February 14, 2026 Da Book Joint in Chicago
Calling all book and music lovers in the Windy City! Join Katara Washington Patton, a celebrated author and editor who was also my former JET magazine colleague, for a lively and inspirational Book Signing and Talk with me at Da Book Joint at Pen & Paper on February 14 from noon to 2 p.m.
We'll be discussing my latest, It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy, a historical corrective about Hitsville U.S.A.'s first certified female songwriter and producer.
Books will be available for purchase, and a signing will take place following the conversation.
When you purchase a ticket, it includes a copy of the book for signing. Get tickets at Eventbrite.
March 11, 2026 University of Illinois Chicago
Calling all UIC students/faculty, past and present! Join Karen Leick, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Professional Writing at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), for a Book Reading with Margena Christian, her former colleague, an Emeritus Senior Lecturer and Director of Internships for Undergraduate Studies, English and Professional Writing, at UIC in University Hall 2028 on March 11 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Contact the English Department for more information via email: english@uic.edu
We'll be discussing my latest book, It's No Wonder, a historical corrective about Hitsville U.S.A.'s first certified female songwriter and producer.
March 22, 2026
Calling all book, music and fashion lovers! Join me for An Afternoon at Essential Elements Chicago for a book talk with Shirley Henderson, my former EBONY magazine colleague, on Sunday, March 22, at 2:30 p.m. CT. The event is hosted by Melanie Whaley, owner of the chic boutique located at 1640 E. 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60617.
We'll be discussing my latest, It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy, a historical corrective about Hitsville U.S.A.'s first certified female songwriter and producer.
To learn more, register and get tickets, visit the Essential Elements Chicago.
July 16, 2026 Bob Dylan Center (Virtual Event)
Calling all book and music lovers around the world! Join me for an Online Conversation with Steven Jenkins, Director of the Bob Dylan Center (BDC) in Tulsa, OK, for a virtual event with the BDC on July 16 at 6 p.m. CT. We'll be discussing my latest, It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown's Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy, a historical corrective about Hitsville U.S.A.'s first certified female songwriter and producer.
To learn more, register and get tickets, visit the Bob Dylan Center.
September 27, 2006
September 27, 2006
Calling all book and music lovers in New York! Join me for a panel discussion, Musical Lives Revisited, with moderator David Hajdu (Adrianne Geffel: A Fiction) about the relationship between the lives and legacies of some of our most familial musical voices, and how has each changed since the peak of their fame. Other panelists include Joshua Jelly-Schapiro (Daylight Come: Harry Belafonte and the World He Made) and Jamie Fisher (Nobody Broke Your Heart: An Intimate Biography of Elliott Smith) for a discussion of how music lives in the world.
The Brooklyn Book Festival is New York City’s largest free literary festival and connects readers with local, national and international authors and publishers during the course of a celebratory literary week.
To learn more and to see the other invited authors, visit the Brooklyn Book Festival. For the full schedule visit Festival Day - Brooklyn Book Festival.