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Rae Jones
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For additional information:
RAEDIANT Communications
Rae Jones, 323.294.5280

ACCLAIMED ACTOR/AUTHOR HILL HARPER TO CO-CHAIR INAUGURAL LEIMERT PARK BOOK FESTIVAL

(Los Angeles, CA) – Humbling real life lessons learned on the road to obtaining an Ivy League education and beyond led Hill Harper to pen his first book, “Letters to a Young Brother.” Written as an inspirational guidebook packed with heartfelt wisdom, “Letters” offers solid, step-by-step strategies from the accomplished film, television and stage actor, who also happens to hold graduate degrees in both law and public administration from Harvard University.
Having worked his way up to star in the CSI:NY television series and toured the country as a public speaker to thousands of youth, Harper now will lend his brand of wisdom as honorary co-chair of the historic first Leimert Park Village Book Festival.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 30, 2007, “Celebrating Our Literary Legacy: Our Heritage, Our Words, Our Stories,” will be held in the Leimert Park Village Visions Theatre Parking Lot at Degnan Blvd. and 43rd Street, Los Angeles.

With more than 100 writers, storytellers, poets, publishers, booksellers, literary vendors and spoken word artists expected to participate, this inaugural book fest also will offer a variety of panel discussions and workshops featuring locally and nationally acclaimed authors.

Offered in conjunction with Leimert Park merchants, workshop topics will include “The Anazi Writing Workshop” at the World Stage; “Researching and Writing Your Family History,” at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; “How to Write Children’s Books” at the KAOS Network; and, a grant writing workshop and film screening of “Wattstax” at 5th Street Dicks, among others.

“The first annual Leimert Park Village Book Festival will be this summer’s hottest literary event,” explained event creator, Cynthia E. Exum. “With opportunities to meet your favorite authors and have books signed during our meet and greet expo, as well as learn more about the business of writing and publishing, we also will offer a children’s reading corner, a poet’s corner and a food village hosted by the Leimert Park Village Certified Farmer’s Market.
“Also, with Hill Harper and others on board, we are sure to offer a significant “Literary Village” experience during one of the City’s most culturally engaging community events of the year,” she added.

The first Leimert Park Book Festival also will honor the memory of best selling novelist, journalist and activist, Bebe Moore Campbell who passed last November at age 56 years. Produced by Cynthia E. Exum and Associates, in conjunction with 8th District City Councilmember Bernard C. Parks, Eso Won Books and Helping One Another Progress, Inc., the Leimert Park book festival also will be held in association with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Leimert Park Village Merchant’s Association, Leimert Park Village Certified Farmer’s Market and the City of Los Angeles.

Sponsors include Washington Mutual, Starbucks, KABC-7, Time Warner Cable, the United States Postal Service, Nestles and Broadway Federal Bank.

Opportunities still are available for participants.
For details contact Cynthia E. Exum at 323.838.7997, forward questions to info@leimertparkbookfair.com,
or visit the website and www.leimertparkbookfair.com.

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The Leimert Park Village Book Festival is free and open to the public.

For more information on involvement opportunities and author/vendor registration
please contact: Cynthia Exum - 323.828.7997.