Titles being discussed during Saturday’s panels and fireside chats.
Whether you’re here for the whole weekend or just pulling up for the day, check-in is your first stop. Swing by to grab your B3 tote, badge, and everything you need to unlock the panels, parties, and good vibes ahead. Check-in is open all day, every day—because no matter when you arrive, we’re ready to welcome you home.
Start your day grounded and energized with a guided morning meditation and gentle yoga flow designed for all levels. This restorative session offers a moment of calm before the day’s events—a chance to stretch, breathe, and center yourself in community. Bring your breath and your intention. No prior experience needed. Just come as you are.
Beloved for Perfect Peace and the deeply moving Don’t Cry for Me, Dr. Daniel Black returns with Isaac’s Song—a powerful companion coming of age story. In this intimate conversation, we celebrate his literary legacy, his exploration of Black masculinity, and the stories that have shaped a generation of readers.
A Jacksonville native rewriting the indie rulebook, Octavia Grant is carving her space in a market dominated by romance with chilling, edge-of-your-seat twists. This conversation celebrates how she’s turned psychological thrillers into a brand all her own and how her homegrown grit keeps readers coming back for more.
Three literary agents break down the traditional publishing journey — from crafting the perfect query letter to landing an agent and navigating the submission process. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, this conversation is your guide to getting in the door and staying in the game.
Jacinta Howard and A.C. Arthur are reminding us that love stories don’t have a deadline. In this conversation, three veteran romance authors explore what it means to write—and find—Black love that comes with a little life lived. From second chances to self-discovery, this panel celebrates grown folks falling hard, with heart.
Kim Johnson and Faith Knight explore race, colorism, and identity through the eyes of Black teen boys passing for white. Set in the 1950s and ’60s, their novels open space for teens to examine how survival, belonging, and self-definition collide—and why those conversations still matter today.
Brandon Massey has quietly built a reputation as a master of suspense—and Good Intentions proves why. Join us for an intimate conversation that peels back the layers of his sharp storytelling, his rise in the thriller space, and what keeps his readers guessing.
When the world feels broken, faith becomes a lifeline. Vanessa Miller and Terri J. Haynes write stories rooted in redemption, sisterhood, and the power of belief—even when tested by loss, doubt, and deep generational wounds.
Danielle Allen, Tiye, and Farrah Rochon have built careers across indie and traditional publishing—proving you don’t have to choose just one lane. In this session, they break down how blending self-publishing freedom with traditional reach can boost impact, income, and creative control.
Esme Addison, Michelle McGill‑Vargas, and Falencia Jean-Francois craft speculative worlds where history holds secrets and survival comes at a cost. From hidden magic and high-stakes conspiracies to freedom, friendship, and powerful artifacts, their stories explore how the past shapes the present and the myths we cling to endure.
Helena Haywoode Henry joins us to discuss Last Chance Live! and the urgent conversations it sparks about Black teen incarceration and mass incarceration in America. From reality TV to real-life injustice, this fireside chat explores how speculative fiction can create space for young readers to grapple with systems designed to fail them—and why books like hers matter now more than ever.
Rachel Howzell Hall and Ian K. Smith portray Black detectives relentlessly unearthing what power conceals. From a sun-drenched seaside town hiding murder and tension to Chicago’s underbelly of political secrets, their novels show how the truth hides just beneath the surface.
From page to production, this panel brings together the voices behind some of your favorite stories. Kim Fields, Rasheed Newson, Sylvia L. Jones, and ReShonda Tate share what it really takes to bring Black books to the screen—and why representation behind the scenes matters just as much as what’s on it.
Renée Daniel Flagler, and DL White explore how Black authors have redefined contemporary romance—writing love stories that feel real, rooted, and reflective of us. For many, it wasn’t about breaking in. It was about building better.
In 1947, All Negro Comics became the first known comic magazine created entirely by African Americans, introducing Lion Man, one of America’s first Black superheroes. Renowned creators John Jennings and Yvette Lisa Ndlovu discuss reviving Lion Man — a UN scientist protecting uranium on Africa’s Gold Coast — in their new Rosarium Publishing title.
Dorena Williamson and M.E. Solomon write stories that affirm, empower, and educate—meeting young readers where they are with messages that stay with them. From family and faith to identity and justice, their books plant seeds that grow far beyond the page.
Whether it’s land, silence, survival, or a name—some legacies shape us more than we know. In this intimate conversation, Terah Shelton Harris, Denny S. Bryce, and Mbinguni explore the power of inheritance—what we hold on to, what we carry, and what we choose to let go.
