AALBC.com eNewsletter - January 15, 2002 |
Celebrating Our Literary
Legacy! |
2001 - YEAR IN REVIEW
Happy New Year everyone! Despite the failure of so many internet based companies over the past year, AALBC.com remains stronger than ever. We've increased our focus on reviewing new books and well as forgotten classics, and are publishing several new reviews each week.
AALBC.com regularly racks up more than 2,000,000 hits from over 250,000 unique visitors each and every month. AALBC.com's popularity has caught the attention of some major publishers. We've entered into advertising agreements with Ballantine's One World, John Wiley and Son's and others.
In 2001, AALBC.com expanded book sales into author signings and other off-line events. Additionally, we increased to the number of autographed books well sell directly. We also joined Amazon's affiliate program while retaining our relationship with B&N.com. Off line books sales increased dramatically, while on-line book sales remained flat compared with 2001. A late year spike in book sales, however, promises a very strong 2003
AALBC.com (The African American Literature Book Club) has not forgotten its roots. We've spun off our original book club onto it own web site (www.cwmyb.com). The ever popular Thumper's Corner discussion board is as informative, inspiring and controversial as ever. We continue to support African-American self published authors, writers, poets, magazines, organizations and other professionals in the book business by providing low cost (often free) web page development and on-line promotion.
Thanks for your continued support over the years!
Peace,
Troy Johnson,
Founder and Webmaster
NEW BOOKS - JANUARY 2002
Here are some highly praised books released January 2002. For a longer
list of new releases. check out:
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/books.htm
Free:
And Other Stories by Anika Nailah
Published: January 2002
Free: And Other Stories is a wonderful collection of stories that gave voice to stories often silent and unexplored. The stories were written with a clear insight into human nature. Ms. Nailah you possess an excellent eye and ear for dialogue, along with the skill to zero into the most quiet, poignant center of everyday-to-day experience written in elegant, graceful yet economic prose that remained true to the characters and their stories. Read the rest of this review (http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/free_and_other_stories.htm)
This
Bitter Earth by
Bernice L. McFadden
Published: January 2002
"This Bitter Earth is magnificent. This Bitter Earth accomplished the privilege of being classified as that rare breed of sequels, a successful, most satisfying one. It more than met any and all expectations. McFadden should now be recognized as a gifted author of exceptional talent." Read the rest of this review ( http://reviews.aalbc.com/this_bitter_earth.htm)
Seventh
Child: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X by Rodnell P. Collins with A. Peter Bailey
Published: January 2002
"Seventh Child is a nice, factual, highly readable, at times intensely emotional book attempting to set the record straight by bringing more dimensions to a man that most people think they know, answering a few questions that other biographies, documentaries and films do not. Malcolm X has been the subject of many books over the years, books that have erroneously established a distorted image. He is either a martyr or the most dreaded, despicable, hated black man that ever inhaled air. Seldom, is he portrayed as a brother or an uncle. Read the rest of this review (http://reviews.aalbc.com/seventh_child.htm)
The
Reckoning: What Blacks Owe To Each Other by Randall Robinson
Published: January 2002
"The Reckoning is the perfect example of what makes a non-fiction book a popular read. It's not academically dry or bloated with indigestible statistics. Robinson isn't condescending nor does his solidly constructed arguments possess a superior tone. The book unfolds smoothly, lyrically, with the richness of an impassioned novel." Read the rest of this review (http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_reckoning.htm)
AALBC.com BEST SELLING BOOKS FOR 2001
http://books.aalbc.com/2001_by_month.htm
#1
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
by Terry McMillan
http://aalbc.com/authors/terry.htm
"The book validates the promise and mastery that
McMillan displayed in Mama and in Disappearing Acts. Even DLDS's no-frills
cover design heralds her return as a dedicated, no-nonsense writer.
