58 Books Published by To Be Determined on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

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Val Timmons lost one knight in shining armor and thought she’d found another. But after she married Kurt, she found that she’d landed a rusty tin man instead. She’d given up all hopes of ever finding happily ever after, especially when he kept postponing her dream of having a child. When his pregnant mistress showed up at the door, Val soon learned that Kurt was set to have the family she’d always wanted—just not with her.Making things more complicated, Val found a way—without her husband’s cooperation—to conceive the baby she felt she deserved. All that took place while Kurt was buying himself time to right his own wrongs before they came to light and caused him to lose his wife altogether.But pointing the finger at his mistakes is not a luxury Val can afford. She also has something to hide, and they will both learn one valuable lesson: there’s no right way to do a wrong thing.

“Absolutely amazing! I have read most of Neal Halls works; have had the privilege of commenting and critiquing many pieces as he wrote them. But with Door of No Return, Doc Man, as I fondly refer to Neal, has exceeded himself! His perception of the human condition, in particular the plight of the white man’s creation, ‘the Nigger’, as described in these poems, is second to none

I had the privilege of first meeting Neal Hall in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Storymoja Festival in 2013. He read from his book, Nigger For Life, a collection of poems that challenged, in the most explicit and uncompromising of ways all who listened to him to think or re-think their perceptions of race, identity, acceptance and survival. Already there, Neal’s work stood out.

Because his poetry does not make you comfortable, does not reinforce the generically ‘acceptable’ and accepted state of affairs. It instead boldly and candidly questions, in the face of Neal’s real life experiences as a black man, the status quo — raw and painfully blatant. You are forced to open your mind to the fact, not ‘the possibility,’ that what seems to be may not be as it seems.

Blatantly blunt, painfully honest and, as always, breathtakingly unapologetic. Neal Hall’s language is simple but intense, not sparing his readers, not compromising his delivery for the sake of a pretentious feel-good factor. Neal Hall is not on a quest for apologies, empathy, sympathy — and least of all, pity. Brutally descriptive, he writes simply to tell it as it is! No holes barred.

why is a black man’s greatness greatly measured in how much shit he can peacefully endure, then forgive the white man for it.’ —Neal Hall

To call Neal Hall brave, even courageous, would be to undermine the power of his work. Because he is not out to save, absolve or convert the world. His work simply unashamedly and uncompromisingly calls a spade a spade!

There is nowhere to hide, nowhere to conceal ones guilty adherence to, and acceptance of the status quo of injustices and atrocities committed past and present. There is no no pretending that you have no part in it. Because at every twist and turn Neal Hall gets you, exposes you, and confronts you with countless revelations of the ways in which we fan the flame that burns us alive.

There is no respite, no relief in the reading. It is as it is. Up front and in your face, forcing you to reflect and question. So know that you cannot read Neal Hall’s work and not be affected by it.

To read Neal Hall is — whether you like it or not, to deal with it! And that is how it should be. I feel privileged and am honored to give testimony to the work of the brilliant poet that is Neal Hall. His work is an invaluable contribution to world contemporary poetry. Asante Neal!”
” —Dr. Auma Obama, Founder, Director Sauti Kuu Foundation, Nairobi Kenya

Be Savvy is an excellent read and makes investing a right choice to improve your financial house. This is an upbeat journey from a financial setback to a comeback after 50. With Persistence and consistency, everyone can realize it is possible to set yourself up for a comeback.

Book/Media Online

Victor Wooten emerged as a once-in-a-lifetime, game-changing bassist in the early ’90s, via his highly innovative playing with Bela Flek & the Flektones. Launching his solo career a few years later, with A Show of Hands, it soon became apparent that Wooten was also a major musical force, thanks to an organic and highly original approach to music and music education.

In this book/online video package, Victor Wooten Bass Workshop: The Language of Music and How to Speak It, Victor reveals his musical soul. In Part 1, he outlines his ten essential elements of music including such important and under-emphasized areas as emotion and feel, dynamics, tone, phrasing, space, and listening. This section focuses on Victor’s concepts and approaches and are more theoretical in nature.

In Part 2, Victor addresses the reader with personal lessons, using text, notation, tablature, and video footage to cover such key topics as warming up and hand-strengthening, tone, harmonics, thumb technique, tapping, looping, and soloing. This section is a more how to approach with hands-on demonstrations. Throughout, Victor underscores this vital material with a groove first ethic, as well an accent on being musical and creative three mandatory ingredients to becoming a highly-sought-after professional bassist. All of which makes Victor Wooten Bass Workshop a must-have tool for bass players at all levels.

Having written more than eight novels, including My Amputations and Dirty Bird Blues, alongside a dozen books of poetry, Chicago Heat and Other Stories is Clarence Major’s second work of short fiction and first book with Green Writers Press. Chicago Heat and Other Stories employs a gorgeous purity and simplicity of language in a series of masterful stories exploring human interaction. Each narrative voice comes forward all at once, individual and complete, without obstacle or complication, enabling the reader to see the characters and feel their emotions. Major does not shy away from the bitter or the harsh; we get to hear it all. Like paint on an easel he blends lyric harmony with moxie and the blunt with the beautiful. The imagery is completely accessible and generously given. Toni Morrison comes to mind. His work is like jewels.

Rising up from the Blood: A Legacy Reclaimed - The Autobiography of Sarah Washington O’Neal Rush, The Great-Granddaughter of Booker T. Washington is the honest true story of an unassuming child who would learn to take poverty for granted. For years, the quietness of her lineage hindered Sarah’s potential. For Sarah, there had been no hint that she had aristocratic, blue blood flowing through her veins. This is Sarah Washington O’Neal Rush’s remarkable true story…of her awakening!

