PRESS

Check out where our clients have been featured by pressing one of the years below.
it was 2024...
Winter

Winter:

it was 2023...
Fall

Fall

Summer

Summer

  • H Is for Harlem, illustrated by April Harrison, receives a 2023 Pure Wow Happy Kids Award in the Best Books for Ages 5-8 category.
  • Augusta Savage and Victory. Stand! are included on the New York Public Library’s Vibrant Voices book list.
  • The New Brownies’ Book by Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer receives a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
  • Shawn Martinbrough and Derrick Barnes are spotlighted on ABC for Judge Kim and Like Lava in My Veins.
  • Dr. Jenny Wang speaks at the Creating Space community session on mental health at Barclay’s Center, presented by the Brooklyn Nets and Phillip Lim.
  • Dr. Jenny Tzu-Mei Wang and Dr. George James discuss minority mental health disparities on NBC News.
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess is included on Parents‘ “10 Children’s Books That Celebrate Caribbean Culture” list.
  • Tiffany Yu and her work as a disabled changemaker are celebrated by Forbes.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks takes part in “The Black Writer’s Guide to Being Agent-Ready” panel presented by the Hurston/Wright Foundation and Hachette Book Group.
  • Like Lava in My Veins and How We Do It are included on Ebony’s recommended reading list for July.
  • How We Do It is spotlighted in the Boston Globe.
  • Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier is recommended by My Edmonds News as a book that will “keep kids reading all summer”.
  • Donna Oriowo is a guest at Essence Fest 2023.
  • Kim Taylor talks about story quilts and A Flag for Juneteenth in a special Juneteenth discussion hosted by Book Passage.
  • Victoria Scott-Miller opens Liberation Station Bookstore, the first Black-owned children’s book store in North Carolina.
  • Denise Adusei is named to this year’s Bronx Power 100 list for her work as Executive Director of the Bronx Children’s Museum.
Spring

Spring

  • A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor is turned into a story walk at the Dunwoody Nature Center in Georgia.
  • The Hurston/Wright Foundation’s How We Do It, edited by Jericho Brown, receives a starred review from Kirkus.
  • Like Lava in My Veins by Derrick Barnes, Shawn Martinbrough, and Adriano Lucas receives a starred review from Kirkus.
  • Tamika Burgess is a guest author at the 2023 Bronx Book Festival.
  • Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile is included by Today‘s Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read With Jenna Jr.” 2023 children’s book recommendation list.
  • Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life by Marilyn Nelson and Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile, are BCALA/SLJ 2023 Children & Young Adult Literary Honor books.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks, Vice President of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), co-produces AALA Day at the 2023 U.S. Book Show.
  • H Is for Harlem, illustrated by Serendipity’s April Harrison, wins a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award in the non-fiction category.
  • Associate Agent Ameerah Holliday is interviewed by The Darling Axe.
  • Dr. Shannon Dowler discusses her book, Never Too Late, with the Daily Mail.
  • Serendipity Lit author Denise Adusei helps launch the Bronx Children’s Museum. The launch is attended by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
  • Tamika Burgess is interviewed by Christina Consolino about Sincerely Sicily, which was also included on Re Mezcla‘s list of recommended books by Latine authors.
  • Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life is included on the Black Children’s Books and Authors National Poetry Month list.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks shares advice for aspiring poets with Poets & Writers.
  • Serendipity Associate Agent Ameerah Holliday is reviewing pitches at the 2023 San Diego Writing Workshop.
  • Tamika Burgess is a guest author at TXLA 2023.
  • Serendipity Associate Agent Kelly Thomas is participating in one-on-one pitches at the 2023 Writing Workshop of San Francisco.
  • Shawn Martinbrough and his work are spotlighted on Fox29.
  • Award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson is interviewed by Nadine Pinede of Diverse Verse.
  • Akim Aliu: Dreamer by Akim Aliu, Serendipity Lit author Greg Anderson Elysée, Karen De la Vega, and Marcus Williams is reviewed in the Toronto Star.
  • Dr. Shannon Dowler discusses her new book, Never Too Late: Your Guide to Safer Sex After 60 on the KevinMD podcast.
  • Dr. Jenny Wang and her mental health activism are spotlighted as part of Nordstrom’s celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.
  • Serendipity Associate Agent Ameerah Holliday is a story reviewer for Journey to Kidlit’s Critique-A-Palooza.
  • Author Vera Ahiyya is a mentor for the 2023 We Need Diverse Books BCF Mentorship.
  • Augusta Savage: The Shape of a Sculptor’s Life by Marilyn Nelson; Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile; and The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton are included on the BCALA Best Books of 2022 list.
  • Goldie Chan, writer and social media strategist, wins a 2023 Communitas Leadership Award for Diversity in Journalism Coverage.
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess is reviewed by Andrea Rodés in Al Día.
  • Shawn Martinbrough is interviewed by Popverse about his career in comics and the Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court series.
  • Khnum “Stic” Ibomu is featured on the “Hip Hop Wellness Explorer” podcast.
  • Victory. Stand! by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile is included on the Texas Library Association’s Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List.
  • Author Larry Jackson’s work is included on the New York Times’ “The New Black Canon: Books, Plays and Poems That Everyone Should Know” book list.
  • Akim Aliu Dreamer: Growing Up Black in the World of Hockey, Akim Aliu’s memoir co-written by Serendipity Lit’s Greg Anderson Elysée, is reviewed in the Chicago Sun Times.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks attends the AWP23 conference.
  • The Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court series and its creative team are spotlighted in Forbes.
  • The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton were among 1,800 books chosen to be donated to Richmond, Petersburg kindergarteners by the Urban League of Greater Richmond.
Winter

Winter:

  • Khnum “Stic” Ibomu, the author of The 5 Principles, is featured on “The Gabby Reece Show”.
  • Comics creator Shawn Martinbrough is interviewed by Popverse.
  • Dick Gregory is featured in USA Today‘s video “How Black comedians in the Civil Rights era brought joy to a segregated nation”.
  • Victory. Stand! by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile is included on the Wall Street Journal‘s “12 Best Books for Black History Month” list.
  • Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess is reviewed by Paige’s Book Society.
  • Dr. Shannon Dowler, author of Never Too Late: Your Guide to Safer Sex After 60, writes about the uptick in STDs in seniors for KevinMD.
  • Ed Gordon, award-winning journalist and author of the book Conversations in Black, is a featured correspondent on BET’s new monthly primetime newsmagazine show, “America in Black”.
  • Tamika Burgess writes about Sincerely Sicily on Pop! Goes the Reader and is interviewed by WOC Read.
  • Regina Brooks and Kelly Thomas attend the 2023 SCBWI New York Conference.
  • Bill Lester, for NASCAR driver and author of the memoir Winning in Reverse, is featured on Autoweek.
  • A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor receives a starred review from BookPage.
  • Derrick Barnes receives support from the community and online after an Alabama school district cancels his author visits.
  • Kim Taylor is interviewed on Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb.
  • Tamika Burgess is one of three children’s book creators selected to receive the 2023 SCBWI Stephen Fraser Encouragement Fund Grant.
  • Me and the Boss by April Harrison and Michelle Edwards receives a Coretta Scott King Illustrator honor at the ALA Youth Media Awards.
  • Victory. Stand! by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile receives Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator honors and wins the YALSA Award for Excellent in Nonfiction at the ALA Youth Media Awards.
  • Serendipity agent Charles Kim co-founds Third State Books, a publishing company focused on books by and for the Asian American community.
  • Kim Taylor hosts a book signing event at Sweet and Savory Café for her debut picture book, A Flag for Juneteenth.
  • Tamika Burgess is interviewed on From the Mixed-Up Files about her debut novel, Sincerely Sicily.
  • Celebrity stylist Kiyah Wright, author of the book From Beauty to Business, is a professional guest at the Black College Expo.
  • Serendipity photographer B.A. Van Sise held a book launch event at the Strand Bookstore to celebrate his new book, Invited to Life: Finding Hope After the Holocaust.
  • Serendipity author Dr. Donna Oriowo offers advice on making self-esteem a new year’s priority on DC News Now.
  • Dr. David Warmflash, author of the book Moon: An Illustrated History, hosts an author event at the Stanford University bookstore.
  • Kim Taylor is featured on the front page of the Baldwin Herald.
  • Poet Kevin Powell hosts a poetry reading at Solid State Books in Washington, D.C.
  • Serendipity Associate Agent Kelly Thomas joins Developmental Editor Jennifer Wilkov in hosting the “8 Simple Steps to Writing a Synopsis” workshop.
  • Tamika Burgess is interviewed on the podcast “Permission to Write Office Hours”.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks and clients April Harrison, Derrick Barnes, and Gordon C. James attend the 31st Annual African American Children’s Book Fair in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Kim Taylor is a guest on the podcast “Cut to the Chase with Laura Curran”.
  • Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Dr. Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile is chosen for the 2023 Texas Topaz Reading List.
  • Khnum “Stic” Ibomu’s book The 5 Principles: A Revolutionary Path to Health, Inner Wealth, and Knowledge of Self is nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
  • Madison Margolin, journalist and author of the forthcoming book Exile and Ecstasy: A Gonzo Journey into Psychedelics, Mysticism, and Jewish Counterculture, is interviewed by VoyageLA.
  • Sincerely Sicily is reviewed by Reading Middle Grade.
  • “Creating Justice: The Art of Judge Kim & the Kids’ Court”, an exhibit at the Society of Illustrators, spotlights the world of Shawn Martinbrough, Christopher Jordan, Milo Stone, and Joseph P. Illidge’s chapter book series.
  • Tamika Burgess’s debut middle grade novel, Sincerely Sicily, is featured on Las Musas.
  • Kim Taylor, her story quilts, and her debut picture book, A Flag for Juneteenth, are featured in Newsday.
it was 2022...
Fall

Fall

  • Regina Brooks is a faculty member at this year’s Kauai Writers Conference in Hawaii.
  • Khnum “Stic” Ibomu and his new book, The 5 Principles, are featured on “Good Morning America”.
  • Christian Gregory is interviewed on ABC Prime Live.
  • Tommie Smith is interviewed on ABC Prime Live.
  • Associate Agent Kelly Thomas teaches classes on writing at the 2022 Hampton Roads Writers Conference.
  • Serendipity CEO Regina Brooks is a panelist on the “Books You May Never Get to Read” panel at
  • Tommie Smith is interviewed by Kirkus about his new autobiography.
  • Victory. Stand! by Serendipity authors Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes is chosen for the longlist for the 2022 National Book Award.
  • Katrina Brownlee appears on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” alongside Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.
  • Katrina Brownlee is featured on the Apple TV+ show “Gutsy”.
  • Regina Brooks is on a panel at the Milford Readers and Writers Festival.
  • Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier wins the 2022 Washington State Book Award in the Books for Young Readers category.
  • Regina Brooks is part of a panel hosted by the Women’s Media Group called “What Is an Author Platform?: How Every Writer Can Be a Powerful Partner in Her Own Success”.
Summer

Summer

  • Associate Agent Ameerah Holliday will be a panelist at the UCLA YA Symposium: “The Young and the Reckless: Writing for Teens”.
  • Regina Brooks is a faculty member at the 2022 NABJ-NAHJ Convention.
  • Madison Butler is featured in Fortune and Bloomberg for sharing her abortion story in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
  • Christian Gregory, Dick Gregory’s son and editor of the forthcoming book The Essential Dick Gregory, is featured in the A&E documentary “Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution”.
  • Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Serendipity authors Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes and illustrator Dawud Anyabwile receives starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.
  • Shawn Martinbrough co-curates and has work featured in “The Artist’s Experience: From Brotherman to Batman” exhibition for the Society of Illustrators
  • Marilyn Nelson is a featured performer at 2022 Old Lyme Juneteenth commemoration.
  • Regina Brooks is an agent faculty member for the 2022 Roots. Wounds. Words. Summer Writers’ Retreat.
  • H is for Harlem receives starred reviews from School Library Journal, Horn Book Magazine, and Booklist, bringing its total number of starred reviews up to four.
  • Gordon C. James attends the 2022 ALA Conference
Spring

Spring

Winter

Winter:

it was 2021...
Fall

Fall

Summer

Summer

Spring

Spring

Winter

Winter

it was 2020...
Fall

Fall

Summer

Summer

Spring

Spring

  • Ed Gordon is featured on The Real.
  • Dr. Marcus Hunter, creator of the Black Lives Matter hashtag, co-authors legislation to establish the first U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation.
  • Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker and April Harrison receives a starred review from Booklist.
  • jessica Care moore’s poetry collection We Want Our Bodies Back is featured in Your Tango and Amsterdam News.
  • Derrick Barnes’ nonfiction debut Who Got Game? Baseball receives a starred review from School Library Journal
Winter

