 Author Gets Removed from
National Book Club Conference
by Taylor Nix
August 2008
When Relentless Aaron, the prominent and acclaimed author of more than 10 books, entered the NBCC (National Book Club Conference) in Atlanta, Georgia, he didn't know his presence would inspire chastising and a discourteous removal.
According to Relentless Aaron, on Friday, August 1, 2008 he caught a last minute glimpse of the literary studded event. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to do what I do just about everywhere else in the country, and that is to meet people and market some of my three dozen books," Aaron says. Familiar faces in attendance included: Terry McMillian, Omar Tyree, Richard Jeanty and Troy Johnson (AALBC.com)—who introduced Aaron to the coordinator of the event: Curtis Bunn.
In the dinning area of the lavish event is where he was introduced to Bunn, they shake hands and he says to Aaron, "Let me talk to you for a minute. I don't appreciate you coming in here without first speaking with me." Aaron feels like  he's just been reprimanded and Bunn continues, "Well, it's alright. Make yourself at home. Enjoy."
Aaron stuck on stupid now by the flow of conversation, returns with, "Well, thanks. I'm not really eating, just playing fly-on-the-wall."
In the common area is where Aaron heads and proceeds to setup his laptop with a PowerPoint Presentation. "I figure this is the best place to be seen, to offer up books to new readers." The crowd starts to pour in and Aaron does what he's best at: mingling amongst the people. Other unnamed authors are spotted and they too seemed to have just "shown up" to benefit from the undertaking. Books are signed and before he knows it, with little to no effort, Aaron's already sold several books.
 He proceeds to set up his camera to start interviewing authors and readers. "[It's] something that I do all the time as the programmer for some 50 Internet broadcast channels." Within roughly 2 hours, a woman approaches Aaron, and asks if he is a part of the book event. "I didn't quite know how to answer that, but I simply told her the truth, that I spoke with Curtis earlier and that he said it was okay to be here."
Here is where the story takes a twist.
Five minutes after Aaron's exchange with the woman, who identified her self as Curtis's fiancé, hotel security shows up and notifies Aaron that he has to pack up and leave the hotel room.
And it doesn't end there, "The next morning, I text Curtis," Aaron says.
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RELENTLESS AARON: "Make yourself at home you said. Enjoy you told me. And then, when I do what you say, you call the cops."
CURTIS BUNN: "And my fiancé called the cops. But I'm not mad at her for doing so. You were wrong."
RELENTLESS AARON: "Cowards. Both of you."
CURTIS BUNN: "Kiss my a**."
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We contacted Mr. Curtis Bunn for his side of the story and here is what he said:
"He [Relentless Aaron] was removed from the National Book Club Conference because he was not a part of the event. I spent 11 months planning the conference, and authors either contacted me about participating or received invitations from me about participation. Additionally, there were 26 authors who paid a fee as a vendor to be a part of the NBCC.
This guy shows up because he hears about the event and assumes it is okay for him to proceed as if he is a part of the occasion. He was not. Worse, I was told he was there not only pushing his work, but denigrating a fellow author who was an official part of the conference. Not cool, or professional.
Bottom line, we have to stop with this notion of trying to get over. This is a professional organization and it is run professionally, and so the proper protocol was needed to participate. Period. Nothing against him; I don't know the guy. But we as black people have to set new standards on how we function. Crashing someone's event is not the route to a better way. And he was not the only author who just showed up and tried to be a part of the event. They [the other authors] were discharged from the event, too, and with much less the drama he tried to create."
Taylor Nix is a writer and photographer for the Urban Book Source. Questions, comments and concerns can be sent to: taylor@urbanbooksource.com
THE URBAN BOOK SOURCE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COMMENTS THAT ARE POSTED. IF A COMMENT IS DEFAMATORY, PLEASE CONTACT US AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
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RA you're a great media magnet. That being said, why are you trying to make what you did , which was gate crash, a great black on black crime? Stop trying to act like it was a hit to 'street lit authors' so they can rally with you. Bottom line is you got called out for being just plain wrong!
PS. Who was the author that you were accused of degrading??? Maybe the problem started there! Ya think!
What I will next say is not to brag, but might validate my last post. In 2007 THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON, my second effort, was featured in Ebony Magazine, an Essence and Black Expressions Bookclub Bestseller, Nominated for an African-American Literary Award, made the Master's List For a 2008 NAACP Image Award Nomination in the Outstanding Literature Fiction Category, and won Four Infini Literary Awards. That all of this was done without the political machinery (NO AGENT OR PUBLICIST) you often need was solely through God's Grace.
Sending Curtis Bunn an E-mail in late 2007, I asked about the National Book Club Conference and possible inclusion, only to be told all author and vendor vacancies were filled. While not saying I should have automatically been included, the sting I felt was akin to a Baseball player batting .300 with 30 Homers and 85 RBI and being left off the all-star team.
That also made me understand that there might be more that meets the eye to even being included. So, while I disagree with the way Relentless Aaron conducted his business, a part of me can indentify with imposing your will. While I believe that TALENT, QUALITY and SUBSTANCE wins every time over smoke and mirrors, sometimes it seems as if the right political ass is not kissed, you could be left on the sidelines. And that's not fair to all those who dare to dream.
These are not sour grapes... This is the truth, Fam.
Why do we continue to fight so hard to be accepted by organizations which don't want us? I think we should pick and choose our battles ACCORDINGLY. The battle the Great Dr. King fought was a battle worth fighting. But to demand an organization accept a particular genre when they consistently reject it is a waste of time.
Maybe street lit authors should ban together and forge our own way. Maybe then you'll have authors from other genres and organizations wanting to be a part of our consortium.
Acting in unprofessional manners does nothing but give these organizations more ammunition against us. Just because you write street doesn't mean you should act HOOD.
@ Relentless, I have too. ~wink~
Aaron, my friend, you were wrong, offensive and the truth is your thought does not matter, for it was not your event. Now, I say that with love, although it sounds raw, for that is always my mission and that has and will always be my reputation, delivering, raw reality with love. I could understand the embarrassment of having to be escorted by “The man”, however you were the offender and from your display here, it seems that you would not have gone without further complications. I believe instead of bashing Mr. Bunn, (by the way, this article has bought his event to my attention; I registered this morning for 2009, thank you much!). I was saying you should simply apologize; maybe he will invite you and give you special seating or something to make amends.
Aaron, please take this in stride, you are a wonderful salesman, and you have done a lot to show our community that with hard work and determination, they can accomplish their dreams. Don’t allow this mishap to further tarnish your name, because at the end of the day, it is all we have, ESPECIALLY when you are in the public eye.
FYI
The name I posted on this board is the only one I have, google me.
Wanda McKiver
Bottom line...you were out of pocket, Aaron. Get over it.
All love...keep doing what you do but learn to be flexible with your surroundings and audience.
xoxo
While not agreeing with the actions of Relentless Aaron (an author I respect because of his determination, but should have remembered ) and understanding the need for protocol, something has to give in terms of inclusion. As are the the Terry McMillans, E. Lynn Harris, et al, you simply have got to include others deserving of gain as well. While the National Book Club Conference does not validate literary existence, sometimes you can't help but wonder if said convention is an elitist club where the real definition of protocol and professionalism is POLITICS.
For writers aspiring for higher ground, remember moments like the aforementioned when experiencing writers block late a night. Use it as motivation on delivering a statement through a great story.