Indicted on 23 counts and convicted of four, multimillionaire Martha Marie Preston faced 40 YEARS in federal prison. Just how her life of Rolls Royce’s and golf course living had come to this, she wasn’t sure. But she knew she had to find out. Discover her Ms. Preston begin her journey for a second chance. It’s a story about redemption and inspiration as she uses it t share spiritual principles gained from her experiences. She also shares the spiritual truths that helped her not only make a successful comeback, but also to exercise her passion for helping people by reaching out to touch the lives of others. The principles she discovered can help you on your journey to a fulfilling life of purpose and satisfaction. Whether you’ve been behind bars or are bound by the shackles of poor decisions, this book can help you.

’Michael Jackson: The Man behind the Mask’ is the INSIDE STORY of the truth behind the rumors, ugliness and mystery surrounding Michael Jackson.Is Jackson just a confused person who got too much fame too soon or is he a cold and calculating villain who will stop at nothing to have his bizarre appetites satisfied? Now you can read about it for the first time from the man who knows everything!The author, Bob Jones, is not a journalist conducting interviews but somebody who has known and been with Jackson for 34 years as his chief of Public Relations; by his side since Michael was 11 years old. Bob Jones is the one person with this unique inside view of Michael Jackson’s world. To a certain degree, Bob Jones CREATED Michael Jackson. He created his image. For example, Bob Jones created Michael Jackson’s famous nickname "The King of Pop".This book is explosive and will make any other book about Michael Jackson instantly forgotten. You won’t find this inside information anywhere else.

Much has been said regarding the current state of Black relationships in America. With a rising divorce rate, a dramatic increase in the amount of Black children being raised in single parent households, more and more Black men being incarcerated every year, and the psychological rifts that exist between Black men and women that stem from centuries of pain and fear, the Black relationship is in dire need of healing. This healing has arrived in the form of the Love Ethic. Based upon the belief that the relationship between Black men and women is the bedrock of the African American community and holds the key to wealth, equality and prosperity for the Black community, Kamau and Akilah take the reader on an historical journey through American history in search of Black love. Those who are single, married, divorced, or in committed relationships will draw encouragement, understanding and hope from this book. The Love Ethic is a text de eply embedded in the African American cultural tradition, as it attempts to look back as a way to move forward.

In this novel, Lessons Before Dying, the lives of five very powerful and influential black men unfold in front of you as they pursue this quest called Life.

The stately fraternal figure, Sterling, leads the Cole men and friend by facing death head on and penning the most beautiful lessons on living to serve as their guide. The reader will find the lessons learned in Lessons Before Dying are applicable to things they are currently going through in their Life. This piece will definitely transcend the element of time.

You will journey with each man as he confronts demons of War, Sexuality, Conspiracy and Death’

This book will definitely bring new meaning to the term "judging a cover by its book!"

On the subject of how he was able to manifest such believable characters in Lessons Before Dying, he simply asks, "Is the talented Anne Rice a vampire?"

Lessons Before Dying book excerpt

Theloneus’ I objected for nearly two solid months. Boris, my new agent, insisted that I allowed VikTor to shoot me for the Leonardz summer catalog cover to launch his entry into the coveted multi-billion dollar jewelry industry. I loved the concept: me featured in the picturesque deep green meadows nestled in the lush mountains of Switzerland. The song that immediately came to mind was by my favorite producer of all time, Norman Connors, Handle Me Gently (featuring Miss Adaritha). I love that song and it was an accurate account of my fragile state of mind and Spirit.

Switzerland is simply the epitome of peaceful living. And with all of the recent events having transpired in my life, I surely could use some form of peace. As you can see, my problem was not with the actual shoot itself. No. It was with the photographer, VikTor.

I met him a while back in New York City. We later crossed paths during the release of the famous elegant underwear introductory campaign and again at an awards banquet. The ad produced from our first photo shoot was honored for the Advertising Age magazine’s best concept award. This was mind boggling given that not one stitch of underwear was evident in the entire ad. This ad launched me into international ranking among fellow cover models; not to mention my picture in many bedrooms. Though totally naked, I must thank VikTor for the class and taste that he brought to this project.

During that shoot, I had never been more uncomfortable being naked in the presence of another man. I had on numerous occasions in the past been the subject of many naked artistic interpretations, but this was terribly different. Everything had to be perfect for Mr. VikTor. He wasn’t rude or anything like that; just very stoic. He didn’t say much at all during the whole shoot. However, he was very physical with me. Lifting me here and rubbing me there; tugging on this and pushing that’I felt totally embarrassed. It wasn’t that he was rough or even obtrusive. I know that this sounds strange even as I recall the eerie feeling he created during the shoot. I’ve got it; it was his eyes. His eyes were a harvest golden orange and I could feel them examining my soul for ransom. I could feel everything that his mouth didn’t say through those eyes.

Without any evidence in his motions (less his constant erection), I could feel that he was aroused by me, and that was very unnerving. For the record, VikTor is a very handsome man. I recall nervously joking with him during a meeting in Paris that he had a rare double-lensed talent, "an eye and physical beauty", for the lens. This didn’t go over well at all. He thought that I was making fun of his eyes. I had no idea that he was disturbed until at that very instant his right eye changed to an almost colorless gray-green.

I later learned from Boris that VikTor was once the hottest model in Europe with those piercing eyes and flawless body, but his uncontrollable temper was known to change his right eye quicker than a mood stone. Boris was very clear that this was my queue to leave VikTor’s presence. During these times, he became his self-destructive, alter ego, that I named Caine.

I was very curious as to how such a peaceful town as Thun could produce as destructive a by-product as VikTor. With that question alone, everything became crystal clear.

It turns out that his grandfather created a horrible act for love. This happened when he was a mere five years old. As he sat and played on his pa pa’s lap (that’s what he called his grandfather), he listened as his grandfather lamented over the recent loss of his wife. VikTor was sitting on his lap when he took a small caliber gun to his forehead and coated the cozy leather recliner with all of his mental matter. This once happy and upbeat child went into silence for nearly three years’

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Lessons Before Dying - frequently asked questions and other related links

(Please note: I am not soliciting financial support for any of the organizations that may be associated with the selected hyperlinks. Please view this as "shared" information pertaining to the associated topic):

1. Where is your home? 
Home is where the heart is. Right now my heart is in Miami. Beautiful beaches and people’a lot of spice. I fell in love with Miami as soon as I landed for my vacation. I would strongly consider living there. I can see a story unfolding with the wake of the season’s first hurricane. My birthplace is Birmingham, Alabama. 

2. What is the most tropical/romantic place you have visited? 
Before the political uprisings occurred across Indonesia, I would have easily said "Bali". I still will say that Bali is the most tropical/romantic place I’ve visited. I can see why one would be compelled to develop a movie such as South Pacific. Bali is a beautiful undisturbed place with rich traditions. I really loved that place. I’m still looking forward to making love along the shores of the Indian Ocean’hint ’ hint! 

3. Have you ever been to Europe? 
Yes, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of visiting Europe. In fact, I was very inspired by Switzerland for much of the picturesque scenery used with Theloneus’ character. Swiss people are very interesting. The still clean air and green countryside are enough to make anyone say "Peaceful Living." 

4. What are your favorite novels? 
I love many writings by James Baldwin. My favorite of James Baldwin is Giovanni’s Room. This novel made me long to be in Paris long enough to have the opportunity to experience such a bitter romance. My next favorite was Just Above My Head. I love the crafty descriptiveness of this guy. My next favorite novel (in no particular order of course) is by Richard Wright. I really loved the presentation of Black Boy. It was comical and quite colorful. I could actually picture him as a little kid swearing at the local saloon patrons and getting his azzzz whipped by his grandfather for inviting his grandmother to kiss his freshly cleaned azzzz. These are definitely two of my favorite authors and these are their novels that I’ve come to love. 

5. What are your other interests beyond writing? 
I love clothes and shoes. I guess if I had a choice for passions, I would strongly consider designing functional male clothing. I presently design my own "dressy casual/formal" line of wear. These designs are Leonardz exclusives. I would also love to serve on a board that oversees Pediatric AIDS research. I really think that the cure is in the genesis. 

6. Have you ever modeled? 
Yes. 

7. What one thing inspired your character Sterling and what was the most difficult part with this character? 
There was not a "one thing" that inspired the character Sterling. There were several. Sterling represents a very strong and spiritual entity. He manages to transcend his blackness. Growing up in the South has helped me to understand in its totality "black and white". I wanted a lead black character that didn’t buckle but at the same time remained very humble even when facing death. I found him in Sterling, a most honorable and stately man. The hardest part of Sterling’s character was confronting death as a father, husband, brother and son. Sterling had to be all of this for many. He was my most complex character. 

8. How did you prepare for your gay scenes? 
I didn’t. I felt that as long as what I presented was enjoyable to a recipient or a giver regardless of: male/male, female/male, or even female/female, it would be viewed as passionate. Passion is passion. I don’t expect everyone to agree with everything that is in this novel but for one to dismiss these relationships from life would certainly be a tainted picture. Life is full of everything. I have to live and exist in a world full of things that I don’t fully agree with. My prayer is that anyone who is offended by this novel will soon get over it.

9. What is the next project on the horizon for you? 
Who knows? I’m just kidding. I’m living each day step by step to insure no regrets during retrospection!!! As this novel came to its sunset, it was clearly alluded that a sequel is eminent. Look for the forthcoming novel, Relationships (volume 2): A Time for New Beginnings.

10. What is the character Sterling dying from? 
Sterling has a rare liver disease called primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Please visit the website via the link on my webpage. The exact cause of this dreadful disease is still unknown. Be certain to visit this site as well as the link for the Pediatric AIDS site. The characters, Sterling and Jacobias, thank you for your interests in these topics.

Let us not perpetuate a cycle of our kids being the "silent victims" of diseases such as AIDS and child abuse.

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I hate the gooks, said John McCain, I will hate them as long as I live. Senator McCain said these words when asked about his continued use of the racial slur, "gook.".John McCain has told us who he is.John McCain supported the rescinding of Martin Luther King Day. John McCain keeps on his payroll white supremacists, race-baiting swiftboaters and lobbyists for dictators and terrorists. John McCain endorsed George Wallace, Jr., a favorite speaker among white supremacists. He fought to keep the Confederate battle flag flying over South Carolina. He seems to subscribe to a brand of religion-inspired bellicosity that calls for the U.S. to wage war for the sake of imparting our values upon humanity. McCain promised to immediately start wars in North Korea, Libya, and Iraq during his first presidential campaign, and in 2008 he has promised new wars to come. He sent his own money to the contra guerillas, and even visited their illegal war camp. War is the way of John McCain, and racial bias makes it easy to execute those wars. Long before George W. Bush became president, McCain planned an invasion of Iraq. He lobbied for an Iraq invasion just days after 9/11, and when it came time to convince the American people, he insisted that the Iraq War would be easily won. The combination of racism and warmongering are perfectly encapsulated in gook, a racist term formed during numerous U.S. wars, from the invasion of the Philippines (1898-1902) to the occupation of Haiti in 1920, to the Korean and Vietnam Wars. John McCain used this anti-Asian slur freely with the media until he was forced to stop for fear of sabotaging his own presidential ambitions. The portrait of John McCain painted in Gook is far more disturbing than any racial epithet. A central thesis of Gook: war fertilizes racism, and racism justifies wars and the killing of civilians. This dynamic thrives within the most dangerous leaders of the world. Is John McCain one of them?

Standing no more than five-feet, seven-inches; tall, Sam Langford was one of the 20th century’s greatest fighters. In this biography, his life story is told in great and entertaining detail. Over 100 photographs are included. Sam was a great black prizefighter in an era when the color line was easily cited by white opponents wanting to avoid meeting him in the ring. Ring magazine editor Nat Fleischer ranked Langford among his favorites, stating, ’Sam was endowed with everything. He possessed strength, agility, cleverness, hitting power, a good thinking cap and an abundance of courage. He feared no one. But he had the fatal gift of being too good, and that’s why he often had to give away weight in early days and make agreements with opponents. Many of those who agreed to fight him, especially of his own race, wanted an assurance that he would be merciful or insisted on a bout of not more than six rounds.’ This biography brings to light Sam Langford’s remarkable talents and life.

Life is like a sea that must be navigated. There are bumps and sinkholes along the way and learning to avoid or recover from them quickly is the trick. This book shows you how to get through the tough times victoriously, how to celebrate the good times, and how to win this game called life.

Nubiah is a children’s bedtime story book that demonstrates valuable principles, positive traits, ethics and life lessons from the great African Kings and Queens of our past. The recurring theme, "Listen to the Drum" reminds the child to focus on finding their passion and life’s purpose, study hard and constantly improve everyday.

The bestselling author of Perfectly Legal returns with a powerful new exposé

How does a strong and growing economy lend itself to job uncertainty, debt, bankruptcy, and economic fear for a vast number of Americans? Free Lunch provides answers to this great economic mystery of our time, revealing how today?s government policies and spending reach deep into the wallets of the many for the benefit of the wealthy few.

Johnston cuts through the official version of events and shows how, under the guise of deregulation, a whole new set of regulations quietly went into effect? regulations that thwart competition, depress wages, and reward misconduct. From how George W. Bush got rich off a tax increase to a $100 million taxpayer gift to Warren Buffett, Johnston puts a face on all of the dirty little tricks that business and government pull. A lot of people appear to be getting free lunches?but of course there?s no such thing as a free lunch, and someone (you, the taxpayer) is picking up the bill.

Johnston?s many revelations include:
? How we ended up with the most expensive yet inefficient health-care system in the world
? How homeowners? title insurance became a costly, deceitful, yet almost invisible oligopoly
? How our government gives hidden subsidies for posh golf courses
? How Paris Hilton?s grandfather schemed to retake the family fortune from a charity for poor children
? How the Yankees and Mets owners will collect more than $1.3 billion in public funds

In these instances and many more, Free Lunch shows how the lobbyists and lawyers representing the most powerful 0.1 percent of Americans manipulated our government at the expense of the other 99.9 percent.

With his extraordinary reporting, vivid stories, and sharp analysis, Johnston reveals the forces that shape our everyday economic lives?and shows us how we can finally make things better.

"Where can I find the book?" has been a constant request since the WOMEN OF A NEW TRIBE exhibition premiered in Charlotte NC in June 2002. This exhibition which has been called a "stunning" and "spectacular" collection of black and white photography is the source of a book that is destined to become a collector’s item. This book is more than a homage to the physical and spiritual beauty of the black woman it is an experience. An experience in seeing in a new way and in a new light. Blue Greenberg of the Durham Herald-Sun wrote, "Taliaferro turns our ideas of stereotypical beauty upside down…". Rarely has the black woman been protrayed in such a manner, WOMEN OF A NEW TRIBE presents its subjects in way normally reserved for the great icons of feminine beauty like Garbo and Crawford. Through the use of large format black and white photography and a style that harkens back to the great glamour photography of 1930’s and 1940’s Hollywood the beauty of black women is lain bare. The meticulously "built" images echos the works of such photographers as George Hurrell, Sinclair Bull and Laszlo Wilinger. If the book I DREAM A WORLD celebrated black women who changed America then WOMEN OF A NEW TRIBE honors the black women we see around us everyday. It is a magnificant tribute to our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and friends.

In 1994, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were brutally murdered at her home in Brentwood, California. O.J. Simpson was tried for the crime in a case that captured the attention of the American people, but was ultimately found not guilty of criminal charges. The victims’ families brought civil cases against Simpson, in which he was found liable for willfully and wrongfully causing the deaths of Ron and Nicole by committing battery with malice and oppression.In 2006, HarperCollins announced the publication for a book in which O.J. Simpson told how he hypothetically would have committed the murders. In response to public outrage that Simpson stood to profit from these crimes, HarperCollins canceled the book. A Florida bankruptcy court awarded the rights to the Goldmans in August 2007 to partially satisfy the unpaid civil judgment, which has risen, with interest, to over $38 million.

The eagerly awaited, electrifying new novel from the author of The Emperor of Ocean Park (“Among the most remarkable fiction debuts in recent years … A rip-roaring entertainment”—The Boston Globe).

When The Emperor of Ocean Park was published, Time Out declared: “Carter does for members of the contemporary black upper class what Henry James did for Washington Square society, taking us into their drawing rooms and laying their motives bare.” Now, with the same powers of observation, and the same richness of plot and character, Stephen L. Carter returns to the New England university town of Elm Harbor, where a murder begins to crack the veneer that has hidden the racial complications of the town’s past, the secrets of a prominent family, and the most hidden bastions of African-American political influence.

At the center: Lemaster Carlyle, the university president, and his wife, Julia Carlyle, a deputy dean at the divinity school—African Americans living in “the heart of whiteness.” Lemaster is an old friend of the president of the United States. Julia was the murdered man’s lover years ago. The meeting point of these connections forms the core of a mystery that deepens even as Julia closes in on the politically earth-shattering motive behind the murder.

Relentlessly suspenseful, galvanizing in its exploration of the profound difference between allegiance to ideas and to people, New England White is a resounding confirmation of Stephen Carter’s gifts as a writer of fiction.

Business Unusual is a Contemporary Christian fiction novel that reaches beyond the superficial in order to deal with the heart of matters. Unbeknownst to them, the lives of five people cross at a very crucial time. Bernadette Lewis’ business endeavor is more than a financial blessing. For Treva Scott, Falimah Meyer and Brian Chin, it will become the ministry that shapes their futures. In terms of Hayes Davis, his skewed vision of women and life in general will be challenged beyond anything he ever expected when he seeks the companionship of Bernadette. Each individual is faced with a choice. It will be their choice that will determine if they will walk the ordained path to fulfilling purpose or detour down the road of self-satisfaction.

Color Me Butterfly: A True Story of Courage, Hope and Transformation

Every parent of a famous child knows this one fact: superstar kids aren’t born, they are made. This type of parent doesn’t see their child as a talent, they see their child’s talent as a business. That’s why you need Billionaire Baby. Gifted kids are a dime a dozen, but this informative book shows you how to make your child stand out in a crowd by giving you straightforward and practical strategies for staying one step ahead of everyone else. It will help you design a blueprint for where you’re going, a plan to carry you through, and a path that will lead your child to stardom. Whether your youngster is an actor, a model, or the next Hilary Duff — Billionaire Baby is a must-read guide for any and every parent who is serious about creating a long-term, successful, and profitable entertainment career for their child.

Broken Utterances connects the seemingly disparate voices of twenty Black women of the 1800’s, and weaves a cohesive web revealing surprising influences not only upon each other, but also on the experiences of Black women today. It is an examination of how the unique position of the African American woman provides her with the ability to dissect the ills of society and offer distinctive insight for positive transformation. The book is a multi-media work featuring primary texts, biographies, original illustrations and translations into contemporary vernacular.

Detective Lester Miller is back on the case tracking down the person attempting to run his friend out of business. Sonny Newsome owns a once prospering detective agency but someone is trying to run him out of the building. Lester is doing Sonny a favor before he leaves Chicago to work for the FBI. Lester has a feeling that threats on his ex-wives life are tied to the case. The case leads back to Cara, the lady that stole his heart and complicated his life. He would give his life to be back with her, what are the chances of that happening? This is the second novel tracking Detective Lester Miller’s career and love interests. The story develops at a fast pace chronicling the tracking of criminals, politicians, and family. The characters are lovable and will draw you in forcing you to think ahead to assist in solving the mystery. Shivers does an exceptional job at linking the characters and story together making you use your imagination. If you love suspense, this is definitely a book for your library.

The Seduction of Mr. Bradley, is a love story about a bisexual man and stright woman’s struggle to understand each other.

Slave traders capture 13 yr.old Anta Majigeen Ndiaye,a village princess. Anta’s family dies on a slave ship and Anta begins her quest for freedom. The road to freedom takes her from Africa to Spanish East Florida-from village to plantation—from a blanket on a dirt floor of a thatched hut to her master’s bed. Inspired by the life of Anna Kingsley. Kingsley Plantation is now a National Park in Florida.

In his debut as an author, Denzel Washington shares his personal story of the mentors who helped guide his life.Washington pens the introduction for the stories of more than 70 of America’s leading personalities in theatre, sports, business, and politics as they tell their life-changing stories of mentorship.Contributors include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Antwone Fisher, Bonnie Raitt, Cal Ripken, Alex Rodriguez, Dick Vitale, Whoopie Goldberg and more.A portion of the book’s proceeds benefit 4.5 million children currently involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men, is an illuminating collection of true and candid short stories about Black fathers. This collection shatters the predominant negative image of Black men in the news media by offering a balanced perspective – stories about the countless Black fathers who are responsible, committed, and productive role models. What emerges is a stirring message of hope that comes from living, breathing examples.

Spanning 1800 to 1997, told by Helen before she passed, and accompanied by the memories of family members and friends. Based in Louisiana, with all its flair and Southern culture, it describes the experiences throughout history, contributing to the shaping of the generations. The Roux in the Gumbo is an emotional and inspirational look into the lives of a family that opens their door and their hearts on every page. As you read chapter after chapter you will actually feel what the characters felt during that time, and you will feel like a part of the family. In spite of the obstacles and struggles that life brought their way, these characters persevered with unity, love, and laughter. This was due to a strong family support system, be it a blood relative or not, but intertwined by one common goal- basic survival.

This twelve-chapter book written in bullet format offers information on employment and its many components, how to manage one’s finances, identifying a mate, charting one’s spiritual path, qualities for good leadership, appreciating diversity, and more. Written specifically for African-American new college graduates, this is the perfect resource for making a successful transition to the joys and challenges of the real world and real life.

Since when did believing in God and having moral values make you pro-war, pro-rich, and pro-Republican? And since when did promoting and pursuing a progressive social agenda with a concern for economic security, health care, and educational opportunity mean you had to put faith in God aside?While the Right in America has hijacked the language of faith to prop up its political agenda—an agenda not all people of faith support—the Left hasn’t done much better, largely ignoring faith and continually separating moral discourse and personal ethics from public policy. While the Right argues that God’s way is their way, the Left pursues an unrealistic separation of religious values from morally grounded political leadership. The consequence is a false choice between ideological religion and soulless politics.The effect of this dilemma was made clear in the 2004 presidential election. The Democrats’ miscalculations have left them despairing and searching for a way forward. It has become clear that someone must challenge the Republicans’ claim that they speak for God, or that they hold a monopoly on moral values in the nation’s public life. Wallis argues that America’s separation of church and state does not require banishing moral and religious values from the public square. In fact, the very survival of America’s social fabric depends on such values and vision to shape our politics—a dependence the nation’s founders recognized.God’s Politics offers a clarion call to make both our religious communities and our government more accountable to key values of the prophetic religious tradition—that is, make them pro-justice, pro-peace, pro-environment, pro-equality, pro-consistent ethic of life (beyond single issue voting), and pro-family (without making scapegoats of single mothers or gays and lesbians). Our biblical faith and religious traditions simply do not allow us as a nation to continue to ignore the poor and marginalized, deny racial justice, tolerate the ravages of war, or turn away from the human rights of those made in the image of God. These are the values of love and justice, reconciliation, and community that Jesus taught and that are at the core of what many of us believe, Christian or not. In the tradition of prophets such as Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, and Desmond Tutu, Wallis inspires us to hold our political leaders and policies accountable by integrating our deepest moral convictions into our nation’s public life.

