Trust No One
Don't Go in There!
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.
Panelists:
- Shanora Williams (Whispers of the Lake /The Wife Before)
- Christina Dotson (Love You to Death)
Moderator:
Truth in the Terror
Don't Go in There!
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.
Panelists:
- Zin E. Rocklyn (Flowers for the Sea)
- Kosoko Jackson (The Macabre)
- Del Sandeen (This Cursed House)
Moderator:
Queen of Unhinged: A Conversation with Octavia Grant
Don't Go in There!
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.
Panelists:
- Octavia Grant (Cutthroat)
Moderator:
Well‑Intended, Wickedly Good: A Conversation with Brandon Massey
Don't Go in There!
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.
Panelists:
- Brandon Massey (Good Intentions)
Moderator:
Private Eyes, Public Truths
Don't Go in There!
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.
Panelists:
- Rachel Howzell Hall (Fog and Fury)
- Ian Smith (Beyond Midnight)
Moderator:
The Work Behind the Words
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Panelists:
- Daniel Black
- Clarence Haynes
Moderator:
Through Mom's Eyes: A Conversation with Sheinelle Jone
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Panelists:
- Sheinelle Jones (Through Mom's Eyes)
Moderator:
Ian K. Smith
Firstborn Girls: A Conversation with Bernice L. McFadden
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Panelists:
- Bernice L. McFadden (Firstborn Girls)
Moderator:
Crystal Forte @melanatedreader
Lights, Camera, Literature
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Panelists:
- Kim Fields
- Rasheed Newson
- Sylvia L. Jones
- ReShonda Tate
Moderator:
Bearing Witness
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Panelists:
- Edwin Raymond (An Inconvenient Cop)
- Brian Buckmire (Come Home Safe)
- Jemar Tisby (The Spirit of Justice)
Moderator:
The Feed Is Blackity Black
Real Talk, Real Life
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.
Moderator:
His Pen, Her Fantasy
Love Jones & Situationships
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.
Panelists:
- Norian Love (Winter: A Love Story)
- Shakir Rashaan (Love Lust & Beautiful Liars)
Moderator:
Power Pens. Black Love. Always.
Love Jones & Situationships
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.
Panelists:
- Christina C Jones (Hostile Takeover)
- KC Mills (Shadows & Whispers)
- Alexandra Warren (Can't Catch Me)
- Nicole Falls (Rori & Remy)
Moderator:
Grown Love: Forever After Forty
Love Jones & Situationships
Jacinta Howard, Sheryl Lister, 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.
Panelists:
- Jacinta Howard (When Forty Blooms)
- Sheryl Lister (A Promise of Forever)
- A C Arthur (A Lifetime in 30 Days)
Moderator:
The Best of Both Worlds
Love Jones & Situationships
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.
Panelists:
- Danielle Allen (Plus Size Player)
- Tiye (Rifts & Refrains)
- Farrah Rochon (Pugs & Kisses)
Moderator:
Servin'Urban
Love Jones & Situationships
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.
Panelists:
- Jahquel J (Capone)
- M. Monique (Dr. Bell)
- Elle Kayson (Real's Love)
Moderator:
This Love Hits Different
Love Jones & Situationships
Sherrelle Green, 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.
Panelists:
- Sherrelle Green (Facedown Saturdays)
- Renee Daniel Flagler (Unlikely Neighbors)
- DL White (Brunch at Ruby's)
Moderator:
Legends & Bloodlines
Black to the Future
Esme Addison and Michelle McGill‑Vargas weave speculative worlds where history hides power and survival isn’t guaranteed. From a historian chasing conspiracies and magic in An Intrigue of Witches to a freed slave navigating friendship, freedom, and a darker fate in American Ghoul, they explore the ways the past reaches into the present—and the myths we use to survive.
Panelists:
- Esme Addison (An Intrigue of Witches)
- Michelle McGill Vargas (American Ghoul)
Moderator:
The Start of Always: A Conversation with justin a. reynolds
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
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.
Panelists:
- justin a. reynolds (Opposite of Always)
Moderator:
The Past is Our Playground: Reimagining Black Art
Black to the Future
In 1947, All Negro Comics became the first know comics magazine written and drawn solely by African Americans. In this anthology, we are introduced to Lion Man, one of America's first Black superheroes. Renowned creators John Jenings and Yvette Ndlovu speak about bringing Lion Man, a United Nations scientist tasked to protect the uranium in Magic Mountain on Africa's Gold Coast, back to life in their new title through Rosarium Publishing.
Panelists:
- Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
- John Jennings
Moderator:
Black Brotha, Strong Brotha: Black Men in Indie Fantasy
Black to the Future
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 fantast novels.
Panelists:
- Navi Robins (Echoes of Man)
- Eddie Dee Williams (Echoes: Affinity Saga)
Moderator:
Education is Liberation: The Speculative Academic
Black to the Future
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.
Panelists:
- Yvette Ndlovu (Drinking from Graveyard Wells)
- Ravynn Stringfield
- Shyheim Williams
Moderator:
Passé Blanc
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
In 1950s Pennsylvania and 1960s Alabama, Kim Johnson and Faith Knight place young protagonists on the razor’s edge of identity. Their stories explore the tension between belonging and erasure, showing how choosing—or inheriting—a different skin can change everything.
Panelists:
- Kim Johnson (The Color of a Lie)
- Faith Knight (As Gray as Black & White)
Moderator:
Everything We Are
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
Kosoko Jackson and Keith Miller center queer Black teens in all their complexity—soft, angry, joyful, and real. Their stories explore identity, intimacy, and the intersections that shape us, creating space for young readers to see themselves fully on the page.
Panelists:
- Kosoko Jackson (Yesterday is History)
- Keith Miller (Pritty; Togetha)
Moderator:
Between Privilege & Pressure
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
Paula Chase and Brianna Peppins explore the tightrope walk of adolescence—from wealth and identity to anxiety and belonging. Their YA stories show Black teen girls navigating social expectation, friendships, and personal truth in environments that demand far more than grades.
Panelists:
- Paula Chase (Keeping It Real)
- Brianna Peppins (Briarcliff Prep: Sophomore Year)
Moderator:
Raising Readers, Lifting Voices
Coming in Hot, Coming of Age
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.
Panelists:
- Dorena Williamson (Crowned with Glory)
- M.E. Solomon (My Mimi Said...)
Moderator:
Threads Across Time
Our Stories, Our Terms
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.
Panelists:
- Rona D (Friendship Matters)
- Nikesha Elise Williams (The Seven Daughters of Dupree
Moderator:
What We Inherit
Our Stories, Our Terms
Whether it’s land, silence, or survival, some legacies shape us more than we know. Terah Shelton Harris and Denny S. Bryce explore the power of inheritance—what we hold on to, what we carry, and what we choose to let go.
Panelists:
- Terah Shelton Harris (Long After We Are Gone)
- Denny S. Bryce (The Trial of Mrs Rhinelander)
Moderator:
The Weight of His Words: A Conversation with Dr. Daniel Black
Our Stories, Our Terms
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.
Moderator:
In Her Own Words: A Conversation with Deesha Philyaw
Our Stories, Our Terms
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.
Panelists:
- Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies)
Moderator:
Echoes Through Time
Our Stories, Our Terms
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.
Panelists:
- Donna Hill (I Am Ayah: The Way Home)
- Rita Woods (The Edge of Yesterday)
Moderator:
