About Black Pearls Magazine Online
Black Pearls Magazine Brought to you by EDC Creations Media Group 


Black Pearls Magazine is a free digital magazine committed to inspire, encourage and empower a international group of readers. Our mission is to provide information that is essential, enlightening and entertaining. The information that we publish helps to empower our BP readers, therefore enriching their lives and benefiting the communities in which they live. We believe in Giving the Gift of Knowledge! We are here to bring you those literary jewels, Black Pearls, that are sure to bring you and your love ones much pleasure and empowerment. Every issue of this monthly published magazine will celebrate the accomplishments of authors and writers from around the globe, honoring proud traditions and spotlighting ways to enhance the reader's everyday life. Visit the Bookclub Reading Room for more excellent selections: http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com 

Black Pearls Magazine regularly features stories that spotlight the talented new authors and soul stirring interviews with bookclubs, and new business owners — as well as celebrity authors, journalists, film and media executives.  Black Pearls Magazine is available online at www.blackpearlsmagazine.com and can be downloaded as a digital catalog for free.  It is also distributed via list-serve to members as a newsletter, view here now.  Subscribe to the Black Pearls Magazine Sunday News here.  For more information on the Black Pearls Magazine advertising rates or to reach the editor, contact us via email here.

Discover great books, read about the authors, find other book club members, explore our reader’s guides, share our excerpts of new releases and more. Books are a blessing when you can learn and grow from what you read. I hope that you find many books to add great value in your life. Spread the word about these Black Pearls...Give the Gift of Knowledge.

Ella Curry, Black Pearls publisher and EDC Creations president 

Black Authors Network Radio Show 

www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network  

The Black Authors Network (BAN) is dedicated to providing information to help black business owners and authors gain access to the global consumer and to helping promote the growth of black businesses and literature. The Black Authors Network, is here to bring people together, to create a dialogue, and share valuable resources. Our goal is to serve the unique needs of African American authors, to improve literacy and strengthen the image of the African American community. Join us each Monday and Wednesday night for the most stimulating and empowering conversation on the planet. We welcome callers to the show to share their Gifts of Knowledge. 

Email Ella Curry the producer to become a guest on the show: edc_dg@yahoo.com  For more information or to read the FAQ page, visit our site here. 

 Meet us at: 8pm-10pm EST on Monday and Wednesday nights.  Call into the show: (646) 200-0402 to speak to the authors and to win prizes!   Chat live with the guests in our chat room during the show by clicking here.  


 
Ella Curry is the president and CEO of EDC Creations Media Group. She brings more than 20 years of PR and marketing experience to clients in film, music, publishing and corporate event planning. Her expertise as well as her love for all things literary, dynamic contacts, and collaborative approach with clients have earned her a reputation as a respected leader in the publishing industry. She has interviewed community leaders and celebrities such as: The View's Emmy® award-winning co-host, comedienne/actress Sherri Shepherd, Byron Pitts Emmy® award-winning journalist for 60 Minutes and chief national correspondent for CBS Evening News, American film director of Secret Life of Bees, Gina Prince-Bythewood, literary legends Dr. Maya Angelou and Sonia Sanchez, along with award-winning actors and actresses such as Hill Harper, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Dakota Fanning, Tristan Wilds, and International motivational speaker Lisa Nichols of the Secret DVD and author of No Matter What. 

Ella has interviewed MochaMoms® and other community leaders along with bestselling authors Terrie M. Williams, Sue Monk Kidd, Farrah Gray, Breena Clarke, Carleen Brice, Nathan McCall, Mary B. Morrison, Francis Ray, Walter Mosley, John Kremer, Lutishia Lovely and Donna Hill. Publishers Vickie Stringer, Azarel Smallwood and Brian Hollygrove are just a few of the publishing leaders to grace the show. World famous musician Russel Blake is among the many artists to grace BAN. We were proud to accept the 2009 award for the Best BlogTalk Radio Show presented by Tifany Jones, founder of the Black Book Club Rock Awards.

Ella Curry is the host and producer of the Black Authors Network Radio Show; sponsored by EDC Creations Media Group. Ella has enjoyed an extensive tenure in media promotions and book publicity. She started out as a corporate event planner and website developer; later becoming a buyer for the legendary Karibu Book Store chain. Her career now includes services such as blog tour coordinator, book coach, video journalist and literary publicist.

Currently Ella Curry is the publisher of Black Pearls Magazine, a professional blogger and literary reporter on www.edcmagazine.blogspot.com  where she publishes her popular Intimate Conversation Interviews with today's hottest authors, business owners and community leaders. In the Spring of 2010, Ella will release her first book on how to effectively market and promote your book with social media while on a budget.

 
EDC Creations
Publisher of Black Pearls Magazine

EDC Creations is dedicated to serving individuals and companies in need of creative and rewarding marketing strategies that will make their business grow. We can leverage the power of the media and Internet mediums to promote their books or business and its "brand" to the consumers through effective marketing campaigns.

EDC Creations' main focus is in serving clients in a highly ethical, totally confidential and professional manner. We were founded to promote positive values through African American Literature. It is my hope that authors, aspiring authors, poets of African American culture can be a positive force through learning and helping all who try to inspire others and themselves through the art of writing.

