One Night with You by Francis Ray

One Night with You by Francis Ray
New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray continues her captivating series about the Grayson family and their circle of friends with One Night With You, as two people with no plans for romance find themselves blindsided by desire…

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE...
Cougars, brush fires, snow storms—rancher Duncan McBride tackles it all without a flinch. But the archeologist who’s come to authenticate cave drawings found on his property is the kind of trouble he’d sworn to avoid. Far from the aging academic he was expecting, Raven La Blanc is a stunning woman…and definitely not sticking around this small Montana town once her job is done.

THE PASSION OF A LIFETIME…
The primitive drawings at Duncan’s ranch are Raven’s ticket to the tenured position she’s worked so hard for back in Santa Fe. But there’s no denying the attraction between her and Duncan. Maybe, just this once, she can put her work aside and explore the depths of her own heart and soul? One night may be all it takes for Raven to really find what she’s looking for…

“FAST, FUN, AND FULL OF EMOTIONAL THRILLS AND SEXY CHILLS.”
—Roxanne St. Clair, bestselling author on Nobody But You

Latest Release: One Night with You
November 03, 2009
Series: Grayson Friends Series
ISBN-13: 9780312365066; ISBN-10: 0312365063

When you first started writing, did you think you would ever write as many books as you have and have such a loyal following? Did you know this would become a "business venture" for you?
Francis: I had no idea I would write this many book or have such a loyal following when I started writing. I simply keep trying to write the best book possible, and was blessed to find an editor who kept buying my books. Yes, I always knew that you had to take the business side of writing seriously to stay in this industry for years. It requires a great business head for book promotions and even more professionalism to handle the contracts.

What has been the best and the worst experience you've had on your literary journey?
Francis: The best is after I sold my first book, I've never had a book that was rejected. The worst was walking away from one publisher and unsure if I'd find another publishing house that wanted my books. Scary. Scary.

How long does it take you to write a novel?
Francis: The time frame differs. I wrote ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, my November 03, release in 3 months. IT HAD TO BE YOU, Book #4 in the Grayson Friends series, and the last book I wrote took six weeks.



Do you remember the very first story you ever wrote? What age were you when you wrote it? Was it romance even then?
Francis: I had no idea I wanted to write until Woodewiss' third book. The first story I wrote was Wife For Hire for Black Romance. I was an adult.

Since romance novels have a pretty set formula that they follow, how difficult do you find it to continue to write stories that will make loyal romance readers overlook that aspect of the book?
Francis: The only set formula I can see is that hero and heroine are at odds, but by the end of the story they're in love and the writer has tested that love so the reader knows that whatever happens in their lives their love is strong enough to endure. I'd say the possibilities are endless. My plotting skills, not the parameters, is the challenge I face.

Several romance authors have ventured into writing in other genres such as mystery, etc. Have you ever considered taking that step also?
Francis: I wanted to write Christian fiction and was blessed to have been given that opportunity when Harlequin publishes, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. I've thought of writing young adult but I haven't gotten past three pages.


What challenges have you faced in your literary journey? How did you overcome them?
Francis: Probably the biggest challenge in my literary journey was finding a publisher who wanted to publish African-American romances. Then, when I did find a publisher, distribution was spotty at best. If the book did make it to an outlet, the challenge was getting readers not to think the book was badly written because it was written by an African-American. I overcame the challenge by continuing to write and believing that I had a story to tell that people wanted to read.


What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career?
Francis: That people think all published authors are wealthy.

What authors influence your work?
Francis: Katherine Woodewiss, Elizabeth Lowell, Amanda Quick, and Nora Roberts.

What are you currently working on?
Francis: I'm working on BECAUSE OF YOU, Book # 6 in the Grayson Friends series.

How may we contact you online?
Website: http://www.francisray.com/
Blogspot: http://www.francisrayblog.com/
Myspace: myspace.com/francisray
Fanclub: readersoffrancisray@yahoogroups.com


Pick up a copy at Amazon
Pick up a copy at Barnes and Noble

One Night with You by Francis Ray ---Read the First Chapter Excerpt





Link to read full screen:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=13513498

Featured author Loretta “Faith” Harris

Loretta “Faith” Harris is a prolific speaker, entrepreneur, author, and humanitarian. Loretta is the presiding President and Founder of C.H. Publishing. This exceptional educator possesses the ability to cultivate the gifts and talents within her young adult scholars. Loretta currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she is dedicated to the completion of her doctorate degree in education at Nova Southeastern University.

Q: Why do you write?
I am an inspirational writer, so most of my writings emerge from personal experiences, encounters of others, or through divine inspiration.

Q: What drives you?
As a survivor of tragedy, the driving force behind my writing is the hope of inspiring someone that has or will face difficult times. Whether it’s the lost of a loved one, a health challenge, financial crisis, or emotional despair, this book is designed to awaken its readers to the possibility of victory.

Q: What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?
I want people to know that there is life after tragedy! I am dedicated to writing inspirational publications designed to empower, enlighten, and educate my readers.

