HOUSTON, TX -- Actor and author Isaiah Washington, former host of "Divorce Court" Judge Mablean, and the urban fiction duo Ashley & Jaquavis will headline the 4th annual National Black Book Festival (NBBF), June 10-12, 2011 in Houston, Texas, at the downtown Doubletree Hotel. Washington's memoir titled, A Man From Another Land, will be released in late April and the former star of "Gray's Anatomy" will discuss his book as well as greet fans and autograph copies. More than 100 African-American authors and thousands of book club members and readers will converge in Houston during the largest indoor gathering of African-American authors in the world. Participating authors from more than 30 states and the Caribbean will showcase, sign and sell their books during the weekend event. Other featured authors for the Festival include: Author and publisher Vickie Stringer will make a special guest appearance. In addition, highlights of the Festival include:
Actor and author Isaiah Washington will be one of many authors attending the event.
* Children's author, Joyce Carol Thomas
* Dynamic Christian author, Michelle McKinney Hammond
* Educator and author, Lavaille Lavette
* Fiction author, Carleen Brice
* Mystery/thriller authors, Tananarive Due and Pamela Samuels-Young
* Urban fiction author, K'Wan
* Welcome to Houston Reception - Friday, June 10 @ 7:00 p.m.
* Private Slumber Party with urban fiction duo Ashley & Jaquavis Ãâ Friday, June 10 @ 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
* Get Acquainted Breakfast (speaker is actor/author GregAlan Williams) - Saturday, June 11 @ 8:00 a.m.
* Jazz Brunch - Sunday, June 12 @ 11:00 a.m.
* 2011 Best New Author Award Presentation at the Sunday Jazz Brunch
* Live author radio interviews with author/radio host G. L. Henderson of Artistfirst.com
* Children's activity area - Saturday, June 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
* Spoken Word Poetry Slam - Sunday, June 12 @ 4:00 p.m.
* Book launch parties
* Workshops and seminars