Spotlight Author: Meleisa Betts
Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign

EDC Creations, The Sankofa Literary Society and The Black Authors Network announced the launch of their 2009-2010  "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy. In 2004, during the Christmas holidays, Ella Curry, the founder of EDC Creations, reached out to women's groups and literary organizations to help promote early literacy by giving new books to children from low income homes. 

Today, the "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," seeks to expand even further! “Based on the “each one teach one,” model, our goal is to help people introduce reading and new books to their family and friends,” says CEO and founder of EDC creations, Ella Curry. “Instead of giving expensive gifts that don't shape lives----let's “Give the Gift of Knowledge” and help to strengthen our future generations!”  We now invite you, the readers, to join us by supporting the authors below and buying books as gifts!

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. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives.

Each week EDC Creations will sponsor bookclub chats, live readings from authors, podcast presentations, seminars, community relations discussions, and radio shows that deliver the best our writers have to offer. All we ask is that the readers of the world spread the word.  Check out the information below and invite this author to chat with you and 5-10 friends via Skype, tele-conference or a speaker phone meeting.  If you would like to spotlight this author on your blog, website, magazine or radio show, email Ella Curry at:  elladcurry@edc-creations.com    If you have already read the book, share your reviews with us by clicking here.

You may shop for the books at our bookstore here: http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20 
 

Meet author and publisher Meleisa Betts

"HONESTY is liberating, LIES are condemning and things that are kept within are potentially maddening!"

I am Meleisa Betts, an author and owner of my own publishing company "Neighborhood Publishing". I am single, currently living in New Orleans LA., however, I was born in a small town in the state of Alabama called Monroeville. My only child is my darling dog, my peekapoo, MaryBell. ( A peekapoo is a cross between the Pekingese and the Poodle)

I have always had a need to share and communicate my thoughts to others. I am an accomplished member of "Toastmasters" which filled a need to convey my thoughts somewhat, yet it did not allow the opportunity for me to reach a broad audience. I felt as though I had an important message that could help people. 

We all have stories and a belief that ours are capable of sustaining book and movies yet how many lives actually are living morals; examples of what NOT to do and the consequences of those actions? I felt and still feel that there are many people living secret lives with things that they dare not share for a fear of being judged. My mission is to prove to the reader that the best therapy for the soul is not a psychiatrist (although counseling is a necessary process in many cases) but rather blunt force honesty; a raw openness and truth. 

Fundamentally a psychiatrist makes the patient talk about his or herself, and in revealing those intimate truths the patient feels better. Why must we wait until the psychiatrist asks us to before we can be honest with ourselves? We give ourselves aspirin for a headache or an antacid when our stomach is upset; then why can't we give ourselves a little "self-revelation" therapy? That is my approach to "How I Made The Angels Cry". It is 100% truthful but I chose to use a principle of "shock and raw". What this means is, I wanted to leave my life exposed and threadbare, not filter or edit the book for an audience but to tell the honest truth.

Before I decided to always be forthcoming, I was living a shell of a life, frustrated, confused and basically a farce. However since changing my perspective to one of complete honesty and openness it has been an altogether different life for me, one which is free of pretense and pressure to be SOMETHING. I now simply am.

I want the book to stand as testimony to future readers that LIES only escalate, and have to be escaped, yet the truth has to be told only once, and it stands on its own. The best therapy for a troubled conscience is for one to be completely honest with the one person who matters most on planet Earth: Yourself.

"How I Made The Angels Cry" is a memoir based upon my actual experiences in an improbable life, and only the names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the persons involved in the book. It is indeed graphic and discusses sexuality and manipulation of people and circumstances in an open forum that many dare not to attempt. In fact few authors have written in such open and graphic detail, as I have left my life completely open to the judgment of others. I accept this wholeheartedly and if this method helps others to escape their own demons and unlocks the door of emotional imprisonment, then I have succeeded.

I hope that by writing such an open discourse that I can encourage others to be as open in discussing their own fears and desires rather than keeping them simmering below the surface like a pot ready to boil over. HONESTY is liberating, LIES are condemning and things that are kept within are potentially maddening; Again, that IS why we have psychiatrists, is it not? 


