Fiction

1 - True to the Game III by Teri Woods
2 - Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology by Zane (Editor)
3 - Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark
4 - True to the Game by Teri Woods
5 - Succulent: Chocolate Flava II by Zane (Editor)

Nonfiction

1 - Hiding In Hip Hop - On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood by Terrance Dean
2 - Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans
3 - Don't Blame It on Rio: The Real Deal Behind Why Men Go to Brazil for Sex by Jewel Woods
4 - The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans
5 - Until Today!: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind by Iyanla Vanzant

Herb Boyd

Boyd is an awarding winning author and journalist who has published over a dozen books and countless articles for national magazines and newspapers. Brotherman�The Odyssey of Black Men in America�An Anthology (One World/Ballantine, 1995), co-edited with Robert Allen of the Black Scholar journal, won the American Book Award for nonfiction. In 1999, Boyd won three first place awards from the New York Association of Black Journalists for his articles published in the Amsterdam News.  His most recent book is Baldwin's Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin.

Diane Mckinney-Whetstone

The author of the critically acclaimed novels Tumbling, Tempest Rising, Blues Dancing, and Leaving Cecil Street, Diane McKinney-Whetstone is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Literary Award for Fiction. She teaches fiction writing at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad

Dr. Samad is a columnist and scholar, and the author of three books. His previous works, Souls For Sale: The Diary of an Ex-Colored Man, and 50 Years After Brown: The State of Black Equality In America, were both national bestsellers and won critical acclaim. Dr. Samad is an Associate Professor of Political Science at East Los Angeles College, and is Managing Director and Host of the Urban Issues Forum.

Breena Clarke

Clarke grew up in Washington, D.C., and was educated at Webster College and Howard University. Her writings have appeared in the anthologies Contemporary Plays by Women of Color and Street Lights: Illuminating Tales of the Urban Black Experience. She currently administers the Editorial Diversity Program at Time Inc. in New York City.

Orchester Benjamin

Orchester Benjamin is an old school Hustler and ex-Black panther, 73 years of age, who has spent a life time on the streets playing the Game for fun and profit; now turned Researcher, Writer, and Historian of the Game.  His time is divided between his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, promoting his books, enjoying the Urban/Street literature movement on all levels, and working on the second book in his trilogy, Story of the Game the Black Family play.

Pat G'Orge-Walker
http://authors.aalbc.com/pat.htm

Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper - Book Review

Attorney-turned-actor Hill Harper received nothing but positive feedback a couple of years ago after the release of Letters to a Young Brother, his inspirational how-to book aimed at African-American males. Its uplifting message emphasized the value of a good education over the accumulation of material possessions while also stressing the importance of being the architect of your own life.

Still, everywhere he went, Hill was surprised at how many women approached him about an opus offering similar sensible advice for their daughters, so it was only fitting that he would choose to write a companion text entitled Letters to a Young Sister. With the help of a host of celebrities from all walks of life, such as Angela Bassett, Michelle Obama, Ruby Dee, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Nikki Giovanni, Sanaa Lathan, Bishop Noel Jones, Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, Nia Long, Tatyana Ali, Lauren London and business executive Cathy Hughes, he addresses a litany of concerns occupying the inquiring minds of impressionable black females in their formative years.

Boris Kodjoe - The All about Us - Interview

Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria on March 8, 1973 to Eric, a physician from Ghana, and Ursula, a psychologist from Germany.  While attending Virginia Commonwealth University on a tennis scholarship, the striking, 6�3� student-athlete was spotted by a talent scout and signed to a contract with the Ford Modeling Agency. After appearing in ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis, Yves Saint Laurent and The Gap, Boris blossomed into a rarity, one of the world's few male supermodels. So, it's no surprise that he would one day be named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People Magazine.

