What Didn't YOU Do???

What didn’t you do?

As some of my followers and readers of this blog know, I do several book festivals, conferences, signings, events etc a year. I am at these events selling and promoting my line of handmade bookmarks and book thongs. I am also there to connect with others who are authors, readers, and industry professionals, like myself. I love doing book events of all types because I am also an avid reader and huge fan of the people I feel blessed to meet. There have been some really great events and some really bad ones. Some I made money at, some I didn’t and some where I barely broke even. In doing so many book events I’ve learned which ones to do and which not to. I’ve also learned how to measure the actual advantages of doing certain one’s that cost a grip and I did not sell a thing.

We would all love to sell out of all of our merchandise at these events. The question is how to make the most of any event? I hear a lot of comments and people speak freely around me because I am not an author, but little do they know I coach authors on how to make themselves stand out in a sea of authors. The very things they are bitching and moaning about are the very things that I tell authors not to do. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I recently did a book club conference that had at least 650 attendees. There were many major authors in attendance and readers galore. There were also many self published authors and other venders selling their wares. I had an awesome time. The readers were there ready to buy books and spend money. Several of the readers told me they save all year for this particular conference. I attended this event last year, as a reader and I knew I would be there this year.

It really pained me to over hear negative comments from people who did not feel they were doing as well as they could have, for a laundry list of reasons. Some were valid and some was whining. As I listened, the question then became, what are you NOT doing to make this work for you? Instead of complaining, how do YOU turn this around to your advantage?

To me the obvious first thing was stop wasting your time and energy complaining. You are letting hundreds of people pass you and you’re sitting behind your table moaning and groaning. Look at the glass as half full and figure out how to fill it.

One of the first things I would tell you to do is SMILE. It’s free and welcoming. If you’re pouting and complaining, no one wants to be around you. The readers are your customers. They don’t need to know you’re unhappy. They did not pay to come to this event to see you sulk. They don’t need to know all the politics of what’s going on behind the scenes. They want you to tell them about your book. Smile even if you’re not happy.

The next thing is plan. What is your objective in doing this event? Did you plan on what you want to gain from this experience besides sales?

Why aren’t you getting sales? Are you sitting behind the table waiting for the readers to come to you, or are you standing in front of your table, with your book in hand introducing yourself to the people passing by?


Did you dress you table up? Or do you just have your books on a table, with nothing to grab the attention of passerby’s.

Are you collecting the email addresses for contact later, when the competition is not so steep?

What did you offer in the way of promotional tools and as giveaways, that they will take home and check you out later?

Even if you were not a featured author, did it stop you from coming? Why did you come?

Trust me I have felt the same after leaving some of these events at first, and I have bitched and moaned too. But I learned how to turn it around. I figured out what to do before I got there, while I was there and to have plan A B C and D if necessary in place.

There are many things you can do prior to get the ball rolling, simple things that you can do now

Email all of your fans and let them know your going to be at this venue
Offer them a gift for coming
Find a way to dress up your table that is eye and attention getting
Create your brand and use it
Define your mission
Have an agenda
Build relationships with your social networks
Have several plans in place just in case things are not going the way you want them

While your there
Don’t stand behind the table
Smile
Get email addresses
Read an excerpt
Create a scene from your book
Where a tee shirt with your book title
Pay attention to what others are doing
Meet people
Talk to other authors
Pass out promotional materials that stick

These are just a few things that you can do.

Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.
The glass is half full what are YOU going to do to fill it up?

Don’t just show up, show out. Work these events like a job, because they are.


I offer coaching classes on “Novel Approaches” to market your book, and theme scenes for authors on a budget
odebdeb@aol.com

Roy Glenn; No More Tears in The End

No More Tears in the End
June 2008
Following the death of Freeze, Mike Black and Bobby Ray are back in control of their organization, and it seems like old times. Black knows its time to get out of game before he loses somebody else close to him. But he hasn’t taken his eye off the man he believes arranged the murder of his wife. His sleepless nights could only end when everybody involved in her death is dead. The police say that the death of Tatiana Phillips was just part of a robbery gone wrong and was probably related to drugs. End of story. Whether that’s true or not, the Phillips family still wants to know who killed her. As a favor to the family, Nick Simmons agrees to look into the senseless murder. His investigation leads him to Loraine Robinson, a ride-or-die chick that’s involved in a little bit of everything and it’s all bad.

Roy Glenn

Known as the master of urban suspense, Roy Glenn began writing his first novel Is It a Crime, what he then called “a different type of love story” in 1995. Unable to find a publisher he decided to start his own publishing company Brittney Press Publishing and released Is It a Crime, which became a best seller and gave birth to the popular character, Mike Black.
The novels that followed which include, MOB, Drug Related, Payback, Outlaw and In A Cold Sweat, as well as the recently released No More Tears in the End the seventh installment in The Mike Saga. Roy is also a contributing author of Girls From da Hood and Around the Way Girls 4 and Gigolos Get Lonely Too. His other novels include Crime of Passion, Body of Evidence and Ulterior Motive feature the character, attorney Marcus Douglas.
Roy was born and raised in The Bronx and currently lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he is working on several projects including Bury Me Deep and Commit To Violence, the next two books in the Mike Black Saga. And Killing Them Softly, an erotic tale of murder.




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Gochenour
(904) 710-6392
Local author creates best selling novels while receiving dialysis treatments
Nation's Leader of Dialysis Services provides welcoming/relaxing environment allowing patient to continue his writing career.
Jacksonville, Florida (June 2009) -- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease, has provided author, Roy Glenn, an environment suitable to create the storyline for his latest novel titled “No More Tears in the End”.
When he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure in September of 2008, Mr. Glenn, who had authored ten novels and three short stories, felt that his life would have to change. The biggest adjustment was not letting dialysis stop his life completely. He states he had to keep reminding himself that dialysis was just a small part of his life. He found that the friendly and welcoming team and physicians at DaVita Regency Dialysis in Jacksonville, Florida provided him with a relaxing environment which allowed him to focus that and continue to write his stories while receiving dialysis treatments.
Mr. Glenn proudly announces the release of his seventh novel of “The Mike Black Saga” titled “No More Tears in the End”. The highly acclaimed series is part of the mystery/suspense genre. Mr. Glenn has been called the master of urban suspense!



More Books By Roy Glenn
Is It A Crime
December 2003
If you’re looking for an exciting blend of romance, mystery and danger, Is It A Crime is one you have to read. It combines those powerful elements into an explosive tale of love on the edge. Is It A Crime tells the story of Mike Black, whose violent rise to power earned him the name Vicious Black. Although he has everything he ever wanted, none of it seems to matter. He becomes enchanted with Cassandra Sims, a beautiful woman involved in the drug business. When an attempt is made on her life, Mike rescues her and becomes her protector. On the trail of her attacker, their relationship develops with an intriguing journey through Washington DC, Miami Beach and the Bahamas in the backdrop. The pursuit leads them back to New York City where all the pieces to the puzzle come together.

Girls From Da Hood
October 2004
Nikki Turner, the Queen of Hip Hop fiction, with the help of her home-girl Chunichi and right hand man Roy Glenn, she's about to take street fiction to a place it's never been before in the Original Girls From Da Hood. If luck were money, Nina Thomas would be one broke sister. After taking a stab at stripping, she finds herself once again on the wrong end of a bad choice. Now she's on trial for murder, and the consequences of spending too much time with the wrong folks might just end up costing her life.

MOB
December 2004
Who say crime doesn’t pay? Because it sure does for Travis Burns. He’s the leader of a well organized, prepared, and over all else highly disciplined robbing crew, and he and his partners Jackie Washington and Ronnie Grier are living the good life. They Target banks, grocery stores, jewelry stores, and anything else that they can hit quick and come away with a large return on their investment of time. All three are college graduates who fell victim to corporate lay-offs and down sizing. Now they live by rules which have serviced them well in what do. They are, Until Travis runs into Me'shelle Lawrence. She's beautiful, intelligent and has no involvement in the life Travis leads. Now he must reconcile his loyalty to his crew, his love for Me'shelle and find a way to make it out of the game alive.

Drug Related
April 2005
When Mrs. Gabrielle Childers’ brother goes missing, the first person she suspects is her husband, Chilly, a major player in the drug game. Chilly, of course, denies any involvement in her brother’s disappearance, but Mrs. Childers is not convinced. She hires Nick Simmons, a former army special operations officer turned private investigator. He was once a member of Mike Black’s criminal organization and his investigation leads him back to a world of drugs and murder that was once his life. Nick gets so caught up, not only in the case, but with Mrs. Childers that it leads to his arrest and forces him to deal with a dark past that he left behind ten years ago.

Payback
Revenge is a dish that is best served cold
February 2006
Semi-retired; living the good life in the Bahamas with his wife Cassandra “Shy” Black, however that peaceful island life is disturbed when Black’s old friend Nick Simmons (Drug Related), decides to pay him a visit. Before Nick has the chance to reunite and reminisce with Black, the drama begins. After a wild shootout at Black’s Paradise, Mike’s restaurant in the Bahamas, Shy is kidnapped by South American drug dealers and taken to New York. Now Black must find his kidnapped wife, while fighting off a take-over attempt, and solve a murder with political implications, only to find that there is one man behind it all.

Gigolos Get Lonely Too
March 2006
Three men that have a way with the ladies struggle to keep their heads when each finds that love is more important than sex. It's a dream come true for Vernon Gordon -- a threesome with two of the finest women in Atlanta. Forget the fact that he's married, or that the two willing women are his estranged sister-in-law and his wife's best friend. Vernon's just out to get his. Carter’s found the woman of his dreams and to keep her, he’s all set to change his lifestyle as a gigolo. But all hell breaks loose when he agrees to meet Deanna for what he’s decided is going to be his last appointment. Rick has to find a way to make it out the game, when he falls in April. Now he has to find a way to cut loose, Laura, Yvette and Vanessa.

Crime Of Passion
October 2006
Attorney Marcus Douglas is hired to defend business man Roland Ferguson, who is on trial for the brutal murders of his wife, Desireé Taylor Ferguson and her lover Rasheed Damali. When Ferguson is acquitted of all charges the victims sister, model Carmen Taylor demands justice for her sister. “If Roland didn't kill her, fine. Somebody did! What bothers me is that nobody is interested in finding out who did." She enlists the help of Marcus Douglas and together they begin an investigation into a case that involves drugs, prostitution, money laundering and murder that the police weren’t interested in perusing.

Outlaw
February 2007
After settling some unfinished business in the Baja Peninsula, Mike Black returns home only to find that his wife, Shy has been brutally beaten, shot to death. The police arrive shortly after he does. They take Black into custody and charge him with murder. Now Nick Simmons (Drug Related), the family lawyer, Wanda Moore, and an unlikely ally, Detective Kirkland must work together to find out who framed Mike Black for murder.

Around The Way Girls 4
July 2007
There’s a sayin’ that if you come from my part of town, that you’re from around the way. Around the Way Girls 4 features three stories that take a look at the lives of some street-smart who think they have the world in the palm of their hands, but are about to find out that things are not always as they seem. For Jada West it was All About the Money. From dancing at the best strip club to becoming the city’s top Madame, whatever it took to make piles of paper, that’s what she was about. Roy Glenn brings a different flavor to the around the way girl as Jada discovers that in the end, there is something more important than money. Essence ® Best Selling Author La Jill Hunt brings the drama in Thug Passion and Dwayne S. Joseph weaves a dramatic tale of love and betrayal in All For Love.



Body Of Evidence
October 2007
Panthea Daniels is stunned and devastated when she learns her husband of seven years is having an affair. She visits attorney Marcus Douglas to begin divorce proceedings, but sparks immediately begin to fly between the two. Things take a dramatic and unexpected turn as they engage in an illicit affair. After receiving pictures of the woman— “It’s not every day that you see your husband’s mistress.”— Panthea is arrested and charged with murder. The victim, Abril Arrington, was involved with several men, and she was conning them all out of money—including Panthea’s husband Scott. Marcus is convinced that each men, and not his client-turned-lover Panthea, have a compelling reason for killing Arbil. But as the investigation continues, Marcus is faced with undeniable facts that leave him questioning everything he thought he knew, including whether Panthea is capable of murder!

In A Cold Sweat
April 2008
Following the brutally murder his beloved wife, Cassandra (Outlaw), Mike Black still laying low in the burbs at the home of his friend Bobby Ray. Haunted by the fact that the people behind Cassandra’s death are still breathing, Black vows to find the people responsible and kill them all. He is distracted from that when assassins make and attempt on Black’s life and he finds that he has a new enemy, a group of drug dealers that called themselves The Commission. Originally formed as a buying co-op, their sole purpose was to protect themselves against Mike Black.

ULTERIOR MOTIVE
October 2008
While he is forced to deal with personal issues of his own, Attorney Marcus Douglas is hired by Angela Pettybone, an old college friend who called out of the blue saying that she needed to speak to him. Angela was his best-friends girlfriend in college, but Marcus was in love with her and the feelings are still there. Angela had just been questioned by the police in the death of Stephanie Covey, her boss, Robert Covey’s wife. Angela admits to having an affair with Robert. Marcus realizes that there is more going on than a simple affair and a murder, when the body count rise and they all are connected to Angela and Robert. Now Marcus must unravel the twisted details, and keep his personal feelings for her from clouding his objectivity if he is going to keep his old friend from going to jail.


Read an excerpt from Bury Me Deep, his latest work online
www.royglenn.net

The Devil is a Lie

The Devil is a Lie
by ReShonda Tate Billingsley


Is Money The Root To all Evil People??

When Nina Lawson wins $16 million in the Texas Lottery, the real estate executive and her fiancé, ecstatically begin planning their future — from paying off their credit card debt, to setting their wedding date, to a spontaneous, spare-no-expense island getaway.
But when Nina goes to claim her winnings, she gets an astounding twist of fate: her ex-husband, Todd Lawson, shows up to inform he he isn’t her ex —since the paperwork for their divorce was never officially filed. By Todd’s side, his money-hungry girlfriend, Pam – the woman he left Nina for.
MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS
Between her divorce drama, Nina also has to deal with relatives coming out of the woodwork to seek a payday for themselves. Before all is said and done, Nina must ask herself if scoring a fortune in cash comes with too high a price tag. With a little bit of luck, Nina will discern the real wealth in her heart, not just her bank account—or risk losing everything—to find out what matters the most.

My 2 cents
ReShonda has written yet another fabulous, and possible story. The cast of characters showed their true colors, GREEN, when it came to Nina's money. The Devil is a Lie, gave a perfect picture of how money is not evil, people are when it comes to money, even if it's someone else's. I truly loved the story, and the end was oh so satisfying.


ReShonda Tate Billingsley is a national bestselling author of 17 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie and national touring stageplay of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. Five of her other books, have also been optioned for film by CodeBlack Entertainment.
ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that in 2007, she was able to leave her job as a reporter with Fox 26 News in Houston to pursue writing full time. ReShonda has appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists.
ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. ReShonda’s upcoming projects include The Devil is a Lie (July 2009), Holy Rollers (2010) and two more teen novels. The Houston native and University of Texas at Austin graduate also serves as a freelance editorial and marketing consultant. She has ghostwritten four fiction projects and five non-fiction projects. She is married with three small children.


Visit ReShonda online at http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/
Follow the blog tour at http://bitly.com/TheDevilIsALie

Carleen Brice on BAN Radio, June 20, 2009

Join Black Authors Network host Ella Curry and author Carleen Brice on BAN Radio, June 20 for lively discussion about her new book Children of the Waters.

Black Authors Network Talk Show
Saturday Night, June 20, 2009 at 8-10pm EST
Live Chat: www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
Fans call into at: (646) 200-0402
Gifts given out to live callers and registered BTR chatters.




Book Discussion and Live Reading from Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice

The author of the #1 Denver Post bestseller and Essence Book Club Pick Orange Mint and Honey explores the connection between love and race, and what it really means to be a family. Children of the Waters (ISBN: 978-0345499073) is a story about two long lost half-sisters, one white and one black, who find each other possibly with the help of their grandmother’s ghost.


Book Introduction

Trish Taylor’s white ancestry never got in the way of her love for her black ex-husband, or their mixed race son, Will. But when Trish’s marriage ends, she returns to her family’s Denver, Colorado home to find a sense of identity and connect to her past.

What she finds there shocks her to the very core: her mother and newborn sister were not killed in a car crash as she was told. In fact, her baby sister, Billie Cousins, is now a grown woman; her grandparents had put her up for adoption, unwilling to raise the child of a black man. Billie, who had no idea she was adopted, wants nothing to do with Trish until a tragedy in Billie’s own family forces her to lean on her surprisingly supportive and sympathetic sister.

Together they unravel age-old layers of secrets and resentments and navigate a path toward love, healing, and true reconciliation.



What are some of the topics addressed in Children of the Waters?
--- Paths toward love, healing, and true reconciliation
--- Feeling secure in your own identity
--- Surviving a messy divorce
--- Raising teenage sons
--- Generational racism
--- Handling of Lupus
--- Hidden secrets and adoption
--- Embracing a bi-racial heritage
--- The importance of sisterhood

"In Children of the Waters, Carleen Brice highlights the effects of America's complicated relationship with race and identity on three generations of two families in a clear and insightful depiction of what it means to be American at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Brice knows how far we have come and how far there is left to go, and in Children of the Waters she deflty lays it all out for the reader to see." - Matthew Aaron Goodman, author of Hold Love Strong


More about Carleen
Carleen Brice’s debut novel, Orange Mint and Honey (One World/Ballantine), was an Essence “Recommended Read” and a Target “Bookmarked Breakout Book.” For this book, she won the 2009 First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and the 2008 Break Out Author Award at the African American Literary Awards Show. Her second novel, Children of the Waters (One World/Ballantine), a book about race, love and family, is available now where ever books are sold. If you don't see it at your local retailer, please go to the representive and request it. You can read an excerpt at her website http://www.carleenbrice.com/.

She also edited and contributed to the anthology Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number: Black Women Explore Midlife, which was published in the U.S. (Beacon Press) and the U.K. (Souvenir Press). She is author of Lead Me Home: An African American’s Guide Through the Grief Journey (Avon/HarperCollins). Her book Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color, an Essence bestseller, was in print with traditional publishers for 10 years and sold 100,000 copies. It is currently available through iUniverse and Louis Gossett Jr.'s Eracism Foundation. Carleen and her husband live in Colorado.

Children of the Waters, Carleen Brice
ISBN: 0345499077
ISBN-13: 9780345499073
Pub. Date: June 23, 2009

Shop for the book at Barnes and Noble

Shop for the book at Amazon.com

What The Bayou Saw

What The Bayou Saw
Patti Lacy






"The Past Can't Stay Buried Forever"
A deeply moving story about secrets,segregation, and 40 years of lies. A gritty read through a chain link fence and the eyes of a child growing up in the late 50's in the deep south

EDC Creations First Quarter Literary Hallmarks

EDC Creations 2009 First Quarter Literary Hallmarks

Ella Curry and EDC Creations are proud to announce the books that created an impact, for readers and the EDC Creations network. Our “literary hallmarks” indicate excellence in writing and storytelling. These are the books we want to feature to the world. Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for most book lovers! The books ARE NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are ALL 4-5 star literary gems. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers, make you sit up and take notice, and to help to strengthen our future generations. If you are a fan of Erotica or Urban Literature, there is a list for you. If you are more in tune with books of a Spiritual or Motivational nature, there is a list for you. Christian Fiction lovers, we have books listed that you are sure to love. Like to live life on the edge and walk on the dark, mysterious side—we have a selection for you too. We have a special section for books that share in the African American experience, in a fictional setting, be sure to check the out.

We have reviewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Keep in mind we reviewed some of these books for the publishers and they might be on pre-order status. Other lists will be posted of our fantastic literary finds. You are invited to explore the shelves of our book store where most of the books are listed: http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20. Enjoy!

Authors, if you see your book listed, please leave a comment with your website address, book seller links and any news about you and your books! Ask your network to stop by and share their reviews of your books too. Make sure you tell your friends if you see their names listed. Follow this blog on the right hand side of the site, to keep up with the comments.


Books Change Lives—Young Adults/Our Experiences
Young Readers and Teen Literature
1. Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul by Jack Canfield
2. Love, Ocean by Celia Anderson
3. Unsigned Hype by Booker T. Mattison
4. Step To This: So For Real Series by Nikki Carter
5. Prayers That Avail Much for Teens by Germaine Copeland
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls by Donna Dale Carnegie
7. Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill
8. Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
9. Learning to Love by Stephanie Perry Moore
10. Friends 'til the End by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
11. The Black Male Handbook by Kevin Powell, Hill
12. Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper
13. That Life by A.R Hilton
14. Profiles in Black: Phat Facts for Teens by Marvin A. McMickle
15. Catwalk by Deborah Gregory

On the Shoulders of Giants —Faith Based Books
1. Somebody's Sinning in My Bed by Pat G'Orge Walker
2. Practicing What You Preach by Vanessa Davis Griggs
3. Any Minute: A Novel by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford
4. Guilty of Love by Pat Simmons
5. Somewhat Saved by Pat G'Orge Walker
6. Lady Jasmine by Victoria Christopher Murray
7. Heaven Right Here by Lutishia Lovely
8. Up at the College by Michele Andrea Brown
9. The Enclave by Karen Hancock
10. Take Two by Karen Kingsbury
11. Par for the Curse by Toyi Ward
12. I Know Why The Angels Dance by Bryan Davis
13. Deliver Me From My Enemies by Sharon Oliver
14. Beautiful Ugly by Shelia E. Lipsey
15. The Last Woman Standing by Tia McCollors
16. The Devil Is a Lie by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
17. Keep Your Enemies Closer by Sharon Oliver
18. Mom's the Word by Marilynn Griffith
19. God is in Love With You by Valerie Love
20. The List by Sherri Lewis
21. June Bug by Chris Fabry
22. Behind the Seen! by Phyllis Kennedy Brown
23. Reflections of a Quiet Storm by Patricia A. Bridewell
24. Ashes, Ashes They All Fall Down by Anita Ballard Jones
25. Inherited Sin by Wanda Manning
26. Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus
27. Little Pages of Love by Edward C. Clark
28. Worth a Thousand Words by Stacy Hawkins Adams
29. Journey to Jordan by Donna Deloney
30. The Word: Poetry Connection by Arnita L. Fields
31. Trouble in My Way by Michelle Stimpson
32. The Cooling Board by Tamara Angela Grant
33. Sinful Too by Victor McGlothin
34. Half Minister/Half Mistress by Nicole Morgan
35. The Friends We Keep: How Women Navigate the Delights and Wounds of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis

Our Literary Legacy —Historical Based Ficton/Historical Black Ficton
1. A Song for Harlem by Patricia C. McKissack
2. In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
3. What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy
4. A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi



Our Literary Legacy —Non-fiction/Motivational/Poetry Books
1. Women of A New Tribe from Jerry Taliaferro
2. Grandpa Does Grandma: The ABCs of Senior Sex by Phil Parker
3. From Incarceration 2 Incorporation by J.M. Benjamin & Randy Kearse
4. Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom by Cornel West
5. Almost Persuaded, Now to Believe by Joshua McClure
6. America I am Legends by Smiley Books
7. Family Affair by Gil L. Robertson, IV
8. No Matter What by Lisa Nichols
9. Raising Boys to be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott
10. Ministry of Motherhood by Cheryl Lacy Donovan
11. Prairie Tale: A Memoir by Melissa Gilbert
12. Content...Right Where I Am by Joy Turner
13. Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend by Bill Russell
14. Remember What Your Mamas Taught You by Brenda Hill
15. The Only Way Out is In by Daya Devi-Doolin
16. What's It All About Nesheba? by Nesheba
17. Living Check to Monday by Lynn Richardson
18. Empowered to Birth Naturally by Patrice A. London
19. J.D.'s Groove by poet John D. Evans
20. From the Land of the Lost by poet Eric Vance Walton
21. Beautiful: Nudes by Marc Baptiste
22. Metu Neter Vol. 3 by Ra Un Nefer Amen
23. Black Beauty: A History and a Celebration by Ben Arogundade
24. 10 Bad Choices That Ruin Black Women's Lives by Grace Cornish
25. Blessed Assurance: Success Despite the Odds by Jacquie Lewis-Kemp
26. Wisdom for Women of Worth and Worship by Natalie A. Francisco, ED.D
27. If God Does Not Permit A Woman to Preach, Then God Must Be a Sexist by Min. Lamont McLaurin
28. How to be Highly Favored and Empowered to Prosper in Your Job Search by Kimberly A. Benjamin, PHR
29. Stolen Women: Reclaiming Our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives by Gail Wyatt
30. Why Men Marry Bitches: A Woman's Guide to Winning Her Man's Heart by Sherry Argov



Living on the Edge— Thrillers/Mystery/Fantasy Books
1. Deadly Intent by Lynda LaPlante
2. Immortal I and II by Valjeanne Jeffers
3. The Defector by Daniel Silva
4. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
5. Swimsuit by James Patterson
6. Black Water Rising by Attica Locke
7. The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss
8. Who's Been Sleeping in Your Head by Brett Kahr
9. The Thirteenth by L. A. Banks
10. Ashes of Midnight by Lara Adrian
11. Soul Deep by Lora Leigh

Our Passions— Mixed Genre Fiction/ Erotica/Urban Literature
1. Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice
2. Life is Short But Wide by J. California Cooper
3. Chaser by Miasha
4. Alibi by Terri Woods
5. And Mistress Makes Three by Frances Ray
6. Single Husband by HoneyB
7. Lies of Blue by Lynne Forde
8. A Lova' Like No Otha' by Stephanie Perry Moore
9. Reality Check by Eric Pete
10. Temptation and Lies by Donna Hill
11. A New Kind of Bliss by Bettye Griffin
12. Quieting the Storm by Shelley Parsons
13. Private Lives by Gwynne Forster
14. B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras
15. Thug Lovin' (Thug ) by Wahida Clark
16. His Invisible Wife by Shelia M. Goss
17. Hungry Woman in Paris by Josefina López
18. Body By Night by Zuri Day
19. A Private Affair by Donna Hill
20. Sisters & Husbands by Connie Briscoe
21. Maneater by Mary B. Morrison
22. Nothing but Trouble by Bettye Griffin
23. Bliss Inc. by Chamein Canton
24. The Highest Price for Passion by Laurinda D. Brown
25. Keeping Secrets and Telling Lies by Trice Hickman
26. Song of the Siren by Avah LaReaux
27. In Her Mind by Renee Daniel Flagler
28. Loving Simone by Jessica Tilles
29. Unexpected by Tinisha Nicole Johnson
30. Carbon Copy by Azarel
31. When Life Becomes a Love Story by Sonia Matthews
32. How I Made the Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts
33. That Devil's No Friend of Mine by J. D. Mason
34. Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
35. Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas
36. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Tracy Darity
37. Keith's Story by Nikkea Smithers
38. Attitudes of a Woman by Nikkea Lewis
39. Serving Justice by Jacqueline D. Moore
40. Are You Satisfied Yet by M Bridges
41. Turned On: Summer Series by Angel Hunter
42. The Georgia Avenue Bus by Henri Edmonds
43. Sweet Destiny by Bernadette Watkins
44. Reality Check: Stepmother Chronicles by Anjalon D. Edwards
45. Make Me Whole by Roishina Clay Henderson
46. Nina's Got A Secret by Brian W. Smith
47. Good Girl Gone Bad by Danette Majette
48. Ready to Male by Lamar Ariel
49. Hiding in the Shadows by Claudia Brown Mosley
50. When Lightning Strikes by Keya
51. Intimate Accusations by Nyra Knight
52. What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant
53. Vixen Icon by Buffie
54. Scream My Name by Kimberly Kaye Terry
55. Freedom's Fight by Gary Phillips
56. The Right Wedding Gown by Shirley Hailstock
57. It's Morning: Torn Lovers and Their Stories by Elaine Flowers
58. Sinnamon by Wasiim-Kenny Young
59. Kissing The Man Next Door by Devon Vaughn Archer
60. Road To Seduction by Ann Christopher

Authors, if you see your book listed, please leave a comment with your website address, book seller links and any news about you and your books! Ask your network to stop by and share their reviews of your books. We would like to have you all on the BAN Radio Show, so leave your contact information in the comments for Ella Curry and her interns. Email: edc_dg@yahoo.com

Readers, if you have read any of the books listed, please share your reviews. If you would like for any of these authors to speak with your friends or book clubs, please leave your request and email address in our comments section. We will try to pass them on to the publicists or the authors. Request the authors for a phone chat and live reading with you and 10 friends: Email: edc_dg@yahoo.com


Ella Curry, president of EDC Creations
http://www.edc-creations.com/


Black Pearls Magazine
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/


Shop at our Book Store

http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20

Par for the Curse

Meet Toyi Ward, author of Par for the Curse

Toyi Ward is a freelance writer, author & media host who specializes in contemporary issues that affect working women. After ten years as a Fortune 100 sales & marketing executive, she launched Toyi Ward Communications, LLC, a writing/consulting company focused on the enrichment of working women. TWC contracts with e-magazines, websites, and print media to create fiction and non-fiction projects that examine issues pertaining to today’s woman.

