To Our Amazing Authors and Readers,

As we close out BRAE 2025, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride. This year, our community welcomed over 250,000 visitors to the site, a milestone that still feels surreal. In a year when personal challenges felt more like mountains than hills, you all showed up and showed out in a way that reminded me why this event was born.

What I once called a “beautiful accident” has grown into a powerful movement. You, our authors and readers, have proven that when we come together as a collective, we stand for unity, literacy, and love of storytelling. In a time when so many attempt to silence our voices, erase our history, and mute our stories, we continue to rise. We proudly share our talents, creativity, and truth—and we invite readers across the globe to experience the beauty of Black literature.

To our 250,000 readers:
Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude for your support over these past four days. Thank you for seeing us, for downloading our books, joining the conversations, and spreading the word about BRAE. Without you, this platform wouldn’t exist. Your next step is the greatest gift you can give an author- turn the pages, leave reviews, and invite a friend to read the stories you’ve discovered. Your engagement fuels our purpose.

To our incredible authors:
Thank you for showing up, even when I wasn’t able to extend a personal invitation this year. Some of you have been here since the beginning, helping to build this platform from the ground up. Your dedication, creativity, and willingness to share your work with the world are what make BRAE what it is today. Your words matter, your stories inspire, and your voices echo across communities.

To my family:
Thank you for being my foundation. You encouraged me when I doubted myself, stood strong when life shifted, and gave me the time and strength to keep going. I couldn’t have done this without your love and patience. You are my heart, my rock, and my safe space.

This year was a learning curve, and I don’t take it lightly. I will be re-evaluating everything from this year’s experience to continue improving for next year. Thank you all for your grace, patience, and unwavering love.

With heartfelt appreciation,
A.A. Lewis
Founder, The Black Readers Appreciation Event (BRAE)