In addition to checking out the music at the "party with a purpose," meet some of your favorite authors at the Essence Festival, signing books after their seminars. Many Festival authors will also make appearances over the weekend at Community Book Center.

Here's a look at authors signing in at the Convention Center :

Susan Poag / The Times-PicayuneOn Friday, July 4, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Tom Joyner will sigh his book "I'm Just a Dee Jay --But It Makes Sense to Me" at the Convention Center.

Friday, July 4

3:30-4:30 p.m. Michelle McKinney Hammond ("How to Make Life Work"), Big Boom ("How to Duck a Suckah," "If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start with Your Legs"), Brenda Wade ("Love Lessons a Guide to Transforming Relationships"), Finesse Mitchell ("Your Girlfriends Only Know So Much: A Brother's Take on Dating and Mating for Sistas"), Donna Richardson Joyner)

Saturday, July 5

Noon-1:30 p.m. Grandmaster Flash ("The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats"), Finesse Mitchell, Big Boom

2:15-3:15 p.m. Bill Cosby and Alvin Poussaint ("Come On People ")

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