Toyi draws upon her life experience and corporate training to facilitate workshops and lectures that enhance the lives of women at work and in their personal lives. She is the host of "TOYi Talk-Authenticity with Attitude" on the Blog Talk Radio Network. When asked, she credits her tenacity for tackling women’s issues from her name. "It’s one half of the South African toyi-toyi, the dance of protest. My parents named me well."

ABOUT THE BOOK

Stormy has grown up with the warning that she is cursed. Raised in a family of eight women with twenty-four husbands among them, she has managed to escape the family’s legacy thus far. Things begin to change once she is given the details concerning a hex that was cast upon her great grandmother over eighty years ago.

Managing the antics of her adulteress young cousin, Riley, exhausts Stormy. Comforting the heartbreak of her older cousin Lourdes, angers her. After a devastating turn of events on par with her birthright, Stormy decides to seek a remedy for the family’s plight. She travels to New Orleans determined to find answers. Along the way she faces a quilt of obstacles and a set of choices that challenge her reality. Will she reveal the information or continue playing the hand she was dealt by an angry young woman in the Bayou?

Par for the Curse reveals the influence of voodoo and the impact of generational secrets on family, life, and love.


CHARACTER PROFILE: Q & A with Riley Briggs

Q. What is your favorite thing about yourself?

RILEY: Oh that's easy. I like the fact that I love me. What's not to love? I'm beautiful, saavy, fun, with the skinniest ankles of any women I've ever met. And I know how to work what my mama gave me.

Q. What mark do you want to leave on the world?

RILEY:I don't need to leave a mark on the world. I'm planning on sliding into the grave with a bottle of Hennessey and a bag of french fries.

Q. So you plan on taking Hennessey to heaven with you?

RILEY: Now there you go. No. I don't plan to take Hennessey to heaven with me. And yes, I plan to get in. I don't need to be all up in the spot. I'll probably just get inside the gate, but I'm cool with that. [laughs]

Q. Lourdes is so sweet and beautiful. Stormy is smart and ambitious. Where do you fit?

RILEY: For starters, I'm the prettiest. People say Lourdes is because she's so nice but I've always had more men than both of them. I'm fine. They are pretty. There's a difference. True, Stormy is ambitious but she doesn't do much with it. I've been all over the world and built my real estate business by myself. She has done alot with MY social network. MY influence is why she has done well. Nobody knows her. It's me they respond to.

Q. Wow! Okay. Tell me about your husband, Damon.

RILEY: What about him? Nothing much to tell. He's nice enough. He loves me more than I love him and that's most important. But you know Kendall is my man.

Q. Doesn't it bother you that he's married?

RILEY: No. His wife is crazy. She totally mistreats him and he deserves someone like me. We have a real connection. When you read the book you'll see that. He loves me.

Q. Speaking of the book, how did you like it?

I like the story, but I don't know if I agree with my portrayal. I mean, it made me look so selfish. I mean I guess it's about my family so that makes sense, but the next book needs to be about me.

Purchase Par for the Curse to read Riley and her family's story.

Follow the Par for the Curse Blog Tour schedule at http://bitly.com/ParfortheCurse.

Are you living Victoriously?

Victorious Magazine Launch Celebration

VICTORIOUS Magazine is the cornerstone of our public communication, providing access to articles representing our victorious message! By reaching out directly to each woman and touching on the concerns that are on her heart we are able to encourage her to press on toward her dreams to live victoriously, taking control of her own destiny and achieving her true purpose. Our editorial content is designed to validate the importance of the things that appeal to her on all levels - personally, professionally, spiritually, and mentally - in a way that only women can understand.

Our article categories include Destiny & Purpose, Inspiration & Empowerment, Stewardship, Victorious Living, Victorious Wellness, and Style & Grace. The publication launched its digital version March 30, 2009. The first print issue of VICTORIOUS MAGAZINE will hit the newsstands September 2009, with an initial circulation of 25,000.

What Not to do

What Not to do

Do you, the author realize that you are a celebrity? Well to us, the fans, you are. We want to be as engaged with you as we were with your book.

I recently went to a signing and I will not mention names but the author was arrogant, smug, and had an attitude. this was not a good look. The signing had about 30 people there either with books or ready to buy.

I thought hmmm great turn out, but the author was a turn off. What ever the problem was it should have been left at the door. All the excited fans caught wind of the attitude immediately. And the excitement died just a little.

I just figured once things got started it would be great, BUT NOOO. It worsened. The author acted as if WE ought to be grateful, they were here. HUH???

The author then proceeded to do a discussion about how great thou are. Not about the books at all. WT??? At the end of the boast, the author then told people with books line up here and the ones who did not have books, and I quote “GO buy one and get in line”.

I was mortified at the rudeness. So were others. At that point I did not want my books signed, but I stood in line to tell the author to read my blog today. And I refused to have my books signed, and I asked how “does that make you feel”. By the way, the ones who were told to “GO buy a book”; they left without making a purchase.

Authors we love you, appreciate us. You need to figure out what’s going to keep us running back to you, your site and the bookstore. Obviously this is not it. If this is how you do things, you should never, ever do any public interaction.

Simply Said

Book Spotlight: When Lightning Strikes by Keya

When Lightning Strikes by Keya
How can you have it all – education, personality, and beauty - yet your life is flooded with a sea of troubles?

Imminent, new author Keya answers this question and more in When Lightning Strikes, a novel about Ms. Taylor Devereaux, her three best friends, and her spiraling-out-of-control life. Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating.

To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor?

See how Taylor reacts “When Lightning Strikes.”

Website: http://www.keyalit.com

Read the first chapter online:
http://www.keyalit.com/WhenLightningStrikes-Chapter1.pdf

View the online Media Kit from Keya's site:
http://www.keyalit.com/mediakit.htm

Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference "Literary Lounge"

220 Communications Author Events


Sell Your Books At Our Multiple Events

Authors can now sell their books at our monthly events (Wine Tastings, Late Night Music Series). We will provide the avenue you provide the product as part of the admission price authors receive a negotiated price for your book. Move anywhere from 20-50 books at each event you have your work available. (note: Preference will be given to Authors currently signed to sell books with 220 Communications)

For more information, contact us.

Click Here To Contact Us

info@220communications.com




Greetings!


We have an opportunity for you to become one of the few published authors to participate in the Black Enterprise Magazines. Entrepreneur Conference in Detroit this coming May. Also other information on selling your book at our many events.



2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo
hosted General Motors & ExxonMobil,

DATE: May 18th -19th
TIME: 2:00-6:30 (both Days)
LOCATION: Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center



220 Communications will sponsor a "Literary Lounge" at the 2009 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted General Motors & ExxonMobil, May 17-20, at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan. For 4 hours Monday and Tuesday the Lounge and the participating authors will be signing and selling their books to over one thousand business owners, networkers and other attendees at the event.

We feel an author is the ultimate entrepreneur and this unique opportunity to reach an audience with the disposable income and networking reach of this caliber was too good to pass up. Traditionally published as well as self -published authors are welcomed.

