African American Literary Awards 2008

Hey Family!!

Last night I was a presenter at the 4th Annual African American Literary Awards, held at the historic Harlem Gatehouse on 135th Street & Convent Avenue.

The African American Literary Awards show ( http://www.literaryawardshow.com/) is a celebration of African American authors and their contributions to the world of publishing. The AALAS Awards is the first of its kind. It is the most comprehensive awards show ever to recognize, honor, celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements and contributions that authors and writers make to the publishing, arts and entertainment industries and is the brainchild of Yvette Hayward, president of Y. Hayward, Inc., a public relations company that has been a powerful resource in the literary field for over a decade. Ms. Hayward came up with the idea in 1996 because she saw there was a clear need to bring recognition to African American authors throughout the country. She was finally able to bring the awards show into fruition in September 2004.

My first experience with the AALAS awards was last year when I was a presenter for the very first time. I had never heard of this award but I was immediately impressed with the show and what Yvette was doing. Last year's show was at Harlem's Alhambra Ballroom and if you read my blog about the event - you already know how displeased I was with the service at the Alhambra.

This year Yvette wisely decided to move the event to another venue and the payoff couldn't have been better. The Harlem Gatehouse is a beautiful site and it was absolutely perfect for what she was trying to do. The house was scheduled to open at 6pm and the weather forecast for the day was absolutely dreadful (rain ALL day long!) but fortunately for me the rain held off for most of the evening. I arrived close to 6:30pm and was quickly escorted inside, where I was greeted by Ra-Fael Blanco (thank you for taking care of me boo!) who took me upstairs into the main room to show me where my seat was located.

The first persons that I ran into were celebrity photographer Rowena Husbands (http://www.blinkofaneyephotographyonline.com/) and Nicole Williams (Ambush Makeover) and I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were all seated at the same table. After we all put our bags down and got situated, we headed back downstairs to the lobby where the bar had opened and the cocktail hour was just beginning. I decided to opt out on a cocktail until later and Ra-Fael was kind enough to walk me down to the press area where I could do some interviews and get some photo ops. Also, joining me downstairs in the press area ,was author Dashawn Taylor (The Ultimate Hustler) and filmmaker (DARE) Abiola Abrams who was also the host for evening's festivities. I passed Chef G. Garvin on the staircase and as he prepared to walk past me with out so much as a glance, I stopped him with "So...you're just gonna walk right past me like i'm invisible right? It's just you and I on this staircase....Not even gonna say hello huh?" lol...which most certainly got his attention, which was exactly what I wanted. Sigh....I am a big fan of his....I like him...I really do but I can't figure him out...this is the second time I had to approach him like this....his vibe is just so weird...ya know fam?

By the time I got back upstairs the lobby area was filled with artfully constructed appetizers (which were being circulated around the room) and the cocktail hour was in full swing. The room was filled with familiar faces Yvette Hayward was the first face I saw and she was absolutely stunning in a red satin strapless dress that hugged all of her curves. Author Deborah Gregory (The Cheetah Girls, Catwalk!) was done up from head to toe in her signature cheetah print; April Woodward (Inside Edition); comedian & author Finesse Mitchell and Joy Dodd of East West PR who had her newest addition, a beautiful 3 week old baby girl named Addison strapped to her chest as she worked the room.

As the cocktail hour began to wind down and the announcement that the show was resuming was made, everyone began to make their way upstairs to the main room and their assigned seats. I found my table and took a seat and quickly began introducing myself to my tablemates; Dashawn Taylor, Marc Rashad Jones (MRJ PR & Events), recording artist Mashonda,

Devon Christopher Editor-in-Chief of Bleu Magazine (http://www.thebleumag.com/), Deborah Gregory, Kim Brockington (The Guiding Light), Rowena Husbands & Nicole Williams.

Everyone at our table was presenting an award that night and I found out quickly that I was seated at what I officially rechristened "The Cool Peoples Table". We sat there and "ki-ki-ed" all night about a million different things. As my eyes scanned the room I saw that G. Garvin and Author & PR Guru Terrie Williams were seated at the table right in front of ours. On the left I found my old friend Sonia Alleyne (Black Enterprise Magazine). As the lights dimmed, Abiola Abrams took the stage and signaled for quiet as the show began. Chef G. Garvin presented the first award for the evening and shortly after that the dinner service began.

The dinner meal & the cocktail hour was catered by none other than my girl Melba Wilson (Melba's Restaurant) and it was delicious meal. We had a choice of either chicken or fish, which was served with roasted potatoes and a sauteed vegetable mix of carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. The food was really good and our only real complaint...lol...was that there wasn't enough of it on the plate.

There was a brief intermission to allow the waitstaff to serve everyone and then the show resumed. During the break I got to chat with my tablemates and I found out during the show that my seatmate Devon Christopher was adding restaurateur to his many lists of accomplishments. This brother told me that he was opening up the first ever Atomic Wings franchise in Harlem on the 1st Saturday in November. The restaurant will be located on 113th & 8th Avenue across from Melba's and get this - THEY WILL DELIVER!!!! Now you know my people & chicken wings go hand in hand and NONE of the other establishments will even THINK of delivering to us. I predict this latest venture for Devon Christopher will do bang up business uptown!!! And let me be the first to say "Thanks Baby!". DeBorah Gregory was kind enough to give me some tips on how to focus on getting my books finished and she also let me know that "Catwalk" would be her last book for young people....she's going to focus on a more mature audience for her next work.

The awards presentation resumed and I was up next to present the award for Short Stories/Anthology. I noticed that the energy had died down a bit in the room and I took it upon myself to try to rev the room up....lol...I think it worked out well. I left the stage and disappeared briefly to hit the ladies room. When I returned I noticed that the waitstaff had passed out the dessert for the evening - mini sweet potato pies topped with a pecan &

mini red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting...yummy! HOWEVER, by the time I returned to our table there was nothing left but crumbs and empty cupcake holders....you KNOW I was about to pitch a hissy fit when both Devon & Marc managed to make both a pie and a cupcake materialize out of nowhere!!! And let me tell you family....the cupcake was good but the sweet potato pie????? OMIGOD!!! That pie took me back to my Great Aunt Emma's kitchen in the basement of 48 East 129th Street.....yeah baby....it was THAT good! Miss Melba put her FOOT in that pie ya'll!!! Whoo!!! After that I was on a mission to find a few more pies...for real.

The placement of the bottles of Paul Masson VSOP Grande Amber Brandy following the dessert signaled the end of the evening and folks began quickly exchanging information, finishing up their drinks and making their way outside. On the way out, I stopped to chat with Sekou Writes (Editor-in-Chief UptownLife.net) and Melba Wilson to tell her how much I enjoyed her food. As and added bonus, I got a very special goodie bag on the way out that was filled with books & products (lol...gifts! that always makes me smile!!!)

I have to say I have been to many an award ceremony and they are usually very long and very boring....but this awards program was the most fun that I have had in a very long time and it was 10 million times better than what went on at the Alhambra last year.

Kudos to you Yvette Heyward on a well produced event and I look forward to attending next year!

Thank you for ALWAYS looking out for me. Continued Success Mama!

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence."