1 - Head Bangers: An APF
Sexcapade by
Zane
(Editor)
2 - Thug Lovin' by
Wahida Clark
3 - Missionary No More: Purple Panties 2 by
Zane
4 -- Life Is Short But Wide by
J. California Cooper
5 -- Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology by
Zane
Non-Fiction
1 - Confessions of a Video Vixen
by
Karrine Steffans 2 - The Isis Papers: The Keys to the
Colors by
Frances Cress Welsing 3 - Letters to a Young Sister:
DeFINE Your Destiny by
Hill Harper
4 - We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
written and illustrated by
Kadir Nelson
5 - The Vixen Diaries by
Karrine Steffans
Ray
is a native Texan and lives in Dallas. A graduate of
Texas Woman's University, she is a School Nurse
Practitioner with the Dallas Independent School
District. In 1999 and 2000 she was nominated for Texas
Woman's University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ms. Ray's titles consistently make bestseller's lists
such as the New York Times, USA Today and Essence
Magazine. Her next novel One Night With You (A Grayson
Friends Novel), from St. Martin's Paperbacks, is due to
come out November 3, 2009.
Named one of People Magazine's sexiest men alive, New
York Times bestselling author Hill Harper invites you,
in this latest book; The
Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Loving,
Trusting Relationships, to
join an honest dialogue about the
breakdown of African American relationships. For
generations African Americans have turned to their
families in times of need�but now, this proud and strong
legacy is in peril. Black men and women have stopped
communicating effectively and it threatens the very
relationships and marriages necessary to sustain the
Black family. Today, less than a third of Black children
are being raised in two�parent households, a sharp
decline from past generations. So, why is it so
difficult for Black men and women to build long�term,
loving and mutually beneficial relationships? What is
happening in the community that makes it so hard for
women and men to find their way to each other? And why
are there so few people who manage to hold a marriage
together, even after finding a person to love?
DeRon is the author of the newly released novel, Game
Recognize Game. Game Recognize Game is an intricate
portrayal of the motives and situations that drive four
young adults into an intense game of lust and lies.
Terry gives a vivid account of what life is like at a
Historically Black University, how that relates to
corporate America and how easy it is to get caught up in
both worlds.
Novelist M.W. Moore, the NCAA track-and-field champion
who captured the conscience of readers with his
extraordinary fact-based autobiography about a falling
star, shines again with the upcoming release of his next
novel that shows him making the transition to prison
after robbing six banks in the Houston area. The
former crack-cocaine and sexual addict tells how his
middle-class Baptist upbringing is challenged behind
bars and how his college education seemed
inconsequential when you�re a felon alongside criminals
of various backgrounds.
While his first book,
For What I Hate I Do, explored the conflict in
Moore's life, the soon-to-be released sequel,
Internal Chaos, starts the harsh journey toward
conquest. But he discovered that prison itself is an
adventure that can be life-threatening as he sought his
identity, confronted temptations and witnessed mayhem.
Moore, who once competed against or shared the spotlight
with legendary Olympians Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and
Florence Griffith-Joyner, is a sought-after speaker who
eloquently and courageously tells about the dark side of
addictions and its consequences, including HIV.
Lipsey's fourth and most recent Christian novel,
Beautiful Ugly is chock full of emotion, trials and
sisterly support but the storyline is much more than
your usual �Sistahgurl� story. The author has
developed complex characters who are believable and
endearing to the reader. Their struggles are familiar,
their ties are strong like most Black female
friendships; yet their story is not your usual story.
These women are members of Cummings Street Baptist
Church where they struggle with living Godly lives in a
secular world that beckons them due to their challenges.
Lipsey's picturesque characters became �girlfriends in
my head�.
The couple's no-nonsense philosophy basically calls for
you to be your children's #1 role model and to lead by
example in order to prevent the media, the street or
other bad influences from shaping your kids. They also
believe that you can�t correct what you don�t confront,
so they say it is imperative that you have rules, be
involved, and not behave like an ostrich when you have
hints of serious issues simmering under the surface.