Details:
- No limit on the number of titles you sell
- Authors keep all profits from book sales
- four hours each day of selling

Authors Receive:
-Selling Space (Table and Chair)
- Advertisement of appearance in 220 Communications Newsletter
- Promotion to conference attendees
- Giveaway supporting your appearance (either trip or another large prize for attendees who purchase books in the lounge)
- Opportunity for discounted admission to the full conference

Costs
$75/author (both days, no table shares)

Discounted Hotel Accommodations Available at Hotel:

Interested Authors need to contact 220 Communications via email this week. Authors will be notified of their selection and will need to satisfy fee requirements within 24 hours of selection (guaranteed funds via pay pal).

Please email info@220communications.com

Include:

Name

Title(s) of your works

Contact # and email

A New Conversation With Men

"I think your message is very current, important, and much in need today. If we can get just a few more men to hear your message, and ask them to pass it on, pay it forward and walk the talk, maybe just maybe we can reach some of those lost men, brothers and son’s".
Debra Owsley


Introduction to the phenomenal new book "A New Conversation With Men"




Introduce us to mission behind writing your book, A New Conversation with Men.

I fervently believe that the greatest challenge we face in this country is to redefine masculinity. What I mean is that we must empower men to embrace new ways of being men in todays fast paced ever-changing world. If we can engage men in this new conversation I believe we can begin eradicating things like high divorce rates, poverty, domestic abuse and addictions. These issues are tearing at the fabric of America and can not be resolved through political means. These issues are emotional, psychological and spiritual, they are not political so we cannot expect politicians to resolve them. What is needed is a new conversation with men because dialog is always the foundation of change. This book is creating a much needed dialog amongst men that I believe will begin transforming their lives in positive ways.


--- What are 3 words that sum up your book.

The three words that sum up this book are Responsibility, Accountability and Integrity. When a man takes complete responsibility for his life there is nothing that can stop him from living his dreams, If a man holds himself accountable for his actions then he never feels victimized by his external surroundings, and when he lives from a place of personal integrity and empowerment he becomes the master of his own destiny.


--- How long did it take you to write?

It is difficult for some people to believe but I wrote the entire book in only 32 days. But you must understand that there is more than twenty years of growth and experience included in these pages.


--- How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

Approximately twenty years ago I asked myself a very simple question. The question was, "What does it mean to be a man?" This is the question that I have been attempting to answer and I'm sure most men have asked themselves at one time or another. It is a very important question that I believe my book actually answers, as a result of this question I came up with the title A New Conversation With Men.


--- How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Most people would call it nonfiction self-help. I call it Transformational Education.


--- What motivated you to start writing in this genre? Will you branch out later with other books?
I have always been an avid reader and the majority of the books I read are non-fiction personal development type books. I only read about things that educate and motivate me to be a better person so I choose to write about the same things. I have committed to writing at least five more books in my lifetime. I already have titles and chapter outlines for these upcoming books. I will complete the follow up to this book before the end of 2009.


--- What, for you, was the most profound chapter?

As a writer I don't see the book as individual chapters. I view it as a single expression of creativity. Therefore neither chapter is more profound than another although the chapters on The Five Illusions of Manhood and Transformation are the most important chapters in my opinion.


--- Would women find interest in this book?

I've actually had more women read the book than men. Although the book is targeted to men the message actually transcends gender. The content provides fuel for contemplation for men and women and I think it's important for both sexes to engage in this new conversation. Women have told me that they learned a lot about themselves from the book even though they purchased it for the men in their lives.


--- What makes your book stand out and would make a reader pick it up?

I believe men are hungry for something new and different. They want to be empowered and they want specific strategies to help them improve their lives. This book does just that. It provides concrete action steps for any man who is ready for positive change in his life. It is written in a very conversational style that is easy to comprehend and relate to.



--- Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?

It's important that we recognize the importance of this new conversation. Because we live in a male dominated culture, most people will assume that there isn't a need for this type of book. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason this book is so important is because the current male culture simply isn't working. If we really want to resolve the majority of the social issues affecting our country we must get to the "cause" of the problem. I believe the cause is an antiquated male culture that needs to evolve to a more loving, caring and compassionate culture. When we create this cultural shift I believe the world will become a better place.


Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life."

Website: Michael Taylor www.ancwm.com

Email: mtcreates@comcast.net

Video LInk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyitMm15qwQ

K.L. Belvin, A Man in Transition

When did you begin writing, and what brought you to it?
Well my writing came about as a means for me to get close to women. I found other brothers had weak game and when you write an erotic or romantic poem or story the women reacted to it. Over the years as I matured so has my writing and my choice of writing. Now I try to write works that are reflective of the man I am trying to be.

Your book Man in Transition, has a lot of personal ideologies, please speak about those thoughts.
Well I took a chance with poetry to be expressive of my personal changes but I felt it was needed. I am a born again Christian and this prompts my way of life and my book reflects the changes made as man. In my book the chapters were designed to show the reader what words come from a man who has changed his life for the better. The poetry ideas in my book cover fathers, love for mother, death, abortion, faith, teaching and even erotica. My thoughts are expressed since I have lived all that I write about...



You and your wife Tiffany are one of the cutest couples I know, which poems did you write just for her?
Oh thank you for the compliment. We really enjoy being married.

There are a few that were inspired by the feelings I have for my wife... Here they go.
Perfect Woman (if only in my mind) is one of my favorites
Harmony,
Ghetto Girl
The Smiles Not Seen, the Cries Not Heard (The Abortion Poem)
That Smile

Who is KL and what is he about?
KL is a man that has seen much and done much. My life at times can be confusing because I still haven’t figured out what my true purpose is. With that said I try many things to see if it’s the place I am supposed to be. I am secretly sensitive but I keep it hidden since people attempt to use it against you. My spirituality grounds me and keeps me focused on what is the right way to live. KL is about Love. The Love I have for my wife is a driving force to remain the man I am while finding ways to be better. I am about my people and history of my people. As an educator I try to bring a part of the past into the conversations had today. Our children need to see and hear the words from someone they trust. I am also about my own children. I haven’t always been the father I should and could be because I have multiple children with multiple women. I am not proud of the fact but, I don’t wear it as a badge of shame. I simply know I have to attempt to provide what I can within all I have for my children. Does that mean I am going to take care of everything they need, of course not. That is the punishment for living a life with no respect for life or self. I accept this fate and push forward because of it.
To sum it all up, K. L. is “A Man In Transition” and I am about constant change and positive growth. There is no room for whining or complaining. Prayer and actions are the weapons I choose.

Do you have any tips for authors and poets, like yourself, would you give to people starting this journey?
Study, Study, Study. Learn as much as you can about this craft and then decide if you’re going to make the commitment to do this. Writing is not a game and selling books is not for everyone. I would say understand marketing or get close to someone who does if you’re going to make it. You have to be ready to deal with disappointments and financial loss. You also have to surround yourself with others who are positive influences and doers in this line of work. Do give into intimidation of another success. Many authors will reach out and help so don’t be scared to ask for help. Attend conferences and be prepared to ask questions and learn.
Finally, have faith in your talents. Trust the Lord, he didn’t place you here for no particular reason.

