Louisiana chef marks 10th appearance at Black History Month Literary Weekend

NEW ORLEANS — Chef, culinary educator, and author Diana Riley is set to return to New Orleans for her 10th appearance at the 10th Annual Black History Month Literary Weekend, taking place Feb. 19-21.

Riley will be one of 14 featured authors at the annual weekend, founded by Meet the World Image Solutions owner Dr. Rhonda M. Lawson, and the only featured author to participate in the event each year since its inception. 

“BHMLW has always been bigger than a weekend to me,” she said. “It’s like a family celebration. I’m honored to return for my tenth year to keep supporting Dr. Rhonda and what she’s built in the literary community.”

Known affectionately as “the Mama Chef,” Riley, author of Grace at the Kitchen Table and Cooking on Purpose: Life Lessons Learned from the Kitchen, has evolved into a culinary lifestyle strategist and storyteller, helping women reset their lives through food, family, and intentional living. She has also been featured at major cultural events, invited to cook and speak at veteran-focused engagements, and brought culinary storytelling to life through interactive demonstrations at venues such as the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.

BHMLW is a weekend of music, comedy, and books, solely focused on fostering literacy while celebrating African-American authors and businesses. Since its inception in New Orleans in 2017, the event has promoted more than 100 authors, impacted thousands of students, and contributed more than $6,000 in scholarships, awards, and book donations. 

Meet the World Image Solutions is a boutique literary and publicity services company that specializes in assisting small businesses, non-profit organizations, authors, and artists. It was founded in New Orleans Jan. 23, 2017 by author and U.S. Army veteran Dr. Rhonda M. Lawson, and continues to be a beacon for literary and cultural enrichment.