Troy

The finalists for the National Book Awards have been announced as predicted last week, at least three of the six books above were selected as finalists. The winners will be listed on November 20th. See the Complete list of finalists. 2013 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction The Good Lord Bird (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group) by James McBride 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Nonfiction The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 by Alan Taylor (W.W. Norton & Company) 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Poetry The Big Smoke by Adrian Matejka (Penguin Poets/Penguin Group) I predict one of these books will win.

LOL! the KKK!? Oh Brother! It seems Del you are far less tolerant of my opinions that I am of yours. To directly answer your questions: If we make the laws then why do we have the inequities in the criminal justice system? Because the system is run by people and therefore is not perfect. Inequities and other injustices will occur. So you are saying being judgemental is good for society? Del I originally spoke about opinions, you introduced "judging" and turned the conversation to one of being "judgmental". It is hard to carry on a meaningful conversation if you keep changing the context to suit your argument. No one is talking about being "judgmental" in the manner in which you seem to being trying to imply now. I believe people should be free to whatever they want to do. In that sense I'm pretty non-judgmental". However if someone wants to rape a child, blow-up an innocent bystander. I think we should negatively evaluate the behavior and move to prevent it. There are some behaviors that are unacceptable in a society and it is up to the members of that society to make a determination what those behaviors are. Is this an opinion that you reject Del? If so, why? It is interesting however that Cynique is quite able to both interpret and elaborate on what I'm saying. Maybe just read what she writes.

Afrofuturists are black entertainers, musicians, filmmakers, authors, artists and intellectuals who aim to break down racial barriers by designing science-fiction futures where oppression is optional or nonexistent. Rooted in academia, the Afrofuturism movement began among groups of college students gathered on the lawns of historically black institutions, and then later in internet groups who drew parallels between will.i.am and Sun Ra, America’s black Diaspora and fictional stories of alien abductions, activism and Octavia Butler. Check out Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture (Lawrence Hill Books, October 2013) by Ytasha L. Womack. Womack crafts an inspiring and imaginative timeline of an emerging ideology in Afrofuturism that is a compelling guide for cultural anthropologists, academics and African American historians. Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond (Rosarium Publishing, Oct. 13, 2013) by Bill Campbell (Editor) , Edward Hall (Editor) Mothership sets a bold new course by showcasing work from some of the most talented writers inside and outside of speculative fiction. These authors in this anthology (including Junot Diaz, Lauren Beukes, Victor LaValle, N.K. Jemisin, S.P. Somtow, Tobias Buckell, and more) have earned such honors as the Pulitzer Prize, the American Book Award, the Hugo, the Nebula, and the Bram Stoker, among others. They have garnered numerous accolades and have sold millions of copies around the world. Many of their names are likely to be new to you; Mothership is your invitation to get acquainted with them and their incredible writing. (Rosarium Publishing, Oct. 13, 2013)

Ancient Confession Found: 'We Invented Jesus Christ' Biblical scholars will be appearing at the 'Covert Messiah' Conference at Conway Hall in London on the 19th of October to present this controversial discovery to the British public. London (PRWEB UK) 8 October 2013 American Biblical scholar Joseph Atwill will be appearing before the British public for the first time in London on the 19th of October to present a controversial new discovery: ancient confessions recently uncovered now prove, according to Atwill, that the New Testament was written by first-century Roman aristocrats and that they fabricated the entire story of Jesus Christ. His presentation will be part of a one-day symposium entitled "Covert Messiah" at Conway Hall in Holborn (full details can be found at http://www.covertmessiah.com). Although to many scholars his theory seems outlandish, and is sure to upset some believers, Atwill regards his evidence as conclusive and is confident its acceptance is only a matter of time. "I present my work with some ambivalence, as I do not want to directly cause Christians any harm," he acknowledges, "but this is important for our culture. Alert citizens need to know the truth about our past so we can understand how and why governments create false histories and false gods. They often do it to obtain a social order that is against the best interests of the common people." Atwill asserts that Christianity did not really begin as a religion, but a sophisticated government project, a kind of propaganda exercise used to pacify the subjects of the Roman Empire. "Jewish sects in Palestine at the time, who were waiting for a prophesied warrior Messiah, were a constant source of violent insurrection during the first century," he explains. "When the Romans had exhausted conventional means of quashing rebellion, they switched to psychological warfare. They surmised that the way to stop the spread of zealous Jewish missionary activity was to create a competing belief system. That's when the 'peaceful' Messiah story was invented. Instead of inspiring warfare, this Messiah urged turn-the-other-cheek pacifism and encouraged Jews to 'give onto Caesar' and pay their taxes to Rome." Was Jesus based on a real person from history? "The short answer is no," Atwill insists, "in fact he may be the only fictional character in literature whose entire life story can be traced to other sources. Once those sources are all laid bare, there's simply nothing left." Atwill's most intriguing discovery came to him while he was studying "Wars of the Jews" by Josephus [the only surviving first-person historical account of first-century Judea] alongside the New Testament. "I started to notice a sequence of parallels between the two texts," he recounts. "Although it's been recognised by Christian scholars for centuries that the prophesies of Jesus appear to be fulfilled by what Josephus wrote about in the First Jewish-Roman war, I was seeing dozens more. What seems to have eluded many scholars is that the sequence of events and locations of Jesus ministry are more or less the same as the sequence of events and locations of the military campaign of [Emperor] Titus Flavius as described by Josephus. This is clear evidence of a deliberately constructed pattern. The biography of Jesus is actually constructed, tip to stern, on prior stories, but especially on the biography of a Roman Caesar." How could this go unnoticed in the most scrutinised books of all time? "Many of the parallels are conceptual or poetic, so they aren't all immediately obvious. After all, the authors did not want the average believer to see what they were doing, but they did want the alert reader to see it. An educated Roman in the ruling class would probably have recognised the literary game being played." Atwill maintains he can demonstrate that "the Roman Caesars left us a kind of puzzle literature that was meant to be solved by future generations, and the solution to that puzzle is 'We invented Jesus Christ, and we're proud of it.'" Is this the beginning of the end of Christianity? "Probably not," grants Atwill, "but what my work has done is give permission to many of those ready to leave the religion to make a clean break. We've got the evidence now to show exactly where the story of Jesus came from. Although Christianity can be a comfort to some, it can also be very damaging and repressive, an insidious form of mind control that has led to blind acceptance of serfdom, poverty, and war throughout history. To this day, especially in the United States, it is used to create support for war in the Middle East." Atwill encourages skeptics to challenge him at Conway Hall, where after the presentations there is likely to be a lively Q&A session. Joining Mr.Atwill will be fellow scholar Kenneth Humphreys, author of the book "Jesus Never Existed." Further information can be found at http://www.covertmessiah.com. About Joseph Atwill: Joseph Atwill is the author of the best-selling book "Caesar's Messiah" and its upcoming sequel "The Single Strand." -----

