On Saturday, September 27, Cleveland’s Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC – pronounced “glossy”) will once again bring together best-selling authors, panelists, and the Northeast Ohio community for a literary event focused on Black writers. This year, the conference will be held at the Martin Luther King Branch of Cleveland Public Library on Euclid Avenue and will feature a new producer.
In a statement that announced Nicole D. Miller as GLAAWC’s new producer, GLAAWC Founder and Executive Producer Emerita Dr. Leah Lewis said Miller, “is a perfect fit to forge a new path.”
Miller calls the annual conference “a gem.”
“It’s a time to celebrate Black excellence – literary Black excellence – where best-selling authors are normally featured,” Miller said. “The goal is to educate and bring awareness to those who are interested in writing.”
She said the conference is scheduled to have in-person and virtual keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a writing workshop focused on “street lit.” According to the American Library Association, the genre – also known as urban fiction – tells stories of life in the inner city with a dark, gritty tone.
“We’re really hitting a lot of different spaces. We’re honoring historical Black publishers. We’re honoring contemporary Black publishers. Different arenas, such as magazine articles featuring author coaches, editors – every part of a literary industry that you can think of,” Miller said.
Miller, a self-published author with four books under her name and founder of ND Miller Publishing, said GLAAWC will cover all types of writing, from books to scriptwriting to journalism. She said this is a chance to bring Black writers together and celebrate creativity.
“There really isn’t anything like it,” Miller said. “GLAAWC really highlights Black writers and storytellers.”
The Land sat down with Miller to learn more about her role as the new producer of GLAAWC, and how she believes the conference impacts the Cleveland community.
The Land: How did GLAAWC get started? How old is it?
Miller: It’s going on its eighth year this year. Dr. Leah Lewis started it and she’s the executive producer and founder.
Q: How did you get involved with GLAAWC?
Miller: I was connected with GLAAWC a couple of years ago. I remember someone asked me, “Do you know about GLAAWC?” They took me to it and I ended up being an author vendor there.
I connected with Dr. Leah when I was writing for a local paper and I did her interview. I was inspired and we have had a good rapport since. I’ve attended a few [GLAAWCs] myself, but then this year she offered me the position to be a producer.
Q: What all does that entail – being the producer of GLAAWC?
Miller: My background is doing events, hosting events. The conference is inclusive of everything I’ve been doing, such as planning speakers, scheduling events, a lot of administrative skills, doing research on potential speakers, reaching out. And GLAAWC is about the Midwest region, so it’s pulling in other cities such as Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit. It’s not just for Cleveland – it’s really for the Greater Lakes, the Midwest region. It’s definitely a multitude of skill sets.
We have a lot of key partners. We have Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Foundation – and those were key liaisons that Dr. Leah had from the onset. She’s introducing me to those connections.
It is a lot of connecting, casting the vision, creating the agenda, doing your due diligence to research speakers, and knowing the messaging that we want to offer.
I’m adding a new flavor to it and we’re doing a mixer, which is actually going to be August 23rd at the Cleveland Urban Winery. I added the mixer to kind of stir things up, get people excited, kick [GLAAWC] off. We’ll do a fireside chat with Dr. Leah. It’ll be a time to get all of the Black creatives in one space, and we have the vendors.
Q: How long is the conference?
Miller: The conference is one day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The other aspect about GLAAWC is the top tier literary keynotes that you’re going to get access to – bestselling authors. We’ll have Diane McKinney Whetstone, introducing her new novel “Family Spirit,” as well as publishing expert Kim M. Sadler as keynote speakers.
Q: How do you get those individuals to come to Cleveland for a literary Black excellence conference?
Miller: That is all Dr. Leah Lewis! Reverend Dr. Leah Lewis, JB and what she’s been able to establish in our city – pulling in these connections. She’s been mentoring me in that space.
Q: Is GLAAWC helping Cleveland become a hub for Black authors?
Miller: I definitely think it’s the only thing that is really aspiring to. I think it’s a space where we can say it’s for us, by us, and that we can elevate in this craft of storytelling. It’s definitely an opportunity for us to celebrate each other and lift up each other.
Q: What is the size of this year’s conference going to be like?
Miller: At its high times, it’s been high hundreds and then virtually over 6,500. During the pandemic is when it really skyrocketed and it hit African countries – Black nations. We’re shooting for those goals again.
Q: Why do you believe it’s important for Cleveland to have events and conferences, like GLAAWC, for Black writers?
Miller: I’ve been in the literary community for several years and I can’t say that I’ve seen anything that is garnered towards us – garnered towards our storytelling – and really advocating for us, and opening up dialogue and spaces for us to elevate in this arena.
I think that we’ve struggled with hope. I think we are resilient people, but we always need hope. And, we’ve been through a lot. I think that we can also rejoice in what we’ve overcome. I think GLAAWC is a beacon of light for the Black community. We need that. We need hope, we need light, we need unity in coming together and celebrating what we’ve overcome.
Q: How do authors get involved?
Miller: GLAAWC is free, open to the public, and all authors are welcomed. There are going to be vendor tables available so authors can tap into that and participate in attendance.
The Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC) Mixer is on Saturday, August 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at CLE Urban Winery, 2180 Lee Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. The event includes a chance to meet GLAAWC Producer Nicole D. Miller and a fireside chat with GLAAWC Founder and Executive Producer Emerita Dr. Leah Lewis.
Visit this website to register for GLAAWC 2025 on Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The conference will be held at the Martin Luther King Branch of Cleveland Public Library, 10601 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106. Admission is free and there is free parking available at the venue.
Those interested in grabbing a copy of author Dianne McKinney Whetstone‘s new book, “Family Spirit,” and having her sign it at the conference can purchase a bundled ticket for $24. GLAAWC will receive $6 of each book sale to go toward the production and continuation of the conference. Visit the website to learn more.
For more information about GLAAWC, visit glaawc.us.