Bobby Seale - Seizing the Time with the Black Panther Founder - Interview

Robert George Seale was born on October 22, 1936 in Dallas, Texas where, from the age of six, he was raised by his father to be a carpenter-builder and a hunter-fisherman. During WWII, the family migrated to Northern California where Bobby graduated from Berkeley High with plans of becoming an architect.

However, those plans were put on hold when he instead enlisted in the Air Force, serving for almost four years, till being discharged for insubordination. He then moved to Los Angeles to take a shot at showbiz as a stand-up comedian and as a jazz musician, before returning to the Bay Area in 1961.  The next year, while working the night shift, full-time in the aerospace industry, Bobby attended Merritt College as an Engineering Design major. It was during this period of his life that he would meet Huey Newton and develop a passion for grassroots organizing and progressive politics.

The Legacy of Islamic Anti-Semitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn History Edited by Andrew G. Bostom, MD, Foreword by Ibn Warraq - Book Review

Does Muslim intolerance of Jews emanate from the creation of Israel 60 years ago, or is it merely the reflection of a deep-seated prejudice which is part and parcel of their religion? This is the question relentlessly addressed in The Legacy of Islamic Anti-Semitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn History an exhaustive study undertaken by Andrew Bostom, MD.

His 768-page opus, the result of years of scholarly research into the subject, makes a persuasive argument that, while the animosity currently exhibited by Muslims toward Jews might have been further fueled by the Arab-Israeli conflict, such hatred is a motif which has been around since the inception of Islam.

Unforgivable! New Yorker Cover Depicts the Obamas as Terrorists - Op Ed

How dare the New Yorker put an automatic weapon in her hands! Are they trying to get her killed? What the heck is its rationale except to hint that she's a traitor guilty of treason who deserves to be shot? And why link a natural hairstyle with anti-American sentiments, as if to say that African-Americans who don�t straighten their hair but wear it as God intended are automatically suspicious and unpatriotic!

Mos Def: Amino Alkaline � The Watermelon Syndicate rocked the dome of Carnegie Hall by DuEwa Frazier

On Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 8pm, presented by Festival Network in partnership with Carnegie Hall and co-produced by Jill Newman Productions, the JVC Jazz Festival brought Brooklyn's own renaissance man, Dante Smith, a.k.a. Mos Def, to town with his big band Amino Alkaline Orchestra, featuring special guest Gil Scott Heron. Mos Def: Amino Alkaline � TheWatermelon Syndicate rocked the dome of Carnegie Hall for a multi-generation audience of what seemed like thousands. The show opened with Mos� twenty-three piece band walking onto the stage and the image of the late, legendary radio man, talk show host, and activist, Petey Greene, shown overhead on a large screen above the stage, eating watermelon. Petey Greene urged the audience to eat and enjoy; perhaps a metaphor for the evening to come.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North PBS Film Review by Kam Williams

When Katrina Browne's grandmother wrote her memoirs, one chapter revealed a long-suppressed secret, namely, that the DeWolf family had been the most successful slave traders in the entire United States. In fact, one ancestor, United States Senator James DeWolf of Rhode Island, had become the second richest person in America at the time of his death.

The Chronicles of a Gentleman (The Untold Truth) by Leroy Sanders - Book Review

Are you a single guy who hasn�t had much luck with ladies? If so, and you�re looking to change your fortunes in a big way, you might like to read The Chronicles of a Gentleman (The Untold Truth) by Leroy Sanders. You might also want to read this book if you�re a single woman and concerned about what types of games guys are running nowadays to get you in bed. In fact, this book is so entertaining I recommend it heartily to anyone just for the laughs. Anyone over 18, that is, because love guru Sanders is prone to peppering his sage sex advice with plenty of salty language.

Come On, Jesse: Don't Hate The Playa, Hate The Game! - Op Ed
http://authors.aalbc.com/come_on_jesse.htm

Jesse Jackson, Sr.'s "live mike" comments about Barack Obama reminds us that there's always someone laying in the cut to divide and conquer black America. For once, Black America seems to be all on the same page in Obama quest to become the nation's (real) first black President.