Our very own Kam Williams is being honored! **** PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2013 Media Contact: American Marketing & Development Company Tel: 570.620.1212 / Fax: 570.619.4101 Cell: 570.982.5867 / E-mail:Bridgetodavis@yahoo.com PMFF to Bring Star Power to the Pocono Mountains in Bartonsville, PA on Oct 18th, 19th & 20th: A Media Tip Sheet from the Pocono Mountains Film Festival Pocono Mountains Film Festival to Recognize Celebrities: Lee Daniels Film “The Butler” Cuba Gooding, Jr., Cuba Gooding,Sr., Filmmaker,Rel Dowdell, Journalist/Film Critic Kam Williams, Blackfilm.com / Wilson Morales, Florence Anthony, Community Leadership Victoria Pannell, Author/ O. Aldon James Jr, Karl Allen Griggs, Actor, Musician Sticky Fingaz (Law & Order), at the 11th Annual Awards Dinner Howard Johnson’s Bartonsville, PA – (October 18, 2013), The Pocono Mountains Film Festival (PMFF) for profit organization is gearing up to bring star power to the beautiful Pocono Mountains with the 11th Annual PMFF Screenings, Workshops and Celebrity Awards Dinner to benefit The Utopia House for battered women. Only registered ticket holders will be permitted to specific events during the festival weekend. WE are Still Accepting Christian Films Deadline Oct 9, 2013. POCONO MOUNTAINS FILM FESTIVAL The PMFF celebrity awards dinner pays homage to the life and career of some of the most notable Film Stars and Entertainment Executives. During the festival, we will show a montage of the honorees work and accomplishments. Past honorees have included the late Jack Palance, Fred “the Hammer” Williamson, Billy Dee Williams, Florence Anthony, Joe Jackson/ Michael Jackson, Terrie M. Williams, Cliff Robertson, Robert Vaughn and Roberta Flack. The PMFF Screenings, Workshops and Celebrity Awards will take place on Oct 18th 19th &20th. The 11th Annual Pocono Mountains Film Festival Award Honorees will be: Humanitarian Award O. Aldon James Jr. Lifetime Career Achievement Award Cuba Gooding Jr. Academy Award Winning Actor Distinguished Career Achievement Award Wilson Morales Blackfilm.com Writer/Film Critic PMFF R&B Music Award Cuba Gooding, Sr. Best Actor Award Sticy Fingaz, Actor/ Rapper"Law & Order” Career Achievement in Directing Independent Films Rel Dowdell Daniel Pearl Multimedia Award Kam Williams, Syndicated Film Critic & Journalist CONNFIRMED GUESTS Guests of the Celebrity Awards dinner will be executives in film, TV, media, music and fashion. Book Signing “Shattered Mirrors Broken in Plain Sight” Author/ Karl Allen Griggs EVENT SPONSORS Van Gilder’s Jubilee Restaurant / New Customers Receive your Free Screening & Workshop Passes Now!!!! Friday, October 18, 2013 Oct 18, 2013 HOWARD JOHNSONS HOTEL MEET & GREET Route 611~~Tickets $25.00 6pm to 9pm Meet & Greet Celebrities / Entertainment Saturday, October 19, 2013 12pm -2pm Van Gilders Jubilee Restaurant --Meet Cuba Gooding and other celebrity attending guests 12pm-2pm - Film workshops/ What are the jobs of a “Film Director, Producer, Actor/Actress” John Gorsky 1:00p.m. 5:p.m. Indie Film Screenings 5:00p.m. - Media Check-In 5:30p.m. – Red Carpet – Celebrity Arrivals, Photo Opps 6:45p.m. – Celebrity Awards Dinner, Howard Johnson’s Hotel, Bartonsville PA (Poconos) 7:00p.m. – Awards / Dinner Begins Introduction by: Racquel Coleman Awards Dinner hosted by: Flo Anthony & Bridget O. Davis Sunday October 20, 2013 11:00 a.m. Service Breakfast – Check out 12:30 Independent Christian Films Screenings 4:00p.m. Film Closing ABOUT THE POCONO MOUNTAINS FILM FESTIVAL. The Pocono Mountains Film Festival (PMFF) For profit organization, which was founded by Bridget O. Davis, a Registered Nurse, Author, Filmmaker, Founder of the “Utopia House” for Battered Women, and Women’s Prisons Motivational Speaker. PMFF is dedicated to the gift of creativity and embraces everyone regardless of their economic, social or ethnic status. The primary vision is to balance the arena of focus regarding the inequality of opportunities provided African Americans. The PMFF is also an Umbrella Organization to The Utopia Safe House for Battered Women. Utopia’s Safe House for battered women a 501© (3) organization founded by Bridget O. Davis, in conjunction with the Pocono Mountains Film Festival, which provides comprehensive support, advocacy, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, and transitional services to individuals whose lives are affected by domestic violence in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. CONTACT For press credentials and celebrity confirmations, contact Racquel Coleman, Florence Anthony (Office) 570.620.1212, (Cell) 570.982.5867 or (E-mail) Bridgetodavis@yahoo.com for more information on the 11th Annual Pocono Mountains Film Festival Awards, visit: www.poconomountainsfilmfestival.com. Please note: media accommodations are complimentary. This only applies to reporters and media outlets that have been approved. All media are required to complete a media credential form for confirmation. Contact the American Marketing & Development Company at 570.350.3957 # # # Media Contact: American Marketing & Development Co. Cell: 570.350.3957 / E-mail:bridgetodavis@yahoo.com Poconomountainsfilmfestival@yahoo.com