A sensible primer on pro-active parenting which puts
an appropriate emphasis on cultivating core values,
discipline and faith in these troubled times when
impressionable young minds can be so easily seduced by
the culture's shallow materialism.
Consider the chapter debunking the stereotype of
Indians as warlike, where the author matter-of-factly
explains that they were understandably fighting �to
defend their lands, sovereignty and way of life from
invaders.� She goes on to point out that movies and
history books have generally portrayed her people as
wild savages, when it really was generals like George
Washington and Andrew Jackson who were the bloodthirsty
aggressors. But unfortunately, the ethnic cleansing on
the part of the conquerors continues to be celebrated as
great military victories instead of massacres.
A
precious primer on Native Americans for anyone who can
handle the truth about how the West was won.
At the outset, the author discusses the six polar
elements of Chinese society which have been passed down
for generations, namely, �attitude and values, spirit
and role models, thinking and actions.� Wang says that
this classical �Dragon's Hexagon� remains an �effective
link between an ancient civilization and the modern
world that has birthed a brand new synergy of values and
philosophies.� Decoding the Dragon's Mindset
demonstrates why it is no fluke that China has
flourished over the millennia for dynasty after dynasty
while so many other great civilizations have declined
and disappeared entirely. Unlike their verbose European
counterparts, great Asian thinkers need very few words
to make a sage point, so they tend to communicate in a
very concise fashion.
The road to manhood for most African-American boys
is a perilous path paved with potholes with the specter
of prison looming for any misstep. For the criminal
justice system has a history of doling out far harsher
treatment to black males than whites. Consequently, half
of the 2 million inmates currently behind bars are
black.
For this reason, Elbert Lee Frazier, Jr.,
aka Jihad, decided to write The Survival Bible: 16 Life
Lessons for Young Black Men. You see, he speaks from
experience, since he himself was raised by a single-mom
and ended up a troubled youngster who served a long
prison sentence. The basic aim of his practical how-to
book is to help impressionable young minds avoid making
the same mistakes.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 27, 1963 to an
Italian father and a mother of Irish and Cherokee
extraction, Quentin Jerome Tarantino took a most
unorthodox approach to showbiz. He dropped out of high
school at 15 to pursue moviemaking but it would take
some time to realize that dream. The closest he got to
Hollywood for years was a minimum-wage gig as a clerk at
a video rental store in L.A. where he became known for
making recommendations to appreciative customers.
Here, Quentin talks about his new film, Inglourious
Basterds, which is based upon a screenplay he started
writing over a decade ago. The World War II action flick
stars Brad Pitt as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army who
leads a squad of Jewish soldiers on a mission behind
enemy lines in France to go hunting for Nazis.
Curtis
James Jackson, III, aka 50 Cent was born on July 6, 1975
in South Jamaica, Queens, where he was raised by his
single-mom until she was murdered when he was only 8. He
was taken in by his grandparents, but began hanging out
with the wrong kids and began selling crack by the age
of 12. While still a teenager, he was arrested and
convicted for drug dealing, and turned his life around
while serving out a six-month sentence.
After
being paroled, he parlayed his street cred into an
enviable career in gangsta� rap with the help of the
late Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC, and the rest, as they
say, is musical history. Here, he talks about his latest
film, Streets of Blood, a crime thriller set in New
Orleans and co-starring Val Kilmer.
Catherine Elizabeth Woods Hughes was born in Omaha,
Nebraska where she attended Creighton University and the
University of Nebraska. But before graduating, she began
working at KOWH, a local black radio station where she
handled assorted jobs en route to becoming well-known in
the industry. After a stint as a lecturer at
Howard University's School of Communications in
Washington, DC, she became sales director at WHUR-FM in
Washington, DC. By 1975, she was named the radio
station's general manager, and four years after that,
she and her husband, Dewey Hughes, purchased a small
radio station, WOL, thus creating Radio One.
When the marriage failed, Hughes purchased her husband's
half of the business, giving up her apartment and
sleeping at the station in order to make ends meet. Over
time, she turned it into a profitable operation, while
going on the air herself to host a talk show which would
blossom into a hit program. By subsequently purchasing
radio stations in other cities, Radio One eventually
became the nation's largest black-owned chain.
Here, Cathy talks about her career, about TV One which
is celebrating its 5th year anniversary, and about
hosting the celebrity interview show TV One on One.
Christopher Brian Bridges was born on September 11, 1977
in Champaign, Illinois where he began rapping at the age
of 9 and formed his first musical group a few years
later. While in his teens, his family moved to Atlanta
where he attended Banneker High School before majoring
in music management at Georgia State University.
He later worked at a local radio station as DJ Chris
Lova Lova until adopting the alias Ludacris to perform
on Timbaland's track �Phat Rabbit.� He subsequently
launched his own career in 2000 with the release of the
album �Back for the First time,� following that up a
year later with �Word of Mouf,� and the rest is history.
Here, Ludacris discusses all of the above, as well
as his new film Gamer, a sci-fi adventure co-starring
Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick, Terry Crews and Amber
Valletta.
Born Marc Alexander Knox in the Bronx on April 15, 1970,
Flex Alexander got his start in showbiz as a dancer,
earning his nickname because of his dizzying display of
acrobat skills out on the floor. After being discovered
by Spinderella, he toured with Salt-n-Pepa, Mary J.
Blige and Queen Latifah before turning his attention to
standup comedy.
Here, he talks about hosting the
second season of SOULAUGHABLE, a clean comedy showcase
shot in Savannah featuring a rotating lineup of today's
hottest family-friendly comedians, including Mike
Washington, Willie Brown, Sean Sarvis, Small Fire,
Meshelle, Cleto Rodriguez, and Ms. V.
Omaroseonee Manigault-Stallworth was on February 15,
1974 born in Youngstown, Ohio where she attended Rayen
High School before earning her Bachelor's degree in
Broadcast Journalism at Central State University. She
later moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue both a
Master's and Ph.D. in Communications at Howard
University. She later served as Deputy Associate
Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House
under President Bill Clinton, although her subsequent
appearance on a television show would come to eclipse
all of the above.
Here, Omarosa talks about all
of the above and about her appearing on Life After, a
new series premiering on TV-One in September. The show
features interviews with celebrities about the effects
of transformational events on their lives.
In this video Dr. Cornel West talks about why
reading matters, motherly love and Dr. Henry Lewis
Gates. Dr. West was recorded at the National Book
Club Conference in Atlanta, GA August 1st 2009.
"...In our daily lives, and in a variety of ways, we make
decisions. For book lovers, whether or not to join a
book club is not only a decision of whether or not to
join a book club but also a choice of deciding which
book club is the right choice. Just as sharing a meal is
far more satisfying than eating alone, belonging to the
right book club is fulfilling in ways that extend beyond
simply reading books.
We, members of the Circle
of Color Book Club, lead busy lives that revolve around
family, church, work and our Book Club. As stated by one
of our members: To me my book club is not just getting
together once a month to discuss a novel, it means
spending time with my sisters who have the same love for
reading as I do. Being a member of COC has introduced
each one of us to new authors and different styles of
reading. COC is not just a book club, we are family..."
J. California Cooper reads from a
work in progress: God Does Not Shoot Dice. The
reading took place at the 2009 National Book Club
Conference in Atlanta, GA on July 31, 2009. This
video is just under 8 minutes in length.
Sana
tells us about the research for her book Sugar of the
Crop: My Journey to Find the Children of Slaves. Drawing
on a decade of interviews with centenarians whose
parents were slaves, Butler reveals how African
Americans emerged from slavery with a powerful drive to
put the past behind and a deep commitment to make the
most of their opportunities, large and small. Like
immigrants, freed slaves faced a new America with hopes
and dreams for their children and the nation's future.
Impelled by a generation that exercised political power
at a rate never again seen in this country, the sons and
daughters were raised to be independent and often
fearless thinkers, laying the groundwork for what would
later become the Civil Rights Movement.
