Tulisoma in South Dallas will feature best-selling authors plus celebrity readers and local personalities

by Brett Ryder of McKinneyNews.net

DALLAS — Award-winning authors, poets and artists will come together in Dallas for Tulisoma 2008, a celebration of literacy and the arts. Book readings, storytelling, writing workshops, panel discussions and performances are all part of the free community-based literary festival to be held Aug. 29-31 at the African-American Museum in Fair Park.

This year’s authors will include:

Victoria Rowell: television and film actress and author of The Women Who Raised Me and producer of the documentary The Mentor, about the important people in her life who have helped her achieve success. Rowell is a regular on the television series The Young and Restless; her feature films include Eve’s Bayou, Distinguished Gentleman and Home of the Brave. She has also been honored with 12 NAACP Image Awards.

Tony Medina: author of 12 books for adults and children, including Committed to Breathing and Follow-up Letters to Santa From Kids Who Never Got a Response. Medina’s poetry, fiction and essays appear in more than 30 anthologies and two CD compilations. He is the recipient of the Parent's Guide Children's Media Award (2001), the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (2002), and the Rhode Island Children's Book Award (2003). Medina is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Howard University.

Terrie Williams: Author of the groundbreaking 2005 Essence article "Depression and the Superwoman," which focused on her battle with clinical depression. Her book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re not Hurting identifies emotional pain which uniquely affects the Black experience as the root of destructive acts of crime and violence. Her public relations firm, The Terrie Williams Agency, represents top names in entertainment, sports, business and politics.

Kevin Powell: A political activist, poet, journalist, essayist, hip-hop historian, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Powell has published eight books, including Be a Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men on Family, Love, and Fatherhood and Someday We’ll All Be Free. Powell’s upcoming books include No Sleep Till Brooklyn and his second volume of poetry. Additionally, he is at work on his childhood memoir, Homeboy Alone, slated for 2010, and The Kevin Powell Anthology (2011), which will highlight the first 25 years of his literary career.

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes: Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University, she is the author of five novels: Voodoo Dreams, Magic City, Douglass’ Women, Voodoo Season, Yellow Moon, and a memoir, Porch Stories: A Grandmother’s Guide to Happiness. Her sixth novel, Hurricane Levee Blues, is forthcoming. She has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and has received an American Book Award, the National Endowment of the Arts Award and the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence.

Among the special events highlighting nationally acclaimed authors are the popular Children’s Breakfast, providing local youth the opportunity to chat with a children’s author or illustrator; Pork Chops & Politics, a luncheon discussion around socio-economic and civil rights issues affecting the African-American community and the nation; Conversation & Roses, an informal dialogue with an urban author speaking candidly about mental, spiritual and physical wellness; Porch Stories, traditional African-American stories passed down through generations; and the Gospel Brunch, celebrating the growing genre of African-American Christian writing. A special Every Child Ready to Read @ Dallas workshop for parents and children will feature readings, games, interactive music and crafts to demonstrate how to develop early literacy skills and be ready to learn to read by the time the kids go to school.

For a complete list of Tulisoma authors, artists and activities, go to tulisoma.com. The Dallas Public Library operates the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young St., and 25 branch locations. A library card is free for any Dallas resident.