Through my book "How I Made The Angels Cry" I hope to offer an example of how being honest can save a soul. --written by author Meleisa Betts

Book:  How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts
Website: www.myspace.com/433250625 
Email:  molly.betts@yahoo.com  
Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9780615290508

"Unless you have lived a squeaky clean life, you cannot judge anyone else. No sin is greater than the other. Sin is Sin!"--Molly


Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Meleisa. We're looking forward to learning more about your book. The book is actually a not-so-thinly veiled memoir of your own life. What inspired you to make your most personal experiences available for the world to view?

Meleisa Betts: At first I struggled with the decision of making it a non-fiction work. After many nights of tossing and turning, I came to the decision that not only will this memoir help me, it will help others who have experienced or know someone who has experienced what I've gone through. Whether it be rape, depression, loss of a loved one, or murder.

AR: In the same vein, was it difficult to recount some of the most painful episodes of your life thus far?

MB: Yes. The best thing about it, though, it that it's gotten easier for me to deal with. The day that I began writing, it just got easier and easier. Now, please don't get me wrong, the pain and the memories will always be there, but they're so much better for me to manage. I'm not ashamed anymore of someone finding out that I'm gay. I'm not ashamed anymore of someone finding out that I suffer from depression. I'm not ashamed anymore to talk about being raped, not once but twice.

AR: You mention in the book that you were born with a homosexual disposition. Are you convinced that homosexuality is genetic in nature, as opposed to being a matter of personal choice?

MB: You have to remember one thing, and that is that this memoir is titled "How I Made the Angels Cry," not anybody else. So, I can only speak for myself. One thing for sure, I knew at the age of 5 that I was attracted to women. This just didn't jump out at me one day when I was walking down the street. Remember the match stem scene? Well, I was much younger than five.

AR: What do you think compelled you to seek out so many different sexual partners over the course of your early life?

MB: This is a rather difficult question for me to answer. I don't know if I have a high sex drive or whether or not it could have been the rapes. I'm not repulsed by men. 95% of my friends are straight, and that it is a high percentage. Most never knew until now that I was attracted to women. Back to your question: I can only speak for now, and that is that I was lucky as hell.

AR: Have you had a chance to share your story - in particular the details of the murder - on a widespread scale? If so, what kinds of reactions have you gotten?

MB: The response that I got from the DA's office was "no body." The body was cremated. Although the body was cremated, my intentions are to sell as many books as possible, then use the funds from the sells to hire the professional help that I need in making sure that the DA's office is pressured into investigating Phyllis's murder. I believe that this is a second murder.


AR: What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?

MB: I'm writing my second book as we speak. I had no desire to be a publisher, but the times demand it, for now. 

AR: Where can people learn more about your writings and other efforts?

MB: www.myspace.com/meleisabetts, or they can just Google either the title of my book or my name. Also, they can check out my reviews at Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

AR: Also, how can people contact you, in case they'd like to learn more about your story?

MB: My email address is on the 3rd page of my memoir. I will be doing a lot of book signings in different cities, so I will keep everyone posted on MySpace. They can email me at: molly.betts@yahoo.com  for interviews and book discussions.

AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?

MB: Yes. Unless you have lived a squeaky clean life, you cannot judge anyone else. Also, no sin is greater than the other. Sin is Sin.

AR: Thanks again, Meleisa, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!


Book spotlight:  How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts
Website: www.myspace.com/433250625 
Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9780615290508

4 and 5 Star Bookclub Reviews for How I Made The Angels Cry

A Woman of Many Colors!, August 14, 2008 
By The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) 

Molly is a woman who never has a dull moment! HOW I MADE THE ANGELS CRY takes the reader on a roller coaster ride filled with many ups, downs, twists and turns. It is almost unfathomable to think one woman can lead a life fraught with so much soul-searching. Her drama-filled life definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

Molly's story has moments of happiness, sadness, craziness and madness. Betts did an excellent job of sharing not only her life, but also her life's lessons. Betts has the makings of a great writer with this debut work. 
--Reviewed by Marcia Brevard Wynn, for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers 3/5 stars

The Crying Angel, November 2, 2008 
By OOSA Online Book Club 

"How I Made the Angels Cry" by Meleisa Betts is one of the most-intriguing memoirs I've read thus far. It's definitely a "must read" book recommended to all readers. 

Life has never been typical for Molly. "How I Made the Angels Cry" describes various hardships that she endures during life - sexuality, love and even murder. Faced with each situation, she learns to deal; yet she still remains faithful with her beliefs and is not only empowered as an individual but is strengthened as person. 