The top banner looks cool! But you need more photos of yourself Where do you find the time? I got my social media down to less than 10 minutes a day!

Fred Mwangaguhunga's gossip site Mediatakeout.com is the 2nd most popular Black owned web site of any kind Mr. Mwangaguhunga cited another metric, however, that he thinks is more telling: 46 percent of his visitors, about 7.5 million people, are black women, a number that represents broad penetration into that market. Read a New York Times article about his fantastic success

Drugs... thats all we need to add to the mix of high incarceration rates, poor education, pathetic job prospects and yet another government bureaucracy to administer user and enforce compliance. No thanks.

Pioneer, sure there is an overt and obvious bias that permeates the entire culture and most noticeably in how "news" is reported. I watched the video of the Biker Boys on Youtube yesterday. The reason it made the news is because on of the bikers recorded much of the incident. The video was posted on YouTube and it went "viral". Now I live in NYC and have been in exactly that same situation surrounded by Bikers on a street: There had to have been 100 or more. They were riding down the avenue and burning red lights -- preventing traffic from moving. I actually went around a car in front of me -- refusing to wait out at a green light 'cause these Biker Boyz would not stop at a light. As soon as I got into the mix of bikers. I knew I'd made a mistake -- it was just too dangerous to be driving among so many motorcycles. Now judging from the video I saw one of the bikers positioned himself in front of the car and slowed down. The car then hit the biker -- breaking his leg. The biker should not have pulled in front of the car and the car should not have hit the biker. If anything I'd have to place blame for the accident on the Biker as he initiated the incident which caused the accident. After that accident that car should not have sped off. If he did not feel safe he could have stayed in his car. The driver's mistake was speeding off and running over yet another Biker crippling him. It looks like the police are not prosecuting the driver. I don't know if the car is Black or white. But he was described as a Banker and driving a Ranger Rover so the odds are is that his is White. When you see some many bikers together you just have to give them right of way... --------------- There are a number of reasons there is no apparent indignation. We don't have the platforms to express that indignation. We don't tell our own stories, or news.

So we have; Soul, Spirit, Mind, Brain, Body. I'd group Brain and Body together since they are part of the same system. The mind seems to be the by product of the brain and the body's interaction with it's environment and it the thing that is really impacted with the brain is hacked, so I'd group the mind in with the brain and body. I'd also group Spirit and Soul together as they seems to describe the same thing SO the question remains are the Soul/Spirit separate and distinct from the Mind/Brain/Body? An autistic boy went missing a week ago, here in New York City. The police have enlisted the help of psychics to find him. I'd be very surprised if the psychics actually help find the boy. What senses are these psychics employing to find the boy? Are they using their brains or their spirits (or both)?

Del, WE make up the criminal justice system and the laws. It is made up of and by people, like you and I. Now you personally may opt out and refuse to judge someone. But it is good everyone is not like you because our society could not function otherwise. Del I never wrote science can prove something that unquantifiable. I wrote they do not dismiss it. There is a big difference. In fact the example, of what happened before the Big Bang illustrates my point. Of course there are things that don't lend themselves to testing. Seriously, Del, I thought I made that clear with the Big Bang example: There is no way anyone can perform an experiment before there was space or time. As a result, any ideas about what happened prior to that can not be proven (or dismissed as wrong). Cynique, personally I don't think America's form of government should be forced on any other group of people. In fact I think any efforts by our leadership to do this in foreign countries is just so that we can exploit the workforce, resources and open more McDonalds and sell more Coca-cola. Given your second paragraph you understand the perspective I've expressed. Further, we ALL make judgements of other people (whether we want to acknowledge those judgements or not). We make friends and select spouses based upon a wide range of judgments -- some of which may are probably unconscious. These judgements are not only necessary for a functioning society they are necessary for our own happiness. Of course I understand that everyone is unique and we all judge differently. As a result we must also make compromises and tradeoffs on our individual judgements. Our ability to make these tradeoff is key to the success of our society, marriages and our individual ability to make it in this world.