Kurin
author of The Black Man's Guide on How to Cheat on Your
Woman - Video (2:33)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i04LXJAEgQ Kurin tells how he has taken a controversial book,
turned it into a profitable business and reveals some
tactics he used to become his own successful publicity
machine. Recorded during the Harlem Book Fair 2009
Harlem
Book Fair 2009 - Author Talks & Discussion @ the
Schomburg - Book TV Videos
On Saturday, July 18, 2009 I
had the pleasure of introducing the Author Talks during
the Harlem Book Fair. You can find video
recordings of the Authors Talks and the panels which
were held during the Harlem book Fair on C-SPAN2's Book
TV website:
Dana Canedy discusses her book, A Journal for
Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor.
http://tinyurl.com/dana-booktv Gregory Walker
discusses his book Shades of Memnon: The African Hero of
the Trojan War and the Keys to Ancient World
Civilization.
http://tinyurl.com/brotherg-booktv Catherine
Acholonu discusses her book, They Lived Before
Adam: Prehistoric Origins of the Igbo - The
Never-Been-Ruled.
http://tinyurl.com/catherine-booktv
Melvin Van Peebles has enjoyed an enviable career as
an internationally-renown filmmaker, actor, singer,
producer, playwright, scriptwriter and composer. The 77
year-old Renaissance man might be best remembered for
both starring in and directing Sweet Sweetback's
Baadassssss Song, the groundbreaking drama which gave
rise to the blaxsploitation era of the Seventies.
If it sounds a little like I�m vamping to avoid
discussing his new offering, you�re right. For I hate to
have to knock a revered icon for what is likely to serve
as his swan song. The principal problem with
Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha is that
Melvin decided to play himself in this
semi-autobiographical vanity pic covering critical
events in his life from his formative years through
middle age.
�Big Machine is like nothing I've ever read, incredibly
human and alien at the same time. LaValle writes like
Gabriel Garcia Marquez mixed with Edgar Allen Poe, but
this is even more than that. He's written the first
great book of the next America.��Mos Def
At age fifty-two , after years of working her way up
the corporate ladder, Clara Villarosa found herself out
of a job. But she didn't let that get her down. Instead,
she put her gifts to the test and started her own
business, which became one of the country's best-known
independent specialty bookstores-The Hue- Man Bookstore.
Now, twenty years and two successful stores later, Clara
is a highly sought-after business coach and expert in
the industry.
Packed with stories of
businesswomen at all stages of the game-from a beer
connoisseur-turned-brewer to an avid
reader-turned-literary agent-Villarosa brings together
inspiring, real-life stories with her award-winning
business savvy. Encouraging and empowering, Down to
Business will get you motivated to dust off your dream
and get your plan into action.
"America was looking for very, very, very cheap labor,
because they wanted workers who were even cheaper than
indentured servants. The Africans were taken from their
homes, their villages, their cities. They were chained
and lined up, and people who could not keep up were
thrown to the side. So many people dying changed the
patterns of the predators, especially the hyenas, the
buzzards, the scavengers. The animals came in closer to
the coast, following their prey." Copyright (c)
2007 by Nikki Giovanni. Published by Candlewick Press,
Inc., Cambridge, MA.
Reading level: Ages 9-12 - Kadir Nelson tells the story
of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the
1920s through its decline after Jackie Robinson crossed
over to the majors in 1947. The voice is so authentic,
you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty bleachers
listening intently to the memories of a man who has
known the great ballplayers of that time and shared
their experiences. But what makes this book so
outstanding are the dozens of full-page and double-page
oil paintings--breathtaking in their perspectives, rich
in emotion, and created with understanding and affection
for these lost heroes of our national game. We Are
the Ship is a tour de force for baseball lovers of all
ages.
