About
Established in 2000, the Black Writers Reunion & Conference is one of the preeminent conferences in the country. With an added bonus of being presented both by and for Black writers, BWRC offers novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights, nonfiction, business, technical, and proposal writers of all levels of experience the opportunity to travel around the U.S. to meet and share with other Black writers at an event well known for outstanding programming and professional organization. While BWRC does not discriminate against any race, BWRC is dedicated to supporting the skill development, growth, and careers of both published and unpublished writers of Black descent of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. BWRC offers workshops, professional critique services, writing contests, and awards all designed to educate, inform, enlighten, encourage, reward, and recognize Black writers, and promote networking within the Black writing community.
Organizers
Tia Ross has directed and produced the Black Writers Reunion & Conference since its inception in August 2000. She was also the founder and executive director of the former Black Writers Alliance (BWA), the Houston African-American Writers’ Society, and the Gold Pen Awards, a national multi-genre literary awards program. Tia has also formed the National Black Writers Foundation in furtherance of her efforts to promote excellence in writing, African-American literature, and the professional growth and development of Black writers through educational programs, networking, scholarships, and public information.
Outside of BWRC, Tia is a convention and conference planning consultant and solopreneur with an extensive background in information design, web development, and copyediting. She is the editor of the NAACP Image Award-winning “More Than Entertainers: An Inspirational Black Career Guide,” recipient of the 2005-2006 Platinum Page Award for her contributions to the African-American literary community, and was a nominee for the 2008 Influential Black Women in Business Award. By day she oversees the Document Technology Department at a top 50 U.S. law firm. The Los Angeles native currently resides in a Dallas, Texas, suburb. For more information about Tia, visit www.tiaross.com.
Monica Blache, Conference Manager
Working primarily behind the scenes until she makes her presence known at the conference, Monica “Moni” Blache has served as the Conference Manager since the first BWRC in 2000. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Moni is the key on-site coordinator for the book expo, registration management, all catered events, and general activities.
Moni Blache and Tia Ross, 2008 BWRC, Tampa