Inaugural LIT Awards honours contribution of Black authors

Prestigious London venue De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms served as the glamourous backdrop to the inaugural Author Celebration Day and Recognition Awards, hosted by the Literary Inspirational Trailblazers (LIT) which celebrated storytelling, faith and community in the presence of 200 people.

Founded by Marcia M Spence and Fredi Nwaka, LIT was created to provide a platform where voices are not only heard, but honoured — particularly those often underrepresented within the literary landscape.

A total of 70 authors were honoured at the awards, including 40 Christian authors, whose work reflects faith, purpose and the transformative power of storytelling that is rooted in spiritual insight and lived experience.

Among those recognised were Pastor Dr Gilroy Brown, Bishop Dr Norman Gooden, Revd Dr Marcia Neveu and Irvine Lewis, alongside many others whose writing continues to uplift, encourage and inspire communities.

The day began with a masterclass in memoir writing, delivered by business owner and published author Marcia M Spence, who equipped both aspiring and established writers to share their stories with authenticity and impact.

The LIT Author Recognition Awards followed, where authors were celebrated across a range of categories – including faith, spirituality and purpose – highlighting the depth and diversity of voices within the community.

The ceremony was both powerful and uplifting, blending heartfelt moments with joy, humour and reflection. The atmosphere was further enriched by spoken word and live musical performances.

Distinguished honourees included Selina Brown, founder of the Black British Book Festival; Olympian Fatima Whitbread MBE; Patrick Hutchinson; and Garfield Robinson.

Speaking after the event, Marcia M Spence said: “This was more than an event — it was a gathering of purpose. To see so many faith-led voices being honoured was incredibly powerful.”

Co-founder Fredi Nwaka added:

This is just the beginning. We are committed to growing LIT and making it even more impactful.

Publisher Marcia Dixon MBE stated:

Keep The Faith was delighted to be a media sponsor of this special occasion. The event was a powerful reminder of the power of the written word, and the importance of celebrating authors who inform, inspire and empower others via their published books.

Plans are underway for the 2027 event.

Visit www.littrailblazers.co.uk