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AALBC.com eNewsletter - Celebrating Our Literary Legacy

 

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January 30th 2007 - Issue #147


AALBC.com's BESTSELLING BOOKS FOR ALL OF 2006

http://books.aalbc.com/2006_by_month.htm

Fiction

#1 - Getting Buck Wild: Sex Chronicles 2, Vol. 2 by Zane
#2 - The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni by Nikki Giovanni
#3 - Addicted by Zane
#4 - The Sex Chronicles: Shattering the Myth by Zane
#5 - Public Enemy #2: An All-New Boondocks Collection by Aaron McGruder
 

Nonfiction

#1 - Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans
#2 - The Ditchdigger's Daughters: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story by
Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D. as told to Jo Coudert,
#3 - The Covenant with Black America by Tavis Smiley (Editor)
#4 - Diary of a Lost Girl by Kola Boof
#5 - We Speak Your Names: A Celebration by Pearl Cleage
 

Also Check Out:

AALBC.com's 500 Best Selling Books for 2006
http://books.aalbc.com/top_500_books_2006.htm

Complete List of All Titles Sold in 2006
http://www.aalbc.com/books/all_titles_sold_2006.htm

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RECENT AALBC.COM BOOK REVIEWS, ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS & FILM REVIEWS
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/book_reviews.htm

 

2006: The Year in Audio by Gwendolyn E. Osborne
http://reviews.aalbc.com/2006theyyearinaudio.htm

Audiobooks are big business. No longer thought of as tools for the visually impaired or "reading for dummies," the Audio Publishers Association (APA) reports that one in four Americans listen to audiobooks � usually while traveling or exercising. The growth of the audiobook industry can only mean good things for African-American authors, narrators and audiophiles. Here are some industry highlights for 2006.

 

Revisiting a Banner Year for Black Writers: The 10 Best & 5 Worst Books of '06
by Kam Williams

http://books.aalbc.com/best_worst_nonfiction_2006.htm

2006 turned out to be an explosive, coming-of-age year for African-American writers of non-fiction. Proof for me was that there were so many phenomenal texts to choose from when compiling this list that I found it quite a challenge to settle on the final 10. What's probably most interesting about the authors who did win is that half of them are relative unknowns, either self-published or associated with modest-sized book companies.

Displaying a variety of unique voices and covering a wide spectrum of subject-matter, the only thing that these gifted craftsmen have in common is an unbridled passion and a soul still intact. For they are able to express themselves on paper in a recognizably black, and larger-than-life fashion, doing with words what Aretha can do with her voice, and what Coltrane could do with his horn.

Since nothing I say in this limited space could possibly do justice to these welcome additions to the field of black literature, I strongly suggest that you consider reading any whose descriptions pique your curiosity.

 

Relentless Thoughts on New Deal with 50 Cent's G-Unit/Pocket Books
http://aalbc.com/authors/on_working_with_g-unit.htm

"...I'm an author of 32 novels, all of them written over the past ten years, and I've made some headway in the local, regional, and mainstream press. I've sold over 200,000 copies since November 2003 (when I came home from that 7-pack they put on me), Been on the cover of the A&L section on the New York Times, TIME magazine, as well as the The New York Daily News, The Hollywood Reporter, Publisher's Weekly, The Library Journal, NPR and ABC World News.

There are more relevant and positive remarks about my books on the web than negative and sensational. And, overall, the critics who are substantial, with substantial backgrounds and real jobs have accepted and praised my work. I did all of this (mostly) myself by being out there in the streets, selling these novels like my life depended on it. I've even hired an army of young women to go out there with and without me to do the same. I've wrapped trucks, hoisted moving billboards, hired street teams, and marched outside of sold out concerts. However, nothing makes reading popular like this, and nothing will quite match the mob of followers that 50 Cent can call upon at any time or place. Regardless of all the work I've done to create and grow a brand, NEVER have I enjoyed the fanfare, book sales and press that 50 Cent received in ONE DAY, on January 4th at Borders. It sort of makes my climb feel like a waste of time! But, there's a catch 22; because I don't think I would have been recognized by this partnership if I didn't do all I've done."

 

The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing To Change Themselves and the World around Them by the Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell Reviewed by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_freedom_writers_diary.htm

First published in 1999, the recently re-released The Freedom Writers Diary was the result of high school teacher Erin Gruwell's efforts to inspire her special-ed students to overcome any obstacles standing between them and their dreams. During the very first year of her tenure at Wilson High in Long Beach, California, Erin abandoned the orthodox approach suggested for her at-risk freshmen, and instead raised the bar by establishing high expectations for each and every one of them.

 

Chasing The 400 by Sheilah Vance Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah
http://www.aalbc.com/reviews/chasing_the_400.htm

When you think about the caste system you think of the poor in countries like India where there is a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race. But unfortunately; back in the fifties there was a definite division between the Negro working class communities and the more achieved and affluent Black Bourgeoisie in America. The 400 refers to the upper class Black community or the social elite. Many formed groups you may be familiar with such as Jack and Jill; The Links; and the fraternities and sororities at Black colleges and universities.

 

Beauty And The Beast by Deatri King-Bey Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah
http://reviews.aalbc.com/beauty_and_the_beast.htm

Deatri King-Bey has stepped out of the box and given her readers a Black fairy tale in Beauty And The Beast that I really enjoyed. Set in modern day Chicago; the story centers around millionaire business mogul, Bruce Maxwell, the beast and his beauty, Nefertiti Townes.

Bruce and Nefertiti grew up together as playmates, she being the god daughter of his beloved Aunt Victoria who took him in as a young boy when he was abandoned by her wayward sister. They shared a childhood of good times and as they approached adulthood; they both realized that there was a connection between them that was more than platonic.

 

Dreamgirls (2006) - Reviewed by Michael Dequina
http://reviews.aalbc.com/dreamgirls1.htm

With his screen adaptation of Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen's celebrated stage musical Dreamgirls, writer-director Bill Condon has achieved that rare, delicate balance, in so doing crafting a film that is sure to have as enduring a legacy as its source material.

In the film's opening moments, though, Condon seems intent on simply overwhelming the viewer with sheer sensory assault. Without so much as even a title card, he immerses--or, rather, submerges--the audience into the world of '60s Detroit and the lives of a trio of young, ambitious female friends and singers calling themselves the Dreamettes. They are barely introduced by name--Deena Jones (Beyonc� Knowles), Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose), and lead singer Effie White (Jennifer Hudson)--before ambitious car saleman-cum-talent manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) plucks them from being talent contest also-rans to new backing act to flamboyant R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy).

 

Why You Should Register a Domain Name by Troy Johnson
http://aalbc.com/domain_registration.htm

Registering a domain name is your first step to establishing your on-line presence. Authors benefit by giving their readers an easy to remember URL like www.authorsname.com. Many authors even register a domain that is the title of their book.

Today, domain name registration is easy and very inexpensive. You don't even need a web site to register a domain name. The hardest part is finding a domain name that is not already in use. Unfortunately, many single words and common names are already taken. However, with a little creatively you will come up with domain name that you like � So register it right away!

 

Dreamgirls Lands Most Nominations But Snubbed for Best Picture
http://reviews.aalbc.com/dreamgirls_snubbed_for_best_picture.htm

How do you explain a movie getting the most Oscar nominations yet being overlooked when it comes to Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress? That's precisely the quandary the Academy finds itself in after announcing that Dreamgirls landed eight nominations but none in any major categories.

Yes, Jennifer Hudson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but anybody who saw the film knows that hers was really a lead role.

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AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW


M. Nicole Bryant
http://authors.aalbc.com/nicole_bryant.htm

This first time author and 12 year breast cancer survivor felt compelled to write her memoir/resource manual because initially, she wanted to give her daughter and granddaughters a gift of hope. As time passed, she was driven by a sense of obligation and responsibility to all women, particularly women of color.

African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than all other women. Yet, it's been over a decade since one has written a book about it. A decade is a long time to wait for anything, but it's especially long for an African American woman not to write about the disease that takes the lives of so many of us, and leaves so many others devastated and without hope. The good news is that the wait is over.  Bryant' book Breastlessness � What To Do When You Don�t Know What To Do breaks down the wall of silence that has stood for far too long.
 

Ronald Kaye Rawlings
http://authors.aalbc.com/ronald.htm

Rawlings is author of A Black Cop in the South; a fascinating true story involving a young black man who was raised in a large single parent, southern family home in North Carolina. Ronald Kaye Rawlings is the author and his dream as a young child was to be a North Carolina State Trooper. He was able to achieve that goal and even more, but the road was filled with pitfalls, disappointments, racism, and tragedy.

 

Barack Obama
http://authors.aalbc.com/barack_obama.htm

Obama is the author of two of the top selling books on Amazon.com. 

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.

Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii.  Learn more about the man who may become the 1st Black President of the United States. 

Check out this interesting discussion board post entitled "Barack Obama's father" http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/179/22199.html

 

Hoe Zee
http://authors.aalbc.com/hoezee.htm

HoeZee was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Flatbush & Bedstuy [Bedford Stuyvesant].  He has become a firm believer in the kid on the corner fighting to beat the odds.  The situations in which he has encountered has made him the intense writer/novelist that will bring the tales of which he speaks of to life.  A self-published author with several novels to his name including A Kid from the City,  Inner-City Interludes and That 4ever Thing

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Would you like your information on AALBC.com?
Visit http://aalbc.com/authorprofiles.htm for more information.  You also get homepage placement, newsletter mention, a high Google ranking and more!

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AALBC.com Recommends
 

Mosaic
http://www.mosaicmagazine.org/

After a brief hiatus and stint as a digital publication � the magazine's fans demanded print � we are back. Mosaic continues to offer the same quality writing and unique editorial readers are accustomed to. We have established a concentrated group of followers across the nation who anticipate every issue. Join them by subscribing today.

In the latest issue;  (1) The Healing World of Lucille Clifton - With Hurricane Katrina still heavy on her heart, poet Lucille Clifton sat down with Jacqueline Jones LaMon to discuss life, death, and poetry, (2) Marlon James - First-time novelist Marlon James chats with Felicia Pride about his novel, John Crow's Devil, and the influence Jamaica has had on his work, (3) Let There Be Peace, Let There Be Life - Nigerian-writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reflects on her award-winning novel Purple Hibiscus and discusses future literary work with A. Naomi Jackson, (4) A Diva Supreme - Poet and activist Suheir Hammad met with poet (and former student) John Rodriguez to talk about politics, and her new book of poetry Zaatar Diva, and more... Subscribe Today.

 

The Letters, an Amazon Short by Pittershawn Palmer
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000M546JO/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

What would you think if you found 365 letters written to you, stamped, but never mailed? What story would they tell; or secrets unfold? How would they change your life?

After five years, Marie has found the strength to visit the attic where her and her husband enjoyed many of their days together. She decides it is time to go through the trunk containing many of his writings and trinkets. She is immediately greeted by a stack of letters tied with a red ribbon. What she discovers in those letters surprise her, comforts her and ultimately transforms her.  Check out the wonderful story by a terrific writer (11 pages and only 49�). 

 

NAACP Image Award Nominees
The nominations were announced at a press conference on Tuesday, January 9th, and the 38th NAACP Image Awards will air live on Friday, March 2nd from 8pm-10pm EST on FOX.

This year, over 1,200 entries were received. From those entries, a special committee of 300 industry professionals and NAACP leaders from across the country selected five nominees in each of 35 categories. Any artist, manager, publicist, production company, record label, studio, network or publishing house may submit an entry to the NAACP Image Awards. The final selections are voted on by NAACP members, and winners will be announced during the live airing of the 38th NAACP Image Awards.

AALBC.com congratulates our family who reached out to share the good news of their nomination for an NAACP Image Award:

From: Lisa Jones Johnson
http:/amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1585712035/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

"I'm really excited about my nomination. And there's definitely some competition in that category! Now that the Nominating Committee has chosen my book, the winner will be selected by the NAACP general membership.

If you haven't had a chance to read my book yet, it's a supernatural murder mystery with a twist.  A Dead Man Speaks is the story of Clive January, an African American investment banker who had it all, wealth, power, a beautiful wife and an even more beautiful mistress. But it's all snatched from him when he's shot in the back and killed. As he lies dying he hears voices telling him that he must look back, he must find out who did it or he will have no peace. Ultimately his ghost works with the detective assigned to his case, who is psychic and together they unravel the crime. But ultimately the novel is about the redemptive power of love and forgiveness because he realizes in the end that unless he's able to forgive the person who killed him, he will have no peace."

