Writer Deborah Sanders is One Reason You Don't Want to Miss BPL's 2026 Local Authors' Expo

Deborah Sanders & BPL's Connor Marullo on ABC 33/40 Talk of Alabama set with Katherine Page  

Click below to Watch Deborah Sanders & Connor Marullo discuss the 2026 Local Authors' Expo on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama:

https://abc3340.com/station/talk-of-alabama/birmingham-librarys-author-expo-talk-of-alabama-7222026

By Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist, Birmingham Public Library

Sometimes, while promoting an event, you discover a story you never expected.

That happened Wednesday morning as in my PR job I watched Birmingham Public Library Archives Assistant Connor Marullo and local author Deborah Sanders appear on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama with host Katherine Page to promote our upcoming 2026 Local Authors' Expo.

I'll admit something. As a former newspaper reporter for 25 years, there were moments watching the interview when I wished I were sitting in Katherine Page's chair asking the questions.

Why? Because Deborah Sanders shared one of those stories that immediately grabs your attention.

She explained that her great-grandmother was just 2 years old in 1860 when she was among those forced aboard the Clotilda, the last known slave ship believed to have illegally brought enslaved Africans to the United States.

Suddenly, this wasn't simply another author talking about a book. It was history speaking through family.

A Story That Began in 1860

Deborah Sanders and her sisters—Elizabeth, Dorothy and Gwendolyn—tell that remarkable family story in their book Matilda's Story: Through the Eyes of Four Sisters

Meet Deborah Sanders at the Local Authors' Expo

Stories like Matilda's remind us why events like the Birmingham Public Library's Local Authors' Expo matter. 

Books preserve memories.

Authors preserve voices.

Families preserve history.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, Deborah Sanders will be among 50 Alabama authors meeting readers, signing books and sharing the stories behind their work.

Matilda's Story: Through the Eyes of Four Sisters  Began in 1860

Their great-grandmother was born Àbáké, a Yoruba name meaning "born to be loved by all."

She was only a toddler when she and her mother were among the Africans illegally transported aboard the Clotilda, which entered Mobile Bay in 1860—more than 50 years after the international slave trade had been outlawed.

After arriving in Alabama, the ship was burned in an attempt to hide the crime.

The family was separated.

Her African name was taken.

She became known as Matilda.

Yet throughout her life, she never forgot who she was or where she came from.

According to her family's account, her mother preserved their African heritage through traditions passed down to her daughter, including the braiding of her hair and cultural markings that connected her to her homeland.

Those memories survived long after slavery ended.

A Walk for Justice

One of the most powerful parts of Matilda's story came decades later.

At age 71, Matilda reportedly walked 15 miles to a courthouse in Selma seeking justice for the crime committed against her as a child.

She shared her story.

She showed the scars that carried evidence of her past.

Her request was denied.

She walked home.

No compensation.

No legal victory.

Yet her descendants believe something far greater survived:

Her story.

Meet 50 Writers at the 2026 Local Authors' Expo

If Deborah Sanders television interview was any indication, visitors to her table are in for a remarkable conversation. Sometimes the best part of meeting an author isn't just buying the book. It's hearing the story only the author can tell.

📚 Event Information

2026 Local Authors' Expo

Presented by the Tri-County (Alabama) Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Birmingham Public Library

Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203

Admission: Free

Featured Attractions

• Meet 50 Alabama authors
• Purchase signed books
• Featured speaker YOGI DADA, artist, poet and author of Djembe Chronicles: Humans, Animals & Angels
• Special presentation by Hope Fortenberry of Rocky Heights Print & Binding on professional book printing, binding and production services for independent authors

Whether you're a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer or simply someone who enjoys discovering inspiring stories, the 2026 Local Authors' Expo offers something for every generation.