Barr is a two-day literary conference for authors and readers that has a dual purpose:

• It offers readers the opportunity to meet and interact with new, emerging, and nationally recognized African American authors from all writing genres, and it
• It offers authors the opportunity to greet old friends, meet new readers and sell their works.

BARR 2018 is a partnership between founder, Sharon Lucas and the Reading Divas Book Club, and The Sugar & Spice Book Club of NYC and The Literary Ladies of NJ.

BARR 2018 will be held at the Harborside Hotel, a very popular venue located near National Harbor, MGM Grand and Tanger outlets, in Oxon Hill, MD. 

The hotel group rate is $149 plus tax, which includes:

• Free shuttle service to MGM and Tanger.
• Free parking.
• Free Wifi
• Complimentary breakfast.
• A microwave and refrigerator in each room.
• A restaurant and bar.

The closest Metro is Southern Avenue on the Green Linee. Be sure to request the Black Authors & Readers Rock group rate. Please make reservations asap at (301) 749-9400.

Tickets are on sale at https://2018authorsandreadersrock.eventbrite.com

The 2018 Keynote Speaker is Lolita Files, screenwriter, producer of projects for stage, film, video and television and the author of six novels. She has co-authored and ghostwritten several works of nonfiction, including NY Times bestsellers. Her novel, Child of God, is a perennial book club favorite. She joins an awesome list of best selling, award-winning authors who have appeared as Literary Brunch or BARR Keynote Speakers including Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (2009), Daniel Black (2010), Bernice McFadden (2010), Pamela Samuels Young (2012), ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray (2013), Kimberla Lawson Roby (2014) Dwayne Alexander Smith (2015) and Lisa Renee Johnson (2016).

At the 2018 conference, Tina McElroy Ansa - publisher, filmmaker, teacher and journalist but above all, storyteller and cultural icon and whose first novel "Baby of The Family" was selected for the 2002 list "25 Books Every Georgian Should Read", will be honored as the Literary Legend of the Year.

Phoenix Rizen/Writers Haven Show is the BARR 2018 Media Sponsor.