 

From: DuEwa M. Frazier http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0971905231/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

"I am gleefully writing to inform you that Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees Edited by DuEwa M. Frazier (July 2006, Lit Noire Publishing) has just been nominated for an NAACP Image Award! Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees is nominated in the category of �Outstanding Literary Work � Poetry� along with notable poets/writers: Maya Angelou, Major Jackson, Walter Dean Myers and Pearl Cleage! This is such an amazing honor and a testament to the value and impact of a publication featuring a powerful, diverse mix of women's poetry!"

 

From: Dwight Fryer
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1583147063/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

"God continues to show me his favor. The attached press release announces that The Legend of Quito Road and I have made the five finalists for debut fiction for the NAACP Image Awards."

Fryer is the Author of The Legend Of Quito Road.  Thumper describes Fryer's book best; "A DAMN GOOD BOOK!"

 

PRAISE FOR GRANDDADDY'S DIRT - BOOK CLUBS 48 BOOKS FOR $20!http://www.brianwrites.com/storebookclub.htm

Is your book club looking for a great page-tuner to read this year?

Get the Essence Magazine bestseller Granddaddy's Dirt by Brian Egeston at a special close-out price.  One case (48 books) for $20!  "We're clearing out the warehouse to make room for Egeston's next bestseller."  Visit www.brianwrites.com/storebookclub.htm to receive the special price of $20 per case (48 books). That's only 41� per book! Read them, give them as gifts, donate copies to schools or resell them as fundraisers.

Offer only good through www.brianwrites.com/storebookclub.htm. Shipping and handling $15.00. Recipients of this offer will receive one case (48 books) of the paperback version of Granddaddy's Dirt. Cases cannot be divided or shipped in smaller quantities. No limit on number of cases ordered.

Granddaddy's Dirt is a serious tale with a touch of wry humor about the crushing impact of negative karma, gripping and strongly recommended fare for contemplative readers. -Black Issues Book Review

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EVENTS
http://events.aalbc.com

 
Book Expo America - Join us in the AA Pavilion
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/images/288/AAPCountdown.pdf

Co-Founders of The African American Pavilion at BookExpo America, Tony Rose, Publisher/CEO, Amber Communications Group, Inc. and Adrienne Ingrum, CEO, Adrienne Ingrum L.L.C., former founding Associate Publisher of Black Issues Book Review have signed a new agreement with BookExpo America/Reed Expositions to manage the 4th Annual African American Pavilion/BEA and produce the African American Pavilion Welcoming Reception and The African Pavilion Pavilion Awards Reception at BookExpo America, John Jacob Javits Convention Center, May 31- June 3, 2007, New York City.

Tell BEA sales manager Mike Carlucci (203-840-5625 mcarlucci@reedexpo.com) or Tony Rose (amberbk@aol.com) that "AALBC.com Sent You"; and you will be entitled to a 25% discount on all AALBC.com services (except book reviews) from the moment you signup until July 1st 2007.

I'm looking forward to the 2007 African American Pavilion being the largest ever.

 

Clarence Nero - Book Signing and Reception - Thursday, February 8th, 6 PM
http://authors.aalbc.com/clarence_nero.htm

#38 on AALBC.com's List of Best Selling Books for 2006 (Nero's book only came out in October!)

Meet Clarence Nero, author of "Three Sides To Every Story," who Maya Angelou describes as "one of our most promising young authors," is having a book signing and reception at Hue Man Bookstore.  Come out and meet the author of the new book set in the 9th Ward of New Orleans that everyone is talking about and get your eat on!

Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe, 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd, Between 124th and 125th Streets.  New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-665-7400
 

�Living the Parable of the Talents: Applying Its Truths & Avoiding Its Consequences: A One-Day Seminar on the Importance of Faithful Financial Management�
http://events.aalbc.com/eecdc_fin_man_2007.htm

The Emmanuel Economic Community Development Corporation presents �Living the Parable of the Talents: Applying Its Truths & Avoiding Its Consequences A One-Day Seminar on the Importance of Faithful Financial Management� for on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 279 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, from 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

AALBC.com will be on hand to sell books for one of the featured authors, Kelvin Boston. The first person to present Troy Johnson with a print out of this page will receive a free, autographed copy of Kelvin Boston's book: Who's Afraid To Be a Millionaire: Mastering Financial and Emotional Success
 

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HOW AM I DOING?

Email me or fill out the simple feedback form http://aalbc.com/feedback_aalbc.htm; and let me know what I'm doing well or where I need to improve.

Find out Where Troy Will Be Next
http://events.aalbc.com/aalbc_com_founder_appearances.htm

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