I’m African and Proud! is a beautifully illustrated children’s book written to educate African-American children about their rich heritage. Written by a teacher for her students, this book can be used in the classroom or given as a gift to motivate young children. Jwajiku Korant?ma, or Lacey Haywood, as she is also known, is a former kindergarten teacher who seeks to inspire children with the knowledge of their ancestral heritage. Jwajiku is a mother, poet, dancer, and world traveler who has shared her inspiring message in Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, and throughout the US. She hopes her words will help young children strive for a higher level of achievement and encourage them to pursue their dreams.

"Spiritual Shackles" is an episodic story about love gained and love lost. About history and history denied. About social complacency and social revolution. About blind faith and faith challenged. "Shackles" combines these ingredients into a suspenseful "gumbo" that will shake the ground beneath your feet.

We are all small, but by thinking big - we change the world. It has been done before, and it can be done again - this time by you! 24 Keys to Success in life and in business …From the mind of a young Black CEO

Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are the most serious threats to the United States in the contemporary world.  Yet, until now Americans knew very little about Mr. Bin Laden.  How can they defeat this very formidable enemy if they know nothing about him?  As the 4th Century Chinese military thinker Sun Tzu taught, one can defeat an enemy only if one knows the enemy.  Taking Sun Tzu’s lesson to heart, this book offers the reader twenty statements from Osama Bin Laden translated into English.  It is the first book of its kind to be published in English. The statements were released by Mr. Bin Laden between 1994 and 2004 and are best described not only as a litany of his complaints but also as his plan of attack.  For the first time, people whose primary language is English can read the full text of Mr. Bin Laden’s 1996 "Declaration of War on Americans" and his frightening 1998 Fatwa (a religious decree) in which he calls for the killing of American civilians wherever they are found. Americans and English speakers everywhere can also read the transcript of the famous "smoking gun" videotape discovered in November 2001, in which he admits his role in the 9/11 attacks. They can also read the infamous October 2004 statement which presidential candidate Senator John Kerry believes helped the reelection of President George W. Bush.  The book is sobering reading.  Mr. Bin Laden’s statements comprise not only a litany of complaints but also offer hints at his plans for future attacks against America. As the editor, Randall Hamud, points out, the only people who were not surprised by the 9/11 attacks were those in the United States government whose primary job had been to find Mr. Bin Laden.  If Americans had known more about Mr. Bin Laden in the late 1990s or in early 2000, the perhaps they could have pressured their political and military leaders to have done more to stop him before it was too late.  The book is also thoroughly documented with over 900 endnotes.  For the first time, English-speaking readers can read and understand Mr. Bin Laden’s words in their cultural and historical contexts.  In the Introduction and Forward, Mr. Hamud chronicles the life of Mr. Bin Laden, the history of Islamic political thought, and Mr. Bin Laden’s place in the lineage of Islamic political thinkers.  Mr. Hamud also addresses relevant elements of Islamic history and the Islamic religion so that the reader will have a full understanding not only of Mr. Bin Laden’s words but also of the roots from which Mr. Bin Laden grew.  Especially enlightening is Mr. Hamud’s discussion of Mr. Bin Laden’s brand of Islam: Wahhabism, the dominant Islamic sect in Saudi Arabia.  To Wahhabis generally, and to Mr. Bin Laden in particular, Jihad (holy war) is the lifeblood of Islam.  Wahhabi creed pulses throughout his statements and gives them deep traction in Saudi Arabia and other venues throughout the Islamic world.  Written in understandable English that conveys the spirit and intent of Mr. Bin Laden’s eloquent Arabic, the book is also organized so that Mr. Bin Laden’s statements can be read in any chronological order without sacrificing any knowledge necessary to a full understanding of each particular statement.  Moreover, the Table of Contents summarizes each statement and puts them in their respective historical contexts.  From Saudi Arabia, to Sudan, to Afghanistan, the reader will learn how Mr. Bin Laden was transformed from a rich playboy into the one of the world’s most dangerous men.  In the Epilogue, Mr. Hamud again draws on the lessons of Sun Tzu and uses Mr. Bin Laden’s own words to fashion a prescription for victory in the war on terrorism.  Mr. Bin Laden does not hate freedom; rather, he hates discrete policies of the United States and the West that have alienated the vast majority of the Islamic world.  Mr. Bin Laden plays to that alienation in his statements.  If the policies can be changed, then Mr. Bin Laden’s messages, and ultimately Mr. Bin Laden himself, can be discredited. Mr. Hamud fears that if his prescription for victory is not filled, then the global war on terrorism will morph into a global holy war between Christianity and Islam - a holy war that Christianity cannot possibly win. This book is a must read for anyone interested in defeating Osama Bin Laden and winning the global war on terrorism.