I am not a really a spiritual book reader, but I will definitely read more books in the future from Meleisa Betts - every word in this story was ultimately powerful. Excellent work!
 -- Reviewed by: Tekisha,  OOSA Online Book Club  



Angels Do Cry, June 13, 2008 
By Mashawn Mickels  (Columbus, GA USA)

Meleisa Betts story "How I Made The Angels Cry" is one in which I find very inspiring. She tells a number of stories that many can relate to. Some you've may have even found yourself in once upon a time. Either way, as I was reading it, I felt the pain, the sorrow and even the anger or upset. She went through a number of situations that would have the average person thinking about and/or trying to kill themselves. But as you read it you see how even at each and every failed turn she made, she continued to move forward. While going through the various struggles of what we call life, she learned how to become faithful and stay faithful. The former being easier than the latter. But as you read it, you see how she did indeed stay faithful. 

Great read. Thanks for sharing Meleisa!!!! 
 -- Reviewed by Mashawn Mickels "CO-Owner & President of SBS Bookclub

Life is full of surprises..., August 28, 2008 
By L. Hall "A B~more Reader" (Baltimore, Maryland) 

The memoir of Meleisa Betts is a compelling and heart wrenching story of a woman who has faced her share of trials, tribulations, hardships, challenges, and triumphs. From her struggle with sexuality to her conflicts with religion, Molly reveals herself candidly through each situation and circumstance she had to endure to get to where she is today: an accomplished author. As the reader, you will not believe all of the struggles she had to face head on, such as her father's constant infidelity, the death of her loving and trusting mother, the ongoing scam with her supposed business partner, and the revelation of a murderer who she fought hard to bring to justice. This amazing woman has been to hell and miraculously has been delivered from her demons and now, she lives to tell her story. You will laugh, cry, and triumph in her victory, for Meleisa Betts' strength, determination, and wisdom will amaze you and her memoir will capture your soul. 
-- Reviewed by Latasha Hall, Vice President of B~more Readers with W.I.S.D.O.M Book Club 

Passionate and riveting by all accounts!, June 23, 2008 
By  "MissyT" (Alabama) 

This is such a compelling and gripping account of the authors life. It's all there, the journey though childhood which explains her amazing relationship with her mother, the events that led up to the horrific accounts of rape and injustice. Her fall from Grace which led her to occult practices due to lack of faith and conviction. Her journey into self discovery and love of self while reclaiming her love for God. But this narrative was more than just a account of the authors' life. It was also a form of therapy. The writing of this book offered a channel to convey messages about abuse, sexuality, and murder. 
-- Reviewed by Babes on Books Bookclub "MissyT" 

The Angels Are Crying Tears of Joy now....., July 8, 2008 

In How I Made the Angels Cry by author Meleisa Betts, I was moved to an array of emotions as I read each page. Betts bares her soul in this powerful memoir. As I read, I felt anger, disbelief, laughter and hope because when anyone shares their truth in this manner (in a memoir), I am always hopeful that even if the person made bad decisions in their life, they will turn it around. Told in one very long telephone conversation with a best friend, Betts shares her life story and is able to do this in a very tactful manner in 228 pages. 

Readers will not be able to put this one down and by the last page, you will thank God for Betts' life. She's had an incredible journey and is living proof that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Meleisa, thanks for keeping it "real" so that readers everywhere will understand that life isn't always but when you shine the light on any darkness, it loses its power over us. Thanks so much for sharing your (personal) story. 

My prayer is that others will learn powerful life lessons from your memoir. Continue to share your truth! 

--Reviewed by Shunda Leigh, owner of BOOKING MATTERS 
www.bookingmatters.com    



Bookclub reviews for How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts

Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing   (April 1, 2009)
 ISBN-10: 0615290507; ISBN-13: 978-0615290508 

Buy the book  at:  Amazon.com   Barnes and Noble.com  or order from your local bookstore, distributed by Ingram Book Group. 

