GET READY FOR JUNETEENTH BASH 2027
Sunday, June 13, 2027
1 - 5 pm / MLK Library Branch
1467 E. Long St, Columbus, 43203
Thanks for checking on what’s new in Events. Yes, we’re already preparing for 2027. We’re working on getting bigger, better, and still centered on what makes the BASH special: books, culture, community, connection, and you. In 2026, nearly 900 people joined us at the Martin Luther King Branch, and we’re building on that incredible day with returning favorites, new experiences, and even more ways for readers and authors to connect.
Authors, this BASH is for you, too. Your free table and Featured Author opportunities are designed to put your books directly in front of readers while creating meaningful connections with fellow authors and the community. Whether you’re a returning BASH author or joining us for the first time, we invite you to bring your stories, your readers, and your enthusiasm. Applications for the 2027 Juneteenth BASH Book Festival open October 1, 2026.
Juneteenth BASH 2024
Our 2024 Juneteenth Black Authors Spotlight on Heritage was an incredible success, drawing over 800 attendees and showcasing 46 talented BIPOC authors for a day filled with books and vibrant community spirit! The Columbus literary community showed up in full force—guests enjoyed 25.00 gift card raffles, free toys, swag bags, free food, a photo booth, DJ’s, a live band, spoken word, singing, and a food truck. Authors received a free table, swag bag, a $10.00 first book purchase, and free dinner. It was on fire!
We all know no successful endeavor is achieved without help. Colette Harrell Literary Events (CHLE pronounced CHILL) would like to thank the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Martin Luther King Library for their invaluable partnership. And, to our staff (Melissa Harrell, Carolyn Napier), volunteers (Sandee Hemphill, Dawnyale Peeks, Pam Bailey, Angela Randal, Rhonda Draughton, Langston Harrell, Darryl McCants, Gregory Napier, Halton Harrell, and Henson Harrell), all the participating authors, vendors, entertainers, and MLK Manager Chanie Scott and the library staff—CHLE salutes you.
We’re also grateful to Alissa Henry of Channel 6 and Fox 28 for her wonderful coverage, sharing our story with the wider community! Enjoy the video TV News coverage above.
Juneteenth BASH 2025
Get ready for Juneteenth BASH 2025! Building on last year’s incredible turnout of over 800 attendees and 46 talented BIPOC authors, this year’s event promises even more excitement, connection, and celebration. Join us for a day filled with books, and all of the above attractions along with some added benefits.
In 2025, we’re introducing a dedicated Children’s Author section featuring face painting, caricature drawings, and special readings by senior members of the Urban Renewal Aging Coalition, sharing selections from books on the authors’ tables. There will be double the food trucks and health screenings. A refreshed layout will provide more room to explore, more volunteers, greater engagement, and even more fun!
We are working toward the highlight of this literary celebration: the goal to purchase five books from each author’s table, with plans to donate them to Kidney Dialysis Centers, Senior Nursing Homes, Cancer Centers, and local food banks supporting families in need. Mark your calendar for an unforgettable celebration of literature, culture, and unity.
Let’s make Juneteenth BASH 2026 even bigger and better!
Juneteenth BASH 2026
BASH 2026 was one for the books! Our third annual Juneteenth BASH filled the Martin Luther King Branch with authors, readers, families, books, music, laughter, and community. Nearly 900 attendees joined us for an afternoon created around literacy, culture, connection, and the joy of discovering new stories.
Throughout the day, readers met authors face-to-face, browsed books across genres, and enjoyed live entertainment. Our youngest readers had their own space to explore books and activities, while older adults, families, and generations in between came together in a celebration that demonstrated what community-centered literacy can look like.
And 2026 gave us even more reason to celebrate. The Juneteenth BASH recognitions affirm the growing impact of an event that began with a simple belief: our stories deserve to be written, read, shared, and celebrated. Juneteenth is the perfect time to celebrate literacy and the important role our stories play in preserving Black history, culture, and legacy. The diversity of our growing attendees proves all of our community is invested.
None of it happens alone. We are grateful for our partnership with the Martin Luther King Branch and Columbus Metropolitan Library, our participating authors, community partners, volunteers, entertainers, readers, families, and everyone who walked through the doors and helped make the third annual BASH unforgettable.
At its heart, the BASH continues to do exactly what it was created to do: bring stories and people together.
Make sure to press the black button above and take a look back at BASH 2026.
Visionaries in Prose & Writers Brunch 2024
Writers Brunch 2024
NY Times Author
Victoria Christopher
Murry
Media Personality &
National Influencer
Cyruss Web
Literacy Market Expert
Author
Shelby Leigh
Funding Expert
Publisher
Stephanie Bridges
Speaker Sandee Hemphill Author, Non -Fiction Expert
The Writers Brunch 2024 was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, including the host. The day began with Author Shelby Leigh, a literary market expert, who shared not just tips but valuable insights on expanding one’s market. She was followed by Author Stephanie Bridges, a publisher and grant writer, who provided each attendee with a blueprint for securing funding to support their work.
The day only improved as Author Sandee Hemphill, a nonfiction guru and marketing coach, offered strategies to elevate every literary endeavor. Midday, we paused for a delicious brunch featuring shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, sausage links, fresh-cut home potatoes, fruit, apple juice, and sparkling mimosas.
After brunch and some neighborly networking, our headliners brought the day to a crescendo. Cyrus Webb led an impactful BootCamp on marketing and branding, and New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray delivered a workshop on developing powerful stories. The event wrapped up with book signings, interviews, photos, and even more networking opportunities.
Writers Brunch 2025
A three-night, four-day intensive retreat anchored by the Writers Brunch on Saturday offers a one-day training open to an additional forty attendees—both aspiring and seasoned authors. Tickets are available, allowing these participants to join in author-growth workshops and networking sessions. Mid-day, everyone enjoys a sumptuous Southern-inspired brunch, a relaxed yet enriching opportunity to connect with bestselling authors and literary experts in an intimate setting. The retreat concludes with each participant receiving a nationally syndicated interview, broadcast on social media and iHeart Radio by media personality and sponsor Cyrus Webb.
Let’s make Writers brunch 2025 even bigger and better!
Visionaries in Prose Retreat 2024
The VIP Retreat is an all-inclusive experience designed to elevate authors through a focused, Friday-to-Monday intensive program for seven individually selected authors. The authors receive personalized coaching, hands-on workshops, and direct feedback from industry-leading professionals. This ensures a transformative experience for their writing journey. This is all accomplished in a luxury mansion, your own ensuite room with chef-created mouth-watering meals, a 24-hour dessert bar, a massage, and a personalized welcome basket.
The success stories from our past retreat speak volumes. One attendee secured a promotional endorsement for her book from New York Times Best Selling Author Victoria Christopher Murray, while another received a manuscript developmental edit from this same celebrated author. Additionally, one participant saw their book promoted to Los Angeles producers through the Books to Film program and is now featured on Cyrus Webb’s Books to Film Website, where producers discover their next big film project. All attendees received a promotional interview on Cyrus Webb’s national show.
Several retreat participants have also become certified Amazon influencers or affiliates, unlocking new income streams while growing their personal brands. Through personalized one-on-one coaching, authors receive actionable strategies tailored to their unique paths, paving the way to national publication and significant reader base growth. VIP members also gained access to an exclusive Facebook group, where they benefit from ongoing Zoom classes and mentorship by Cyrus Webb. By supporting (should say attending) this retreat, you are helping launch to take your the next generation of bestselling authors and equipping them with the tools to (remove this part) you are equipping yourself with the tools to achieve lasting success.
