AALBC Bestselling Books March/April 2020, Pulitzer Prize Winners, and More - 5/12/2020

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AALBC Bestselling Books March/April 2020

Fiction: Both Evil Never Sleeps and The Nickel Boys made our list for the 4th time. Most of the other fiction titles made our list for the first time this period. Nonfiction: Wealth Happens One Day at a Time: 365 Days to a Brighter Financial Future was originally published over 20 years ago and has never been out of print. It make our list for the first time. Children’s Books: Children’s Books continue to dominate sales of all genres this year. Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs and Illustrated by Shane W. Evans outsold all other books this period. Poetry: The 100 Best African American Poems edited by Nikki Giovanni leads poetry sales and is an excellent sampling of the best work from classic and contemporary Black poets.

The 2020 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced May 4th

Several books written by, or about, African Americans won awards in the books and drama categories this year. Winners included; Colson Whitehead, who won his 2nd Pulitzer, for The Nickel Boys; and Jericho Brown, who earned the honor for his book of poetry, The Tradition. W. Caleb McDaniel’s Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America, which won in the history category, tells the amazing story of Henrietta Wood. Wood was freed from enslavement, but later kidnapped, and sold back into slavery! She ultimately won a federal lawsuit and was paid $2,500.

Our 4,000th Author Profiled This Week

An AALBC Author Profile is a typically a photograph, biography, and includes pages for all of an author’s books. If it is a contemporary author, it is not uncommon for AALBC to have photographed, videoed, interviewed, or reviewed the author’s work. Many of the authors profiled on AALBC may be obscure and their books long out of print, but their work is captured here because it is important. Today we have 4,004 authors profiled on AALBC. The critically acclaimed, debut novelist, Francesca Momplaisir was our 4,000th author profiled. Her book My Mother’s House was published today (May 12th, 2020).

Making Our Own Market: Troy Johnson On Partnerships & Indie Booksellers by Kelly Starling Lyons

The article includes my “Three Tips for Children’s Book Creators and Lovers to Make a Difference:” Tip #1: Authors, When Telling Readers Where They Can Buy Your Book, Recommend an Independent Bookstore Everyone knows you can buy a book from am*zon, but am*zon is not your best cheerleader. Indie bookstores are your most loyal supporters, and we love authors who recognize this and return the love. Now if you are afraid of playing favorites, you’ll never go wrong by saying, “Buy at your favorite independent bookstore,” or “Buy wherever books are sold.” Now if your book is only available via am*zon, understand that you have effectively cut ties with your most ardent supporters. Read the Entire Article ▶

Inside Historic Black Bookstores’ Fight for Survival Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Jessica Guynn USA TODAY When Johnson, who runs AALBC, or the African American Literature Book Club, talks to groups, he asks for a show of hands of how many live within driving distance of a black-owned bookstore. “In the majority of circumstances, people don’t,” he says. Read the Entire Article ▶

AALBC Mourns the Passing of Llaila Afrika

Llaila Afrika the the three-time bestselling author of African Holistic Health. “Dr. Llaila Olela Afrika had made his transition to rebirth. It is his request that we all carry out his legacy. He has left a map for understanding the body, the mind, and the spirit. He dedicated his life for his people, so that they will have direction in all aspects of holistic living. He has left his wife Dr. Melanie Stevenson to carry his torch.” —Dr. Melanie Stevenson

Dear Reader, The level of support from you all during this global crisis has been breathtaking. The paid newsletter subscriptions and book orders have both been at record levels last month, during a time when they are needed the most. On behalf of AALBC, and the authors whose work you support, thank you. Years ago, while lamenting the gangsterism of am*zon, the repeal of Net Neutrality, Google's control over website discoverability, and the dominance of social media’s control over our attention, a wise gentleman told me; “You can’t worry about what those corporations are doing, you keep doing what you do; your people are the ones who are going to support you.” I’ve found this to always be true. I can’t win a fight against am*zon or Google, but I can always serve you . YOUR support is why AALBC has grown over the past two decades. More importantly YOUR support of platforms like AALBC is how we wrest control of our stories from those who do not have our interest at heart. Peace and Love, Troy Johnson Founder & Webmaster, AALBC.com

Consider sponsoring our eNewsletter or a dedicated mailing. ★ AALBC.com eNewsletter – May 12, 2020 - Issue #291