Chocolate City Lit Fest 2026
- thejsingraham
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The 1st ever Chocolate City Lit Fest took place April 25, and it was kind of a big deal for me. Because IT WAS MY FIRST BOOK EVENT, SLIM!
For my first ever book event (as an author) to take place on the same side of the city I grew up in, was pretty prophetic. "Awwwww Soufeast!"
I swear you have to be familiar with the history of Southeast, Washington, D.C. to understand how wild it is for an event space like this to exist where it does now.
Sycamore & Oak was a great get as a venue change for #CCLF. The weather in D.C. that Saturday (April 25), just so happened to be a dreary, attitudinal day--par for the course for what we've dealt with up here lately. But shout out to everyone in attendance for making the best of it.
Seeing how long that line was for entry when I pulled up Saturday morning, did ya'boy's heart some good. All of those beautiful Black faces in a concert-like line, for some books, man! Love, to everyone who showed up locally and especially for those who traveled by plane, train, or automobile.
MY FIRST BOOK EXPERIENCE
The festival kickoff was a ticketed meet & greet at Smoke & Mirrors, Friday night, on the rooftop of the AC Hotel Navy Yard. For the people who like a theme, this was that. Picture it.
Black people dressed in a multitude of shades of brown. Stop playing, slim. I had to get my Frankie Beverly on, sans white hat, one-time for the one-time.
No GRWM or whatever, but just a little something slight.
DAY OF - April 25
We won't talk about how I was in the office of my 9 to 5 on Saturday morning. Nope, we are gonna skip right by that because I was not down there for work (cough-cough).
My table setup at the venue was done entirely by assistant 1 and 2, more on them in a second. I literally ran into the venue, ten minutes before doors opened, pulled a costume change, and got to work.
At my big age, I don't really do nerves when it comes to things I'm knowledgeable about. I was more excited for the opportunity and to see how things went. And once the first wave of attendees stepped in, things went.
I had a fairly prime location which worked in my favor. Also, with me only carrying three physical books for purchase, I was able to focus my elevator pitch (something I need to perfect still) when people stopped by.
Slim, them books were sliding...and I am beyond gracious.
In the middle of it all, I moderated the second panel of the day. Why them folks asked me to do that, I have no idea lol. This was far more nerve-racking than the actual book part. While I hadn't interviewed anyone in forever, it was a good time.
The Men Behind the Pen: More than Muscle panel provided a great chance to introduce Black male authors who write in an array of genres to prospective new readers/customers/fanmily. Shout out to my fellow panelists, Lamartz Brown, Nate McGuire, Omari Richards, and the man, the myth, the legend himself, K'Wan.
SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM
I can say unequivocally that my first book event as an author went off seemingly without a hitch, due in part to--the presence of the wife-ager and #theRealXonnieHall (see Chapter 29, Salt & Pepper).
Two-thirds of The Most (what up, Nee!), held me down during preparations for the event, the morning of, holding down my table while I was moderating the panel, and some more. Would I have survived my first bookish event without them, of course. Would I have had the success I experienced...flat out...hell nah!
In other words, to summarize...
Came with boxes, left with two books.
Zero inventory for my next event (BRBF - May '26). Whoops!
Ey man, shout out to Black Romance, because duh.
Moderated a panel of Black male authors. Dope experience.
Took some pix, hugged a couple babies (no babies were hugged)
Learned a little something (thx to fellow author and D.C. native, Kimmie Ferrell)
All in all, a solid first book event. Thank you, Chocolate City Lit Fest!
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