Website:  www.myspace.com/433250625 

Reader Reviews for How I Made The Angels Cry 

How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts
Website: www.myspace.com/433250625
Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9780615290508

An unbelievably engrossing page-turner!, March 29, 2008 
By Kenneth K. Barlow  (Marietta, GA)

First of all I must say that I am not a fan of memoirs, being more of a fan of novelists such as Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides, Beach music) or John Grisham (The Chamber, The Runaway Jury) nevertheless I became an instant fan of this book. It was recommended to me by a friend and I, being the skeptic that I am, began reading Ms. Betts book with a skewered vision, thinking that maybe this was a narcissistic view of a life. Let's face it, we all have a story, some more intense than others. Having said as much, I have never heard of or read about any life situation as intense or poignant as the life of Ms. Betts. The most descriptive statement that I can use is "WOW"! I have never experienced as much and I would venture to say that 99.99% of the population has not either. Ms. Betts exposes her soul as deeply as anyone that I have read and the nerves are raw and exposed for all to see and in some cases, feel, although vicariously. I would venture to say that the average person would be pushed over the edge by such an intense life filled with missteps, deception, manipulation and trauma. (for example, she even knows that a person has gotten way with committing a heinous crime and she toils for no personal gain to bring the person to justice) 

WARNING!!! This book is explicit and revealing as Ms. Betts pulls no punches and sidesteps no issue, from ethics to her blurred and dubious views on sexuality. The endearing part of the book is that she does not shirk her culpability for what has befallen her and she blames herself for most of her problems. It seems as though she is attempting to vanquish her demons though the revelations and we are the voyeurs who are privy to her exorcisms (though it would seem hard to totally displace the demons which have plagued her.) Ms. Betts seems to offer us a lesson in the book in that we should never be afraid to self-examine, to take responsibility for our role in our personal failures and to use that information honestly to change and ultimately grow from it. 

To sum it up, Ms. Betts has created a work which is so incredible in its revelations that it makes it seem like fiction, that it makes the reader have to suspend disbelief in order to absorb the full impact. One must give her credit for being able to place her life on display for us to judge. Whether at times protagonist, antagonist, heroine or anti-heroine, Ms. Betts'  life and her book are anything but boring. If you don't believe it, read the book and form your own opinion. If you are anything like me, you will have a difficult time putting it down. One of the most explicit, revealing and engrossing memoirs that I have ever read. 
-- Reviewed by Kenneth K. Barlow "Ken the Diesel"

What would you do if you saw gray shadows at night?,  August 30, 2008 
By Tangelika Bolen  (Atlanta GA) 

What would you do if you saw gray shadows at night? Would you run and hide? Do you think you could ignore their presence? What if the shadows talked to you and wanted you to do something for them? I don't know what I would do, but just like Molly Betts, I am sure that I would sleep with the lights on at night too. 

How I made the Angels Cry, is a very compassionate story. Meleisa Betts aka (Molly) takes you on an unfinished life journey experience that begins with her own demons inside of her, ailing to come out. Born with feelings that she was afraid of yet could not resist, she eventually gave in and lived the life of searching for love by way of other women. Haunted by her dominating Fathers selfishly & dangerous bad habits she sought the arms of many from loving and hurting her male best friends to sneaking and sleeping with a longtime family enemy. Molly went from feeling shame of her attractions towards women to getting any woman that she wanted including those that bedded her own cheating father. 

Molly was a very troubled young lady wanting to do what's right in life she married several times trying to run away from the turmoil within, looking towards men to provide her the things that her wealthy father wouldn't. Her attraction towards men, (if I may read between the lines) were stability and to recaptured the lack of love and attention that her father was to busy cheating to give her. Her gullible ways of turning the other cheek and trusting another only continued to backfire in her face as she is financially ripped off twice. And just like when she was young and new that she couldn't win, Molly refused to back down even if the fight was unfair. (All I have to say is if you step on her toes you best be very careful, because this chick may be small, but she will not be bullied). 

Through an unfortunate job-related experience, Molly was linked and weaved into a platonic relationship with nothing more than a con "Thomas" and his wife Phyllis that was an unwanted midnight guest into Molly's bedroom, pushing her buttons to find her right due-justice. Molly began to take a look into things a little deeper than most would, doing what she thought was right (solving a crime). 

