"We wanted hosts that were guaranteed to keep the audience entertained and we know that both Cocoa and Blue have great comedic timing but we also know they are vocal about appreciating the strides in the literary community and appeal to a broad audience. We are excited to welcome both CocoaBown and Blue Kimble to the AAMBC family. I know they are going to make this an evening to remember," says founder Tamika Newhouse.
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Blue Kimble is a rising star, making a name for himself as a talented actor and director. He is one of the stars of TV One's new TV series "Media". A few of his other TV credits include "Wife & Mann", "Being Mary Jane", "Devious Maids" just to name a few. Kimble's stellar contagious smile and good looks have earned him the "rated next" label of new stars to watch out for.
Cocoa Brown is a face most urban audiences came to know after a six season stint on Tyler Perry's #1 rated "For Better or Worse". Over the last few years her audience has expanded due to a starring role in the hugely successful and critically acclaimed "American Crime Story: People v. OJ Simpson", which aired on the FX Network; a recurring role on TV Land's "Soul Man" with Cedric "The Entertainer" and girlfriend Neicy Nash. Brown has amassed an extensive body of work, including co-starring in last summer's blockbuster "Ted 2", alongside Seth MacFarlane and Mark Wahlburg, working alongside Samuel L. Jackson in "Lakeview Terrace" and her starring role in "Tyler Perry's Single Mom's Club."
The entire Black Writer's weekend is filled with panels, workshops book signings and of course the formal awards gala positioned as the highlight of the weekend. "We have panels on breaking into screenwriting for TV & film, a relationship panel especially for women, a sci-fi writer's workshop for high school students and author sightings and our celebratory book bash. This weekend was designed specifically for readers and writers of all genres, genders and ages," Newhouse says. "We wanted this to be a true celebration of literary achievement in every area imaginable."
The annual AAMBC Literary Awards was launched in 2009 in San Antonio, Texas by the founder. Smaller ceremonies were then hosted in the years following in Chicago as well as in Baltimore in adjacent to various literary events. In 2015 the first inaugural red carpet ceremony took place in Atlanta, GA marking the beginning of the black writer's weekend.
"To understand the importance of AAMBC's presence in the book industry is to understand the value of supporting our black writers. The awards serve as the premiere event the industry talks about and artist strive to be," Newhouse explains. The AAMBC awards is scheduled for Saturday, June 10th with a red carpet reception starting at 5:30 PM and the awards beginning promptly at 8pm. The EpiRiverside Center located at 135, Riverside Pkwy, Austell, GA 30168 will host the awards.
