Meeting the QCA Black Authors

August is a special time in the Quad Cities Area. The Polyrhythm Jazz and Heritage Festival is a key event during the month. It has included, as part of that heritage, the QCA Black Authors Forum. This is the time when the community comes together in meeting the QCA Black Authors in one venue. The forum allows the authors to share their stories, display their books, and answer much-anticipated questions from an audience of inspired writers, readers, and future authors.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Meeting the QCA Black Authors is Only the Beginning

Even with five years under our belt, many are unaware of the QCA Black Authors Forum or of the local Black authors in the community. Above are the names and faces of those Black authors attending this year’s forum. However, it is by no means all of the Black authors in the Quad Cities. In years past, the forum hosted 30-40 Black authors. Each year introduced 5-10 new Black authors. The names and faces you see above are only the beginning of meeting the QCA Black authors.

Using Facebook to Meet the Black Authors

Each year, the Black Author Collective posts pictures and biographies of the Black authors participating in that year’s event. The bio provides a stirring description of the author’s background, not just information about their authorship. Some authors choose to share their place of origin, while others share their professions. Most will share the writing journey that brought them to become authors. Others share the next book they are working on. Regardless of what information they provide, it gives readers insight into the authors’ lives from a different perspective. The forum does not stop here with introducing the Black Authors Forum.

A Foundation of Promotion

Viewers can also meet the QCA Black Authors via their local television stations. In conjunction with promoting the Polyrhythm Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Black Authors Forum was spotlighted on shows such as Loving Living Local, WQAD Sunday Showcase, and Paula Sands Live. In addition to the photo flyer and Facebook author biographies, readers can hear from a Black Author Collective member about what to expect at the forum.

So, regardless of how you meet the QCA Black Authors or learn about the Black Authors Forum, clear your calendar on Friday evening, August 21, 2026, from 6-7:30 pm to attend the Fifth Annual Black Authors Forum at the MLK Center in Rock Island, IL. You will be glad you did!