C.R.E.A.M. by: Solomon Jones

 A new breed of novel street in nature, and literary in form.

"Karima "Cream" Thomas is an ex-convict from an upper-crust family whose only crime was falling for a drug dealer and refusing to testify against him. Sexy, intelligent, street-smart, and determined to change after serving time in the municipal prison system, Karima returns to find that her ex, Duane Faison, wants her back. And for one passion-filled night, she considers it. But with dawn comes common sense and the realization that she must make a clean break from her past. To do that, she'll need something she's never had to ask for - help. And she knows only one person with the power to give it." 

Mbutu's Mangos by Zaccai Free, Vidya Vasudevan

Have you ever had a mango? It is so good, juicy, and sweet. Hi, I'm Mbutu. Mango season is my favorite time of year. Mbutu's Mangos is all about my adventures during mango season. Watch how I save the mangos from falling on the ground and rotting. Come with me and learn about nature's cycles. Enjoy Mbutu's Mangos. Its fresh and colorful just like a ripe mango!

Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling and a World on the Brink by David Margolick

Joe Louis and Max Schmeling fought twice. In 1936, Schmeling, a former world heavyweight champion, upset the youthful, Alabama-born "Brown Bomber" with a 12-round knockout. Two years later, Louis, now the titleholder himself, demolished the German challenger in 124 seconds at Yankee Stadium. In this gripping narrative, veteran Vanity Fair contributing editor David Margolick describes how these two historic fights, replete with political and racial undertones, galvanized the world.

Peggony-Po: A Whale of a Tale by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

Set on a nineteenth-century whaling ship, this is a swashbuckling original tall tale by an award-winning team.

Peggony-Po is no ordinary sailor boy. From the time he was in burlap booties, he could climb the mainmast faster than you could say �Thar she blows!� He can tie a knot to rival any of the crews and swim more swiftly than a dolphin. But the most unusual thing about Peggony-Po? He was carved from the piece of driftwood that saved his father Galleon�s life, after he tried to capture Cetus, the biggest, meanest whale of them all. Ever since the day Galleon wished upon the northern lights and Peggony-Po magically came to life, the boy has vowed to seek revenge on Cetus. And now, with the whole ship�s crew betting for or against him, Peggony-Po sets out to do just that.

Fever in the Blood by Robert Fleming
http://reviews.aalbc.com/fever_in_the_blood.htm

"I must say that I write this review from a somewhat prejudicial position. I am a fan of Robert Fleming. I loved the two anthologies he edited, Intimacy and After Hours. Fleming�s short story collection, Havoc after Dark, is simply splendid! It was with the bated breathe and the anxiousness of Christmas that I could not wait to get my hands on Fleming�s first published novel, Fever in the Blood. With this novel, which is based on the inner most thoughts and emotions of a serial killer, Fleming have created a character every bit as fascinating, frightening and captivating as Richard Wright�s Bigger Thomas. To say that Fever in the Blood was worth the wait is an understatement of the first order. It is a triumph!"  �Reviewed by Thumper

He Talk Like a White Boy: Reflections on Faith, Family, Politics, and Authenticity by Joseph C. Phillips, Foreword by Tavis Smiley

The central message of this timely memoir is the Cosby-esque notion that the time has arrived for black people to stop narrowly identifying with the assorted negative images propagated by popular culture via gangsta� rap, such as black-on-black crime, misogyny, drugs and murder. Phillips can be quite eloquent and entertaining when deconstructing the harm of such self-destructive behaviors and pointing the way to viable alternatives.  �Reviewed by Kam Williams

Getting It Wrong: How Black Public Intellectuals Are Failing Black America by Algernon Austin
http://aalbc.com/reviews/getting_it_wrong.htm

Consistently separating myth from fact in this fashion, Getting It Wrong is an excellent opus in that it deliberately deconstructs the unfair and color-coded stereotypes which the both the black bourgeoisie and the white mainstream culture have come to resort to when referring to African-American ghetto-dwellers. Is Algernon Austin right? He makes a persuasive case.. �Reviewed by Kam Williams

Making Friends With Black People By Nick Adams

I am concerned about the damage that Making Friends With Black People could cause, even in the name of laughter. For the best thing about it is its inviting cover which features the author�s head superimposed on that of the farmer holding the pitchfork in Grant Wood�s classic portrait �American Gothic.�   �Reviewed by Kam Williams
 

Capital BookFest - Saturday, October 7, 2006 - Largo, MD
http://www.capitalbookfest.com

Featuring over 150 authors including Juan Williams, Michelle Singletary, Marita Golden, Nina Foxx, Tony Lindsay, Jabari Asim, Victoria Christopher Murray and more.