Remember, the only reason the statements even came to light in the first place was because conservative talk show host, Bill O'Reilly, intended to out Jesse (and swiftboat Barack) on his show last week � but Jesse came forward first with the apology and it became a non-story.

Ed Gordon - The Daddy's Promise Interview with Kam Williams

Edward Lansing Gordon, III was born in Detroit in 1960. Both his parents, Ed and Jimmie, were schoolteachers, although his father is best remembered for winning a gold medal in the long jump at the 1932 Olympics. Ed credits them both with instilling in him his dedication to the tireless work ethic which served him well while earning his B.A. in communications and political science at Western Michigan University and subsequently in his Emmy-winning career as a television journalist.

Lisa Kudrow - The Kabluey Interview and Film Review

Lisa Marie Diane Kudrow was born in Encino, California on July 30, 1963 to Nedra, a travel agent, and Lee, a physician specializing in headaches. Lisa came belatedly to acting, having focused more on athletics and academics both in high school and in college. She attended Vassar where she earned a BS in Psychobiology while playing tennis on the school's varsity team.

Trading Dreams at Midnight: A Novel by Diane Mckinney-Whetstone - Book Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

In her recently released novel, Trading Dreams At Midnight, acclaimed author Diane McKinney-Whetstone brings us a hauntingly beautiful story of mothers and daughters, love and pain. The author threads issues of mental illness, alcoholism, broken marriages, prejudice, racism, and neighborhood gentrification throughout her novel. Although at times soft, it is still a hard-hitting, bittersweet novel about a family of black women who stand tough as times get tougher.

Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice - Book Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

The author tells the story of Nona, Shay and Sunshine with much clarity, depth and poetry. The scenes are vivid offering a mental picture of the little cottage where Nona and Sunshine live. You can smell the flowers and herbs in Nona's garden, and taste the healthy meals she cooks as well as hear her singing as she prepares them. Carleen Brice is an amazing new author who has written an equally amazing first novel. Her story of love, pain, understanding and forgiveness speaks to the heart of women readers who enjoy a good tear-jerker. It kept me laughing from the very first chapter. As well, it brought tears of compassion to my eyes for Shay and Nona. Orange Mint and Honey is a five-star read.

All You Need to Know about the Music Business (Sixth Edition) by Donald S. Passman, Esq. - Book Review

Passman addresses virtually every question you can think of, structuring his invaluable advice in the logical order in which it will be needed by the neophyte. He suggests that you start your assault on the industry by assembling a team of advisors which ought to include a personal manager, a lawyer, a business manager and an agent.

The next section breaks down every aspect of a record deal, from advances to royalties to albums to videos to marketing to touring to merchandising. Next, he focuses on an often overlooked area, intellectual property, which is comprised of copyrighting, publishing and songwriting. And the text subsequently answers an array of ancillary inquiries about creative control, bootlegging, fees and financing.

All about the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America by John H. McWhorter - Book Review

I know that Mr. McWhorter's prior work has generally been dismissed by his detractors as the rants of an effete, out-of-touch, neo-con. I probably trashed a couple of his earlier books myself. However, this one is worth reading, if only for its highlighting a serious flaw in African-American culture which allows cadence to serve as a substitute for substance and critical thinking.

Don't Ever Tell by Brandon Massey
http://aalbc.com/authors/brandon_massey.htm

With a new identity, a new city to live in, and a wonderful new husband, Rachel Moore believes she's finally free of the demons in her past. But nothing could be farther from the truth. For the deadly secrets she thought were long-buried are now on the brink of being exposed�

Someone has a vendetta against Rachel. Someone whom she betrayed a long time ago. Someone who is determined to make her pay�no matter the cost�

Now Rachel knows it's just a matter of time before her dangerous past meets up with her present�and destroys everything she's worked so hard for. Because if there's one thing that can be counted on�her enemy never forgets or forgives and will do whatever it takes to see Rachel suffer...

