Author Spotlight: Angela Thomas-Smith

Angela Thomas-Smith was born in Anderson, SC, and raised in Level Land, SC. She’s the youngest of four children of the late Catherine Martin Thomas and late Glenn Lee Thomas Jr. The author and organizer has made it her mission to bring awareness to other authors of African descent across the United States and abroad. Since 2016, the South Carolina native has hosted numerous events such as the “Chasing Your Dream Book Tour & Literary Expo” and the Virtual Book tour on Facebook. Mrs. Thomas-Smith also created “Dinner with an Author” and “Dinner with a Poet” to offer an opportunity to be up and personal with established authors. Angela is dedicated to bringing awareness to authors and is very passionate about her craft. She believes in what she calls the ultimate E3Experience, which is Educate, Empower, and Encourage individuals to continue walking in purpose according to Jeremiah 29:11. If you attend one of Angela’s events, you know that she doesn’t want you to leave there the same. She encourages authors to not just be vendors at events, but she teaches and coaches authors on how to become entrepreneurs. She provides workshops to teach authors how to brand, market, and promote themselves.

Angela enjoys a variety of activities such as sports, shopping, cooking, and traveling. Angela’s biggest passion is her organization, AAALAC the African American Author Literacy Awareness Campaign. Angela started her organization on October 1, 2016. During that time Angela also became an author of her first book. Learn more about her below.  

AllisonJanel: How would you describe your SwagHer?  What makes Angela, Angela?  

Angela:   My compassion for people and my willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.   

 

AllisonJanel: Why did you decide to start the African American Author Literacy Awareness Campaign? 

Angela:  I started AAALAC to help bring awareness to African American authors around the world, advising them on literacy within our communities.  It all started in the summer of 2016 while operating my summer youth enrichment program.  We were having problems finding African American children’s books in libraries and book stores.

 

AllisonJanel: Please tell us more about the African American Author Literacy Awareness Campaign? How has your organization benefited authors?

Angela:   The African American Authors Literacy Awareness Campaign has made it our mission to host yearly book tours & expos in various cities and states, to bring authors together to showcase and provide workshops.  Our desire is to provide an environment for authors to network and experience the ultimate E3Experience (educate, empower, and encourage) to enable them to walk into their purpose as authors. Our goal is to provide authors resources and tools to transition from being vendors and learn to think outside the box. We would like for them to build brands and businesses around their book(s). 

AllisonJanel: How has the African American Author Literacy Awareness Campaign grown since 2016?

Angela: Over the last four years AAALAC has hosted over 25 Author Showcases and expos.   We’ve connected authors to various platforms to enable them to grow their brands.  Currently, AAALAC is launching a magazine. The magazine is focused on inspiring current authors to continue to write more books and encourages aspiring authors to start the book writing process.

 

AllisonJanel: What advice would you give to minorities wanting to become authors?

Angela: To start writing and give it your best shot.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it.

 

AllisonJanel: Please tell our readers more about Dinner with an Author and Dinner with a Poet?

Angela: These two events give readers an opportunity to be up close and personal with featured authors.  Both events are designed similarly to the speed dating model.  We provide an intimate atmosphere where the author and reader feel comfortable.  We provide dinner and entertainment to accompany the event.  The authors or poets rotate to each table,  having the opportunity to meet with every guest.

 

AllisonJanel: What was your journey like becoming a coach and mentor?

Angela: I endured a lot on these journeys, I never thought about being an author before the year 2016.  Storms, trials, and tribulations have modeled me into the person I am today.  Additionally, life lessons and hardships have educated me on various topics. Lastly, I’m a motivator and encourager by nature.

 

AllisonJanel: Where can they be purchased?  

Angela: They can be purchased on Amazon.Com and directly from me as well.

 

AllisonJanel: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Angela: Five years from now I plan to become the head of an amazing empire. I would like to travel the world hosting my Chasing your Dream book tour and expo.  Secondly, I would like to run an amazing magazine and host an international radio show.  Lastly, I would like to continue writing books and providing the ultimate E3Experience.

 

AllisonJanel: What continues to keep you motivated and inspired?

Angela: Seeing authors thriving and getting recognized across the world motivates me.  I love to collaborate, partner, and network with other businesses that line up with my mission.  I truly believe if we support each other we can reach more people.  I can’t reach everyone by myself. So my inspiration comes from know I can help.

 

AllisonJanel: What do your workshops consist of?

Angela: Discovering the Queen in me (self-Love), how to self-publish, Branding and marketing, creating membership programming, and turning your book into play.  Our desire is to provide tools and resources that will help authors.

 

AllisonJanel: Do you have any upcoming online events or projects that you care to share?

Angela:  We host a virtual book tour on Facebook and Blog Talk Radio every year during the months of March through November, on the  1^st  through 14^th.  In June 2020 we’re launching a platform to promote all of our Erotica Authors, as we believe they have been under-represented.  So I created an after hour platform to promote erotica authors to give readers a place to support and engage with them too.

 

Connect with Angela below.

 

Website:  http://theaspiringauthorsmagazine.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/angelaqueenofcollaboration

Facebook: www.facebook.com/queenofcollaboration, www.facebook.com/aaalaced. www.facebook,com/Aspire2inspiremagazine.  www.facebook.com/aaalacvbt and www.facebook.com/groups/1318191351636255

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/ucob2v4skbrrpo0qrcxji-hg

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/aaalacauthors

Email: aspiringauthorsaaalac@gmail.com