Turning a New Page

Colorado Black Authors Guild Hosts First Black Authors Book Fair

By Misti Aas

“We’re just getting started, and we can’t stop now.”

These were the words of James “Dr. Daddio” Walker, as a part of his opening remarks at the First Annual Colorado Black Authors Book Fair, presented by the Colorado Black Authors Guild (CBAG) on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Approximately 40 Black authors from around the state set up tables in a “Field of Dreams” across from Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center on Welton Street in the Historic Five Points neighborhood. Among them were former Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb; Denver Urban Spectrum Publisher, Rosalind “Bee” Harris; Pastor Reginald Holmes; Thelma Craig; Gary and Regina Jones; Pat Duncan; Nadine Roberts Cornish; Theo Galloway, Jr.; and Cenece Dixon, CBAG Board Vice-President and owner of Dixon Publishing Company. The distinguished authors spent the day selling their books and advocating for the important stories being told by and about the Black community.

“I am so excited to participate in CBAG, and for what the future will hold for this organization and the vision of Dr. Daddio,” commented Nadine Roberts Cornish, author of “Tears in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience and Prayers,” and “My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Peace.” “I am so appreciative to Dr. Daddio and the rest of the team that’s responsible for making this a reality.”

Along with the ongoing book fair and networking opportunities, a series of “HowTo” workshops took place throughout the day inside Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center.

Cornish shared her experience and wisdom regarding the addition of audio as a supplement to published works, in her seminar entitled “Books to Audible.” She gave valuable tips on the process of creating studio-recorded audio productions for books, attributing her success, in part, to this important option.

“The average self-published author sells about 250 books,” explained Cornish. “And that’s mostly to their family and friends.”

The enthusiastic author, who is a lifeline to caregivers across the country, has worked hard to expand her market. Along with Audible, she has had her books picked up by various universities in their related classes and curriculums.

Patricia Raybon, an awardwinning Colorado author and essayist, gave a seminar entitled, “100,000 and Counting: Writing and Selling Books the Traditional Way.” Raybon is both a faith and a mystery writer, who recently published two novels, “All That is Secret” and “Double the Lies.”

CBAG is the vision of Walker, a Denver icon affectionately known as “Dr. Daddio.”

The first Black owner of a radio station west of the Mississippi (KDKO), Walker’s 2022 memoir, “Radio in My Soul,” motivated his creation of the guild. He envisioned a platform for other Black authors to share their voices and showcase their books, ensuring that their stories and narratives are not only read and heard, but also celebrated.

“It’s very disconcerting, and a travesty, to hear about the banning of books, even in certain segments of our own state,” shared Walker. “We value the contribution of all voices in literature. We want to open doors for the community as a resource to provide opportunities to educate about the unique Black experience, and most importantly to tell, record, and preserve our history.”

Greater than Fiction

The experience of sharing stories carries meaning beyond measure. Photographer, author, and publisher, Patricia M. Duncan, would agree. Duncan first created “A Defining Moment: Barack Obama: The Historic Journey to 1600

Pennsylvania Avenue, followed by “Defining the Times: Barack Obama: The Historic Journey of the First African American President Through the Eyes of a Colorado Photographer,” and “Barack Obama: A Collection of Obama’s DNC Speeches from 2004-2020.”

“My journey with Barack Obama and my publishing company, IJABA Publishing, has been God’s journey,” expressed Duncan, with heartfelt gratitude. “God has defined the journey. I am so blessed to have been able to cover President Obama like I did, extensively.”

“The experience of being an author for seven years has been expansive,” marveled Cornish. “It has allowed me to travel to spaces and places that I would never have gone into. I have gotten to meet people that I never dreamed I would have. There have been just tremendous opportunities. It has been amazing, and I am so incredibly blessed and grateful.”

Walker was filled with gratitude for the success of the inaugural event and gave special thanks to CBAG board and committee members who helped put the event together, as well as radio and print media individuals who advertised the book fair.

“I’m so excited and still on Cloud Nine for how it turned out on Saturday with all of the Black authors coming together from around the state,” exclaimed Walker. “I am so proud of the fact that our organization has made such an impact on the community.

I want to thank everyone for coming, and for all of the support that we received. I want everybody to stay tuned because we are going to have so many other opportunities and events in the future.”.

Editor’s Note: Follow CBAG on Facebook for information about upcoming events at https://www.facebook.com/Colorad oBlackAuthors/.