Up From Rock Bottom by Alicia Williams

Up From Rock Bottom is a poignant and inspiring work that is meant to encourage and strengthen people who have experienced or are experiencing life's darkest hours. Up From Rock Bottom is a compilation of real stories shared by various individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds. Each person candidly recounts compelling, emotional and intimate details about their �rock bottom� experiences.

Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph by Denise Turney

National Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist; Long Walk Up is  gripping tale of a young orphan girl's journey from poverty and despair en route to her remarkable and triumphant destiny.

For a limited time only, order directly from the publisher and save 50%

Trinity Soup by Carolyn Ortiz

A bright and talented young African-American girl, Danielle Webb lives in an upper-middle-class neighborhood along the central California coast and attends a private elementary school with her best friend, Francesco. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when her father's business fails, placing a financial and emotional strain on the entire family.

After many months of slamming doors and angry whispers, her parents separate, and ten-year-old Danielle must leave her cozy, familiar world to attend a public junior high school, where she faces the challenge of fitting in and making new friends. For the first time in her life, she must confront issues related to race, social class, and the importance of religion in the African American community.

In time, Danielle befriends Maya, a cheerful, religious girl. As their friendship grows, the girls learn from one another and ultimately develop a deeper appreciation of culture, family, and spirituality. Trinity Soup shows how Danielle's strength and determination help her to overcome the challenges in her life.

Barnes and Noble Clearance Sale Save 50% to 80% - Sale ends August 4th 2008
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/clearance-sale/index.asp?lkid=J24731284&pubid=K140892

Clearance Sale - Thousands of Books at 50-80% Off - Plus Huge Savings on DVDs, Toys, Games and More

Surviving Today's Economy - July 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Join Daniel Tisdale, CEO of Harlem World Magazine, Inc., and his discussion with Claudia Sampson of LEEDS CONSULTING, regarding Surviving Today's Economic Environment: Staying Ahead of the Curve and Curving Your Spending Habits. Ms. Sampson heads up LEEDS CONSULTING, a full-service business that provides complete admissions coaching/consulting for individuals seeking MBAs, executives interested in re-tooling their professional lives through coaching and career management tools.

Tune into HW Radio - July 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Call-in 646.915.8829 or listen-in at www.blogtalkradio.com/harlemworld

The Divas of Literature Tour

Join Diva's Jackie Christie, Abiola Abrams, Dwan Abrams, Assuanta Collins and Renee Daniel Flagler

July 26 - Philadelphia, PA - The Gallery at Market East
August 9 - Greensboro, NC - Four Seasons Towne Center
August 16 - Atlanta, GA - Perimeter Mall
August 23 - Southfield, MI - Northland Mall
September 6 - Valley Stream, NY - Green Acres Mall

The Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival - November 7-9, 2008 - Jolly Beach Resort & Spa

Special Offer for Book Clubs!
Bring 5 or more members of your book club to Antigua for the Festival, and we�ll arrange for a private dinner for your group and one of our authors at a premiere Antiguan restaurant.   You choose from a list of participating authors�first come, first served, so act quickly! (AALBC.com members contact Troy Johnson for more information).   The Festival will pay transportation costs and the author's meal tab, and make all necessary arrangements for your party.

All-inclusive Hotel Package $805 per person* Includes:

Accommodation for 4 nights/5 days
Registration for full participation in Festival
All meals and house brand drinks
Transfers from airport to hotel and return
Hotel taxes and service fees
Entertainment on property
based on double occupancy; extra nights $135 per person

2008 awards banquet will be held at the Harlem Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street, New York, NY.  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 19, 2008.

The nominees have been announced, voting for winners will begin soon.

Check out photos from the 2008 African American Literary Awards Show: http://events.aalbc.com/2007aalas.htm

See AALBC.com in action and learn more about our services and features.