Nationally known authors coming to Dallas for Tulisoma Aug. 27

City of Dallas sent this bulletin at 08/09/2011 08:57 AM CDT

For Immediate Release                                                           For more information contact:

Aug. 9, 2011                                                                             Ronnie Jessie – Dallas Public Library

(214) 670-7809

Nationally known authors coming to Dallas for Tulisoma;
South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival is Aug. 27-28 at the African-American Museum 

Dallas - Award-winning authors, poets and artists will again come to Dallas for the ninth annual Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival. Tulisoma, a Swahili word meaning "we read," will be based at the African American Museum in Fair Park, but will include activities at various South Dallas locations. The festival, which is free and open to the public, was launched in 2003 to promote literacy and highlight businesses and arts in South Dallas.

The festival will kick off at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 with the Heart and Soul Tour of South Dallas historical sites and landmarks, led by Councilmember Carolyn R. Davis.

Saturday, Aug. 27, book readings, storytelling, writing workshops, children’s programs, spoken word poetry, panel discussions and performances will be held at the African-American Museum in Fair Park. The South Dallas Cultural Center will also host programs and workshops for teens and young adults. More than 30 local and regional authors will be participating, and books and merchandise will also be for sale.  

The event concludes on Sunday, Aug. 28, with the annual Sunday Gospel Brunch at the African-American Museum.  

“Helping our children develop a passion for books and reading is more important than ever,” Councilmember Davis said. “The South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival is a celebration of reading, and I encourage families to instill the joy of books in their children and make reading a regular part of their family activities.”

This year’s Tulisoma authors will include:  

 

James E. Ransome: Recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award for his book, The Creation. He has completed a mural for the Children's Museum in Indianapolis and a historical painting commissioned for the Paterson, NJ Library. His work is part of both private and public children's book art collections. For the body of his work, he received the 2001 Rip Van Winkle Award from the School Library Media Specialists of Southeast New York.  

 

Lesa Cline-Ransome: Author of several books for children including the award winning Satchel Paige and Major Taylor Champion Cyclist, both illustrated by her husband James. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, she has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from NYU.

Michael H. Cottman: Senior Correspondent for BlackAmericaWeb.com, a division of REACH Media/Radio One, the nation's largest black-owned media company. A former reporter for The Washington Post, Newsday and The Miami Herald, he is also a lecturer in the Department of Journalism at Howard University in Washington. Cottman also offers political commentary and news analysis for several national REACH/Radio One stations. The author of three books, Cottman has spent the past 27 years writing about politics, social trends, race, and America's expanding multi-cultural society.

Rosalyn McMillan: Bestselling author of Knowing, Blue Collar Blues, One Better, The Flip Side of Sin, and This Side of Eternity. Her latest book, We Ain’t the Brontes, delves into the quagmire of sibling rivalry. McMillan serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the Memphis Black Writers Conference and the editorial board of VIP Memphis Magazine, the official publication of the Memphis Black Writers Conference.

Rev. Michael W. Waters: Founder and Senior Pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, he was named among the top young leaders in America by Ebony Magazine, Rev. Waters has appeared on NBC Nightly News and ESPN Live. His contributions have been highlighted by the Houston Chronicle, CNN.com, SMU Magazine, and the Associated Press. A regular contributor to the Dallas South News, Rev. Waters’ offerings have appeared in such publications as The African American Pulpit, The African American Lectionary, The A.M.E. Church Review, and Becoming Fire: Spiritual Writings from Rising Generations.

Nicolle Pierce: Author of The Sacred Sermon, an Essence Magazine bestseller, the Dallas native recently completed her second novel, Blackmail White Lies. She is the founder of Pierce Publishing, which published her two novels and the CD, Publishing 101. Pierce is also a motivational speaker and has traveled across the country presenting her inspirational message on how to achieve your dreams. She also shares her knowledge about how to self-publish a book.  

 

To register for the Heart and Soul Tour or for more information call (214) 926-3799 or email gaytha.davis@dallascityhall.com. The tour will depart at 1:45 p.m. from the South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh at Second Avenue. For a list of tour sites and festival details visit www.tulisoma.com.

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