Ella Brings Authors and Readers Together
By LMReviews on Jan 9, 2009 in Multicultural Contributors, Multicultural Media
SLR: Why did you decide to focus on authors and the process of better connecting them to the publishing world and the book-buying public?
EDC: Often times launching your own business is difficult and the expense that comes with owning your business can be overwhelming. In an effort to increase my income and to acquire health insurance, I went to work at Karibu Bookstores in Maryland as a buyer’s assistant. This opened my eyes to a world I never knew! The Black History that I “thought” I knew became a farce. Karibu exposed me to the classics, our classics, the bookstore enveloped me. Always an avid reader, I became obsessed with catching up with what our people were doing and all the achievements that had been denied to me during a Southern education, in a predominately white school. I quickly went from being just an assistant to the New Submissions Manager, Sideline Buyer, Events Buyer and consultant to the Marketing department as well as to the Human Resources department.
Carolyn Reed was the director of Human Resources for Karibu, we met for lunch one day and she was so impressed with my desire to learn, that she hired me on the spot. After working briefly in the store, I was offered a position as the head buyers’ assistant. My immediate manager name was Sunny Sana, a very socially conscious, proud artist, with world renowned musical appreciation. Sunny gave me an understanding of being part of a global family not just an African American family. She introduced me to the arts! Lee McDonald the Marketing director encouraged me daily to step out on faith and take EDC Creations to new heights. Lee was pivotal in turning my events planning company into a design company catering to authors. Lee passed my work on to authors, she allowed me to design material for Karibu’s six bookstores and as they say the rest is history. Simba Sana, the co-owner, of Karibu bookstores instilled in me the value of “having your own” and being there to bring others who seek to have “their own” up with you. Simba Sana and Yao Glover both instructed me on the philosophy behind Karibu. Karibu was more than a book store, it was a mindset. Both owners fully believed in the spirit of Sankofa, you have to know where you came from, in order to know where you are going. This motivation, direction and constant support lead me to reach out to new authors and direct their paths in a more business savvy manner.
Hello All!
I believe in my people, I believe in literature and I believe all races, cultures and ethnic groups will enjoy our books! We might tell our stories from the African American viewpoint, but most of the stories are universal stories. Come out readers of the world and meet us! You will definitely be surprised.
My decision to support authors, self-published authors, stems from my own love of books. I can read almost any book and enjoy it. I wanted to give ALL authors a chance to live their dreams and share their voice. As a buyer for Karibu Book Stores, I saw legends in the making coming across in self-published books, but I was afraid others wouldn’t get a chance to see them. Today, I try to take away that fear and open the doors to all new authors.
If you have a new book, you too can share it with my network. Ask Laura how to reach me.
Ella Curry