Keeping Black Lit Alive
Food for thought...
What you'll find on this page is information that may be useful to you. If you have any suggestions for something we should add, please reach out to info@wowbookandtoy.com.
Author Services
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Editor
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Ghost Writer
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Illustrator
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Publishing
Black bookstores in Florida
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African Bookstore - online
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Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature and Culture Museum - St. Augustine, FL
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Black Cafe & Bookstore - Pensacola, FL
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Black English Bookstore - Tampa, FL
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Black English Bookstore Local and Independent Author Program
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Cafe Resistance Bookstore & Coffee Shop - Jacksonville, FL
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cultured books - St. Pete, FL
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Dare Books - Longwood, FL
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Kizzy's Books & More - online
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Over the Books - online
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Pyramid Books - Boynton Beach, FL
Craft Classes
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Kweli Journal and Color of Children Literature Conference (BIPOC literary journal, festivals, and conferences)
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Highlights Foundation (children's writing courses and retreats - online and in-person)
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Grubstreet (Boston-based but many online options available, including Writers of Color Facebook group)
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Inked Voices (online workshops and critique and accountability groups)
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12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge (closed for joining now, but reopens in January)
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The Writing Barn (TX-based)
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Gotham Writers (NY-based)
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The Muse Writing Center (Virginia-based)
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James River Writers (Virginia-based)
Grants and Fellowships
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Baldwin for the Arts (created by Jackie Woodson)
Publishing News and Info
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Jane Friedman (Publishing news and info at Electric Speed newsletter, YouTube webinars)
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Minerva Financial Education & Counseling for Creative Individuals
Querying Help
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QueryTracker (info about agents and platform for tracking your submissions)
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Manuscript Wishlist (info about agents and editors)
Upcoming potential vendor events
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Central Florida Comic Con - Lakeland, FL - January 17 to 19, 2025
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Essence Festival - New Orleans, LA - July 3 to 6, 2025
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Inkclusive Pages Book Fair @ the 2025 Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival - St. Pete, FL - February, 15, 2025
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MetroCon - Tampa, FL - July 25 to 27, 2025
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Oxford Exchange Book Fair - Tampa, FL - May 1, 2025
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ROC the Block presents the 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival - Tampa, FL - June 16 to June 21, 2025
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Sunshine State Book Festival - Gainesville, FL - January 31 to February 1, 2025
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Tampa Bay Black Expo - Tampa, FL - July 25 to July 27, 2025
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Tampa Bay Comic Convention - Tampa, FL - August 1 to August 3, 2025
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Tampa Black Heritage Festival - Tampa, FL - January 10 to 17, 2025
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ZORA! Festival - Eatonville, FL - January 30 to February 2, 2025
Writing Organizations
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SCBWI (children's author and illustrator organization--also offers craft workshops)
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GrubStreet's Boston Writers of Color (newsletter and Facebook group)