Twenty years later, Rodgers and Tosihwe were on the forefront of the revolution in the romance genre. As publishers were realizing an untapped market in the African-American reader, several houses released romances - by, for and about African Americans. Black Images developed a reputation early on as a “romance-friendly bookstore.”

The booksellers joined with Francis Ray, a local author whose romances had been published in national magazines and as single titles by Odyssey and Arabesque. It was a very simple idea -- a no-brainer. They would create an event that would bring romance writers and their work and romance readers together. Romance Slam Jam was born.

The first Romance Slam Jam was held on the evening of March 31, 1995 at Black Images Book Bazaar. The theme of the event was “The Power, Passion and Pain of Black Love.” About 25 people came out to meet authors Angela Benson, Anita Richmond Bunkley, Maggie Ferguson Gwynne Forster, Layle Guisto, Celene Hardware, Francis Ray, Eboni Snoe and Margie Walker. Arthur Flowers, author of Another Good Loving Blues, delivered a powerful spoken-word performance and played his harmonica and shakere to the delight of the audience. Readers and writers returned to Black Images for the second Slam Jam in the spring of 1996.

“Cruisin’ on the Sean of Love,” was the theme for the 1997 Romance Slam Jam. The event took to the high seas July 27-31 on a cruise to the Bahamas aboard Carnival’s “Fantasy” with authors Angela Benson, Viveca Carlysle, Gwynne Forster, Layle Guisto, Donna Hill, Anna Larence, Candice Poarch and Francis Ray. In addition to a contingent of romance readers, “other passengers on the ship joined us for a series of on-board workshops and author presentations,” recalls Rodgers. In port, African-American and Bahamian writers read from their works and the event was covered by local media. The following year, Gwynne Forster was the featured author on a seven-day Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival’s “Inspiration.”

After a brief hiatus in 1999, Romance Slam Jam returned in 2000 bigger and better. Under the stewardship of the Romance Noir Book Club, one of Black Images’ resident book groups, Slam Jam was held in mid-March at the Doubletree Campbell Centre Hotel in Dallas. The program theme was “Fostering an Exciting New Perspective on African American Culture in the Spirit of Romance.”

Bolstered by a growing African-American presence in the genre, notices on Internet sites and word-of-mouth, more than 125 readers came to meet and greet the 25 authors in attendance. There were panels, workshops and signings; re-enactments of memorable scenes from romance novels; games and a night at the movies that featured a sneak preview of the made-for TV film of Jacquelin Thomas’ debut novel, Hidden Blessings. The event also included a fashion show, local vendors, a late-night open mic poetry slam hosted by a local radio personality and a banquet. True to Black Images’ mission, part of the event supports children’s literacy programs.

Luncheon keynote speaker Beverly Jenkins evoked the name of the African-American hip-hop clothing manufacturer, as she praised the FUBU -- for us, by us” conference. Jenkins further encouraged those in attendance to create new ways of showcasing African-American excellence and achievement in the genre and suggested an award in honor of her former mentor, Vivian Stephens.

During her tenure as an editor for Dell Candlelight, Stephens is credited with creating the “ethnic romance.” Among her acquisitions was Entwined Destinies, one of the first latter-day romances by an African-American author. Later, as an editor with Harlequin, she modernized and “Americanized” the romance genre, putting into place the concepts for the Harlequin American Romance, Harlequin Intrigue and Harlequin American Premier Edition lines. Stephens bought some of the first works by Sandra Brown, Jayne Ann Krentz and many other authors whose names now appear on the bestsellers’ lists. Stephens founded Romance Writers of America in her native Houston with authors Rita Clay Estrada, Rita Gallagher, Parris Afton Bonds, Sondra Stanford and Peggy Cleaves. With author Rochelle Alers, she began Women Writers of Color.

Brenda Woodbury, of Orlando and author Brenda Jackson, of Jacksonville, served as general co-chairs. Orlando’s Sistahs of Distinction book club and Montsho Books Literary Events & Services rounded out the organizing committee that created a four-day event packed with activities for readers, writers and the general public. Visitors brought or bought children’s books to be donated to a local day care center. A raffle of a basket of African-American romances netted $500 for books for the center. Approximately, 250 people and 45 authors came to the Wyndham Orlando Resort. Canada and the District of Columbia were represented as were more than 24 states-- including Oklahoma, Mississippi and Nebraska.

Participants spent an evening at Universal City, attended a meet-and-greet reception, played romance-theme games and performed scenes from romance novels. Local radio personalities hosted a party sponsored by radio station, WCFB-FM, “Star 94.5." Conferees and Orlando residents danced the night away.

At the keynote breakfast, author Francis Ray encouraged attendees to follow their dreams. There was a full day devoted to workshops and signings. Jackie Perkins of Montsho created a romance readers dream: an on-site book store stocked with both current and backlist titles. There was even time for a bit of relaxation and pampering as participants enjoyed professional massages.

Luncheon speaker Vivian Stephens inspired guests with her remarks outlining the history of the genre that led to publication of the first ethnic romances in less than two decades. She reminded all present of the African-American legacy of survival - both within and without the romance genre.