Ted Talks Video: From simple alphabets to secret symbolic languages, graphic designer Saki Mafundikwa celebrates the many forms of written communication across the continent of Africa. He highlights the history and legacy that are embodied in written words and symbols, and urges African designers to draw on these graphic forms for fresh inspiration. It's summed up in his favorite Ghanaian glyph, Sankofa, which means "return and get it" -- or "learn from the past." The Book Afrikan Alphabets: The Story of Writing in Afrika Hardcover by Saki Mafundikwa A used version of this book is $450 Afrikan alphabets have a rich cultural and artistic history. Many continue to be in current use today. Their story, however, is little known due largely to their past suppression by colonial powers. This book sets the record straight. Both entertaining and anecdotal, African Alphabets presents a wealth of highly graphical and attractive illustrations. Writing systems across the Afrikan continent and the Diaspora are included, analyzed and illustrated: the scripts of the West Africans - Mende, Vai, Nsibidi, Bamum and the Somali, and Ethiopian scripts. Other alphabets, syllabaries, paintings, pictographs, ideographs, and symbols are compared and contrasted. This informative and beautiful book will be of interest to anyone fascinated with African cultural and art. The Author Saki Mafundikwa is a graphic designer, typographer and teacher. He holds an MFA from Yale University and has worked and taught in New York City. Returning to Zimbabwe, he founded the country's first graphic design and new media college, the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts. The college opened in 1999 and continues to operate under extremely difficult conditions as the country goes through its most challenging era since independence.

Del in order for people to live together we HAVE to make judgements about the behavior of others. You just can't have people running around all willy-nilly doing what ever strikes their fancy and expect people to live harmoniously together. If some thug comes into your home with the intention of slaughtering your children and raping your wife as you watch. I suspect you'd would disapprove of his intentions, why? I'm not asking you to judge anyone across space and time like slave holders 200 years ago, I'm talking about today. You seem unwilling to recognize that people do wrong things and we should call them for what they are WRONG. Del understand: No one is disputing Newton's extraordinary brilliance. However he did not conceptualize much of what we know about the universe today. Even his gravitational equations, though terrific for it's time, were discovered to be wrong when it failed to calculate the orbit of mercury correctly. But if he were alive today with modern knowledge who knows what he could have come up with. You continue completely mus-characterizing science. You seem to have an ax to grind. For example, you wrote "[most] scientists dismiss any thing that can be quantitatively verified". Just because they can't quantify something does not mean they dismiss it. Nothing is dismissed until it is proven wrong. There are multiple theories describing what existed before the big bang, a scientist can never dismiss any of these theories because they can never be proven wrong.

I guess that is the fundamental difference between what you and I believe Del. I believe the behavior of these suicide bombers is reprehensible and wrong. You seem unwilling to commit either way in describing the behavior. That is cool, but it is a profound and fundamental difference in our belief systems. Those suicide bombers don't corner the market because I also feel the behavior of the US in many occasions is far worse. I believe some of my personal behavior is wrong from time to time. I think a definition of what is right and wrong is required to avoid complete and utter chaos in the world. Del your "logic" analogy is muddling your argument because you are not expressing it properly. For example' "Some men are taller than women. John is a man Joan is a women, so John is taller than Joan" So I agree it is a fact Joan could be taller than John and the statement is logical. Again this is different that what you wrote the first time. You mus-understood my statement about Newton. I said he was a smart person -- one of the smartest, so I agree with you there. However what he knew and understood about the world pales in comparison with what a PhD knows in 2013. Newton probably never conceptualized the Standard Model of Particle Physics, know to every 1st college student. He never envisioned Special Relativity know by even people with a passing interest in science. Sure Newton is smarter but he knew FAR less than what people know today. Like a caveman looking at the star filled sky reasoning that they must be Gods -- never understanding that they were simply other Suns unimaginably far away... Cynique do you think that old people become set in their ways or those people were always like that, even in there youth? Perhaps people set in there ways live longer... they take less risks, never deal with the stress of challenging their own beliefs, never stray far from home, etc.

