Black Ink: A Charleston African American Book Festival, hosted by the Charleston Friends of the Library, will host New York Times bestselling author Kwame Mbalia during its 2021 festival. The author of the middle-grade novel Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky will be featured as the keynote speaker.

The Charleston Friends of the Library Board of Directors are elated to have Mbalia as the keynote. Mbalia’s sequel Tristan Strong Destroys the World will be published in October by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion. He is a graduate of Howard University and currently resides in North Carolina with his wife and children.

More information about the festival and author registration coming soon.

Kwame Mbalia will participate in a virtual book club to discuss his novels in August.