubbs (Erased)
Moderator:
More Than a Game
Real Talk, Real Life
As the first Black woman to lead the U.S. Tennis Association, Katrina Adams broke barriers on and off the court. In Own the Arena, she shares what it takes to lead, win, and open the doors behind you.
Panelists:
- Katrina Adams (Own the Arena)
Moderator:
Cynthia Bailey
Booked, Branded & Bankable
Real Talk, Real Life
Whether you’re pitching yourself or your book, visibility is the job now. This panel dives into how to build a brand in the book community—from content creation to PR strategy—and what it takes to turn attention into impact (and income).
Moderator:
Booked & Building
Real Talk, Real Life
Book influence is more than pretty shelves and viral trends. This panel, led by top content creators, breaks down how to grow your brand, find your niche, connect with publishers, and turn your passion for books into real partnerships—and real opportunities.
Moderator:
Love, Grown Woman Style
Love Jones & Situationships
Danielle Allen is a USA Today bestselling hybrid author who writes love with heat, depth, and grown woman confidence. In this conversation, she shares what it means to build a career across indie and traditional publishing—and why her stories always center smart, sexy Black love with something to say.
Moderator:
Heart, Hustle & Heat
Love Jones & Situationships
K.C. Mills is the definition of prolific, blending love, loyalty, and street-smart grit into stories her readers devour. This fireside chat dives into her journey, her characters, and how she built an empire writing the kind of romance that always hits.
Moderator:
TNT: Twisted ‘n’ Tempting
Love Jones & Situationships
Tacarra, Nek Mills, and T’Lyn deliver the kind of urban romance that hits fast, burns hot, and leaves you wanting more. From plot twists to messy love and unforgettable characters, this trio is turning up the heat—and bringing all the smoke.
Panelists:
- Tacarra (Nobody Loves Me Like You Do)
- Nek Mills (Dreaux: The Ruthless One)
- T'Lyn (Won't Keep You Waiting)
Moderator:
Behind Closed Doors
Love Jones & Situationships
Tabitha Rochelle and Unoma Nwankwor prove you don’t need open-door scenes to bring the heat. With faith, tension, and emotional depth, their romances show that intimacy starts with connection—and some of the most powerful love stories happen beyond the page.
Panelists:
- Tabitha Rochelle (Weathering the Storm)
- Unoma Nwankwor (Rent A Bae)
Moderator:
Street Love Chronicles
Love Jones & Situationships
S. Yvonne and Aubry J write romance with drama, and ride-or-die energy. Their stories dive deep into loyalty, lust, and love in the streets—where danger is real, and so are the feelings. This is urban romance at its rawest and most addictive.
Panelists:
- S. Yvonne (Dom: The Miami King)
- Aubry J (Hoop Sessiion)
Moderator:
Passion & Power: Black Dark Romance Authors Speak
Love Jones & Situationships
Experience the allure of Black dark romance as bold authors dive into tales of desire, danger, and unapologetic love.
Panelists:
- Jatoria C (The Brasi Family)
- Kaylynn Hunt (Satisfaction Guaranteed)
- Angel M Shaw (Between Passion and Revenge)
Moderator:
I Got The Magic In Me: Writing Complex Magic Systems for YA and Adult Audiences
Black to the Future
Wands are for losers! Join Clarence Haynes and Kosoko Jackson in a conversation about ancestral magic and writing complex magic systems.
Panelists:
- Clarence Haynes (The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery)
- Kosoko Jackson (Yesterday is History)
Moderator:
Game Over, Game On
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
Helena Haywoode Henry and Kosoko Jackson use dystopian fiction to explore what happens when justice fails and survival becomes resistance. In futures that feel all too familiar, Black teens fight back against the systems built to erase them.
Panelists:
- Helena Haywoode Henry (Last Chance Live!)
- Kosoko Jackson (Survive the Dome)
Moderator:
Set it Off: Writing the Angry, Black Male Teenager
Black to the Future
Sometimes you gotta pop out and show 'em! LaDarrion Williams and Shakir Rashaan's protagonists find themselves in some tough situations. but whether its with ancestral magic or a fist, they make a way out of no way. Join these authors in discussing the importance of writing complex Black male characters.
Panelists:
- Shakir Rashaan (Sageborn)
- LaDarrion Williams (Bones at the Crossroads)
Moderator:
I Read Black Comics!
Black to the Future
Comic book Legends John Jennings (Ironheart, Lion Man, Shook, Box of Bones, Megascope Comics) and Barbara Brandon-Croft (The first Black woman syndicated cartoonist, Where I'm Coming From) speak on the importance of diverse and authentic Black representation in the comic book industry.
Panelists:
- John Jennings (Parable of the Talents)
- Barabara Brandon Croft (Where I'm Coming From)
Moderator:
Screens & Skates
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
In stories told through digital feeds or roller‑rink rhythms, Ravynn Stringfield and Arriel Vinson bring Black girlhood into full focus. From viral crushes and campus debut to first love beneath neon lights, they explore how community, identity, and joy shape who we’re becoming.
Panelists:
- Ravynn Stringfield (Love in 280 Characters or Less)
- Arriel Vinson (Under the Neon Lights)
Moderator:
Big Truths for Small Readers
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
In this conversation, award-winning journalist and bestselling children’s author Linsey Davis reflects on Girls of the World and The Smallest Spot of a Dot—and how her work on the news desk and the page helps young readers understand their value, their voice, and the power of being seen.
Panelists:
- Linsey Davis (Girls of the World; The Smallest Spot of a Dot)
Moderator:
She Was There the Whole Time
Our Stories, Our Terms
From a Negro League ballplayer to an opera diva born enslaved, Kaia Alderson and Tiffany L. Warren bring real Black women out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Panelists:
- Kaia Alderson (In a League of Her Own)
- Tiffany L. Warren (The Unexpected Diva)
Moderator:
Love, Legacy & Literary Universes
Our Stories, Our Terms
D. Camille and Jahquel J. have built fan-favorite universes with sprawling casts, spin-offs, and cult followings. This panel explores how their high-stakes love stories, from billionaire vigilantes to crime families, became addictive franchises readers can’t quit.
Panelists:
- D. Camille (Black Magic)
- Jahquel J. (Capone)
Moderator:
Love, Loss & Letting Go
Our Stories, Our Terms
Rosey Lee and Lorna Lewis write unforgettable stories about the power of forgiveness—within families, between partners, and most importantly, with ourselves.
Panelists:
- Rosey Lee (A Gardin Wedding)
- Lorna Lewis (A Sky Full of Love)
Moderator:
Been Booked
Our Stories, Our Terms
Long before the algorithms, they were setting the standard. ReShonda Tate and Donna Hill share hard-won wisdom, career reflections, and what it takes to build a lasting literary legacy.
Moderator:
Scandal & Spotlight
Our Stories, Our Terms
From a secret interracial marriage that shook the Roaring Twenties to a blues singer chasing stardom amid glamorous and dangerous vaudeville—Denny S. Bryce and Monica Chenault‑Kilgore bring to life histories that are bold, gripping, and unforgettable.
Panelists:
- Denny S. Bryce (The Trial of Mrs Rhinelander)
- Monica Chenault-Rigaud (The Jewel of the Blues)
Moderator:
