tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:30:15 +0000My posts will focus primarily on interesting aspects of AALBC.com and my life in general. I'll also share my unique perspective on the web, technology and how it relates to the business of selling books.http://aalbc.com/blog/troy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)Blogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-6966499495091066579Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:23:00 +00002009-11-04T20:30:15.947-05:00 Kenyahttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133389&id=620627049&l=acae84f3a9 Ghanahttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=132006&id=620627049&l=f445874931 Nigeria http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129908&id=620627049&l=9182e0a9bc http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/11/troys-really-cool-african-adventuretroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-1844089500106314557Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:22:00 +00002009-09-09T17:47:01.068-04:00This past August I participated in the National Black Book Club Conference. It was by 3rd time attending and 2rd time taking an active roll. Below is a 6 minute video highlighting some of my activities from the 2009 affair.If you are part of a book club and have never attended this event I'd encourage you to do so. It is like attending an family reunion with only the friendly, smart, and literatehttp://aalbc.com/blog/2009/09/troy-at-national-black-book-clubtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-2937364199991988869Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:51:00 +00002009-06-04T11:56:49.252-04:00Book Expo America Recapby Kam Williamshttp://reviews.aalbc.com/book_expo_america_recap.htmBook Expo America, publishing’s premier annual convention, was held this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City from May 29th to the 31st. On Saturday afternoon, black literary giants representing every area of the industry gathered inside the hall’s African-American Pavilion for a reception http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/06/african-american-literary-industrytroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-6095524271638471256Sat, 09 May 2009 00:36:00 +00002009-05-08T21:06:43.833-04:00Mother’s Day Stories: A Lifetime of Appreciation in a Few Words The Defenders Onlinehttp://tinyurl.com/troy-momI have a tribute to my mom here along with several well-known writers including: Martha Southgate, Jill Nelson, Tananarive Due, Bernice McFadden, Errol Louis, William Jelani Cobb, and the Reverend Al Sharpton.http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/05/mothers-day-storiestroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-4606288316519809528Tue, 05 May 2009 13:07:00 +00002009-05-05T09:19:20.806-04:00I just upload a video interview with Farai Chideya. It was shot at the AALBC.com Gallery in Harlem. Ron Kavanaugh of MosaicBooks.com did the interview. Farai Chideya is a multi-media journalist who has worked in print, television, and online. Five years ago she founded PopandPolitics.com, an online journal of news and opinion for a diverse national and international audience. She is currently a http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/05/video-interview-with-farai-chideyatroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-7817524759409409084Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:50:00 +00002009-03-03T16:57:08.109-05:00GymnasticsAALBC.comTroy JohnsonLast year I started working out again. As I lost weight and got a little stronger, I started doing some of my old gymnastics moves in the gym during my warm up (I was on Syracuse University's gymnastics team in 1984).It took me months of trying to get this particular move back. I kind of take it for granted; but I noticed some time ago that it really impresses people, so I figured I'd make some http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/03/troy-still-has-few-trickstroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-6566136965262658065Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:39:00 +00002009-02-27T13:53:53.899-05:00Thumper went on hiatus for a couple of years, to complete another graduate degree. He is working his way back slowly. Here are his latest book reviews.There is something here for everyone. Enjoy. Red Light Special by Risquéhttp://reviews.aalbc.com/red_light_special.htmOne day, I was in the mood for a Noire novel, but I had read all of them. I looked around my office and saw Red Light Special by http://aalbc.com/blog/2009/02/new-reviews-by-one-of-aalbccomstroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-5812467986597299815Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:08:00 +00002009-01-29T14:42:35.455-05:002009ALAMosaic MagazineMeetingAALBC.comCarleen BriceLiterary Freedom ProjectJD MasonStevie Wonder ConcertRitz CarltonMidwinterDenverAs part of my role as a board member of the Literary Freedom Project, and a full page ad in Mosaic Magazine, I offered to help Ron work the table and help promote Mosaic Literary Magazine at the American Library Association's (ALA) 2009 Midwinter Meeting.On the day I arrived in Denver (January 22nd) it hit 70 degrees. I was kicking myself for not bringing a lighter jacket. However, that concernhttp://aalbc.com/blog/2009/01/2009-ala-midwinter-meeting-denver-cotroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-3547473949683709907Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:51:00 +00002008-11-16T18:12:38.032-05:00BarbudAntiguaAALBC.coma LiteraryFestival2008I have never attended an event that was more personally fulfilling and fun in my entire life! Participants which included authors like; Antiguan phenom Marie Elena John, Eric Jerome Dickey, Esmeralda Santiago, Elizabeth Nunez, Mary D. Morrison, Tina McElroy Ansa, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due; industry professional including; Carol Mackey (Editor-In-Chief Black Expression Book Club), Ron http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/11/antigua-barbuda-literary-festival-2008troy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-1798954329274420025Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:02:00 +00002008-10-14T11:52:08.511-04:00I've made this trip a couple of times in the past. This year I took a slightly longer northern route. It was much more hilly but much more scenic. It took me a little more than 11 hours to over the 114 miles. I basically rode from sun up to sun down. Some of my trek is recorded on twitter: http://twitter.com/aalbchttp://aalbc.com/blog/2008/10/cyclying-from-harlem-to-willow-grove-patroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-6030124621769542539Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:06:00 +00002008-06-29T13:10:25.676-04:00Amiri Baraka: Evolution of a Revolutionary PoetExhibit at Zambezi Bazaar in conjunction with the Leimert Park Book Fair.Amiri Baraka is one of the most prolific African American writers of the 20th century. He is an acclaimed poet and the Obie-winning playwright of Dutchman. His long list of writing credits includes: Blues People; Home; Social Essays; Black Fire; Selected Poetry of Amiri Baraka /http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/06/video-amiri-baraka-evolution-oftroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-4548248426329544295Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:02:00 +00002008-06-13T10:07:45.026-04:00Someone forwarded me a NY Times Article. The Times usually pisses me off when they write about Black folks 'cause they typically show the our most pathetic side.To be sure the NYT couchs these artilces in sympatheic terms and tone. But this is only to pander to their liberal audience at the expense of Black people.The late quote was from a Brother in Harlem about my age who said in response to a http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/06/harlemnite-prays-for-shootings-so-saytroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-1849039136848365931Thu, 08 May 2008 03:14:00 +00002008-05-07T23:16:48.584-04:00http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/05/aalbccoms-10th-anniversary-partytroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-5969055109396979347Sat, 03 May 2008 18:07:00 +00002008-05-03T14:19:05.859-04:00Presented ToTROY JOHNSONIn Appreciation For YourDedication, Professionalism,Guidance, And IntegrityIn the Publishing IndustryThanks You AALBC.com For10 Powerful Years Of Supporting Black Books.From Your Colleagues In ThePublishing Industry2008The above is the inscription on a plaque presented to me last night at Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe in Harlem last night. The presentation was a complete http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/05/above-is-inscription-of-plaquetroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-2599828574026452131Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:36:00 +00002008-02-08T00:44:16.525-05:002008 Essence Literary Award Winning Books Announced http://books.aalbc.com/2008_essence_literary_awards_nominees.htm Would you believe I attended and forgot my camera! Actually I think I lost it today -- cause I can't find it. Bottom line I don't have any photos to share. The awards program was a standing room only event. There were plenty of notable authors, celebrities, and book industry http://aalbc.com/blog/2008/02/2008-essence-literary-award-winningtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-5939726690272285831Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:19:00 +00002008-01-20T12:39:21.304-05:00partnershipAfrican-AmericanAALBC.comCushcity.comMosaicBooks.combookJanuary 7, 2008For Immediate Release MEDIA INQUIRIESTroy Johnson, AALBC.com, (866) 603-8394Gwen Richardson, Cushcity.com, (281) 444-4265Ron Kavanaugh, MosaicBooks.com, (718) 530.9132THREE LARGEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOOK SITES JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE BLACK LITERATUREHOUSTON, TX – AALBC.com, Cushcity.com and MosaicBooks.com, the three largest and most established web sites focusing on African-Americanhttp://aalbc.com/blog/2008/01/three-largest-africa-american-booktroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-8329421205156366787Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:01:00 +00002007-12-11T09:17:06.789-05:00http://thebestblackbooksearch.com Ok, despite the pretentious descriptor this is really a good way to query and learn about web sites that focus on books written by Black authors.I gathered all of the good web sites that I’ve come across and restricted the Google search engine to return results from them. The sites include venerable institutions like Cushcity.com and Mosaicbooks.com, you’ll also http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/12/best-black-book-search-engine-periodtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-8346083140925019375Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:15:00 +00002007-12-01T01:43:54.322-05:00Barack Obamahttp://aalbc.com/authors/barack_obama.htm Barack Obama hosted a fund raiser at Harlem's "World Famous" Apollo Theater on the evening of November 29th 2007. The event featured supporters; comedian Chris Rock, scholar and activist Dr. Cornel West, and New York State Senator Bill Perkins. Obama spoke to a standing room crowd of approximately 1,500 people. The video was taken by Harlem http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/12/barack-obama-at-harlems-apollo-theatertroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-5825340150967770871Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:55:00 +00002007-11-26T21:58:34.527-05:00Grace After MidnightVideoInterviewThe WireSnoopbookFelicia "Snoop" Pearson and AALBC.com founder Troy Johnsonvideo taped interview (8 minutes) The first time I saw Snoop was on HBO's The Wire. I recall watching the scene with her buying a nail gun (fans of The Wire will know what I'm talking about). I also recall thinking just how consistently brilliant HBO is with casting. I replayed that scene twice just taken by the character. I said to http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/11/my-interview-with-snoop-of-hbos-wiretroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-1508252023060432016Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:16:00 +00002007-11-04T21:48:10.185-05:00frank lucasAALBCgangsteramericanharlemnew yorkThe movie American Gangster was filmed in my neighborhood in Harlem. The steps of the church Denzel Washington is standing, in the photograph above, is just around the corner from my home. My home is just a short walk from where I grew up. The street just behind Denzel’s head is the street where Maya Angelou and Kareem Abdul Jabar own brownstones.Once you get past the street closures, and parkinghttp://aalbc.com/blog/2007/11/american-gangstertroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-7856243848937507458Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:56:00 +00002007-10-07T16:13:52.270-04:00 Karrine Steffans is the author of the New York Times bestsellering books The Vixen Diaries (2007) and the wildly sucessful and scandelous Confessions of a Video Vixen (2005).Confessions is currently [Oct. 2007] the all-time best selling book on AALBC.comI had a chance to interview Karrine, on October 3rd 2007, during the New York City leg of her hectic book tour for The Vixen Diaries: http://http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/10/karen-steffans-interviewed-by-aalbccomtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-5344213246337314279Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:52:00 +00002007-10-06T14:59:15.578-04:00I was listening to the radio (1010 AM, WINS, New York) this week and heard a report of some Jewish people in Roslyn, LI who received some Jewish hate mail.Apparently they got some letter in the mail emblazoned with a Swastika. The police were investigating.I began thinking to myself wow, Black people confort racism on a much higher level on a daily basis. I really could not understand why the http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/10/racist-hate-mailtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-6838089891796547109Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:55:00 +00002007-10-06T15:01:00.018-04:00The following link points to a letter, written by Terry McMillan, on the ills of the publishing industry. The letter addresses, among other things the hurt and pain, caused by these Tell-All Books that are so popular today.Visit http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/1/30333.html to read some very interesting commentary.http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/10/terry-mcmillan-speaks-out-on-ill-oftroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-3143711920144364404Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:02:00 +00002007-10-03T10:06:15.817-04:00OK y'all this is big. Cheryl Woodruff, founder and former associate publisher of One World, Random House’s multicultural imprint, has been named president and associate publisher of SmileyBooks.This will be an opportunity for Us to publish the kind of Black books we've all be claiming that the German conglomerates will not publish. Now I know it will not be easy and Smiley Books is not going to http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/10/ok-yall-this-is-bigtroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9597670.post-2083618496032392258Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:11:00 +00002007-09-30T15:16:30.384-04:00Black New Yorkers: Booklover hopes to profit from his passionby Tanangachi Mfuni, Amsterdam News StaffOriginally Published Vol. 97 No. 40 September 28-October 4, 2006 © 2006, Amsterdam NewsWhen Harlemite Troy Johnson launched a website dedicated to Black books nearly eight years ago, it came out of “a passion for Black people,” he said.Today, Johnson’s African American Literary Book Club (http://aalbc.com/blog/2007/09/two-years-ago-black-new-yorkerstroy@aalbc.com (AALBC.com)0