We are in the process of overhauling the entire
AALBC.com website.The effort is imaginatively named "AALBC.com
2.0". Were are looking at and evaluating
every aspect of the website. As a result we've decided
to spruce up the current logo. Please let us know
what you think by selecting the original logo or one of
the 5 new logos:
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2kkx1ohfzbthhx8/start
Mark your
calendar for the 14th annual Baltimore Book Festival on
September 25-27, 2009. This year's authors include Buzz
Aldrin, Gwen Ifill, Ralph Nader, Chris Gardner, Amiri
Baraka, KRS-One, Ingrid Hoffman, Farai Chideya, Maureen
McCormick, Dale DeGroff, Lourdes Castro and Adam Ried.
AALBC.com's Founder Troy Johnson will be
participating on a panel called: Black Money-Why the Urban Genre is Remaking
the Book Business Friday, 9/25 3:30PM - 4:15PM
The AALAS
Awards is the first of its kind. It is the most
comprehensive awards show ever to recognize, honor,
celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements and
contributions that authors and writers make to the
publishing, arts and entertainment industries.
General admission tickets for the awards show and dinner
are $75.00 in advance and $85.00 (cash) at the door.
Advanced tickets can be purchased by mail and must be
received by Friday, September 18, 2009.
AALBC.com is an award nominee this year
Honor local literary icon Emma
Rodgers - Dallas, TX - September 19, 2009 at 7 p.m �Emma @ 65� will Benefit
Arts Education Program and Feature Live Performances
http://www.tecotheater.org
TeCo Theatrical
Productions will host an evening of live performances,
music and more to honor local literary icon Emma Rodgers
on Saturday, September 19 at 7 p.m. The event will take
place at Bishop Arts Theater Center and will feature
well known authors and poets honoring Rodgers� many
contributions to the advancement and encouragement of
the city's African-American literary community. All
event proceeds will benefit the TeCo Theatrical
Productions arts education program.
An avid
supporter of local literary arts for more than 30 years,
Rodgers is the former co-owner of the city's oldest and
now closed African-American bookstore Black Images Book
Bazaar. Founded in 1977, Black Images helped launch the
careers of many well known authors, including J.
California Cooper, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Michael
Baisden, Victoria Christopher Murray and the late E.
Lynn Harris.
�Emma @ 65� will open with a
pre-show reception at 6 p.m. serving food provided by
Harwood 609 Restaurant and Club and signature Tecotinis.
KKDA-AM's Willis Johnson is the program's master of
ceremonies, which will include spoken word, poetry and
dramatic word by Will Richey, Evelyn Palfrey, Irma P.
Hall, Francis Ray and more. The event is being produced
and directed by spoken word poet, novelist and singer
Camika Spencer and will also feature a silent auction of
�Emma's Ten Favorite Things.�
presents creative ways for keeping books and reading
valuable sources of knowledge and creativity. This day
of professional-development workshops will help
educators incorporate literature into existing curricula
to further explore course work that focuses on cultures,
history, and social studies. Early Registration: $30
Regular Registration: $50. Registration includes
gift bag, continental breakfast, lunch, and a 1-year
subscription to Mosaic Literary Magazine
Have you written your first book? Are you ready to
publish it? Before you go any further, spend 4
Sundays with Marcia Maybe from Date with a Book�, Marva
Allen the book maven, and other industry experts from
traditional, independent and self-published companies.
This publishing seminar is designed to save you money,
headaches and a garage full of books. The seminar
will cover all you ever wanted to know about getting
your book into print. To register call
212-665-7400 or visit the book store; Hue-Man Bookstore
& Cafe 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10027.
The theme of the 2010 National Black Writers Conference
isAnd
Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing
Memories and Lighting the Way.Through
a series of panel discussions, roundtables, author
readings and storytelling, the National Black Writers
Conference will use the metaphor of thunder, memory and
light to examine the historical representation of the
literature of Black writers and the representation of
new and future directions for contemporary and emerging
literary voices. WithToni
Morrisonas
the Honorary Chair, the National Black Writers
Conference will also honorAmiri
Baraka,
Kamau
BraithwaiteandDr.
Edison O. Jackson. Black writers will come from
throughoutAmerica,
the Caribbean, Europe andAfrica.