Q: Introduce us to your book, The Journey Less Traveled.
The sole purpose of “The Journey Less Traveled” is to equip readers with the necessary tools to make the conscious decision to “Turn Tragedy into Triumph.” When life throws you a hardball, it does not teach you how to recover from the hit. Survivors of tragedy often struggle with understanding the, “why me?” question. This memoir takes you through my personal journey from death to life. From the ICU unit, to rehab, to outpatient therapy, depression, emotional deprivation, and my eventual triumph; this book offers readers a transparent look at how I chose to endure the pain that would ultimately catapult me into my destiny. Readers be prepared to triumph!

Q: How did you start your writing journey?
As an adolescent, I discovered my fervor for reading and writing. I would indulge countless hours in my public library reading and writing miniature plays, poems and short stories. Since that time, I vowed that I would one day write children’s novels. As a result, C.H. Publishing emerged in 2006 with the commitment to publish five chapter books that I coauthored with my six grade students. On May 24, 2006, I met in a tragic car accident that left me fighting for my life. My most recent memoir, “The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph” was birthed through my encounter with death and quest to help others overcome life’s unplanned obstacles.

Q: Why was this book so important to create?
My doctor’s report shows that I escaped death three times! I spent an entire summer in ICU on life support and special rehabilitation. Once I regained my consciousness, I knew that the rest of my life would be dedicated to sharing my story of triumph with people in similar situations. This book was created to endow individuals with survival tools necessary for life’s journey.

Q: How will your book impact community relationships?
This book is the voice of millions of people who find themselves at death’s door. Maybe you have not experienced a severe tragedy; this book will bridge the gap and help family members, close friends, and colleagues understand how to treat a survivor of hardship.

Q: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
This book is a roadmap that will teach readers how to live a triumphant life despite the odds.

Q: What would you say has been your most significant achievement with this book?
This book has gone into the homes of the hurt and dying and has given them a reason to live. I have heard the testimonies of doctors, teachers, pastors, parents, and students who all agreed that this book has encouraged them to push past their despair and live a life of success.

Q: What can we expect from you in the future?
Well, Loretta Faith Harris is going places! I am saturating the airwaves, public institutions, and international markets with this inspirational message of hope. I am currently a full time doctorate student and will complete my studies in 2010. I plan to transition from high school teaching to collegiate level in the areas of reading and education. I will continue to publish up lifting publications designed to breathe life into my readers.


Q: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
A. The Journey Less Traveled recently received three 5 STAR ratings from RAWSISTAZ Reviewers, OOSA Book Club, and APEX Reviews. ( http://www.amazon.com/ )

B. C.H Publishing is hosting a Spring Get-Away Sweepstakes! With every book purchase readers will be entered for their chance to win a 7-Day Vacation at one of Orlando’s Premium Resort! (www.chpublishing.org)

C. C.H. Publishing has recently joined forces with Atlas Distribution and anticipates international distribution in 2009. ( http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/02695.htm )

D. Book Club members will receive a 30% discount with their purchase of 10 or more books. See website for wholesale purchase instructions.

Loretta "Faith" Harris, M.Ed.
Children’s Heart Publishing, CCR certified
Author of, “The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph”

Email: LHarris@chpublishing.org
Website: http://www.chpublishing.org/
Professional Reviews: www.myspace.com/chpublishing

Children's Heart Publishing where we are "capturing the heart of the writer"...™

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All The Way by Kimberley White-New Release

All The Way by Kimberley White-New Release

Introducing Award Winning Author… Kimberley White

Award-winning author Kimberley White resides in metropolitan Detroit. She’s a nurse practitioner currently pursuing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She uses her twenty years of nursing experience to address topics such as domestic violence, hypertension and sexual harassment in an entertaining and informative manner. Ms. White speaks at writing conferences and has taught writing courses at several Michigan colleges.

Kimberley White resides in metropolitan Detroit where she is a nurse practitioner during the day and a writer of steamy romances at night. Visit her website at http://www.kwhitewrite.com/   Email: kwhite_writer@hotmail.com





Ms. White’s novels and awards include:

:: Dream Jobs To Go: Romance Writing (Intellectua ebooks, June 2001)
:: Lujon 1 (Best Black Women’s Erotica, Volume II. Cleis, February 2003)
:: Acquisitions (Genesis Press, May 2003)
:: Only In My Dreams (BET/Arabesque, May 2003)—Nominee, Best Romance of the Year
:: Tango (BET/Arabesque, November 2003)
:: Hard to Love (June 2004)
:: Forever After (BET/Arabesque, July 2004)—Winner, Steamiest Romance Book
:: Conquering Dr. Wexler’s Heart (Genesis Press, NOV 2004)
:: To Love A Ballantyne (BET/Arabesque, 2005)
:: Sweet Repercussions (BET/Arabesque, 2005)
:: You Never Know (BET/Kimani Press, 2006)
:: Ballantyne’s Destiny (BET/Kimani Press, 2006)
:: All the Way (Dafina, 2008)
:: I Need More (Dafina, 2009)


Community Discussion Questions
Please read Kimberley White's book excerpts and answer the following questions in this forum. Two commentors will be randomly selected to obtain a review copy of Kimberley White latest book. Leave your email addresses with comments here  to enter drawing. All winners will be announced on the Black Pearls Magazine at Facebook on November 27, 2009, during Black Books Weekends with Ella.

1. Why are we willing to sacrifice what’s truly important in life—love, family, health & safety—for fame and money?

2. Role reversal: are men now marrying for money?

3. Are African-American men really portrayed badly in the literature?

4. Are female characters relatable? (Physically? Use of foul language and slang?)

5. Why would an author lose their voice in their own books?



Introduction to I Need More by Kimberley White
Preview Chapters from the book here.

She Has Everything She Wants. . .
Dr. Erika Johnson's life couldn't get any better. Her practice is flourishing and her hunk of a husband Brock can't keep his hands off her--until the day he suddenly leaves her without a word of explanation. Stunned, Erika has no choice but to cobble together a new life on her own. When she serves Brock with divorce papers, Erika is certain he'll sign them so they can both move on. But that's when the surprises really begin. . .

Except The Man She Loves...
Brock is sure he did the right thing. All he ever wanted was to bring joy into Erika's life, not pain and sorrow. But when rumors reach him that Erika is seeing another man, he's torn between what he thinks is right and what he feels is right. Despite everything, there's no denying the fierce attraction she and Brock have always shared is burning hotter than ever. And when Erika finally learns Brock's secret, they must decide if they will face the uncertain future together-or apart. . .   ISBN-13: 9780758222107; ISBN 10: 0758222106   Buy the book, I Need More by Kimberley White, today!



Introduction to All The Way by Kimberley White
Read preview chapters here.
Romantic Suspense

As manager of the hot nightclub Skye, Payton Vaughn thinks she’s seen it all…until the night she witnesses a cold blooded murder. The police can’t protect her from a psychopathetic killer with sexually sadistic fantasies of how to keep her quiet, so she runs…All the Way…Into the arms of Adriano Norwood, a man who’s happy to see the story of his career wrapped in the perfectly angelic body of a woman he’ll soon want to protect with his own life. He’d sacrifice his happiness and let her go before he’ll put her in danger again…Unless they find a way to have it all.  ISBN-10: 0758222106; ISBN-13: 978-0758222107   Buy the book, All The Way by Kimberley White, today!

ALL THE WAY Book Reviews
Romance In Color
Urban Reviews




:: Sweet Tomorrows (Genesis Press, April 2001)

Black Books Weekend Details

Black Books Weekend will open Black Friday, November 27, 2009 with live readings from 50 of the most talented writers on the shelves. Black Books Weekend, hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations features 4 nights of readings and discussions with noted authors, bookclubs and poets. Our mission is to get folks to buy great books for gifts this holiday season, from our featured publishers and imprints.

November 27-30, 2009 this totally online festival will present a full authors showcase with live readings, a bookclub panel discussion, and poetry showcase, as we party in the spirit of Sankofa, celebrating our heritage, culture and talents! Join us from the comfort of your home, bring in your friends, make an event of it and chat with today's hottest authors! All the fun is at Black Authors Network Radio (BAN)
www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network  

For more information, email Ella Curry at: edc_dg@yahoo.com   Bookclubs, we have over 200 books that will be given away as REVIEW copies during the showcase. The Black Pearls Grand Prize gift bag, for the weekend, includes 15 of our finest Black Pearls books,  a handmade doll from Sister Inc., book thongs, bookmarks, CDs by poet Marc Lacy, EDC Creations 2010 book calendar, EDC Creations totebag and Godiva Chocolates! Value of gift bag $450.00. Contributors: Francis Ray, Pat G'Orge Walker, Lynne Forde, Pamela Samuels Young,  Electa Rome Parks, Sherryle K. Jackson, Xpress Yourself Publishing, Life Changing Books, Triple Crown Publications, Kimani Romance, Genesis Press (Romance titles) Hachette Book Group USA, 6 Indie Publishers, Simply Said Reading Accessories and Audrey Bell-Kearney owner of Sister Inc. Dolls

Dynamic personal interaction between readers and authors will be the hightlight of the 4 evenings. Don’t miss the latest literary buzz! Read our blog here for the list of books in the goody-room and the schedule of events. Callers are welcome to join us on the phones each night at: 646.200.0402. Please repost and blog about this awesome event. Book lovers this is a readers paradise! You will hear several excerpts from books that are NOT on the shelves yet. There will be opportunities for registered BlogTalk Radio users to win books, prizes and the huge Black Pearls Grand Prize gift bag!


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Carbon Copy by Azarel Online Book Tour

Got a sister? Got a brother? If so, you probably can testify to a few low-key feuds over the years. And some folk…well maybe a couple of jabs here and there. What about murder? Yes, I said it…Murder! It’s been done before more than you’ll ever know. Family melt-downs go back to the beginning of time. Think about Cain and Abel, Marsha and Janet Brady, or even Latoya and Janet Jackson.

Of course we hear about sibling celebrity feuds nowadays since every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants to be the paparazzi. Let’s take the Olsen twins, Mary Kate and Ashley. They have billions, yet still have that contention and competition amongst themselves. Now one lives on the West coast and the other on the East. The one thing they have over the rest of us…they have billions to fuss over, most of us don’t.

Sibling rivalry is just something that can’t be erased. If you’re human, chances are you have some crazy stories that come to mind. Do you want what he or she has? Jealous about how they look? Didn’t get your Mama’s shape…ended up with your Dad’s instead? What about being pissed because you are the sibling who didn’t go to college, or the sibling who can’t keep a good paying job?

Oh, and what about your love life. Are you the one upset because your brother or sister stole your man? Yep, I said it. This day in time you never know. You gotta watch your mate with both sexes. But let’s focus on sisters for a moment. Sister rifts are torturous; especially in black women. I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying, “Don’t let me take off my earrings”.

Well in 2009, we don’t just fight anymore. What about, “I will kill you!” Well for now, ingest what I’ve just said. Let author, publisher, Azarel take you behind the scenes and finish the rest in Carbon Copy, a new novel exposing Sibling Rivalry at its Finest.

Carbon Copy by Azarel (ISBN-13: 9781934230671)
Have you ever craved someone so bad…that you’d be willing to do anything?

Read chapter 1 of Carbon Copy
http://lifechangingbooks.net/synopsis/pdf/CarbonCopy_chapater1.pdf

Meet Dominique Lewis, a foul, hard-boiled, go-getter who spends most of her days yearning to be just like her sister, and plotting on taking her man. For her, it’s all about money, sex, and power. Although she possesses the perfect physique and sexy features, her life-long dream is to become wealthy and a house-hold name. By any means necessary, she vows to get what she wants.

As Dominique’s mission unfolds, she manages to get connected to Yuri, a violent replacement for the man she really sought. After realizing she’s partnered with a beast, her world turns upside down. And soon, after the tragic murder of her sister, all hell breaks loose when Dominique’s cover is blown.

Armed with revenge on the brain, and a status goal in mind, Dominique soon appoints herself as Rapheal’s woman, the most sought after millionaire in Atlanta. Raphael’s lavish status in town would put her on a new level, right where she always dreamed…the only problem …he never said he wanted her. In an effort to hold on to Rapheal, and all the elaborate material possessions, Dominique sets out on a deadly mission to remove anything that stands in her way. 

Buy the book: http://www.lifechangingbooks.net/images/lcb_bookstore.html 



Join the Carbon Copy Online Book Tour

Carbon Copy by Azarel

ISBN-13: 9781934230671
Website: http://www.lifechangingbooks.net/    and     www.myspace.com/azareltheauthor

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BAN Radio Interview with Author Azarel

BAN Radio Interview with Author Azarel
Click the image to listen now.



Meet Author Azarel
Azarel, CEO of Life Changing Books is a former teacher and native of North Carolina. She received her BS degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and earned a Masters of Arts in teaching degree from Bowie State University in 1999. Her love for writing sparked a career change in 2002. She resigned from her teaching tenure in the Prince George's County public school system to fulfill her dream of becoming an author. After writing her first novel, "A Life to Remember," written in an attempt to help change lives of young men, Azarel launched her own publishing company, Life Changing Books (LCB). Now with over twenty-one titles published to date, LCB is one of the most well known and successful African-American publishing companies in the publishing industry.

Many titles produced by Azarel have continuously topped the charts on the national Essence Best sellers list and many national book store chains.Although Azarel publishes a wide variety of adult fiction, her title roster includes “Teenage Bluez" an urban series of books for teens. Teenage Bluez is designed to capture the hearts of teens across America by providing them with entertaining stories in a positive manner.
As a wife, and mother of two Azarel enjoys spending time with family and friends and lending support to those in need. By mentoring teens and speaking at shelters for abused women she continues to achieve that goal.
(Book info: ISBN-10: 1934230677; ISBN-13: 978-1934230671)


Carbon Copy by Azarel
Have you ever craved someone so bad…that you’d be willing to do anything?
Meet Dominique Lewis, a foul, hard-boiled, go-getter who spends most of her days yearning to be just like her sister, and plotting on taking her man. For her, it’s all about money, sex, and power. Although she possesses the perfect physique and sexy features, her life-long dream is to become wealthy and a house-hold name. By any means necessary, she vows to get what she wants.

As Dominique’s mission unfolds, she manages to get connected to Yuri, a violent replacement for the man she really sought. After realizing she’s partnered with a beast, her world turns upside down. And soon, after the tragic murder of her sister, all hell breaks loose when Dominique’s cover is blown.

Armed with revenge on the brain, and a status goal in mind, Dominique soon appoints herself as Rapheal’s woman, the most sought after millionaire in Atlanta. Raphael’s lavish status in town would put her on a new level, right where she always dreamed…the only problem …he never said he wanted her. In an effort to hold on to Rapheal, and all the elaborate material possessions, Dominique sets out on a deadly mission to remove anything that stands in her way.

Buy the book: http://www.lifechangingbooks.net/images/lcb_bookstore.html


REVIEW
Have you ever craved someone so bad that youd be willing to do anything?
Meet Dominique Lewis, a foul, hard-boiled, go-getter who spends most of her days yearning to be just like her sister, and plotting on taking her man. For her, its all about money, sex, and power. Although she possesses the perfect physique and sexy features, her life-long dream is to become wealthy and a house-hold name. By any means necessary, she vows to get what she wants...

If you believe that you’ve read about many crazed and demented women like Dominique …guess again. Dominique is off the hook and Carbon Copy is destined to be a classic. -- Tiphani- bestselling author of The Mistress Series

Book Tour: In The Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

In The Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
Have you ever wondered what were the children doing during the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s? What were the people who weren't actively protesting or participating in racism doing? Author Martha A. Taylor recently published a book that answers these questions!

Martha tells her childhood story, in her book In The Land of Cotton, as a young white girl who has a memorable relationship with a spirit filled black family. Martha meets a very poor family, the Boyds, and her life changes as she falls in love with one of the young members of the Boyd family, Silas. The Boyd family is trapped in time; Martha comes from a middle-class white family who is not actively taking part in harassing black people. The story is spectacular and filled with historical revelations. For more details, read the material below to fully grasp the importance and relevance of this book, at this time. If you liked the movie and book, The Secret Life of Bees, you will truly love this new book!

Author Martha A. Taylor has published her first book! Let's give her a hand for stepping up to the plate and telling her story. She's one brave woman to have done all the things she reveals in her new book!

Intro:  In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

SLAVERY IS MORE THAN CHAINS AND SHACKLES
SLAVERY IS A STATE OF MIND

Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martha was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha's natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a poor Negro family, the Boyds, living deep in the woods near her house, everyone's life changed forever. She meets Silas, a little black boy and falls in love. The Boyd family "adopts" her as one of their own and the saga begins....

Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times - a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color. The year was 1956.  (Book info: ISBN-10: 1432734717; ISBN-13: 978-1432734718)

Interview: In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com/2009/04/intimate-conversation-with-author.html

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WEEK 1

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AAMBC Showcase Radio Show
Host: Tamika Newhouse
Radio Show Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AAMBC

Urban Literary Review Radio Show
Host: Martin Pratt
Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/urbanliteraryreview

Rachel Berry AKA Lady Serenity
Host: Rachel Berry
Website: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Lady-Serenity

Black Authors Network Talk Show
Host: Ella Curry
Website: www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network




WEEK 2

iZania Black Networking Community

Black Authors Network Blog

Authors on Tour in Reading Room


Sankofa Literary Review

Short Books Showcase


EDC Book Tours

Black History 365 Authors

SLS Bookclub Center

EDC Creations Twitter

SLS Paradigm Shift

EDC Creations at Library Thing


African/African American Literature

Romance - from historical to contemporary


Books By Us



WEEK 3


Black Authors Network at LinkedIn

Cover to Cover at LinkedIn

Authors of Fiction at LinkedIn

Goodreads at LinkedIn

Oprah's Book Club

ESSENCE Community


The Tyra Banks Show


Lipstick Alley


Sankofa Literary Society Bookclub at Vox

The Inklings at Vox

The Beautiful People at Vox

Verbal Penetrations at Vox

African American by Association


Monthly Book Club at Vox

Girl Talk at Vox

Mahogany Book Club at Vox


Moms Who Shop at Vox



WEEK 4
EDC at Black Planet

Black Planet AA Authors

Black Planet Book Club

I LOVE BOOKS - Book Club


BOOK LOVERS at Black Planet


BOOKS LOVER2 at Black Planet


BlackPlanet Book of the Month

Black Authors Network LinkedIn

Reader's Entertainment LinkedIn


EDC Creations at CafeMom.com

Mature African American Moms


African American Books Swapping


Authors' Den


African American Mommies



WEEK 5

Book Chat at Shelfari

SLS Book Club at Shelfari

African American Books

SistahFriend Book Club


Readers Of African-American Authors

African American Literature at Shelfari

B-more Readers with W.I.S.D.O.M

Books that work well for Reading Groups/Book Clubs

DIVAS OF LITERATURE

SORMAG BOOKS

Coast 2 Coast Readers

United Black Writers



WEEK 6

African American Literature at Yahoo

African American Literature Club

Black Book Lovers - A Club for Connoisseurs of Black Literature

The Black Bookshelf Book Club

African American Book Club & More

Ebony Authors & Readers

My Sistah's Keeper

PASSION 4READING


African-American Literary Network

Speak Sister at MySpace

Book Lovers Bookclub MySpace

Black Romance/Urban Bookclub

African American Intellectuals

African American Fiction at Myspace

Myspace Book Club

The People's Lounge



WEEK 7

TCP Color Page

Book Marketing Network

Black Authors On Fire

Nia Promotions Community

EDC Black Authors Network at FB

African Americans on the Move Book Club

The Writers & Readers Lounge

Reading is Sexy

Passion for Books at FB

Genre Book Club at FB

Girls Gone God!

Urban Reviews Facebook Group

UrbanWritten Coalition at FB

African American Authors

FB Bookclub


African American Relationships at FB

Black Author Showcase at FB

African American Authors (Book Club)

Young, Black, and Gifted Journalists!

Mothers of Wisdom



WEEK 8

MyBrothersKeeper.com

Crucial Diva

We Are One

Each-One-Teach-One

AfricanAmericans.NET


Chocolate Pages Network


Black Internet Marketers


Black In America.com

Black History.com

Black Authors Connect 


Black Authors Network Connect.com

BlackWomenConnect.com


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Praise for In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

Racism from the perspective of an innocent white girl who learns firsthand how absurd it is.
Book Review by cashbacher@yahoo.com (TOP 50 REVIEWER, Amazon)

The innocence of youth is a beautiful thing, it is refreshing to witness and gives the world so much, except when it is a young white girl being exposed to a poor black family in the southern United States in the 1950's. In that context, it could have meant the death of some of the participants.

Martha was a young white girl who bonded with her black maid when her parents were generally absent. Her natural curiosity and openness led her to an enclave of an extended black family living in primitive conditions. Martha was quickly "adopted" by the family, as they allowed her to be a part of their activities and she responded in kind. Martha's parents were racist and she maintained her relationship with the black group in secret for many years and even over great distances.

Martha also fell in love with Silas, first a playmate from the black family, then a companion and eventually a fiance. Silas was extremely intelligent and handsome and when he was old enough, he went off to school in Chicago and then joined the military, becoming a helicopter pilot flying rescue missions in Vietnam. Silas is seriously injured and Martha rushes to his bedside to take care of him.

One simple, yet significant scene is when a white soldier in the hospital wing with Silas objects to the black-white relationship. Another white soldier immediately responds, telling the white soldier, "That man saved my life, he can have whatever girlfriend he wants." The history of the civil rights movement, from the Rosa Parks refusal through the assassination of Martin Luther King is chronicled and placed in context.

Therefore, the story has two significant and complex tracks. The story of two people who grow to love each other within the bounds of a truly extended "family" and the broader context of the segregation of the south and how it was finally and thankfully forever broken. Given that the names of the title character and the author are identical, it seems clear that the book is an autobiography, which increases the power of the depiction of the events.

ISBN: 1432734717
ISBN-13: 9781432734718
Format: Paperback, 270pp
Buy the Book: Amazon




 

In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.

In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
Intimate Conversation: http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com/2009/04/intimate-conversation-with-author.html


Important Excerpt from Chapter 1
The time is 1956. The main character, Martha, is speaking as a young child about her environment and daily life. She is a young girl living a relatively sheltered life with her grandparents in Memphis, Tennessee.

"In East Memphis , there were no colored folks. I didn’t go to school with any; I didn’t go to church with any. If I did see one it was only because they were working for a white person; pretty much like my grandmother had said. They were confined by unnatural zoning to their own sections of town. If a new subdivision went in it was most likely advertised as ‘No homes sold to coloreds.’

Every morning when I rode my bike from my grandparent’s house to school, I would pass the uniformed maids who had exited the city buses on Walnut Grove or White Station. They were walking to their various places in our neighborhood; to their places of employment. It was like they all knew each other. They would be laughing and talking when they got off the bus but, the minute I approached them, their heads would bow and their eyes would be clearly focused on the ground beneath their feet.

My grandmother’s highest compliment of a Negro was to say ‘they were clean.’ She had employed maids from time to time. It was a beloved maid in Michigan , when she and Papaw began enjoying life on a different rung of the ladder that had taught her some of the social graces she would need to survive in an elitist world.

Neither of my grandparents were bigots. I never heard either of them say anything demeaning about the Negroes. It was just the way of the South. It had begun long before the Civil War and had continued for ninety plus years past. If you moved from the North to the South it didn’t take you long to learn the ways of the South. The Negroes had their own schools, they had their own churches and they had their own commercial businesses. They had a place. They knew their place; and that was that. They were taught as small children to respect a white person and fear their power over them. There was no need to feel sorry for them after all, they weren’t slaves anymore." -- from In the Land of Cotton


BOOK REVIEW
"To be part of history is a wonderful experience but, to stand perfectly still holding your breath those precious few seconds when you know history is imminent but before it is written; before it actually becomes history, that is overwhelming." ~ Silas Boyd

In The Land of Cotton is a poignant and emotional chronicle of a young, unpretentious white girl coming to age in the color divided world of the fifties and sixties. Martha's story places the reader smack in the middle of the civil rights war; a beautiful and heart wrenching journey through history that weaves a tale of forbidden friendships, misconceptions and human nature, at both its best and worst.

Martha's passionate desire to break through the prejudice and learn for herself the truth, submerses the readers into the tumultuous, discriminatory world of soul mates kept apart by skin color and social stigma.

In The Land of Cotton is a prodigious must read for any generation. For those who experienced the world divided by flesh tone, Martha's take will bring them back to an all too familiar, and perhaps even uncomfortable, territory. For others, it will be a heart and eye opening rendition of history, and the long, hard fought battle of equal opportunity and universal acceptance, not just between colors, but people.

Martha's weaving of history and personal experience give readers a start to finish, can't put down narrative, offering a singular panorama of an ever changing, ever adapting world and the people caught in the maelstrom of it all. It is a seamlessly written tale of love, moral dilemma, honor, political uprising, conviction and self evolvement.

In light of this year's Presidential Election, In The Land of Cotton can't help but assume the form of a beacon of hope for any individual who has ever felt different and longed for more.

Well written, beautifully depicted and stirring, In The Land of Cotton is sure to present old and new reader alike with a unique perspective in to a part of history that shaped and molded past generations and formed the future as well as to serve as a reminder that true love is, and always has been, colorblind. -- 5/5 stars. Reviewed by Claudia Robinson, Amazon review


BOOK REVIEW
"In the Land of Cotton" is Martha Taylor's very personal look at one of the most volatile and exciting periods in American history, a time during which the Civil Rights Movement changed race relations in this country forever. It was a decade during which America put a man on the moon, fought one of the most unpopular wars in its history, and finally recognized that all men are, indeed, created equal. Like Martha, I came of age in the South during the 1960s. Unlike her, with the exception of how America's Viet Nam adventure impacted all young men of the time, I was largely an outside observer to what was happening around the country.

When Martha's story begins in 1956, she is a young girl living a relatively sheltered life with her grandparents in Memphis, Tennessee. One year later Martha's parents buy a home in a new Memphis subdivision and she moves back home to live with her parents and little sister, a move that will change her life forever. Martha's parents are happy enough to leave her to herself as long as she is home before dark every evening and she is quick to take advantage of that lack of attention.

Exploring the area on her bicycle one day, Martha is thrilled to discover, deep in the woods near her home, the little family enclave in which Lucy Boyd, her family's black housekeeper, lives. The Boyd family is at first a little uneasy about having Martha around so much, fearing what might happen if the little white girl is noticed there among them. Martha, however, because she understands her own family's racial attitudes well enough to know she can never tell them about her visits, is able to continue them in complete secrecy.

And continue, the visits do. Martha comes to know and love the several generations of Boyds living in their primitive family compound and they, in turn, accept her as one of their own. By the time her parents move the family to Texas, the Boyds have taught Martha more about the world and life than she will ever learn from her own parents, and she has become especially attached to Silas Boyd, a young man about her age.

What happens to Martha and Silas over the next few years is as much America's story as it is their own. Deeply in love though she might be, Martha realizes that her family is never likely to accept her love for a black man. Silas, on the other hand, has the reluctant approval of his mother but knows that being seen with a white girl in the 1960s South could cost him his life. Swept up by the rapidly changing events of the times, their story is one of inspiration and tragedy.

"In the Land of Cotton" is a touching reminder of those times for those of us who lived through them. Just as importantly, it is a very readable personal history of that period for those too young to remember it for themselves, history told in a manner that makes it both vivid and real - something even the best history books seldom achieve. -- 4/5 stars. Reviewed by Sam Sattler, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewers

Buy the book today here.
Martha A. Taylor, Author, "In the Land of Cotton"
Email: Taylortsg@Aol.com

Reparations for Slavery and Disenfranchisement to African Americans

Four Hundred Years of Injustice and Discrimination Discussed


New Book exposes the evil of slavery and argues that compensation must be given to African Americans

For over four centuries, African Americans have suffered from injustice and prejudice. Their struggle for equality continues as Xlibris, the leading print-on-demand self-publishing firm, announces the release of Reparations for Slavery and Disenfranchisement to African Americans: Four Hundred Years, the new book authored by Gene A. Brown.

The text reveals the magnitude and duration of the catastrophic injustice that African Americans suffered for over four hundred years, from the Middle Passage Voyages to the present. It offers an in-depth look at the evils of the institution of slavery and deems it to be the most heinous crime committed against humanity. This epic revelation unveils the panoramic details and accountability for the ills and effects of slavery. The climatic apex of this book presents the remedies of Litigation, Payments, Restitution, and Compensation to African Americans for Slave Labor and Bondage for nearly four centuries.

Readers will learn that the constitutional processes of granting black people their rights had long been delayed or ignored through the decades. While the 15th amendment of 1870 came into effect, white Southerners refused to accept the new status of the blacks and made suffrage for them tremendously difficult. It also analyzes the shortcomings of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which freed only few people and did not apply to slaves in border states fighting on the Union side during the Civil War. As such, this release argues that African Americans still do not have the “permanent” right to vote in any state or jurisdiction of the nation. Not only does Brown ask for Reparations for Slavery, but for Disenfranchisement as well.

Filled with immense historical details, Reparations for Slavery and Disenfranchisement to African Americans: Four Hundred Years can spark a new wave of debates about civil rights, racial relations, and American history in general. Readers who wish to order a copy are encouraged to visit www.Xlibris.com or call (888) 795-4274.

About the Author

Gene A. Brown was born in 1941 in a small town in Georgia, southeast of Atlanta. He graduated Valedictorian of his high school class in 1960, which is the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and the same year that Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes enrolled at the University of Georgia as its first black students. Brown attended Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia in 1960, during the time that “sit-in” demonstrations were taking place at the lunch-counters, in the Southern States. Unable to secure financing for his second year, he moved to New York at Brooklyn College in 1962; he was a student of the renowned Dr. John Hope Franklin, who was then the Chairman of the Department of History. The author also attended the Bernard M. Baruch College in New York City, and he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Reparations for Slavery and Disenfranchisement to African Americans: Four Hundred Years
by Gene A. Brown  read an excerpt here

Publication Date: March 30, 2009
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 177 pages; 978-1-4257-8220-7
Cloth Hardback; $29.99; 177 pages; 978-1-4257-8230-6

To request a complimentary paperback review copy, contact the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7479. Tear sheets may be sent by regular or electronic mail to Marketing Services. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876.

Book Tour-How I Made The Angels Cry

Week 1

EDC Creations' Social Networks

http://blackhistory365.ning.com/
http://slsbookclubcenter.ning.com/
http://paradigmshiftaap.vox.com/
http://www.facebook.com/EDC.Creations
http://www.myspace.com/edc1creations
http://edcvirtualtours.spaces.live.com/


EDC Creations Sunday News Email Newsletters
18,000 Members: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?html=352823
2, 654 Members: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?html=301498


EDC Creations Facebook Features

Black Pearls Audio Book Preview




Week 2

The Thinking Woman

The Vox Book Club

Social Media Group

Book Reviews

The Inklings

The Beautiful People

Verbal Penetrations

African American by Association

Monthly Book Club

Girl Talk

BeYourOwn.Personal.Library

Mahogany Book Club

Young, Black, and Gifted Journalists!




Week 3

Mothers of Wisdom

MyBrothersKeeper.com

Crucial Diva

WeAreOne

Each-One-Teach-One

AfricanAmericans.NET

Chocolate Pages Network

Black Internet Marketers

BlackInAmerica.com

BlackJourneys.com

BlackHistory.com

BlackAuthorsConnect.com

BlackWomenConnect.com

DMV Black





Week 4

The Writers & Readers Lounge
183 Members

Reading is Sexy
78,198 Members

Passion for Books
10,689 Members

Girls Gone God!
6,425 Members

Urban Reviews Facebook Group
666 Members

African American Authors
397 Members

FB Book club
1,713 Members

African American Fiction
121 Members:

AA Facebook Bookclub
481 Members

Black Author Showcase
106 Members

African American Authors (Book Club)
146 Members

Aspiring Black Authors
354 Members

African American Opinions
318 Members


How I Made the Angels Cry Book Video




Meet Author Meleisa Betts
I am Meleisa Betts, an author and owner of my own publishing company "Neighborhood Publishing". I am single, currently living in New Orleans La., however, I was born in a small town in the state of Alabama called Monroeville. My only child is my darling dog, my peekapoo, MaryBell.

I have always had a need to share and communicate my thoughts to others. I am an accomplished member of "Toastmasters" which filled a need to convey my thoughts somewhat, yet it did not allow the opportunity for me to reach a broad audience. I felt as though I had an important message that could help people.

We all have stories and a belief that ours are capable of sustaining book and movies yet how many lives actually are living morals; examples of what NOT to do and the consequences of those actions? I felt and still feel that there are many people living secret lives with things that they dare not share for a fear of being judged. My mission is to prove to the reader that the best therapy for the soul is not a psychiatrist (although counseling is a necessary process in many cases) but rather blunt force honesty; a raw openness and truth.

Fundamentally a psychiatrist makes the patient talk about his or herself, and in revealing those intimate truths the patient feels better. Why must we wait until the psychiatrist asks us to before we can be honest with ourselves? We give ourselves aspirin for a headache or an antacid when our stomach is upset; then why can't we give ourselves a little "self-revelation" therapy?

That is my approach to "How I Made The Angels Cry". It is 100% truthful but I chose to use a principle of "shock and raw". What this means is, I wanted to leave my life exposed and threadbare, not filter or edit the book for an audience but to tell the honest truth.

Before I decided to always be forthcoming, I was living a shell of a life, frustrated, confused and basically a farce. However since changing my perspective to one of complete honesty and openness it has been an altogether different life for me, one which is free of pretense and pressure to be SOMETHING. I now simply am.

I want the book to stand as testimony to future readers that LIES only escalate, and have to be escaped, yet the truth has to be told only once, and it stands on its own. The best therapy for a troubled conscience is for one to be completely honest with the one person who matters most on planet Earth: Yourself.

"How I Made The Angels Cry" is a memoir based upon my actual experiences in an improbable life, and only the names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the persons involved in the book. It is indeed graphic and discusses sexuality and manipulation of people and circumstances in an open forum that many dare not to attempt. In fact few authors have written in such open and graphic detail, as I have left my life completely open to the judgment of others. I accept this wholeheartedly and if this method helps others to escape their own demons and unlocks the door of emotional imprisonment, then I have succeeded.

I hope that by writing such an open discourse that I can encourage others to be as open in discussing their own fears and desires rather than keeping them simmering below the surface like a pot ready to boil over. HONESTLY is liberating, LIES are condemning and things that are kept within are potentially maddening; Again, that IS why we have psychiatrists, is it not? Through my book "How I Made The Angels Cry" I hope to offer an example of how being honest can save a soul.

Meleisa Betts
Email: molly.betts@yahoo.com

Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615290507; ISBN-13: 978-0615290508