KEYNOTES
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Walter Mosley is the author of 60 critically-acclaimed books of fiction including the upcoming Easy Rawlins novel, Farewell, Amethystine; as well as works of nonfiction, memoir, and plays. His work has been translated into 25 languages. From the first novel he published, Devil in a Blue Dress with protagonist Easy Rawlins, Mosley’s work has explored the lives of Black men and women in America—past, present, and future.
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Kim Michele Richardson is a New York Times bestselling American author from Kentucky known for her historical fiction, including the award-winning The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and a bestselling memoir, The Unbreakable Child. Richardson, who grew up in poverty and foster care, now resides in Kentucky with her family, dogs, and has founded Shy Rabbit, a writers' residency and scholarship for low-income writers. Her work often focuses on themes of kindness, courage, compassion, and the power of literacy.
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Chris Whitaker is the author of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling All The Colours Of The Dark. His other acclaimed and bestselling novels include We Begin At The End, Tall Oaks, and All The Wicked Girls.
Chris’s novels have been translated into over thirty languages and selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Good Morning America Book Club, and for BBC2’s Between The Covers.
All The Colours Of The Dark is currently in development with Universal Pictures. We Begin At The End is currently in development with A24.
Chris was born in London and lives in the UK.
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Steven Rowley is the New York Times bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016, The Editor, named by NPR as one of the Best Books of 2019, The Guncle, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for 2021 Novel of the Year and winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, The Celebrants, a TODAY Show Read With Jenna Book Club pick, the instant USA Today Bestseller The Guncle Abroad and the forthcoming novella The Dogs of Venice. His fiction has been published in twenty languages.
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The Daring Women panel brings together extraordinary leaders, entrepreneurs, and writers who have transformed resistance, criticism, and even threats into fuel for their vision. Each has risen from adversity with resilience and optimism, turning pushback into creativity, justice, and innovation. By sharing their voices and gifts, these women not only defy the odds, they inspire us to face challenges with courage, learn from their example, and embrace the unstoppable power of persistence and hope.
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Dr Jennifer Freed
Moderator
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Beatrice Dixon
Author & Founder of The Honey Pot Company
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Katherine Stewart
Journalist and Author
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Shannon Watts
Author & Founder of Mom’s Demand Action
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Justina Blakeney
Artist, Interior Designer, riter
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SBLF is incorporating as a 501 c-3
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Featuring Best Sellers, Innovators, and Storytellers of all kinds
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Dawn Tripp
Author of Jackie
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Faith Phillips
Author of Now I Lay Me Down
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Byron Lane
Author of Big Gay Wedding
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Denny S. Bryce
Author of Where the False Gods Dwell
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Timothy Schaffert
Author of The Perfume Thief
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Danielle Trussoni
Author of The Puzzle Box
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Lisa Barr
Author of Goddess of Warsaw
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Sara DiVello
Author of Broadway Butterfly
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Meg Gardiner
Author of Shadow Heart
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Eliza Knight
Author of Confessions of a Grammar Queen
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Award Winning Journalists. Historians, Memorists, and more.
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Josie Cox
Author of MONEY WOMEN POWER
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Lolá Ákínmádé
Author of Bitter Honey
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Laurie L. Dove
Author of Mask Of The Deer Woman
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Edward Humes
Author of Total Garbage
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Donna Wares
Author & Literary Organizer
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Leslie Lehr
Author of A Boob’s Life
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Ellen O’Connell Whittet
Author of What You Become in Flight
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Join us for vibrant programming for young readers and writers of children's literature
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Mike Bender
Author & Director of Children's Programming
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Roda Ahmed
Author of Mae Among the Stars
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Stewart Gibbs
Author of Spy School
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Morgan Matson
Author of The Fire Fly Summer
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Pete Oswald
Illustrator & Author
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Julie Buxbaum
Author of Tell Me Three Things
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Suzanne Lang
Author of Grumpy Monkey
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Max Lang
Illustrator of Grumpy Monkey
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Elisa Stad
Author of Mama's Love Language
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Get insight and advice from some of today's most prominent agents, editors, and publicists.
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Christy Fletcher
Partner, Co-Head of Publishing at UTA
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Megan Beatie
Author
