I hear everyone talking about cyber Monday. The day when people return to work after the Thanksgiving eatfest, log on, and start shopping online. It's the digital version "black Friday."

MosaicBooks.com is offering the last Premium Listing special of the year, http://www.mosaicbooks.com/deal.htm, but only on Monday. We've loaded a countdown clock to help you keep track of the offer but once it hits zero the sale ends.

If you can't swing the Premium package check out our 1/2 price discount sale on all our other listings. We won't offer 1/2 price again, and you can always reserve now and list your book any time in the future.

And if you have any questions do not hesitate to contactus@mosaicbooks.com.

Join the Fight, Make a Difference - The Literary Freedom Project

“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” —Ray Bradbury

Sadly, Mr. Bradbury may be right. But as publisher of Mosaic Literary Magazine I'm not going to let it happen without a fight. And your donation will make sure we succeed.

Through the magazine and a new supplemental education program we're expanding our mission beyond exploring the literary arts. This year we've initiated Mosaic Lesson Plans –literary guides for educators who will not give up on nurturing young readers and developing culturally enriched minds.

The plans offer direction for educators who believe, as you do, that reading leads to strengthened literacy, which is key to vocational and academic success. Each unique lesson plan presents writing assignments, suggested reading lists, and ways to foster creative thinking.

The flagship for our education initiatives is the annual Mosaic Literary Conference. Presented in the fall, the conference is a distinctive grassroots effort that invites literary artists to facilitate professional-development workshops. And with additional workshops planned throughout the year, our goal is to educate, empower, and reconnect this generation of educators, parents, and students to the power of books and reading.

As we expand into education, Mosaic will also bolster its commitment to presenting the finest writers of African descent. This year we interviewed Thomas Glave, Goretti Kyomuhendo, Lawrence Hill, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Junot Diaz. Next year, with your help, we will expand our online presence to include digital versions of Mosaic and a complement of original content that will create a hub for readers, and for educators looking for ways to inspire students.

Lesson plan designers, conferences, websites, writers, printers, and instructors are expensive but, like you, the Literary Freedom Project is committed to making a difference. Your tax-deductible donation will make it possible to continue as a vibrant and independent non-profit arts organization.


Sincerely,
Ron Kavanaugh
Executive Director
The Literary Freedom Project
ron@literaryfreedom.org
http://literaryfreedom.org
718.530.9132

MLC'09 Highlights

Another Year...

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2009 Mosaic Literary Conference. Each year, it continues to grow in popularity. Though, I am a little befuddled by the attendance results. We did far more outreach than last year --educators came from as far as North Carolina. We fielded more calls and email from schools and community orgs looking for information on the conference. The intern and I reached out --emails, phone calls, and mailings-- to over 200 high schools, community centers, and youth-service orgs. And the weather was perfect, sunny in the 50s --compared to last year's Nor'easter. All in all this year comprised our most aggressive marketing effort since the conference's inception in 2003.

So, why did it result in a smaller turnout than last year? I'll write it off to the recession. The promise of planned attendance that didn't materialize because that expected job did not come through, or an unexpected bill did. The feedback from attendees and workshop facilitators was fantastic. I was heartened by how committed the workshop facilitators are to making a difference and their recognition that I am doing the same.

As you can imagine, with running the event I didn't have much time to sit through any workshops, which is always a bummer. Next year I'm going to quintuple the volunteers because you can never have enough. I even put a cousin to work who had just stopped by to say "hi."

As a side, at lunch (yes, we fed folks, too), attendee and friend Charles Rice Gonzalez pointed out to me that we were the only men at the conference. I'm so used to being the only guy at literary-centered events that it didn't even dawn on me until he mentioned it. Where were are all the male teachers and administrators. What happened to all the program administrators I spoke to who are concerned about the education of black boys? This was your event. Later in the day, male writing instructor Ugarhon Serrette (aka Sugar Johnson) of the Childrens Aid Society sat through a couple of workshops.

Next year is the 85th anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X and the 45th anniversary of his assassination, and the publication of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. We hope to expand the 2010 conference to two days with the first day dedicated to examining the impact of Malcolm X and the continued relevance of his autobiography.

Tweet Success

I've been reading a lot about the importance of social networks as a beneficial source of PR, customers, and business connections. I was a bit skeptical since I haven't had inordinate luck. I still believe success is based on scale --large sites have large results, small sites have smaller results. The same scale that dominates the "real" world. But recently I had some tweeet success.

A few months ago I tweeted a need for an intern, and through a a series RTs (retweets) I was connected to a local Fordham University grad student who is currently working as our "education outreach coordinator." Her first responsibility is to call local principals to let them know about the upcoming Mosaic Literary Conference and other education programs of the Literary Freedom Project.

Then I had a bad business experience with a vendor so I tweeted about it. Minutes later I received an inquiry from the vendor. Hours later the problem was resolved to my satisfaction. Interestingly they responded to the tweet but not the customer-service process set up on its website.

Twitter, to a certain extent, seems to work my for business. I try to focus my tweets, keeping social tweets --hey! I just had a great hot dog-- to a minimum or relegating them to Facebook.

Facebook has shown fewer tangible results. I have a couple of relatively large groups and fan pages. With the year-end appeal around the corner it will be interesting to compare results between Twitter and Facebook.

Mosaic Literary Conferece - Complete Schedule

The Mosaic Literary Conference presents creative ways for keeping books and reading valuable sources of knowledge and creativity. This day of professional-development workshops will help educators incorporate literature into existing curricula to further explore course work that focuses on cultures, history, and social studies.

Individual Registration: $50
Group Registration: $37 (25% discount for registrations of 3 or more people)

REGISTER >>> http://mosaic.eventbrite.com
Registration includes gift bag, continental breakfast, lunch, and a 1-year subscription to Mosaic


Conference Date: November 7, 2009
Location: Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149th St., Bronx, NY

Workshop Schedule

9-10am
• Registration/Breakfast

10:00-11:00
• Mosaic Literary Magazine Workshop: Using literature and lesson plans in the classroom
Facilitator: Eisa Ulen

Our workshops and lesson plans help educators present creative ways for keeping books and reading valuable sources of knowledge and creativity.

11:00-12:15
• Harlem Renaissance Poets: Creating An Authentic Voice
Facilitator: Femi Lewis

This workshop will offer insight to educators and teaching artists on how to incorporate literature, art and history in the classroom. For parents, it will help them understand the connection between history and literature and how to help students become ready to ace standardized tests and hone reading and writing skills for college preparation.

• The Door of No Return: Finding Self and Home in Historical Fiction
Facilitator: Zetta Elliott

Drawing on my historical time-travel novel, A Wish After Midnight, and an excerpt of Dionne Brand’s meditative essay on mapping home, we will consider the metaphoric value of “the Door of No Return.”


12:30-1:45 Lunch


2:00-3:15
• Integrating Literacy and Art in the Classroom: Using Historical and Current Events to Inform Literary Criticism and Visual Narratives
Facilitators: Gabrielle David and Nikita Hunter

For years, the general perception has been that literature is an isolated discipline worth of the humanists alone; that there are few, if any, connections between literature and other various art forms, and that culture is an all-inclusive phenomenon. As a result of the 21st century technological advancements that spur the increased exchange of information and ideas, the popular perception of the world shrinks to a global village.

• Flipping the Script: Using Movie Adaptations to Generate Students’ Interest in Reading
Facilitator: Sofia Quintero

Many kids have watched the movies Twilight or Holes, but how many have actually read the novels on which these films are based? One challenge facing adults who strive to encourage reading among youth is the proliferation of competing media such as television shows and video games. This workshop aims to give participants’ concrete strategies on how to use movies adapted from books to spark interest in reading the books themselves.

3:30-4:45
• Story Quilting: Using Imagery & Descriptive Word Play to Develop Literature Appreciation
Facilitator: Khadijah Ali-Coleman

The “Story Quilting…” workshop engages workshop participants in an activity that will illustrate how arts-based activities can develop key language and literacy skills in emerging readers. Workshop participants will learn how to link books of different reading levels to relevant arts activities while also learning strategies to use arts activities as pathways to discussion to inquiry.

• Literary Mentorship: Building a Pipeline of Great Readers, Writers, and Thinkers
Facilitators: Tracey Michae'l Lewis and Jessica Harris

Parents, educators, and writing professionals can play a critical role in the development of literary talent and literary appreciation in young people. In fact, individual or organizational mentorship is one way we can make a significant impact in the way student’s view reading and writing, as well as in their ability to increase their literacy and critical thinking abilities.

Workshop Coordinator: Felicia Pride
REGISTER >>> http://mosaic.eventbrite.com

Kindle Numbers: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing

Interesting article on the relationship between eBooks and pricing, traditional and self publishing

Kindle Numbers: Traditional Publishing Vs. Self Publishing

Emory Douglas Closing

May 2008, I was among several people given proclamations by the city of Los Angeles for our dedication to literature. The event was held in Leimert Park, a historically Black section of the city --L.A.'s "Harlem" I suppose. Local officials were launching a new book festival and they asked several people --Troy Jonson, AALBC.com Clara Villarosa, and myself among others-- to help with advice and marketing. At the reception Troy and I sat next to Alden Kimbrough a local retailer. During dinner conversation Mr. Kimbrough invited us to visit his shop, Zambezi, after the event.

Earlier in the evening we visited Esowon Books and received a luke-warm reception --not sure what I expected. Conversely, Alden's fraternal hospitality was more in keeping with what we were used to. After dinner we walked over to his store, which he opened for Troy and I. The shop specializes in African art, gifts, and curios wasn't over or underwheming. Typical "stuff" found coast to coast in a store in most black neighborhoods. He led us upstairs, which is where the treasures were.



Alden's collection of original books, letters, albums, and posters predominantly from the Black Arts and Black Power Movements is a true gem of concentrated ephemera. Housed in a space not much larger than average living room this trove reflects the pedestrian dedication that can make a difference in cultural documentation and identity. At the time he had an exhibition on the early work of Amiri Baraka. Troy documented the exhibition on AALBC.com.

The collection also featured the work of Emory Douglas, Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party. His graphic design work is iconic --bold, vivid, topography-like.

Now, 360 degrees, finally. The largest collection of work on display at the New Museum's "Emory Douglas: Black Panther" exhibition, which closes Sun Oct 18, is owned by Alden and Mary Kimbrough. It's an impressive collection that was not on display at Zambezi. I guess the randomness of meeting someone who would be a major collector of an artist whose work I've admired for some time, and, who would invite us into his shop, give a mini tour, and just offer his humble hospitality left a valuable impression. And that over a year later, I would discover his role in a major NYC exhibition is the serendipity that I love most.