THe year of the Black author.

The boom in African-American literature has meant more opportunities for a number of new faces. Seasoned writers have also been in the spotlight more these days. For readers, it has meant more diverse books.

In 1993, African-Americans spent about $178 million on books, according to Target Market News, a Chicago-based industry newsletter. Ballantine's Cheryl Woodruff observes that, compared with the '60s and the '70s, "the books that are being published now represent a wide range of expression, whether memoirs, autobiographies, commercial fiction, literary fiction or inspirational books. That's the real measure of the depth of time."

The industry truism that women purchase more books than men is reflected by the reigning popularity of commercial fiction. As insatiable African-American female readers swarmed bookstores in search of fiction, 1993 was the "Year of the Woman Writer." Mainstream publishers and booksellers devoted special attention to female contemporary writers, such as Tina McElroy Ansa (Ugly Ways), Bebe Moore Campbell (Brothers and Sisters) and Connie Briscoe (Sisters and Lovers).

"Although women read more in general, there's a higher proportion of female readers in the African-American community," says bookstore owner Clara Villarosa. "Black women want to pick up a book, sit down and forget about their troubles for the day." At the same time, she notes, "There is a growing group of black men who are reading about ancient history and seeking empowerment."

Indeed, a number of nonfiction books have come into play, making 1994 the "Year of the Black Man" for writers Nathan McCall (Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man In America), Ellis Cose (The Rage of a Privileged Class) and George Fraser (Success Runs In Our Race).

As the African-American community searches for something to help cope with day-to-day living, self-affirmation and inspirational books abound. Among the top sellers: Iyanla Vanzant's Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color, Eric Copage's Black Pearls: Daily Meditations, Affirmations and Inspirations for African-Americans and Susan Taylor's In the Spirit.

Children's books are proving to be another vital market. The top names here include Mildred Taylor, Walter Dean Myers and Virginia Hamilton. As with the adult market, children's books are more commercial these days. "In the past, publishers were hesitant to put out children's books that weren't literary, because they were marketing them mainly to the schools and libraries," says Jacqueline Woodson, whose latest book, I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This, was recognized by Publishers Weekly as one of the best books of 1994. "Now we are seeing more children's books getting into the bookstores."

A concern echoed by African-American authors is the inability of the big houses to properly market their books and pursue channels in which to reach black consumers at churches, book fairs and black expos. Many writers and agents have also complained that February is a seasonal ghetto for black titles.

Intrumental in building support for black writers is the Blackboard African-American Bestseller list. Created by Columbus, Ohio-based writer Faye Childs, the three-year-old chart is based primarily on the sales information of 60 bookstores, and black and mass-market retailers.

Book signing are a strategic promotional tactic that black bookstore owners use to bond writers and readers. "We have had over 250 author signings with people like James Earl Jones, Gordon Parks, Terry McMillan, Gloria Naylor and Derrick Bell," says Glenderlyn Johnson, owner of Black Books Plus in New York.

Publishers are doing more, especially in terms of book tours and signings, says Essence's Linda Villarosa. "Black readers want to take ownership of their writers. They want to embrace the author in a way beyond [his or her] book."