Troy

I would suggest using a facebook "fan" page for the author. Rather than a profile page for the book (I think that is what you meant John H). The fan page provides stats on the number of visits to the page and a bunch of other useful stats that profile pages don't. Besdies you can keep your profile page for you "real" friends and associates while anyone can be a fan. John H. you should also post the actual facebook link that you have invited people to visit. Failing to do so would discourage all but the most motiviated people to look you up. 904Diva, cable advertising; interesting that seems even more expensive. What are the typical rates for cable TV in your area? How many viewers would one expect at that rate. How much does it cost to create the actual commerical? Nowadays I fast forward through commericals when I watch TV.

Thanks for coming clean Dan. You are not the first to use this tactic, but you are the first, than I'm aware of, to admit it. I applaud you candor. If you post the awards link again I'll actually check it out this time. Chris, Dan just made a post and responded to it with a different name. He deleted the offending posts which is why you were thrown off.

OK y'all here is a classic example of someone having a conversation with themselves. Sheesh!

Chris, it is not utter bull -- it is a fact. I've personally talk to people who felt this way. I never said these folks were in the majority, but statistically insignificant -- I don't know I don't have the data. Carey, $50 bucks! Where'd you see the movie, NYC?

"This newspaper hides beneath the liberal facade while shaming and slamming black people." -- EXACTLY! Ohhh this paper used to piss me off -- I stopped reading the NY Times. The article above was on my facebook wall. You have to ask what was the point of the article? The headline could have more reasonably highlighted the Asian population: "Of all 3.8 million adults who married in 2008, 31 percent of Asians, ...married a person whose race or ethnicity was different from their own" Again just more focus on the so called breakdown of the Black family -- with out saying it. Cynique, they are carving the tombstone for marriage as we speak.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/us/04interracial.html Should this come as a surprise

Carey, while bookfan caught your "error". The rest of us know you play fast and loose with the truth to make a point, and ignored the "exaggeration". I don't recall ever recommending any Tyler Perry flcik, certainly not without reservations and definitely not to another dude. I would recommended it for a date (with a woman). Carey you have to know going in that Tyler Perry has a formula. Part of it is outrageous, unebelieavle drama that is a given. If you can start with the premise, like flying iron men, then don't go to see the movie. If however you are coll with it, you'll probably have a good time. There were people who could not enjoy the Cosby show, because they could not get past a Black doctor, being happily married to a Black Attorney with five intelligent, well adjusted children.

I think if Akashic put a little more effort/money behind this novel it would do much better in sales. I'll read it Glorious next. Idrissa raved about Glorious in her review as well. I downloaded Jesus Boy to my Kindle and I never noticed it was pubed by Akashic! In fact I doubt I would have even heard of Jesus Boy were it not for me publlishing your review. All of my promotion was a consequence of your favorable review. It would be nice to do much more as based upon a paid advertiement.... I've heard Akashic is not big on advertising. I met the publisher Johnny Temple, once but never really talked to him. A search of Jesus Boy yields several favorable reviews including one from the NY Times in May (I missed this too). I just created a page for Preston Allen's other books the page includes a video wth a reading from Jesus Boy. A search of Glorious yields fewer reviews but more results. Bernice is a much more popular author than Preston. Thumper I too believe that both of these authors would appeal to a very broad even international audience. The themes are universal. Well both Bernice and Preston have time on their side, as their work will surely outlast their time on earth... Bernice McFadden with Akashic publisher Johnny Temple

What was the point of that article?

I think I was able to enjoy the last Perry flick 'cause I checked my brain at the door plus, on some levels it was better than his previous efforts... If you go into a Perry flick looking for something of depth, socially conscious or requiring a brain you’ll be sadly disappointed. I too could sit here and poke all kinda holes in Perry’s films; internally inconsistent characters, unbelievable situations and so on. It would be like going to see Iron Man and then complaining that the movie sucked because of the impossibility of Stark pulling an iron suit out of a briefcase which allows him to fly faster than sound, and repel bullets. At some level you have to suspend disbelief, relax, and try enjoy too yourself. Otherwise Chris, go to the museum. The website http://www.shadowandact.com/ is pretty cool!

Chris can't one just stay here and bitch?

Thumper you might find it interesting that Bernice had great difficulty getting a deal for this book. Ultimately she was able to get a small independent publisher, Akashic Books to publist Glorious. But publishing is one thing but promotion and advertising is another piece to this puzzle which is a major problem. A favorable review from you will help, but some $$ has to be spent to promote this book... What percentage of the reading audience do you think would enjoy this book?

Carl Weber talks about how he came up with the characters for his novels. Fans of Weber will enjoy this video as his talk is delivered with the same drama and humor they've come to expect from his books.

When I first started AALBC.com the best selling books of all time included titles by Iyanla Vanzant, Saul Williams, Terry Mcmillian, Zane (best selling Author on AALBC.com), the the best selling book each year since 2006 has been Confessions of A Video Vixen. While Tom Burrell's Brain Washed has beat Confessions for March/April 2010 (I have not had a chance to publish that list yet). Only one title has sold strong enough, over the course of a year to beat Confessions for the yearly title since 2005 (Confessions was #2 in 2005, but was published in Jun 2005) and that was Kevin Powell's Who's Gonna Take the Weight? It is what it is...

...in spirit

Thanks Chris I'll be there!

I'm not so sure Cynique. Don't you think in today's world there are some common things we all have to do in order to survive? Assuming what you say is true, and the shit is about to hit the fan. Don't you think any effort to prevent the rest of the world from "coming against us" will require a collective effort? If there is no "WE" there is no survial. The so called double consciousness is of no significance, indeed it is a distraction considering the world we live in today.

Manie Barron, Partner of the Menza Barron Agency, speaks about the roles and responsibilties of the literary agent and author at the National Black Book Conference, sponsored by CushCity.com in Houston TX. This just took place 3:30PM CST

Were you really counting...ROTFLMBAO!!! Carey, can you list all 100. Of course the term "Self-hating Negro" is meaningless; as are the terms "Uncle Tom", and "Sellout". As stated Blacks are not monolithic there are tremendous regional differences. For example authors know better than to schedule a reading in ATL on a wednesday night 'cause everybody is gonna be at bible study. If I go to a literary event in NYC and there is no wine something is seriously wrong! Even within the regions there are significant differences between folks. There is no common connection between Black folks period; not even the shared legacy of slavery. In Harlem for example Africans and African Americans don't even really socialize in meaningful numbers... Like the guy married to the white woman on the Boondocks cartoon many Blacks more culturally "white" than they are Black. What does it mean to be Black anyway? Obviously it has nothing to do with physical, apperance, legacy of slavery, language, religion, location, place of birth, or even one's biological parents. The only common denominator seems to be that we are (at least those of us who can't pass) targets of racists who have been duped into believing Black people are inferior; for the sole purpose of enriching a handful of powerful and wealthy white people. Our job is to combat the tactics that are being used to divide, not just Black people, but the vast majority of people of all "races" running around this world.

Well. I'm almost done with the book and Burrell does touch upon the success we had immediately after slavery but the backsliding was explained away by slavery too... Burrell does ention a couple of things I can related to but had not seen articulated as a phenomenon. One is called the Myth of Individualism. This is really a tough problem preventing small business owners, like myself, from banding togteher with other entitites to "get to the next level". It idea is best described by the quote,"why should I give up a piece of my enterprise when I put in all the sweat equity". Another is; The Best Black Syndrome: "Creating separate categories of achievement gives children an artifical sense of accomplishment. it also encourages the belief that whtes are superior and can't be challenged" I guess I was looking for solutions too and I may not have gotten to that part. I skipped and see what was coming next and I noticed that a friend of mine, Deborah Cowell, wrote a significant portionof the final chapter -- can't wait to read that part.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority by Tom Burrell http://runt.it/BrainWashed The book insightful in many ways. It is actually the best selling non-fiction book on AALBC.com for March/April 2010. i have not had a chance to post the bestsellers list, but I ran the report a couple of weeks ago and was pleasured to see something knock Confessions of a Video Vixen off it's perch for a change I do have a few issues. Women's Hair. This is an extremely complex issue and I would not simply say it is women trying to be white -- not in the 21st century. This seems to be Burrell's position. It is a different dynamic today. Burrell explains how Chris Rock (of Good Hair Fame) and had to explain to his daughter that there was nothing wrong with her hair. Burrell then points out the Rock's wife has an 18" weave emphasizing the contradiction. Ok that's cool, but then Burrell goes on to say the women like Eryka Badu are more positive role models with her natural hair style. This is problematic for me because Eryka wear wigs too. So one is afro and the other is straight as far as I'm concerned they are equivalent -- Eryka is not better than Chris wife in the hair department.... Burrell, thus far in the book blames all of Black people's woes on slavery. This premise does not explain, at least in my mind, the ground that we've lost on many respects. We made great strides after reconstruction creating universities, communities, churches, in a MUCH more hostile environment. Today we can't even get our boys into college -- let alone create one. Burrell complains about a bunch of authors including Noire solely on those author's book's titles. I doubt very much if he has read the books he is slamming. Again I'm only 1/3 of the way through, but I still applaud the work, despite my issues. Burrell's insight into advertising is indeed interesting.

Ok MMM was the Negro Woodstock.... They'll make documentaries about it, have MMM reunions and make more tee shirts. I got it. What about the Covenant with Black America? Did it have any impact? Ah Nevermind....

Thumper YOU said something positive and did not mean it?! I would never have guessed that one. Chris you might be right. Everyone changes (hopefully grows) overtime. I just re-read the Little Prince. I found it packing books in my office. I did not find it any more profound today than when I read it 30+ years ago...

Hey Soulful I'll be at BEA http://runt.it/2010bea We are actually hosting a party as well. You'll find a link at the end of the page. The self hatred thing was intended for Cynique. It is a running joke. I've been labling her and other folks who do something counter to the generally accepted practices of Black American i.e. not worship Obama or Oprah, and have anything good to say about Condi Rice, or Clarence Thomas.