CHESTERTOWN — The Bookplate is partnering with the Legacy Day Committee to celebrate 15 local authors on Sunday, Aug. 18. The authors will be available for questions and book signings from noon to 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 101 North Cross St.
The format has been described as a “casual drop-in” event, where the authors will be selling their books and signing copies in the parish hall. The focus is on the work and achievements of local African Americans.
To register for this free event, visit sumnerhall.org.
For more information, call The Bookplate at 410-778-4167 or email contact@thebookplate.net.
Printed here is information provided by The Bookplate, an independent bookstore in downtown Chestertown. The authors are listed alphabetically.
• James “Mel” Brooks has written a collection of poetry titled “Ebony Majesty.”
• Terwana Brown’s books include “Healed by Faith,” a triumphant story of love, faith, strength and total dependence on her faith for emotional and physical healing, and “Living My Life In Reverse,” where she depicts her journey to break down the walls of religious conformity.
• Rose L. Greene’s collection of poetry, titled “The Peace of God,” was published by the International Library of Poets in Owings Mills. She was inducted as an International Poet of Merit at the International Society of Poets Convention and Symposium in 2000.
• Yvette Hynson’s book “No Ways Tired” takes a look at African American churches on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with some details about each church’s history.
• L. Michelle Johnson’s historical fiction, “A Man’s Mark: Building History from a Single Line,” explores the question of “What is the value of documents in an attic?”
The documents in question were found by a Washington College graduate in an historic house on the Eastern Shore that was slated for demolition in 2021. What followed was months of research to unlock the mysteries behind those found documents, a new work of historical fiction and a “treasure trunk” of a teaching tool.
• Ruby Moore Johnson’s memoir, “The Journey of Monifa,” tells the story of the journey of Johnson and her husband in the early 1960s as they start their own business in New York City.
• Regina Jones, an instructional assistant at Henry Highland Garnet Elementary School in Chestertown, has written a children’s book titled “Ms. Tina’s Summer.”
• Stephanie Lindsay’s memoir, “Overhome,” chronicles her life in the small, close-knit community of Butlertown and her experiences as an elementary school teacher’s assistant as well as her work with Upper Shore Aging.
• Lucy Maddox, professor emerita of English and American Studies at Georgetown University, has written several books. She will have copies of “The Parker Sisters” and “The People of Rose Hill” for sale and discussion for this event.
• Lisa Moody (also known as Aliyzah Graceson) penned “Walking With God Through Painful Circumstances,” a memoir chronicling a difficult period in her life as well as a guidebook for anyone going through tough times.
• John Munson’s memoir, “If I Make My Bed In Hell,” details his life growing up in Chestertown and facing the trials of poverty, drugs and prison.
• Robert Earl Price has several books of poetry, including “Wise Blood” and “Blood Flow.”
Price holds the American Film Institute’s William Wyler award for screenwriting, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Poetry and a Cultural Olympics commission for theater. Plus, he was a 2012 recipient of a Maryland Individual Artist Award.
His play “Blue Monk” was produced in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Price’s 11 full-length plays include an adaptation of Claude Brown’s “Man Child in the Promised Land” and a ritual play titled “Black Cat Bones For Seven Sons.”
• George Shivers has written a biography of Kent County abolitionist and orator Henry Highland Garnet, and his wife Jeanette Sherbondy, associate professor emerita of anthropology at Washington College, has written her own history of the “Story of Corktown,” now known as Morgnec.
• Latonya Tilghman’s memoir is titled “Renewed by Grace: A Spiritual Journey from Pain to Peace,” an exploration of personal transformation through faith, healing and the power of grace.
This book serves as a guide for individuals navigating the challenging journey from suffering to serenity. It delves into the complexities of overcoming life’s obstacles — such as addiction, grief, depression and anxiety — by embracing vulnerability, community support and spiritual growth.
Legacy Day, produced annually by Sumner Hall in cooperation with the Historical Society of Kent County, celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Kent County’s African American community.
Legacy Day will be held Aug. 16-18.
For a complete list of Legacy Day activities, visit Sumner Hall’s website at www.sumnerhall.org.