From a lakefront gone dark to a wedding crashing gone deadly, Shanora Williams and Christina Dotson write psychological thrillers that turn friendship and trust inside out. They remind us how well we can be mistaken—and how dangerous what we believe can be.
In this intimate conversation, acclaimed author Bernice McFadden sits down with Crystal Forte to discuss Firstborn Girls, her powerful memoir of womanhood, legacy, and the stories Black daughters inherit. Together, they explore the truth-telling, tenderness, and triumph that come with writing your own name into history.
Black men represent 26% of Black authors, even less of them are independent fantasy writers. Join Navi Robins and Eddie Dee Williams in discussing navigating indie publishing and crafting grounded fantasy novels.
Packed with heat and heart. Dive deep into the Urban Romance world-where the stakes are high, the love is real, and the characters don't play.
Some connections don’t fade—they stretch across generations, binding us to the women who came before. Donna Hill and Rita Woods explore how legacy, memory, and love echo through time, shaping who we are and who we’re becoming.
Paula Chase, justin a. reynolds and Kim Johnson explore the tightrope walk of adolescence—from wealth and identity to anxiety and belonging. Their YA stories show Black teens navigating social expectation, friendships, and personal truth in environments that demand far more than grades.
Black horror has always been more than jump scares—it’s truth-telling in blood and bone. Zin E. Rocklyn, Kosoko Jackson, and Del Sandeen explore what happens when terror wears a familiar face, and how horror lets Black writers confront the fears we’re told to swallow.
In this intimate conversation, Sheinelle Jones shares the journey behind Through Mom’s Eyes, a tribute to her mother’s groundbreaking journalism and the legacy it left behind. Joined by Dr. Ian K. Smith, she reflects on family, storytelling, and the power of honoring those who came before.
From viral reads to cultural resets, Black BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTube are shaping the conversation—and the industry. This panel explores how Black readers and creators are building their own ecosystem online, where the vibe is different, the influence is real, and the algorithm is just trying to catch up.
Norian Love and Shakir Rashaan are flipping the script—bringing heat, heart, and emotional depth from a male point of view. This conversation explores what it means to write romance as men, how they connect with women readers, and why love on the page hits different when the perspective shifts.
Speculative fiction is often used by Black authors to either warn readers of our demise or reimagine our current reality and futures into something more. This panel explores how speculative fiction is used as a critical thinking and liberation tool for the Black community.
From its focus on three friends to a saga that stretches through seven generations, Rona D. and Nikesha Elise Williams show how women’s stories—small and sweeping—shape our present.
Through lived experience, courtroom insight, and historical truth, Edwin Raymond, Brian Buckmire, and Jemar Tisby explore how overpolicing, racism, and resistance shape Black lives. Their stories challenge us to see injustice clearly and respond with purpose.
Christina C. Jones, KC Mills, Alexandra Warren, and Nicole Falls aren’t just bestselling authors—they’re architects of Black romance as we know it. This panel brings together four of the most influential voices in the genre to talk about longevity, legacy, and the power of writing love stories that never ask permission.
From Opposite of Always to time travel, alternate realities, and middle school hijinks, justin a. reynolds has carved out space for Black joy in speculative fiction. In this conversation, he reflects on the book that started it all—and the worlds he’s still building for the kids who rarely get to see themselves save the day.
From first drafts to final edits, Dr. Daniel Black and Clarence Haynes pull back the curtain on the writing process. With decades of experience between them—as author, professor, and editor—they offer practical insight and hard-earned wisdom on what it really takes to write with power, purpose, and longevity.
Deesha Philyaw’s The Secret Lives of Church Ladies lit up Bookstagram and changed the literary game. A National Book Award finalist and cultural touchstone, her breakout collection gave voice to stories whispered across generations. Now, the Jacksonville native returns home to talk about her journey, her impact, and what’s next.
Meet the authors you’ve been hearing from all day! During this dedicated signing window, panelists from the day’s sessions will be available to autograph books, take photos, and connect with readers one-on-one. Whether you’re collecting your favorites or discovering someone new, this is your chance to get your books signed and your questions answered. Books will be available for purchase on-site while supplies last.
It’s giving heated Spades match at the family cookout—because it is. B3 Game Night brings the competition and the laughs with classics like Spades, Dominoes, Bid Whist, Uno, Monopoly, Taboo, and more. Whether you’re here to slap bones, call reneg, or just stir the pot, we’ve got a seat at the table for you. Cash bar on deck. Bring your A-game (and maybe a partner who can count).