As founder and director of the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival which is held in the beautiful City of Daytona Beach, Florida, I have been given the honor to commence “The Literary Corner” for Black Men In America.com.  F.R.E.S.H. stands for Fiction, Romance, Erotica, Spiritual and Health (History).  Children’s literature is paramount to our festival, but there was nowhere to place the “C” in F.R.E.S.H.  The book festival honors 25 of the best Black authors in the Country every year, the second week in January.  Our motto is “Literacy is a Legacy.” 

“The Literary Corner” will feature some of the authors who attended the festival in 2020, as well as authors who are up and coming in the business. 

What does it take to become a selected author for “The Literary Corner?”

• You must have published at least three books in the last four years
• Be of African American descent and have a proven track record of marketing your product
• Authors will be chosen by committee after their work has been read and reviewed
• Authors must submit copies of their books along with a bio and picture of the author in JPEG format

Submitting your books does not mean you will be selected; however, think of the possibilities if you are selected.  Authors not selected will be notified, and their books will be donated to a local independent book store. 

Donna M. Gray-Banks is the Founder and Director of the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival which is one of the largest book festivals held in Volusia/Flagler Counties in the State of Florida.  The Festival began in 2011, and the City of Daytona Beach began sponsorship of the Festival in 2012.  Gray-Banks is the author of a very successful trilogy, Ila’s Diamonds I, II, and III.  She is currently working on her fourth novel The House That Jack Built.  To purchase copies of her suspense erotic thriller, go to www.donnamgraybanks.net, Authorhouse.com, or Amazon.com.  Copies purchased through her website will be autographed.   

Gray-Banks is the host of a weekly radio show “A F.R.E.S.H. Conversation” on Joy 106.3 FM Daytona Beach, every Monday night from 8-9 PM.

Ms. Banks is the proud mother of Gregory Taylor Banks, and her siblings Christine Hogan, Gilbert Gray, and Jackson Gray, Jr, are the rocks on which she stands.   Donna resides in the beautiful City of Palm Coast, Florida.

“The Literary Corner” is edited as a service of Ladero Press.