What projects are you working on and what’s coming up?
I am in a Christian anthology coming out Father’s day called The Soul of Man. 14 brothers offering their connection with God for the world to see what “triumph” can look like through the eyes of black men. I am part of another Christian anthology called Bended Knee due out in November. This book only has 8 authors so the challenge was greater to complete. I am going to continue to promote my poetry book. However I believe that I am going to take a step back from writing and return to taking classes on becoming a better writer. I feel I am weak in the areas of professional writing and I need to truly dive into become a writer who’s work can be respected by all who read. If money will allow I plan on attending the Black Writers Conference and Reunion in Las Vegas in June
I am also considering starting my PhD in Education and course in writing.
“From Gigolo to Jesus” My life as a sexual predator. Is the title of the second book I am working on. I can see it completed and ready in late 2010. The book is about my life as an out of control fatherless young man who lived his life through sexual exploits only to found the Lord, completed my masters, got married, divorced, saved my relationship after infidelity to get remarried, reconnected all my children and take each day as educator serious enough to place my whole life under the scrutiny of today’s society. I feel it a story that needs to be told to possibly save some young men from going the route I took to find salvation and peace.

What has some of the highlights thus far in your journey?
The first day my first book came to my house.
Going to Tampa last year and selling a book when my books hadn’t been printed or delivered yet.
Writing a poem for young lady and seeing the tears come down when I read it to her.
Being asked to be one of the presenters for the poetry seminar at the Black Writer’s Conference and had only sold one book to that point...
Hearing from Best Selling Author, Mary B. Morrison and finding out she wanted my story in one of her novels.
Attending my first book signing and selling 15 copies of my book.
Being invited to a church that purchased 26 books.
Hearing one of my students say, “Mr. B, your famous now, You’re on the back of book”
There are more but these are a few that stand out.

Where can we find you on the net?
I can be found at my website: www.KLthewriter.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/Klthewriter.com
Where my wedding video and poetry can be seen and heard.
Facebook screen name: KL Keith Belvin
My Blog: http://klbelvin.blogspot.com


Can you spit a little somethin’ somethin’?

PERFECT WOMAN
(If Only in my mind)

I ask myself why I am so lucky. Is there a reason I am so blessed?
But you’re never supposed to question God’s work. I say God because how do you explain her patience with me.
There is something about the way she understands my needs. Are there other women who would love another’s children like her own?
Would another woman be strong enough to trust God and take you back when you have tasted the fruits someone else’s?
Her soul is pure enough to douse the evil that once filled my own.
My vanity, my pride and smugness has been replaced with concern, endearment and gratefulness.
I now concern myself with more than just my own needs.
Her smile fills my heart with joy.
Her tears burn at my soul and demands my immediate attention or screams for forgiveness.
I am blessed with an equal, so again I ask why I am so lucky.
Does God see something in me I don’t see? He must.
She is sexy beyond belief, even when she sleeps.
Can that comfortable look come from what I have brought to her life?
The world is funny, one minute you’re all alone, next thing all your dreams are being answered.
Thank you God!
Well the only course of action is to leave all my worries, fears, and concerns at Lord’s feet.
Something about having the right woman that makes each day, night and morning special.
I really do have the perfect woman if only in my mind.

By. K. L. Belvin

What's Your Estimated Publicity Budget?

What’s your EPB?
Estimated Publicity Budget

Working with authors by way of “Simply Said” reading accessories"; my company doing custom
“Gift Marks” aka bookmarks,
book thongs,
book plates, and note cards,

A few common denominators keep reoccurring, such as
How much should I spend?
What should I invest in?
What will give me repeat customers?
What will keep me on there mind even after the book is finished?
What can I do to stand out from the rest?
What will give me more bang for the BOOK?


Well, I have been dealing with many authors in the last few years and these issues reappear almost every time.

YOU CAN”T SPEND MONEY TWICE!!!
OR CAN YOU???

Any promo material should be designed for REPEAT BUSINESS
You want and need to Be Remembered and Retained
You Do Not Want To use the same promo materials that others have used and disgared

Please watch the slide show I created about where your bookmarks end up at the end of a festival
It clearly shows, flyers and your average bookmarks littering the streets, in huge numbers, after the festival. This happens at every festival I have attended, there is no value to them, they are common and considered disposable.

Same stuff different festival.

Hmmmm, pause and think.

If you are a seasoned author or up coming with several books coming soon,
YOU WANT YOUR INFORMATION TO BE RETAINED
YOU WANT TO STAND OUT FROM THE REST
But.. How do you do this?????
OK

First you figure out how much you want to spend on publicizing your book.
Do you want to spend $100.00 or $1000.00 dollars?
Who is your target audience?
What are you trying to achieve?
Who are you trying to reach?
Break it down…
Book signings
Festivals
Contests from your site

How much do you estimate to spend per event?
It’s really difficult to really guess how many people will turn out to these events so estimate and then add 20%, at least

Well known events such as the B.E.A or Romance Slam Jam will pick up any overage from other events that did not have good turn outs.

Do you have a press packet?
You want to add a creative addition to your packet to stand out.

At you more intimate book club signings.
You want to give a gift for the invite and the hospitality.
What about the reader who adores you and comes to you with EVERY book you have written?
You want to THANK them for being loyal.

What about the FAN who lives in ALASKA, where your not doing any signings???
Do you disregard them? Just send them an email?

Don’t you want to stay in contact with your fan base?

How do you work you EPB ??
On a limited budget?


I have had many authors order a package of all of the above. They strategically, mailed to Book groups, had them for release parties,
Had many contests, mailed them to publicists and book stores and created quite a buzz.

The attraction was they were different and retained your information. It also showed that you went the extra mile to be noticed,
you the author did not want to be disposable.

Now I am not saying not to use flyers and other bookmarks they can be effective in some venues.

My product line is truly your”A” game your Sunday best
When you want to make a real impression that you are
Investing in yourself

www.simply-said.net has packages to fit your budget and your promotional needs, please feel free to contact me for your marketing tools.

It’s really All About You
Debra Owsley
odebdeb@aol.com
www.simply-said.net
954 562-5709

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia
Patricia Neely-Dorsey

I was introduced to Patricia and her book through an interview she was doing with Ella Curry for Black Authors Network, on Blogtalk radio. She was absolutely charming and in discussing her book, she brought back so many memories of spending my summers, in the south with family. Just hearing her accent, took me back to being a carefree kid enjoying the simple ease of southern living. Great food, uncomplicated life, unsophisticated, easy, and running through grass with no shoes on. Being a “Big City Girl”, this laid back country life at first was unnerving. I am a New Yorker. So this was a whole new world that I learned to embrace, and appreciate, over time.

When I got Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, I started reading her “reflections” I fell in love with southern living all over again. Patricia speaks of everything from food to family, and all between. Her poems were a pleasant trip down memory lane.

It later dawned on me that maybe that’s where my affection for Magnolia bushes came from.


Celebrate the South Blog Tour
Patricia Neely-Dorsey's fascinating book of poetry, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, is a true celebration of the south and things southern. Using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, the author offers a positive glimpse into the southern way of life.

The author states, "There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. I want to show a flip side of the coin. There is much to love about this much maligned and misunderstood part of our country."

