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VERSATILE VICTORIA ROWELL TO CO-CHAIR HISTORICAL FIRST LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE BOOK FESTIVAL

(Los Angeles, CA) –Versatile actress, advocate, mother, former foster child and now author, Victoria Rowell will serve as honorary co-chair of the historic first Leimert Park Village Book Festival beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 30th on the Leimert Park Village Visions Theatre Parking Lot at Degnan Blvd. and 43rd Street, Los Angeles.
Best known for her long-time role as Drucilla Winters on the Viacom/CBS television series, “The Young and the Restless,” Ms. Rowell cut her teeth in television by landing a recurring role on the highly-rated sitcom, “The Cosby,” after dancing professionally with the American Ballet Theater II Company and Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program, among others. She also has had starring roles in theatre, primetime, daytime and feature-length films.

A two-time Daytime Emmy-nominated actress and the recipient of 11 NAACP Image Awards, Ms. Rowell also has lent a passionate voice for foster children, serving as a long-time national spokesperson for Casey Family Services, an arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In addition, in 1990 Ms. Rowell founded the Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan, enriching foster children through artistic and athletic expression. Most recently, Ms. Rowell released her memoir, “The Women Who Raised Me,” a tribute to the amazing women who cared for her when her birth mother could not. Her new book will be featured during the Leimert Park Village Book Festival. “We are truly honored to have a person of Ms. Rowell’s stature, integrity and conviction joining us during our inaugural book festival,” commented event creator, Cynthia E. Exum. “With Victoria Rowell and Hill Harper on board as honorary co-chairs, we couldn’t ask for better.”
Joining Ms. Rowell as honorary co-chair, acclaimed actor/author Hill Harper will offer his inspirational guidebook, “Letters to a Young Brother,” as part of the featured festival activities.

Under the theme, “Celebrating Our Literary Legacy: Our Heritage, Our Words, Our Stories,” the inaugural Leimert Park Village Book Festival also will feature more than 100 writers, storytellers, poets, publishers, booksellers, literary vendors and spoken word artists expected to participate, along with 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 Ms. 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 Victoria Rowell, 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 323.828.7997, forward questions to info@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.