Amazing. I just KNEW that Negroes would be on here
slobbering all over his corpse. I once earned the ire of the
Late Margaret Bush Wilson by cracking that he would have been
President if he hadn't drowned that girl. Anyways, you can
forget about anything happening anytime soon with Health Care
even if JESUS comes back and tells the Congress to do it. Obama
may be toast. Chris Matthews, who I am now convinced is
absolutely insane, just said Obama is the Last Kennedy Brother. Brother better stop going out in them crowds. And he better
stay out of Texas.
Books
of The Times: An N.B.A. Giant and How He Grew - New York Times
Wed, 09 Sep 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/books/09garner.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
"Shooting Stars" is a measured, modest book about four kids from
Akron, Ohio, LeBron James among them, who became best friends
off the court and a mighty force on it. photo: Phil
Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal LeBron James in 2002: high school
junior, basketball star, Sports Illustrated cover subject.
Who said the book business is in bad shape? Judging from the
excellent lineup of many titles coming out this fall - it may
well be the most impressive list in years - one wouldn't know
the industry is in the doldrums. [references The Education of a
British-Protected Child, by
Chinua Achebe
(Knopf). A collection of autobiographical essays from the author
of "Things Fall Apart."]
Book listed
simultaneously on MosaicBooks.com, AALBC.com, and
Cushcity.com: homepage - top of page Book graphic
and synopsis listed 2X in MosaicBooks's weekly
e-newsletter - 9,400 opt-in subscribers
Oversized graphic also showcased in the right border of
the MosaicBooks' BOOKS, BOOKSELLERS, BESTSELLERS, BOOK
CLUBS, and VIDEOS pages Book cover and synopsis (150
words) on MosaicBooks' BOOKS page for one month Book
listed for 1 month
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Francis
Ray
Hill
Harper
Terry
DeRon 
M.W.
Moore
Beautiful
Ugly by Shelia E. Lipsey
Take
Back Your Family: How to Raise Respectful and Loving
Kids in a Dysfunctional World
American
Indians: Stereotypes & Realities by Dr. Devon A.
Mihesuah
Decoding the Dragon's Mindset: Inside China's Destiny
and Its Hint to the World by David W. Wang
The
Survival Bible: 16 Life Lessons for Young Black Men
Quentin Tarantino -
The �Inglourious Basterds� Interview 
50
Cent The �Streets of Blood� Interview
Cathy
Hughes - The TV One Interview 
Ludacris
The �Gamer� Interview 
Flex
Alexander - The �Soulaughable� Interview
Omarosa - The �Life After� Interview
Dr.
Cornel West at the 2009 National Book Club Conference - Video (5:38)
2009
National Book Club Conference Contest Winning Essay
J.
California Cooper - Video 
Sana
Butler - Video (9:33)
Kurin
author of The Black Man's Guide on How to Cheat on Your
Woman - Video (2:33)
Harlem
Book Fair 2009 - Author Talks & Discussion @ the
Schomburg - Book TV Videos
Confessionsofa
Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha - DVD Review
Big
Machine by Victor LaValle
Down to Business: The First 10 Steps to Entrepreneurship
for Women by: Clara Villarosa
On
My Journey Now: Looking at African-American History
Through the Spirituals by
We
Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball written
and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Next Survey:
Help Us Pick a New Logo:
14th
Annual Baltimore Book Festival on September 25-27, 2009
African American Literary Awards Show
- New York City - September 24, 2009 
Honor local literary icon Emma
Rodgers - Dallas, TX -
September 19, 2009 at 7 p.m
The
Mosaic Literary Conference - Bronx, NY - November
7, 2009
2010 National Black Writers Conference
- Brooklyn, NY - March 25- 28, 2010
Teddy We Knew Ye Only Too Well - Chrishayden
Books
of The Times: An N.B.A. Giant and How He Grew - New York Times
Wed, 09 Sep 2009
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Campaign 
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Johnson, AALBC.com Founder, through Facebook