Alice Munro Wins The Nobel Prize in Literature Ms. Munro is acclaimed for her storytelling, which the Swedish Academy says is "characterized by clarity and psychological realism." In its citation for the award, the Swedish Academy called her "the master of the contemporary short story." Munro has published many short-fiction collections over the years. Her works include "Who Do You Think You Are?" (1978), "The Moons of Jupiter" (1982), "Runaway" (2004) and "The View From Castle Rock" (2006). Her most recent book is "Dear Life" (2012). Toni Morrison, in 1993, was the last American winner. Visit the Wall Street Journal for the full story by Niclas Rolander and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg

Del is my last sentence was actually rhetorical in nature, but since it gets to the heart of what you mean. Would you mind answering it? Is there anything wrong with suicide bombers killing themselves and others in the name of their religion? I'll check out "embodied mind theory" Humans even discount things they believe in wholeheartedly, One uses mathematics to check the soundness of mathematics. Your distinction of Religion and Science makes them sound like opposites to me. :-) Del, "Men are taller than women, John is a man Joan is a women, so John is taller than Joan." This statement is true, logical, and factual if you meant "All" Men which is implied by the way you worded the question. Agreed science certainly can not answer all our questions -- indeed it seems preoccupied with generating more questions than answers. Newton may have been one of the smartest people to walk the earth in recorded history but his knowledge of the universe pales in comparison to a modern PhD. studied in the subject.

Opinions about how one feels about something can't be wrong they are opinions: "I thought Madea's Family Reunion was a great play" Opinions about facts can and often are wrong: "That big woman who played Madea is an excellent actress" I'm not sure why you would describe "science" as arrogant and closed minded. Science is the exact opposite. I know of know other "belief system" that will drop an earlier belief the minute someone demonstrates it to be wrong. Del I think you get into trouble trying to compare religion with science. They are two very different things. Christianity, is based upon pure faith. Either you believe or you don't. Sure ignorance is bliss. It would be nice to believe that if I blow myself up, along with some innocent by standers, that I'll have 72 virgins waiting to spend eternity with me. I have no such comfort. In a perverse way, I envy those suicide guys, so absolute their beliefs. Then again I'd probably request 36 virgins, and 36 with a lot of experience... Del, I guess you don't believe there is anything wrong with the beliefs of those suicide bombers.

Here is a sampling of the titles from the "long list". I'm sure at least 3 of these will ultimately become finalists: 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction The Good Lord Bird (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group) by James McBride 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Nonfiction Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865 by James Oakes (W.W. Norton & Company) The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 by Alan Taylor (W.W. Norton & Company) Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington by Terry Teachout (Gotham Books/Penguin Group) 2013 National Book Award Longlist for Poetry Bury My Clothes by Roger Bonair-Agard (Haymarket Books) The Big Smoke by Adrian Matejka (Penguin Poets/Penguin Group)

We were gonna name her Zora, but switched to Zoe at the last minute. Her sister's name is Maya. The names really have more to do with class than color. But the presumption is that all Black people are low class so the distinction is rarely made in our case.

Pioneer there is plenty of Black Sci-fi it just is not covered very well. I will be mentioning one new anthology in next eNewsletter. We have fewer websites, bookstores, magazines around to cover these books and what remains are mostly interested in covering the book you described and of course the celebrity titles.