MISSISSIPPI MORNING
I love a Mississippi morning,
On a summer's day;
Everything's so glorious
In the most delightful way.
The sun is peaking upward,
The earth begins to warm;
Magnificent works of nature,
Are simply just the norm.
There is a sense of wonderment
At how all things look so new;
The flowers glow with freshness,
From the past night's dew.
The beauty all around you,
Would take away your breath;
You'd feel you'd like to soak it in
Until there's nothing left.
There's nothing like a Mississippi morning,
On a summer's day;
It's such a grand production,
It seems we all should pay.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Recommended Southern Dish of the Day

CANDIED YAMS

Ingredients
• 3 medium yams
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions (Makes 4 servings)

• Scrub yams. Place in a large pot. Cover with boiling water.
• Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes,until tender but still firm.
• Drain yams and rinse in cold. Peel yams and slice crosswise.
• Arrange in a large iron skillet. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
• In a saucepan, bring water to a gentle boil. Add sugar.
• Boil gently for 3 minutes. Add butter, vanilla extract and remaining 1/4
• teaspoon nutmeg. Spoon half of the mixture over the yams and simmer slowly on top of the stove for 5 minutes.
• Baste with the remaining syrup and simmer until yams absorb most of the syrup, about 20 minutes
• Remove from heat and let stand until ready to serve


Do you love the South?

Join Us Online at the Facebook "Celebrate the South" Group.

Visit Patricia Neely-Dorsey online at http://www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com/.

http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Mississippi-Magnolia-Life-Poems/dp/097962942X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237409520&sr=8-1

The Food Temptress

The Food Temptress
Synopsis:
Who knows how to convert a gay man into a straight lover using a pineapple upside-down cake? Only Ambrosia Bourgeois, The Food Temptress, can accomplish such a task. The New Orleans Goddess of Gastronomy uses food to seduce men in hopes of creating Mister Right. Paralleling southern cuisine, each short story captures the hearts and minds of different men.

In the Power of the Pudding Chapter, Ambrosia realizes that her bread pudding cannot withstand the demands of an associate minister’s plans to make her a dutiful wife. When she decides to forget about him and travels to Atlanta to visit her friend, she ends up in the bathroom with Black Thunder, a local stripper. It is not her fault; the peach cobbler was intended for the birthday girl.

Ambrosia perfects her craft by using traditional recipes from her deceased grandmother and occasionally consulting her mysterious aunt. When she discovers that her meals fall short of converting the man to her specifications, she moves on to the next one - a total of 16 ranging from the local police chief to a Bourbon Street musician. Will she reach her goal before the monstrous hurricane hits her city? The Food Temptress serves a delectable treat connected by Ambrosia’s continuing quest for both romantic and culinary perfection.

Video Trailer:



AAMBC 2009 SPRING VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR
Rekaya Gibson, Author of The Food Temptress


What is The Food Temptress about?
The main character, Ambrosia Bourgeois, uses food to seduce men in hopes of creating Mister Right. Paralleling southern cuisine, each short story captures the hearts and minds of different men. When she discovers that her meals fall short of converting the men to her specifications, she moves on to the next one—a total of 16 ranging from the local police chief to a Bourbon Street musician. The Food Temptress serves up a delectable treat connected by Ambrosia’s continuing quest for both romantic and culinary perfection.

What inspired you to write The Food Temptress?
I developed the concept from the adage, “a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I took my interpretation and expanded upon it, using my creativity. As result, I birth The Food Temptress.

What is the meaning of Ambrosia’s name?
The name “Ambrosia” means a Greek Goddess of food or drink. If consumed, one will become immortal. In “The Food Temptress,” Ambrosia’s grandmother named her so that she would have immortality.

How does each short story parallel Southern cuisine?
I use a hint in the chapter title to signify the food Ambrosia will use next. For example in the “Cat Got Your Tongue” chapter, Ambrosia uses catfish as the main dish. In “Green with Envy,” she serves up collard greens. In “The Power of the Pudding,” she makes bread pudding.

Why is it important for Ambrosia to find the perfect man?
Ambrosia wants to find the perfect man for her, not necessarily “a perfect man.” However, she is not willing to compromise on some things. She figured transforming a man into the perfect mate with her food would result in her finding a life-long partner.

Which dish has the greatest impact on a man?
The pineapple upside down cake has the greatest impact on a man because it converts a gay man into a straight.


What happens to women when they eat Ambrosia’s food?
When women eat Ambrosia’s food, nothing happens to them. However, a colleague of mine, John Williams, gave me the idea to create a book about men using food to seduce women. It might happen one day soon.



Biography:
Rekaya Gibson’s love for food is evident throughout her fiction work, The Food Temptress, and her children's book, Are There French Fries in Heaven? Her nonfiction articles have appeared in the “Cabo Living Magazine,” “Desert Saints Magazine,” and “Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Magazine.” In 2006, she self-published an e-Book, Wow Them With Your Grant Proposal, under her own e-publishing company, Gibson Girl Publishing Company. She holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University. Currently, she resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Web Links:
www.foodtemptress.com
www.thefoodtemptress.blogspot.com
www.rekayagibson.com

Email:
rekaya@foodtemptress.com

Contact Information:

Rekaya Gibson
P. O. Box 621773
Las Vegas, NV 89162

Barnes and Noble, A Noble Reply

I know that we previously responded to you concerning a display that was tampered with in one of our stores. For your information, we have also posted the attached press release to our corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com We trust this information will address your concerns.



We thank you for reaching out to us.



Sincerely,



Mary Ellen Keating

Spokesperson

Barnes & Noble, Inc.


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03/06/2009

Barnes & Noble Outraged Over Tampering of Store Display in Coral Gables, Florida



New York, New York – March 6, 2009 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, announced today that it is the victim of a malicious act. The company is outraged over the tampering of a store display in its Coral Gables, Florida store by a customer who placed an inappropriate title in the center of its Presidential display. Barnes & Noble believes the incident occurred two weeks ago when a customer took a book from another part of the store entitled Monkeys: A Captivating Look at These Fascinating Animals, placed it in the window display and then photographed the altered display. When Barnes & Noble discovered the book in the display it immediately removed it. Since then, the photograph has been widely distributed via email and over the Internet falsely claiming that Barnes & Noble actually placed the book in the display.

Leonard Riggio, Barnes & Noble Founder and Chairman who has long been involved in the civil rights struggle, said “this malicious and despicable act is nothing short of a hate crime, which should be punishable under federal statutes. Rather than detracting from President Obama’s historic victory as was intended, the perpetrator of this crime served only to validate the wisdom of the tens of millions of Americans who voted for him.”

Mr. Riggio has spent his lifetime promoting equality and social justice. He currently serves as the Finance Chairman of the Host Committee for the NAACP’s upcoming Centennial Convention in New York City, and is actively engaged in many civil and human rights issues. At this moment, his family is building and donating homes to Hurricane Katrina survivors through its widely acclaimed, “Project Home Again.”

Barnes & Noble stores across the country are also involved in hosting thousands of events that promote diversity and tolerance in the communities they serve. Some examples include a Celebration of Black History Month, Autism Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Storytimes, and Close the Book on Hate (a three year campaign with the Anti-Defamation League). Sadly, the window display, which was tampered with, was a display celebrating the career of President Obama.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 799 bookstores in 50 states. Barnes & Noble is also the nation’s top bookseller in quality, and for the fifth year in a row, the top bookseller brand, as determined by a combination of the brand’s performance on familiarity, quality, and purchase intent, according to the EquiTrend® Brand Study by Harris Interactive®. Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web’s largest e-commerce sites.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company’s corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

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