We are pleased to announce an exclusive arrangement between Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau and 2Leaf Press to book its authors for speaking engagements.
The first roll out of 2Leaf Press authors are: Abiodun Oyewole, J. L. Torres, Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, and Lynn Levin. We look forward to seeing more 2Leaf Press authors added to Jodi Solomon’s roster in the near future.
It would be easy for Publisher Gabrielle David to take full credit for the Jodi Solomon deal, but in fact, the idea was the brainstorm of poet Jesús Papoleto Melendez. In a casual conversation, Meléndez talked about how difficult it was for authors to approach and get deals with speaking bureaus, and suggested that David create a package deal for its authors through the press. “When Papo suggested a package deal for 2Leaf Press authors, it was like a thunderbolt,” exclaimed David. “It was a great idea that came about organically, and actually, was quite brilliant on his part. So I set out to investigate speaking bureaus that had a track record of promoting multicultural writers, and after considerable research and inquires, I decided to go with Jodi Solomon.”
As one of the premier boutique lecture agencies in the country, Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau’s goal has been to create change through conversation. Their roster of independent thinkers (e.g., Andrei Codrescu, Suzan Shown Harjo, Daisy Hernández, Michael Mann, Ntozake Shange, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nikki Giovanni, Charles Johnson and Hassan Abbas), puts 2Leaf Press authors in great company.
“One of the things I’m pushing is that poets should not be confined to just poetry readings,” explains David. “They’re thinkers, intellectuals, and well-read experts in a number of areas, whether it’s politics, history, cultural or literary issues, with many of them having worked as teachers and professors for over a dozen years. I think, some of the best poets are the ones who are well-grounded in world events. In fact, I believe that in order for them to create meaningful work they would have to be critical thinkers that write with an open heart and an open mind. We need more people like that, and I hope Jodi Solomon will help our authors find a wider audience that will appreciate their wisdom.”
Jodi F. Solomon Speaking Bureau was founded in 1989, and has been bringing its clients a unique, multicultural roster of presenters who are dedicated to educating, entertaining and enlightening audiences on issues that we face every day. Adds Bill Fargo, Vice President of Jodi Solomon, “There is a synergy created when several organizations, or creative minds, get together for a common purpose. The results are often greater than what the individual parts could have produced on their own.” It is Fargo’s vision, along with Jodi Solomon’s dedication to promoting multicultural and multi-faceted writers that helped broker this amazing deal for 2Leaf Press’ authors.
“And before people begin to gossip and buzz as they no doubt will,” continues David, “there is no ‘kick-back’ to 2Leaf Press. The only obligation our writers have to us is to promote books published with us as they would with any of their other books. The benefit of this arrangement is that the more exposure our writers get, the more 2Leaf Press will get, making this partnership a win-win situation all the way around.”
For more information about booking 2Leaf Press authors, contact Bill Fargo at Jodi Solomon Speaking Bureau at 617.266.3450.