In recent years readers, critics and cognoscenti have tried to be disparaging
by using the phrase, "A Terry McMillan Book", to
imply something as unsubstantial as an Archie
comic. But let's give props where they are due:
McMillan's phenomenal bestsellers paved the way for other writers (many of
lesser talent) to bop on down the road of commercial success. While it is
true that her initial success was based on black women's' hunger for a
reflection of themselves, and craziness of their relationships, readers need
only look to Mama, McMillan's first novel, to know that she has always been
more than just a writer of "girlfriend", sistah-to-sistah type novels."
~ Paige Turner,
for AALBC.com (read the rest of this review at:
http://aalbc.com/authors/terrymbookdaylate.htm)
#2
The Seventh Octave: The Early Writings of Saul Stacey Williams
by Saul Stacey Williams, Jessica C. Moore (Editor)
http://aalbc.com/authors/saul.htm
#3
The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: The Early Years, 1898-1939
by Paul Robeson Jr.
http://authors.aalbc.com/paul_robeson_jr_.htm
#4
Take a Lesson: Today's Black Achievers on How They Made It and What They Learned
Along the Way
by Caroline Clarke
http://books.aalbc.com/2001_by_month.htm
#5
Brown Sugar: A Collection of Erotic Black Fiction
by Carol Taylor (Editor)
http://books.aalbc.com/2001_by_month.htm
#6
She
by Saul Stacey Williams
http://aalbc.com/authors/saul.htm
#7
Any Way the Wind Blows
by E. Lynn Harris
http://aalbc.com/authors/e.htm
#8
Words Don't Fit In My Mouth
by Jessica Care Moore
http://aalbc.com/authors/jessica.htm
#9
The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors
by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
http://aalbc.com/authors/frances.htm
#10
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow Is Enuf: A
Choreopoem
by Ntozake Shange
http://aalbc.com/authors/ntozake.htm
Also check out out best-selling books for November and December 2001
http://books.aalbc.com/novdec2001.htm
AN EXCELLENT LITERARY MAGAZINE
Callaloo:
A Journal of African Diaspora Arts & Letters
http://www.aalbc.com/writers/callaloo.htm
Callaloo is a journal devoted to creative work by and critical studies of the work of African-Americans and peoples of African descent throughout the African Diaspora. Established as well as emerging writers find a home in Callaloo. In addition to its general issues, Callaloo frequently publishes special issues such as the recent special issue on literature from the Dominican Republic and by Dominican-Americans, the 2-part Emerging Male Writers special issue, and author-focused issues such as the Sterling Brown special issue. Special issues on Haiti and on Puerto Rican Women Writers have received awards from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals and the Association of American Publishers Professional Scholarly Publishing Division. Writers published in Callaloo include: Ernest Gaines, Rita Dove, Yusef Komunyakaa, Octavia Butler, Alice Walker, Lucille Clifton, Edwidge Danticat, Thomas Glave, Samuel Delany, and John Edgar Wideman. Callaloo sponsors a number of special events and public readings--such as the annual October reading at the Public Theater of New York--and hosts its own Creative Writing Workshop for young writers.
DO THE WRITE THING: The Write Thing:
Seven Steps to Publishing Success
http://authors.aalbc.com/kwame.htm#Do
by Publisher Weekly says; "For writers determined to publish their own work, Kwame Alexander, with the help of Nina Foxx, offers Do the Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success. Alexander, a writer, publishing consultant and founder of the independent press BlackWords, advises readers in a friendly and practical manner on everything from writing and editing your manuscript, starting a publishing company and printing your book to marketing, sales and author tours. Besides furnishing a lexicon of publishing terms, a list of helpful reading materials, inspirational and cautionary anecdotes and savvy regarding hiring editors of all sorts, Alexander endows writers with the confidence they need to self-publish."
Check Out Another Excellent Resource for Writers
The
Book Lover's Haven
The Book Lover's Haven is the best place on the net for everyone who
loves to write and read stories in book form -- poets, novelists,
historians, songwriters, screenplay writers -- everyone who loves the
written word! Visit their site
http://www.chistell.com and subscribe to their newsletter at:
http://www.chistell.com/newsletter_request.htm.