Wurst, a rifleman, spent the most of World War II in the European Theater of Operations as a squad leader or platoon sergeant in Company F, 505. He made three of the four regimental combat jumps, dropping into Italy, Normandy, and Holland. Highlights include his baptism of fire in Italy during the Battle of Arnone; the jump on D-Day and the liberation of Ste. Me’re Eglise (for which he was awarded a Purple Heart); a grueling month of combat in the hedgerows of Normandy (a second Purple Heart); the ferocious battle with the SS for the highway bridge at Nijmegen, Holland (Silver Star); and survival in the Ardennes, where he found himself as point man on his twentieth birthday, in a long, bitter march toward the shoulder of the Bulge.Wurst’s narrative, set against a carefully researched historical background, offers a unique view of the heat of battle as experienced by a noncommissioned officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. Initial chapters chronicle his training before mobilization, when he lied about his age (15) to the National Guard in Erie, Pennsylvania, and his later experience in a heavy weapons company of the 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. In 1941, Wurst was on a truck returning from First Army maneuvers in the Carolinas to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation when he heard the news of the attack at Pearl Harbor. He recounts life at Camps Livingston and Beauregard in Louisiana, and at the newly formed Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was stationed in the infamous "Frying Pan" area. Descending from the Clouds portrays the passage from innocence to experience. Wurst begins as a 135-pound kid marching down his hometown streets in the National Guard, wearing the remnants of a World War I uniform and pulling by hand a water-cooled .30-caliber machine-gun mounted on a wooden cart. Five years later, he is a hardened platoon sergeant, leading his troopers through the frozen killing fields of "Death Valley" in Germany’s Huertgen Forest. His story is the story of the coming of age of the American military: fewer than twenty men per company who started with the 505 in the Frying Pan returned home. REVIEWS "… gives a good sense of the confusion of airborne operations and close combat…makes an excellent book for company level leader development on the subjects of discipline, training, and combat leadership."Army History, Winter 2010

Fifteen-year-old Allen Richards learns the hard way just how fast a life filled with promise can become the greatest of urban trajedies. Blessed with a loving mother Regina, and younger sister Sheila, Pooney, as Allen is more apt to be called, is a star student-athlete. But when an argument with another young man over a girlfriend causes Pooney to join a local gang, his life takes a drastic turn for the worst.

A famous cop/author goes into great detail in this book.

Includes a compact disc of 17 poems performed by the author

This book focuses on an especially rich aspect of the history of Newark, New Jersey: the considerable accomplishments of African-American women whose efforts have helped make the city’s rebirth a reality.

"Simeon Johnson’s exuberant celebration of the ’invisible’ people who make up our society’s support system is nothing short of marvelous. He gives us a unique glimpse into the daily lives of the hardworking men and women around us - people who deserve greater recognition for their invaluable contributions." -Willie E. Gary Willie E. Gary, founder of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Speranto, L.C., grew up in a shack he shared with his migrant worker parents and his ten sisters and brothers.The first black male from Indiantown, FL, to attend college, he is now an internationally renowned attorney, multi-millionaire business leader, and philanthropist. "Everyone deserves to be recognized for their contribution, since we each play an integral part in the larger fabric of life. Simeon Johnson captured this beautifully in his book. It’s a wonderful read!" About the Author Prolific author Simeon W. Johnson is a successful entrepreneur with a book and gift boutique: swjenterprises.com. A former radio and television electronics technician, Mr. Johnson has worked as a welder, a shipbuilder, and a housing inspector. He received a master’s certification in radio and TV electronics from National Technical Schools, Los Angeles, CA. He also earned his FCC First Class General Radio and Telephone License, with a specialization in radar applications. Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Simeon is the youngest son of 13 children, with nine brothers and three sisters. Mr. Johnson came to the United States in 1967 and is now a proud U.S. citizen. His books, which are sold on his website and on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, are: A Myopic Life Resonated from the Brink of the Abyss; Romw vs. Ramb Reveals God, Adam and Creation; and An Unforgettable Tribute to Our Heroes and Victims of 9/11. Often in demand as an inspirational speaker, Mr. Johnson has been a guest on numerous radio and television talk shows including: XM Satellite Radio, Washington, D.C.; and many others. Book Reviews Cynda Williams Hollywood actress Cynda Williams, who also prides herself on her "keyroles" as a wife and mother, is best known for co-starring with Halle Berry in "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," co-starring with Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s "Mo’ Better Blues," and for many other TV movies.

The Pacman Plan is the story of a struggle for reparations for African Americans. This is the first fiction work written on the subject of reparations. The Pacman Plan is a story of a grassroots movement that starts from a website. Initially it starts out as a political movement. Reverend Solomon Williams is the handsome, charismatic leader of one of the largest churches in the South. Reverend Williams becomes the national leader of a movement whose origin is from a website. Reverend Williams fights not only for the movement but to be the man his father was afraid to be. He fights to be a man of faith, a man who promotes social change. He also struggles with the temptation of the power that comes with the pulpit. The second leader, to the disbelief and surprise of everyone involved is Joe Louis Brown. Joe Louis Brown is a man of the shadows, a man of the underworld. He proclaims to have started the website and the plan to correct the deeds of his past. He claims to want to give young black males of the street something to believe in. He says he wants to make the reparations movement the modern day civil rights cry that unites all African Americans. Just as his namesake, the Brown Bomber, was the light of hope for a pass generation of African Americans, Joe Louis Brown becomes the voice of black youth and those outcasts from society. But, Joe Louis Brown believes that the only way to change America is with the gun.

An easy-to-use, spiritually-minded workbook, The Urban Guide To Biblical Money Management is a "must read" for anyone who wants to discover that God is the power behind all wealth and the value of within all things. Great for individual and group use. "The primary focus of this book is to help readers understand what the Bible has to say about our money management habits, common financial mistakes, how to avoid and recover from them, and discover how to build financial security for ourselves. This book has four sections in which you will learn about budgeting, credit repair, stock investments, home-ownership, using the Internet to enhance your portfolio, real estate investments to small business development, insurance selection, preparing your will, and more. All sections and chapters start off with scriptural reference that is used as a foundation to build and expand upon when covering financial concepts. Each chapter ends with case studies and/or questions designed to help you keep the material fresh in your mind."