The awards banquet provided extremely live entertainment and an opportunity for the general public to share in the event. The first Emma awards, named for Emma Rodgers, were presented. Jerry Demings, Orlando’s first African-American police chief, and his wife, CaptainValdez Butler Demings, division commander in charge of police operations at Orlando International Airport, presented the first awards for favorite hero to Brenda Jackson’s Jake Madaris of Secret Love and for favorite heroine to Rochelle Alers’ Sarah Sterling of Just Before Dawn. The novels also tied in the favorite all-nighter category. Brenda Jackson also won three individual awards as author of the year, for book of the year for Secret Love and for favorite sequel in a series for True Love. Beverly Jenkins took home two Emmas for Always and Forever for favorite steamy romance and book cover categories. Deirdre was named favorite new author and Carolyn Hall of Tallahassee earned both first- and second- place in Romance Slam Jam’s aspiring author’s contest. Two St. Martin’s anthologies - Welcome to Leo’s and Della’s House of Style tied in the anthology categories. That garnered two Emmas each for Rochelle Alers, Francis Ray and Donna Hill whose work appears in both books and an Emma to Brenda Jackson for her work in Leo’s and to Felicia Mason for her work in Della’s. In categories tied to workshop names, awards went to Jacquelin Thomas won for Love Miracles, to Doris Johnson for Precious Heart; and to Rochelle Alers for Just Before Dawn. It was Rochelle Alers’ night as she took home five Emmas and the coveted Vivian Stephens Career Achievement Award for Excellence in Romance Novel Writing.

Romance Slam Jam 2002 was held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park with the theme, “A Toast to Romance.” The event was organized by author Jacquelin Thomas and the Journey’s End Literary Club of Durham. More than 200 readers and 45 authors attended. Thirteen book clubs, including four online groups, were represented. Participants came from 25 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Jamaica and Barbados.

On what has become “writers’ day,” there was an all-day seminar for aspiring authors. A half-day seminar for published authors covered “The Business of Writing,” “Publicity on a Shoestring” and “Taking the Fear Out of Public Speaking.” The evening ended with an opportunity for guests to mix, mingle and munch at a pajama party hosted by Journey’s End Literary Club. There were games, prizes and lots of laughter. One of the highlights of the event was an opportunity for members of online book clubs to get together with their cyberpals. Participants began bidding on several baskets of books and other goodies at the silent auction.

Friday provided a full schedule of workshops, panel discussions and special presentations. At a luncheon sponsored by Genesis Press, the finalists of the second annual “Heart and Soul” contest for aspiring writers were announced. Each finalist received a romance book cover that included their name and title of their book.

Special guest author Parry “Ebony Satin” Brown held a motivational seminar, “Sexy Doesn’t Have a Dress Size,” which is also the title of her self-help book for African-American women. Constantly bombarded with media images that deny or denigrate the Black woman, Brown says “In loving and being loved, it’s so important that we love who we are.”

Workshops for writers included characterization, plot development, publishing options, self promotion, historical romance, cultivating relationships with booksellers and career planning. For readers, there were presentations on romantic comedy and romantic suspense. Pre-selected books for Friday’s book club discussions with the authors were Kayla Perrin’s Say You Need Me and the Island Bliss anthology with stories by Rochelle Alers, Marcia King-Gamble, Carmen Green and Felicia Mason. Book clubs gathered for panels on the mechanics of creating and maintaining successful book clubs and on leading book discussions.

A highlight of the afternoon was a discussion on the popular continuing family series with Carmen Green, Rochelle Alers and Brenda Jackson who discussed what’s next for the Crawfords, Coles and Madaris clans. In the evening, the welcome reception, sponsored by Arabesque/BET Books, featured good food and good music, prizes, a booksigning and an opportunity to meet established and emerging authors.

On Saturday, Donna Hill’s keynote remarks traced the history of African Americans in the genre/ Hill offered thanks to readers for their support of authors and their work and issued a challenge to writers not to compromise their work or values. Panel discussions explored sexual chemistry, “turning a nebulous dream into a tangible reality,” and w hat a romance is...and isn’t. There was a chance to meet new faces in the industry, discussions of Rochelle Alers’ No Compromise and Tamara Sneed’s When I Fall in Love. The afternoon program ended with a frank discussion on what readers want.

The evening’s elegant banquet honored writers at the second annual Emma Award presentation. There was a Hollywood feel to the event as presenters opened the envelopes and read the names of the winners. Francis Ray’s “Southern Comfort” in the Going to the Chapel anthology won in the best novella category. Going to the Chapel also won Emmas for Ray, Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill and Gwynne Forster in the best anthology category. Angela Benson’s Abiding Hope won in the best inspirational romance category and Beverly Jenkins took home two Emmas for favorite heroine and favorite book cover. Nathasha Brooks Harris won favorite new author for her book, Panache. Wayne Adrian Jordan won the aspiring writers contest and an opportunity to have his manuscript read by a publisher. Donna Hill won the first Trailblazer award. But it was Brenda Jackson’s night as she took home five Emmas. Jackson’s book, Surrender, won for favorite hero, favorite sequel, steamiest romance and book of the year. Jackson was named author of the year and recipient of the second Vivian Stephens Career Achievement Award.

On Sunday morning, Rochelle Alers addressed the book clubs at an appreciation breakfast. Alers thanked readers for their continuing support. She had conferees in stitches as she described how the genre was not ready to embrace African-American romances “through the front door” and talked about how authors continually circled the romance “house” in search of a way in. After the breakfast, there was another chance for readers to get their books signed. As participants prepared to leave, there were tears, jokes and calls for “one more picture, OK?”

Romance Slam Jam 2003 will be held in Atlanta March 6 through 9. For more information, visit the RSJ web site: www.romanceslamjam.com

February 5, 2003