From the editor-in-chief.

Omar Tyree is one aggressive brother. Few authors have just picked up the phone and called me in my Virginia office to ask to be the cover story for Black Issues Book Review. But that's precisely what Omar did several years ago. After I told Omar that the covers were decided by my editorial staff in New York City, I hung up the phone thinking, "That brother is going to go far. He is too bold!"

Well, the cover didn't happen, but Omar took it like a man. Then, because as Mark Twain says, "Luck is the residue of diligence" Omar's relentless, nontraditional self-promotion attracted BIBR's attention this year.

We are honored to feature him on our cover because he represents the new breed of author/entrepreneurs who are changing the culture of black books. Tyree was among the first of the now best-selling authors to storm the gates of the publishing industry by self-publishing. Today's self-published writers aren't waiting for editors in mainstream houses to approve their manuscripts, understand their messages or recognize the market that is satisfied by their work. As one of these literary guerrillas, Tyree brought his first novel to print himself nearly a dozen years ago. He became such a phenomenon that he was picked up by a major house. The rest, as the proverbial saying goes, is history. But much of his story has gone untold until now.

I believe it is the role of independent black-owned publications to discover and cover our own new writers, to make editorial judgments different from the mainstream press, to celebrate those deserving authors among us who have been overlooked. BIBR is proud to be the first publication to make Tyree a cover subject, and to get up-dose-and-personal with brother Omar. Never one to mince words, he shares his priorities, peeves and his past--all of which reveal why this new breed of writer is indeed innovative.

BIBR is the only periodical to offer self-published writers the same review attention as those published by other presses. Our self-publishing department--which commenced in our first issues of the publication and was prepared by the grand dame of the self-pub market "Dr. Rosie" Milligan and veteran self-published author (now on the Warner Books roster) Victoria Christopher Murray--offers a special treat this issue with insight on celebrities who self publish. For many, self publishing is less and less a last option and more a smart choice.

We're especially proud to present our first self-published "Special Report," an in-depth look at the rise of this literary equivalent of getting one's own 40 acres and mule.

Speaking of doing for self, publishing BIBR remains a passionate challenge. We are strengthened by the knowledge that black publications traditionally have a long road to advertising maturity. But we have also been made strong for the past two years by the able efforts of our Director of Advertising Michelle Gipson who recently left BIBR. We wish her all the best in her new endeavors and will especially miss her aplomb in wearing the many hats a new publication requires of all its staff. To the rest of my staff, I take my hat off to you, for a gutsy issue that gives props to self-published writers, sung and unsung.

Sincerely,

William E. Cox
President/Editor-in-Chief