On Saturday, July 21, 2001 QBR, The Black Book Review held the third annual outdoor Harlem Book Fair at West 135th St. and Lenox Ave. This was a time for unknown black authors to showcase their work and get their name; out there to attract the attention of publishing companies. I’d estimate about 50 authors from all over the country were advocating their works. There were many tables lined up at the event, on the sidewalk even in the street. The traffic was blocked off from 135th street and Lenox to 7th ave. It was indeed a glorious day filled with sun, breeze and hundreds of book lovers.

HarlemLive assigned Morgan Powell to be my tour guide. He told me to go out and get to know some of the authors. Indeed I did. I met a range of authors with books that were one of kind.

My first stop: a small table right outside the YMCA entrance. As I approached the table I was greeted with a bright smile and an open hand by the author’s mother. The book on display, “Kismet”, is a story of love, friendship, obsession and fate. Dawn Knight wrote the book. Her husband died so this book was sort of a means of therapy. She started writing just to help her get over her loss. She found that she was pretty good at telling stories and decided to make a career out of it. Although she herself wasn’t present I was fortunate enough to get an interview from her mother. Antonia Decuir, 49 and a resident of Los Angeles, exclaimed her daughter’s book is one worth reading. "It’s a fabulous urban thriller".

The next stop was “Garden’s Corner,” a novel written by Douglas S. Reed. Reed, a 38-year-old writer from Brooklyn, is an aspiring writer whose inspirations include The “Invisible Man” and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. The book is a coming- of-age story about a Brooklyn teen trying to meet up with his best friend. Along the way he’s faced with obstacles and situation that he has to adapt to in order to get where he’s going. Reed hopes his novel receives great sales, and he hopes to get a screenplay too. He wants high school seniors and college freshmen to read this book because he believes the coming of age story will appeal to them the most, being that college is all about discovery. The rising author also let me in on his new project. All he said was, "It's going to be a crime drama, dealing with a lady trying to find out the truth of her brothers death."

My next stop was to a children’s book table and an author who was giving out his book for promotion. Brain Collier, 35 and a resident of Harlem, considers his forte to be children’s books. He credits his family as his inspirations. “Uptown” is the first book he’s written. He just hopes this book is accessible to children. Mr.Collier can be reached at www.BryanCollier.com. my next stop was a table not too far from the last.The author of “Blow Back”, Eric James Fullilove, is a 46-year-old resident of East Orange, New Jersey. His thriller was inspired by the fact that Fullilove says he can never recall reading a drama novel with a leading man of color. So hence his new book. The release date is set for September18, 2001. Fullilove hopes to see his novel reach best seller status.

A rather unusual story title drew me to my next stop. Now if you saw a big poster with “NiAS” wouldn’t you stop and wonder what is was about? Elizabeth Griffin-Gore, 38 and a resident of Phillidelphia, Pennsylvania. The author of the book states tat “NIA” means destiny or purpose. Elizabeth was always fond of writing but after her first child was born she turned it into a career. She wrote this book to make all the teenage mothers aware of the complications surrounding teen pregnancy. Elizabeth hopes young women will appreciate the book but in particular she hopes young teenage mothers will be able to relate to it.

After a stop to watch a Capoeira performance I went inside the Harlem YMCA to the “Cool Corner” to watch an art prsentation. The most fascinating thing about this room was that it was surrounded bydecorative art work, from the paintings to the grand piano to the plants hanging above. The display was about cotton being used as art work instead of it being known as ta crop that slaves maintained . The way she transformed a standard bin of cotton into numerous pictures of nature’s beauty is truly amazing.

My last and final stop before retiring for the day was a littlestand by the exit. My primary intent was to keep walking and head for the subway station, but as I walked by the stand I glanced at the book. Titled “My Three Bitches” I just had to stop. The author, Kevin McDonald, 40 and a residence of Aspen, Colorado is hoping his book is turned into a movie. Before I can utter a word he screams, “It’s positive!”; It’s a book about his three divorces and how he later realized he was partially to blame for the break-ups. At the close of my interview I asked him to reveal what his next project was about. He then said, “The Bitch is Back”. This is the follow-up about his reunion with his women. Personally, I can't wait for this book to come out, I’d love to see just what will happen. Hopefully, It’ll turn out for the best, afterall its kevin they got rid of not the other way around. Lucky Them!!