RECENT ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
AALBC.com publishes scores of articles, books reviews, chats and author
profiles each month. Below is sampling of the most recently added content.
Book Reviews
Black Prisoner of War: A Conscientious
Objector�s Vietnam Memoir by James A. Daly and Lee Bergman
http://reviews.aalbc.com/black_prisoner_of_war.htm
Adam by Adam: The Autobiography of Adam
Clayton Powell, Jr.
http://reviews.aalbc.com/adam_by_adam.htm
A Call To Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of
Dr. Martin Luther King
http://reviews.aalbc.com/a_call_to_conscience.htm
Consumed, Reduced to Beautiful Grey Ashes
by Linda D. Addison
http://reviews.aalbc.com/consumedreduced.htm
Love Don't Live Here Anymore
http://reviews.aalbc.com/lovedontlivehereanymore.htm
Embracing the Horror by Darline Dorce-Coupet
http://reviews.aalbc.com/embracingthehorror.htm
Movie Reviews
Ali Movie
Reviewed by Marvin X
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/ali.htm
Marvin X, does not write your "run of the mill" movie reviews. He will bring a personal perspective few are able to provide and he'll cast his reviews in a social context one can not ignore.
LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR
http://www.aalbc.com/events/
Our events calendar allows visitors to learn about up coming African American literary and cultural events. Visitors may even post their own events and include a link back to their web site. If you don't have a web site AALBC.com can build one for you, for a nominal fee (often for free depending on the timing of the event and our work load).
Upcoming events include:
Sex,
Jazz & Chocolate...
http://www.aalbc.com/events/sexjazz.htm
On Wednesday, February 13, 2002 in NYC Warner books brings together some of the most exciting writers on the East coast with BLACK SILK: A Collection of African American Erotica ( Warner Books; February 2002), edited by Retha Powers - a powerful collection of erotica from today's leading black writers and fresh voices, BLACK SILK explores exciting territory in the realm of the African American experience. Athours in attendance include: Breena Clarke, Carolyn Ferrell, Thomas Glave, Donna Hill, Bernice McFadden, Bruce Morrow and Bil Wright
The Sixth Annual Memphis Black Writers Conference &
Southern Film Festival
http://www.angelfire.com/tn/blackwritersconf/
The Sixth Annual Memphis Black Writers Conference & Southern Film Festival will be held on April 18-20, 2002 in downtown Memphis. We will honor several notable writers at our 2002 BWC Literary Awards program at the Isaac Hayes Food*Music*Passion at 8:00 pm. Among the honored guests are: Alice Randall 'The Wind Done Gone', Tina Andrews 'The Sally Hemings Scandal & Why Do Fools Fall in Love?'; Sheree R. Thomas 'Dark Matter'; Arthur Flowers 'Mojo Rising' and world renowned artist Brenda Joysmith.
THE COFFEE WILL MAKE YOU BLACK ON-LINE READING GROUP
Next Monthly Book Chat Session February 6th,
2002
http://cwmyb.com/Reading_List.htm
The
Coffee Will Make You Black reading group is currently reading The Renegade
Johnny Buffalo by Dan Smith
Johnny Buffalo is a fast moving, action novel of the Old West. It tells the story of a Black Buffalo soldier's fight for justice on the Texas frontier. It is also the story of the white Texans and Army officers who fight with him and against him. The novel is based upon careful research of actual events (not characters) from history books, newspaper accounts and army archives.
Our chat session is scheduled for Wednesday,
February 6th, 2002, 9:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time. If you have already read
BUY AALBC.com STUFF
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Show
your support for AALBC.com
and African American Literature by purchasing AALBC.com branded merchandise.
Your purchases help further our goal of promoting African American
literature and authors. All of the merchandise is of excellent quality
(actually, the baseball cap is a little weak) and offers a full money back
guarantee. Merchandise arrive in a few days.
Peace,
Troy Johnson,
Founder AALBC.com
|
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