EDC Creations will work within your budget to develop an effective PR campaign that can give your company the promotional boost you need to generate sales.

EDC Creations provides authors, artists, reviewers, journalist and book clubs, innovative website design advice, book coaching, virtual tours, along with marketing and branding tips with a special focus on the self-published, African American literary community. 

EDC Creations offers:
:|: Full-service Internet and email marketing campaigns
:|: Eye catching graphic design and marketing materials
:|: Imaginative website and image development
:|: Effective book publicity campaigns
:|: Exclusive Internet marketing plans

Let EDC Creations be your Marketing and Publicity Consultant to help create effective marketing campaigns and strengthen your brand. When something as important as the success or failure of your business is at stake, to whom do you turn? Why not turn to recognized experts who can provide you with the service that will make your strategic marketing effective and successful? EDC Creations will use our powerful network for creating and implementing strategic promotional solutions tailored for your business. EDC Creations will guarantee you affordable services with friendliness and satisfaction.

Our work is a reflection of our commitment to excellence, creativity and ensuring that client goals are exceeded. We produce events anywhere- we have the vision and expertise to make your event a spectacular reality.

Strategy Development
Our publicity team begins each publicity campaign with a strategic brainstorming session to discuss competitive titles, author positioning, campaign messaging, potential target markets, target media, and tactical marketing and promotions timelines. With this input, the campaign manager formulates a comprehensive strategic plan and budget, that outlines  the course of the entire campaign. We look to our authors and publishing clients for suggestions and input, and our clients retain final approval of the strategic plan for their campaign.

Since 2000, I've been working in the book industry and I know how to get results. As a former buyer for Karibu Bookstores, Radio Show Producer, Website Designer and Events Planner for 15 years, and now Internet Publicist to bestselling authors---I have experienced most aspects of the book promoting world. Let me handle all your marketing needs and create an impact!                                     

In-House Internet Publicist
Want to get more publicity for your book, publishing house, small business, online radio show, etc., EDC Creations offers complete marketing assistance. No business is too small or too large to benefit from partnering with us. Hiring a publicist for your book is the right thing to do! You need to have a professional who can create the right professional image for you.

We work on your media kit, building your brand, increasing your territory, submitting press releases and articles, connecting you with the "go to people", creating speaking events for you, establishing your speaking platforms and everything else required to get you the publicity you deserve. We work on monthly retainer or by a established project contracts. Contact us today to discuss your companies plan to increase your brand awareness and viral marketing. Explore our options for your company here.

Who are the Black Pearls Magazine and BAN Radio Fans?

Based on a survey we sent out January 19, 2009 to our email database of 133,000+ subscribers, we found out the following information about our readers. They were surveyed on the use of BAN Radio and the online version of Black Pearls Magazine.  These numbers are based on 82% participating in the survey. This survey includes Black Pearls Magazine's  38,000 subscribers.

Reading and Shopping Habits of Subscribers
52%--Wanted more diverse races and topics on the BAN Radio show
61%--Shares Black Pearls Magazine with 10 people
64%--Have Twitter accounts
74%--Have Facebook accounts
90%--Have MySpace accounts
86%--Have more than 4 Ning memberships
77%--Prefer YouTube as video provider
74%--Purchase books online 
68%--Spent 5 hours or more social networking a day
91%--Read the Black Pearls Magazine digital excerpts
49%--Prefer online media versus printed media
51%--Still buy newspapers, magazines and CDs
67%--Our fans stay online 5-7 hours per day
54%--Check their email at least 5 times per day
70%--Prefer subscriptions to their inbox versus chatting on BTR
61%--Prefer live readings over reading pdf excerpts
49%--Download favorites BAN Radio shows to CD and share
72%--Download BAN Radio shows to personal listening devices
53%--Tell at least 5 people about the BAN Radio shows
49%--Add the BAN Radio widget player to their own sites
27%--Hate auto-responders and email forwards


Age of Subscribers (Our shows are not PG rated)
9%----19-29 years old
29%---30-39 years old
39%---40-49 years old
14%---50-59 years old
9%-----60-79 years old
 

Gender and Sexual Preference
27%----Male
73%----Female
33%----Alternate Lifestyle
65%----Heterosexual
2%-----Bisexual


Race or Cultural Identity of Subscribers
89%----US readers and fans
11%----International readers and fans
51%----African American
24%----Caucasian
2%------Middle Eastern
1%------Asian
9%------Latin
13%-----Bi-racial


Education of Subscribers
17%-----High School Grad Only
10%-----Some College
53%-----College Grad
20%-----Advanced Degree


Annual Income of Subscribers (only 72% answered)
4%----20k
9%----40k
51%---60k
20%---80k
10%---100k+


Attitudes, Values and Lifestyles
67%-----Books bought per month 6+
59%-----Purchased books after listening to our BAN Radio show
33%-----Gave books featured on the show as gifts
42%-----Joined book clubs online
71%-----Favorite genre, Fiction
27%-----Favorite genre, Motivational
55%-----Favorite genre, Adult Content
83%-----Shop online weekly
94%-----Employed
53%---- Entrepreneurs
16%-----Homemaker
71%-----Spend $200.00+ monthly for online entertainment
64%-----Married over 5 years
47%-----Single, but without children
63%-----Committed relationship
58%-----Teenage children in the home