I find this book to be a powerhouse of pain, suffering, embarrassment, spiritual battle and injustice. If you every meet Molly Betts in person, you couldn't even imagine her doing or even enduring the beatings that she took in this book, the temperament she took out on love ones, the miss-treatment at work. Not knowing who you are and why you are the way that you are can cause any one to walk on the wrong pathways or should I say danger zones. Good job Meleisa Betts, I really enjoyed your story. 
-- Reviewed by: Tangelika Bolen, Author of Sensation and Justifiable Behavior 

A captivating and heart touching story, August 29, 2008 

I read this book in one sitting. This book was well written. It took me on an emotional roller-coaster ride. I am not a big fan of memoirs, however-after reading Ms. Betts personal journey, the next book I read will be a memoir. I felt touched by the honesty of Ms. Betts as she gave a bird's eye view of her fantastic and amazing journey. Ms. Betts was very intimate and pulled no punches in expressing her feelings in that experience. At times, I laughed when she was vividly describing her characters physical attributes. I felt sad in her painful telling of her experiences especially when she was raped. I admire her bravery and courage to boldly stand up and bounce back in light of that and many other painful experiences that she had to endure. I am looking forward to her next novel. Thank you Ms. Betts for opening up and sharing your life's experiences. I will strongly recommend this book to my beautiful wife, my family members, my co-workers, and my friends. 
-- Reviewed by David A. Jackson, Amazon Reviewer 

Avid Reader Reviews for How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts

Publisher: Neighborhood Publishing   (April 1, 2009)
  ISBN-10: 0615290507; ISBN-13: 978-0615290508 

Buy the book  at:  Amazon.com   Barnes and Noble.com  or order from your local bookstore, distributed by Ingram Book Group. 

Website:  www.myspace.com/433250625 

Shop EDC Creations Bookstores for How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts:
http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20  
http://astore.amazon.com/sanklitesoci-20 


EDC Creations Virtual Tours has more on the How I Made The Angels Cry Book Tour
http://www.edccreationsbooktours.ning.com 

How I Made The Angels Cry by Meleisa Betts
Neighborhood Publishing (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615290507; ISBN-13: 978-0615290508
Reviewed By Heather Slocumb
(Official Apex Reviews Rating: 4.5 Stars)

"Life to me is not like a box of chocolates, life is a Pandora's Box filled with 'what if's.' It doesn't matter how rich you are or how poor you are, you going to go through hell in some form or fashion unless you are just plain lucky."-- Molly, How I Made The Angels Cry

Molly Betts claims to have done two lifetimes' worth of living in her short time on Earth, and, by all accounts, such a remark is a stark understatement. Born and raised in the one-horse town of Marionville, Alabama, she quickly gets used to enjoying a life a relative privilege; her father, the town's largest employer, provides the family with many luxuries and pleasures that others would literally kill to obtain, fostering in Molly a strong sense of pride - and near conceit - early on. Of course, the flip side of her father's success is his numerous, careless dalliances with scores of women from all over the town, often leading to dangerous repercussions for Molly, her mother, and the rest of their family.

Torn between her undying love for her mother and her subconscious emulation of her father's ways, Molly's life soon becomes a reflection of the emotional dichotomy that lingers within her. As such, she begins dating men simply for the superficial thrill of what they can do for her, all the while secretly desiring women for the very same thing – only in the sexual, not the material. At an early age, she becomes aware of her affinity toward women, and her struggles to reconcile the resulting moral conflict yield often disastrous results for her over the course of the various relationships into which she enters to scratch her ever-present sexual "itch." At their beginnings, each of her involvements seem to promise the ultimate spiritual deliverance for which she constantly prays, but they, without fail, only lead her further down the path of confusion, loneliness, and pain.

Eventually, Molly begins to realize that only by searching within – rather than without – can she finally receive the peace for which she longs day in and day out. One would think that only a few episodes of heartbreak, rejection, and brutality would hasten such an epiphany, but Molly's tortuous journey toward ultimate truth serves as proof that the sojourn on the road to enlightenment - and the scope of its learning curve – truly varies from person to person.

How I Made the Angles Cry is one of those rare, invaluable finds that must be celebrated and shared widely once discovered. In it, Meleisa Betts takes the reader on a literal emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows, with all the typical jerks, false starts, and sharp curves caught in-between. At times overwhelmingly heavy and sad, her tome nonetheless offers just the right amount of insight and hope to ensure the reader that, no matter how dark or gloomy the circumstances, light truly resides at the end of the tunnel, and ultimate victory over such circumstances is assured – as long as you keep pushing through the tough times.

A stirring memoir of a life whose amazing story must be told and retold. Highly recommended.

Buy the book  at:  Amazon.com   Barnes and Noble.com  or order from your local bookstore, distributed by Ingram Book Group.