Winter

it was 2019...
Fall

Fall

  • Derrick Barnes’ nonfiction debut Who Got Game? Baseball receives a starred review from Kirkus
Spring

Spring

  • Joshunda Sanders announces first picture book in a two-book series being published by Six Foot Press, I Can Write the World, at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair during a panel titled “Black Books Matter.”
  • Award-winning author and journalist Joshunda Sanders wins 2019 Voices of Color Fellowship from Martha’s Vineyard Institute for Creative Writing.
Winter

Winter

  • Let ‘Er Buck!: George Fletcher, The People’s Champion, a new picture book written by acclaimed author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree and Serendipity client Gordon James, receives four starred reviews (from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and School Library Journal).
it was 2018...
Fall

Fall

  • Newbery Honor-winning author Derrick Barnes and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Gordon James win the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.
  • Turn Me Loose, the one-man play depicting writer, comedian, and civil rights activist Dick Gregory’s extraordinary life, moves to DC from Sept 6th- Oct 14th, 2018. The play will feature Obie Award winner and former stand up comic Edwin Lee Gibson in the leading role.
Summer

Summer

  • Chester B. Himes: A Biography, Lawrence Jackson’s Edgar Award-winning biography, is part of the select few to be chosen as semi-finalists for the inaugural MAHH Stone Book Award
  • Lead agent and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency, Regina Brooks is featured in Poets & Writers.
  • Author, sports enthusiast, and founder of RFL Communications, Bob Lederer is featured on Joe & Evan, a New York- based sports talk radio, to talk about his book Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football.
  • Artist, author, TEDx speaker, and art educator Shawn Martinbrough is featured in USA Today in an article entitled, How I Became a Black Panther, Hellboy, and Deadpool Comic Artist.
  • Award-winning author and journalist Joshunda Sanders wins Bronx Recognizes Its Own Award (BRIO) from Bronx Council on the Arts.
  • Author Michelle Gadsden-Williams is nominated for the 2018 African American Literary Awards for her book, Climb:Taking Every Step with Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and a Successful Life.
Spring

Spring

  • Award-winning global diversity expert, activist, and philanthropist Michelle Gadsen-Williams is featured in a blog titled From Counting to Inclusion: Diversity Director’s Climb To Success by Take the Lead, following the release of her book, CLIMB: Taking Every Step with Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and Successful Life.
  • Lawrence P. Jackson, a writer, historian and Bloomberg distinguished professor, wins the Edgar Award for Best Critical/Biographical work with his book Chester B. Himes: A Biography.
  • Saru Jayaraman, activist and author of Forked: A New Standard for American Dining, is being recognized by InStyle as one of their “Badass 50” for her work with immigrant workers.
  • Gordon James wins the 2018 Sonia Lynn Sadler Award for Illustration during Salisbury University’s 17th Annual Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival. 
Winter

Winter

  • Author, poet, blogger, and winner of Serendipity’s 5th YA Discovery Contest, Olivia Cole receives great reception at the successful launch party for her YA novel, A Conspiracy of Stars.
  • Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies, the last important book by the legendary comedian and activist Dick Gregory, wins the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work of Nonfiction.
The Years Before...
Fall

Fall 2017

Spring

Spring 2017

Fall

Fall 2016

Winter

Winter 2016

Fall

Fall 2015

Fall

Fall 2014

Summer

Summer 2014

Events

Agents

Regina Brooks is available for panels and keynote addresses. If you are interested in having her participate, please feel free to contact her via email with information regarding dates, location, travel, accommodations, and honorarium: press@serendpitylit.com

Classes & Workshops

Regina Brooks teaches a series of workshops and classes related to proposal writing, the business of publishing, the anatomy of the publishing agreement, creativity development, everything you need to know about agents, how to publish and sell your memoir and/or your young adult novel, how to extend your brand by getting a book published, how to package your illustration /photography portfolio for maximum sales in the book market, and a host of other topics.

Biography For Press

If you are a conference, convention, or program director and someone from the Serendipity staff has confirmed participation in your event, please feel free to download their bio and photo for use in your newsletter, catalog, and/or your website.