First-time novelist LeBlanc has created a saga of the birth of the blues. In 1930s Louisiana, Phillip Fergerson’s plans to become a doctor end when he falls for the beautiful light-skinned Martha. After marriage, they struggle to raise their children in a prejudiced world, forming different ideas of where they belong in society.Enter Martha’s brother, Lightfoot. As he plays his harmonica in the juke joints, he witnesses the birth of the blues and joins in its creation. Living legends, from Leadbelly to Robert Johnson, appear in the narrative, which is as spellbinding as a soulful song on an old guitar. To Martha’s shame, Lightfoot tempts Phillip and the children with musical expressions of their emotions. All the characters must choose between society’s rules or their need to follow their hearts.

This book of poetry by Stacey Tolbert, the "Brown Suga Poet" will satisfy every literary sweet tooth with packets of poetic zest! This powerful ’chapbook’ captures every emotion, from elation to anguish, and back again.

This epic novel spans 32 years from 1963 to 1995. Roman and his sister Virginia are products of Watts during a period of discontent. Through them we get a glimpse of how the history of the time may have affected black families. Included in the past events are the assassinations of President Kennedy, his brother Bobby, and Martin Luther King, the Watts Riots, the Vietnam War, and the latest proliferation of drugs and gangs into the inner cities. Though these events affect the two main characters there are other factors that also influence their upbringing and that of their children. Both suffer the abuse of a mother, Simone, who takes out her anger toward men on Roman. He responds by lashing out at the world by getting into fights whenever possible. Whoever is naïve enough to think they can take him on is in for a rude awakening. His move into manhood is flawed at best; two kids by two girls before turning 17 shows his ineptness at responsibility. He forgoes a possible football scholarship, and regains the desire to be the man inspired by his beloved grandmother. Roman’s children grow up in a loving home with two parents until the draft board calls and he is off to war. After his return home, he establishes himself in the community but finds that he cannot raise his children in the city he grew up. His sister Virginia faces different obstacles on her way to adulthood. An early marriage ends tragically; her youth prevents her from helping her people; and at times she fails to recognize who is really on her side. Though she becomes an icon in her community, her commitment to help continues. She leads a nationwide effort to better educate inner-city students and finds that her voice is heard. Their support for one another helps them accomplish goals set long before they are realized. As Virginia tells her brother, "We’ve done all right for a couple of nappy headed kids from the ghetto."

A poignant writer produces yet another true storytelling, Brian Egeston has tackled a difficult issue and done so with a soothing pen. In this dramatic story sprinkled with snippets of humor, readers take a ride with a family, a flood, and a fate. Uncovered at last, are the dangers of generational burdens. On a lone desolate highway, one routine traffic stop becomes tragic. Andrew Scales, one of the most respected businessmen in town, wrestles with erasing the truth of that night. His virtuous wife, Virginia fights to expose it everyday. Although she threatens her husband and warns him of the detrimental consequences, her attempts are futile. Andrew, instead, decides to involve friends and family members in his elusive acts. No one is spared from the wrath of his dishonesty-not even his young innocent grandson, Kyle. Accusations of the tragedy elevate to physical confrontations in a church meeting room where Andrew again shifts the blame to another friend. Only this time it will cost someone’s life. As Kyle grows older, the details of his grandfather’s involvement in deceit, criminal activity, and dishonesty are difficult to accept because Andrew has always been his one true hero. Kyle’s own life is now affected by his grandfather’s dishonesty as the consequences Virginia predicted, start to unfold. Kyle begins a race to right his grandfather’s wrongs before his family and future are washed away in the worst flood Albany, Georgia has witnessed in five hundred years. Carefully sculpted around actual occurrences of the great flood of 1994, Granddaddy’s Dirt has arrived to take position on America’s bookshelf as one of its newest classics.

Finally, a refreshing story from a fresh new writer that can be experienced and enjoyed by the entire family. Remember your grandma’s switch tree protruding out of the ground like a monument of discipline? Remember that black belt hanging on a doorknob with its distinguishing nickname? Have the old-school ways of raising children been abandoned? Are the methods of grandma even effective anymore? Sheila and Ronald Dempkins are only one facet of the combination that secures their family’s loving bond. Another essential aspect of the formula is Benny, their only son. Sheila and Ronald never realize that the reason their marriage survives is because of the love that they have not for each other, but for their son. Painfully they learn that the element, which strengthens a family’s bond can ultimately cause its destruction. The family, however, draws strength from the roots of its heritage, traditions, and colorful country family members. Makers of the ancestor’s treasure—peach cobbler. Meet Uncle Sho Shack, a failed juke joint dancer who is always adorned in his homemade paper clip and rubber band suspenders. Enter good ole Aunt Flappy who, in the midst of normal conversations, spontaneously yells out bible verses for the entire world to hear. These and other vibrant characters jump from the pages and into your hearts. Discipline, comedy, and enticing drama are all intertwined in this unforgettable tale about the family, adversities, and the events that make us laugh while healing our souls.

novelist/poet’s first collection of short stories

poetry on author’s mixed African/Zuni heritage

A treasured book of poems, full of gems that will inspire you everytime you read them. A positive addition to any library. Poetic Perceptions balances motivation and encouragement, while revealing the hardships of parenting, relationships and family. A comprehensive collection of wisdom.

The book’s title is based on Psalms 30, and the main character, Tracey, overcomes some Davidian obstacles due to beauty, charm, education, wit and plain old stubborn will. When faced with the possibility of losing her beloved family, she brokers a deal with her boss, a wealthy banker.

“This novel came about because myself and others have held on to past hatred without being able to move forward,” explained Askew. “In writing these fictional characters, I learned we have got to let go of our past pain and hurt in order to receive the blessings that God has for us.”

Joy Comes in the Morning unapologetically pleads with us to come to terms with our own unforgiveness. There are passages in the book that are “real, raw and insightful,” as stated by Dr. Sheila Tribble in the book’s forward. “The intimate themes, the exploration of love, responsibility and self-worth and empowerment are what give us the opportunity to grow.”

The Thousands, which chronicles the lives of several families; black, white, and Native American; shortly after the Civil War, through Reconstruction and the Indian Campaigns in the Southwest.