Tulisoma: South Dallas Book Fair & Arts Festival - Friday, Saturday & Sunday, August 25-27, 2006

Tulisoma, Swahili for "we read", is a community-based literary festival promoting literacy and the arts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area. Founded in 2003, by District 7 - Dallas City Councilman Leo V. Chaney, Jr., the goal of Tulisoma is to create a dynamic event tailored to engage local families, avid readers, aspiring writers and visitors to the city. This year's 4th annual Tulisoma will be held at the African American Museum and the Women's Museum at Fair Park.

The National Book Club Conference - Friday, Aug. 4th to Sunday, Aug. 6 2006

The National Book Club Conference Panel Discussions

What Makes Black Books Go -- and Not Go.
Moderator: Linda Duggins, senior publicist, Warner Books. 
Panelist: Elaine Brown (Lemon City, Playing By The Rules), Fiona Zedde (Bliss, A Taste of Sin), Troy Johnson (AALBC.com), Carol Mackey (Black Expressions), Ron Kavanaugh (Mosaicbooks.com), Lyah Beth LeFlore (Last Night A DJ Saved My Life), June Cross (Secret Daughter).

Young Black Men -- Lives Worth Saving
Featuring Moderator: Terrie Williams ("Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting," Scribner 2007)
Panelist: Hill Harper ("Letters To My Young Brother"), Steve Perry ("Man Up!"). Dashaun "Jiwe" Morris ("The War of the Blood In My Veins"). Sponsored by The Stay Strong Foundation.

Maximizing Your Book Club Experience.
Moderator: Pat Houser, Black Issues Book Review.
Panelist: Mary Farmer, Sister Circle, Fayetteville, N.C.; Vikki McAdory, Page Turners, Baltimore; Jennifer Smalls, It's A She Thang, Stone Mountain, GA; Linda Turner, Tabahani Book Club, Los Angeles.

Plus Book club meetings with tons of authors including; Bishop T.D. Jakes (TENTATIVE), Mary Monroe, Nick Chiles and Denene Milner, Yasmin Shiraz, Tajuana (TJ) Butler, Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Electa Rome Parks, Patricia Haley, Nancey Flowers, Donna Mitchell, Walter Mosley, Martha Southgate, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Donna Hill, Wendy Williams and many more!

Plus Book signings featuring Terry McMillan, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pearl Cleage.  And so much more

QBR Hosts 8th Harlem Book Fair; Over 50,000 Expected to Attend
http://qbr.com

The 8th annual Harlem Book Fair will be held on Saturday, July 22, on West 135th Street, between 5th and 7th Avenues, from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Publishers, writers, literacy vendors will exhibit and author panel discussions will be televised by C-Span�s Book TV. The Harlem Book Fair is free and open to the public.

Harlem Book Fair Panel Discussion Schedule - Saturday, July 22, 2006

Venue: Schomburg Center (Hughes Auditorium)
515 Malcolm X Blvd. at W.135th Street
http://qbr.com/page6035.asp

1s.  Black Media: Dispelling Persistent Perceptions Time: 11 a.m. � 12:30 p.m.
2s.  A Matter of Trust: Integrity and the US Electoral System Time 12:45 p.m. � 2:00 p.m.
3s. Literacy Now: Developing the Next Generation of Readers Time: 2:15 p.m. � 3:30 p.m.
4s.  Biography and Memoir: It�s a Hard-Knock Life Time: 3:45 p.m. � 5:00 p.m.
5s. Entrepreneurship and Finance: Money, Power, Respect Time: 5:15 p.m. � 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Harlem Hospital Auditorium
505 Malcolm X Blvd. at West 135th Street
http://qbr.com/page5963.asp

1h. We Drive the Market: What Women Want Now Time: 12:45 p.m. �  2:00 p.m.
     (Moderator: Troy Johnson, Founder AALBC.com)
2h. What�s Love Got To Do With It?: Making Relationships Work Time: 2:15 p.m. �  3:30 p.m.
3h. Urban Fiction: Creative License or Stuck on Stupid? Time: 3:45 p.m. � 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Countee Cullen Auditorium
104 West 136th Street at Malcolm X Blvd.
http://qbr.com/page6026.asp

1c. Picture This: Comics and Graphic Novels Break Out Time: 12:00 p.m. � 1:15 p.m.
2c. Children�s Book Writing: Impacting Young Readers through Words and Images Time: 1:30 p.m. � 2:45 p.m.
3c. Writing the Diaspora: Emerging Authors from the Black Writing World Time: 3:00 p.m. � 4:15 p.m.
4c. Writing Across the Color Line Time: 4:30 p.m. � 5:45 p.m.