Pioneer there is a big difference between using money in a transaction where you get a good or service in return. Using money in an investment where there are terms for interest or a share in a company -- that is cool too. But that is not what I'm talking about. What I'm describing are the daily requests for money from profit driven entities -- not charities, who want you to fund their project -- just because. Sure you are promised something like a signed DVD from a filmmaker, for example, but it is never equal to the value of what you've paid -- nor is it even expected to be. You are just funding a project because it is worthy. (And now that I think about it I have never received a DVD from any of the films I help fund). Maybe I'm sensitive to this because of the sheer volume of requests I get. I used to at least read the appeals. Now I'm overwhelmed and ignore them most of them.

Pioneer the loans were immediately sold after they were made. The were sliced and diced and used to create securities which were then resold. Determining what the underlying homes were was very difficult. I've been all over the continental United States and I have yet to see an "ideal" AfroAmerican community where most things are operating as they should. Pioneer I don't think the community you are referring to exists. One could, and it has in the past, but I doubt there is one in the US of A.

The mind and brain are separate. What about the soul? Is the soul yet another part of us? Are our minds distinct from each other the way our brains are?

For immediate release: October 7, 2013, 9:00 a.m. Contact Info: Harold Augenbraum, National Book Foundation 212-685-0261 haugenbraum@nationalbook.org National Book Foundation partners with msnbc’s “Morning Joe” to Announce the 2013 Finalists for the National Book Awards Morning Joe Hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski also to Emcee the National Book Awards Ceremony This Year New York, NY (October 7, 9:00 a.m.) On Wednesday, October 16, the National Book Foundation will partner with msnbc’s “Morning Joe” to announce its 2013 National Book Awards Finalists, for the second year in a row. In addition, this year “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who are both authors themselves, will emcee the National Book Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 20 at Cipriani Wall Street, in New York. The Finalist categories will consist of five books each from the genres of Young People's Literature, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction selected by a panel of expert judges, culled from the Longlists of ten each that were revealed to the public over four consecutive days during the week of September 16. Appearing on the show to reveal the Finalist books will be the Foundation’s Chairman, David Steinberger, President and CEO of the Perseus Books Group. “Last year’s Finalist announcement on ‘Morning Joe’ was a great success,” noted Steinberger. “We more than doubled the Foundation’s website visits from the previous year. Making the announcement on television gave us a whole new audience for these great books, and expanding the literary audience is our main goal.” Over the past two years the Foundation has increased its efforts to broaden its reach by recruiting board members from outside the literary world and forging partnerships with organizations and individuals with related missions. The creation of the Awards first Longlists this year and the expansion of the judging panels to non-writers (albeit with literary expertise) are part of this effort. “Both Joe and I are published authors,” said Brzezinski, “and our program focuses to a great extent on bringing the knowledge and expertise of authors to a wider public. We believe strongly in the written word.” “Morning Joe” recently announced the formation of a branded Book Club, focused on nonfiction. Scarborough’s new book, The Right Path: From Ike to Reagan, How Republicans Once Mastered Politics--and Can Again, will be published on November 12. Brzezinski’s most recent book is Obsessed: America’s Food Addition—and My Own. * * * The National Book Foundation's mission is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of good writing in America. In addition to the National Book Awards, for which it is best known, the Foundation's programs include 5 Under 35, a celebration of emerging fiction writers selected by former National Book Award Finalists and Winners; the National Book Awards Teen Press Conference, an opportunity for New York City students to interview the current National Book Award Finalists in Young People's Literature; NBA on Campus, a partnership that brings current National Book Award authors to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN; the Innovations in Reading Prize, awarded to individuals and institutions that have developed innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading; and BookUp, a writer-led, after-school reading club for middle- and high-school students, run in New York City and Texas. The National Book Award is one of the nation's most prestigious literary prizes and has a stellar record of identifying and rewarding quality writing. In 1950, William Carlos Williams was the first Winner in Poetry, the following year William Faulkner was honored in Fiction, and so on through the years. Many previous Winners of a National Book Award are now firmly established in the canon of American literature, such as Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, Jonathan Franzen, Denis Johnson, Joyce Carol Oates, and Adrienne Rich.

I can hardly wait to read your insights!