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To help deepen readers' understanding of the issues we face in reshaping our images, EDC Creations will also provide positive, thought provoking media content in the form of weekly radio commentary, live videos, audio book presentations, thought provoking, interviews, reading recommendations, and offline event promotions. Meet us here weekly to take part in this literary revolution. Spread the word...tell your friends we are here and we are not leaving!

Great Books for Winter Reading

 Click the covers to explore the books and to purchase.
 

The Conversation: How Black Men and Women 
Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships 
by Hill Harper

The Conversation Introduction
In his first book for adults, New York Times bestselling author Hill Harper invites you to join the Conversation: an honest dialogue about the breakdown of African-American relationships. For generations African Americans have turned to their families in times of need—but now, this proud and strong legacy is in peril. Black men and women have stopped communicating effectively and it threatens the very relationships and marriages necessary to sustain the Black family. Today, less than a third of Black children are being raised in two-parent households, a sharp decline from past generations. So, why is it so difficult for Black men and women to build long-term, loving and mutually beneficial relationships? What is happening in the community that makes it so hard for women and men to find their way to each other? And why are there so few people who manage to hold a marriage together, even after finding a person to love?

In his moving yet practical book, Hill Harper undertakes a journey both universal and deeply personal in search of answers to these questions. He has conversations with friends and strangers—married, single and divorced—and learns about their private struggles, emotional vulnerabilities, and real concerns, and begins to see common themes emerge. As his journey picks up momentum, Hill begins to recognize his own struggles in other people's stories, and is encouraged to more deeply examine his own relationship issues.

Why did Hill Harper write The Conversation?   
Listen below to an interview with Ella Curry of EDC Creations

Why does so much misinformation and mistrust exist between the sexes? Hill addresses the stereotypes that have developed in the Black community, in the hope that by addressing the challenges, Black men and women can find their way to common ground. The Conversation aims to open up the lines of communication, and offers inspiration to those who want to take control of this crisis and start building successful, sustainable relationships. 

ISBN-13: 9781592404759;  ISBN-10: 1592404758;  Buy this book today.

Author Biography
Hill Harper is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor currently starring in the hit CBS drama series CSI: NY. A volunteer for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Los Angeles, he frequently speaks to schools and youth groups. Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a B.A.; cum laude with a J.D. from Harvard Law School; and earned a masters in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government.

Leading into 2010

Join me in welcome bestselling author Gloria Mallette! Nationally acclaimed award winning author GLORIA MALLETTE began her true literary journey by self-publishing her second novel Shades of Jade in April of 2000. By July and 13,000 sold copies later, Gloria signed on with Random House who re-released Shades of Jade in 2001. Shades of Jade made several best sellers lists, including Black Board, Essence Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and The Washington Post/Washington is Also Reading listing.

Gloria has been featured in The New York Daily News, USAToday, ToDay’s Black Woman, Upscale Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and The Pocono Record. Gloria also has a featured novella, Come Tomorrow, on the USAToday website. To her credit, Gloria now has ten published titles including the newly released SASSY, a Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards; Weeping Willows Dance; and Living, Breathing Lies, winner of the National Best Books 2007 Awards and the 2008 Indie Excellence Award.


Intimate Conversation with Gloria hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations

Q: Introduce us to your new book SASSY.
GM: Finally SASSY! It took a while but SASSY is now available where ever books are sold. Order your autographed copy from the SASSY page, or order from Amazon.com. If not online, please order through your local bookstore. 

Who is Sassy? A successful romance novelist, Sassy Davenport is a woman looking to fulfill her own romantic fantasy. When the man of her dreams steps right out of the pages of her latest novel, Butterfly, Sassy falls madly in love with him. But what evil lies behind Norris Yoshito’s beautiful eyes and sexy smile? Is the man of Sassy’s dream a serial killer of women who made the mistake of trusting him just as Sassy did? When Sassy finds herself caught up in a nightmare of deception and danger, she has to keep her suspicions to herself or fall victim to a heartless killer who sees her death as the ultimate act of revenge

Book Review for Sassy:
"[Sassy] is a fascinating psychological drama...." Harriet Klausner, #1 Amazon Reviewer 
"This is a thriller that I couldn't put down...I read it within 24 hours...a must read." --- B. Davis 'crazy about books.' 


Q: Tell us a little about your main characters. 
GM: The main characters in SASSY are Sassy Davenport and Norris Yoshito. Sassy is a romance novelist who has yet to find the man of her romantic dreams. That is until Norris Yoshito, an architect of Japanese and African American decent, by chance, attends one of Sassy's book signings and purchases ten copies of her latest novel---which impresses her.

The attraction between Sassy and Norris is immediate. Norris is the embodiment of the leading man in Sassy's novel, but Sassy quickly learns that Norris is a man of great compassion and substance when he helps her take care of her cousin Bernard who is dying of AIDS. However, there appears to be a darker side to Norris that frightens Sassy. Women associated with Norris are being murdered and the police believe Norris is the killer. Not knowing what to believe, Sassy fears that she might have to fight the man she loves in order to save her own life.

Q: Who was your favorite? Why?
GM: While I liked Sassy's strength and tenacity, I fell in love with Norris. I liked that Norris was caring, loving, and strong. Norris didn't shy away from Bernard's illness; nor did he back down from Sassy whenever she tried to get the upper hand; nor did he fear his older brother Clarence who had hated him all of his life. Norris was indeed the man that most women dream about being in love with.


Q: What issue, person or thing inspired you to write this story?
GM: Actually, my character, Norris, inspired me to write this book. Strange as it might seem, I kept dreaming about this Afro-Asian man who marries an African-American woman who faces head on the problems they were up against because of his past. My dreams evolved into SASSY.


Q: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
GM: One of the issues I addressed in SASSY was AIDS and the other mixed race children in Japan who are technically outcasts in a very purist, racist society. Even today, Japanese people as a whole do not condone the mixing or tainting of their blood by foreigners, especially people of African decent. I even learned that bleaching cream is very big in Asia because Japanese people believe the whiter their skin the better. I had to do a lot of research and it was no surprise that women who bore mixed race children were ostracized. Big surprise---not.



Q: What was your primary quest in publishing this book?
GM: My primary quest in publishing SASSY was to do it my way. My previous publisher wanted me to add a lot of sex to my books, but sex is not what I write. If a sex scene is called for, that's fine, but to write sex to drive the story, that's not me. I write what my characters lead me to write, not what I think will sell more books.


Q: Thousands of books are published each year. What sets your book apart from other books in your genre? 
GM: That's just it, publishers have never been able to pigeonhole me. I don't write in a particular genre which is what sets my books apart from other books. I love mystery, suspense, and romance. Combining the three seem to work perfectly for me, which is why readers tell me they can't stop reading until the very last page. 


Q: What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you?
GM: There were several powerful scenes in SASSY that touched me. One in particular was when Bernard, who is dying of AIDS, gets to see his seven-year-old son Brice. Bernard had been afraid that he would scare Brice by his emaciated appearance and tried to end all contact with Brice and Brice's mother Evelyn. When Brice was brought to the house, it was Brice who embraced Bernard and said he would take care of him. I actually cried when I wrote this scene.


Q: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
GM: Interestingly, there is nothing in the content of the SASSY that I would change, it would be the copyeditor who didn't do such a great job. 


Q: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
GM: SASSY placed as a finalist in the National Best Book 2009 Awards. I feel fortunate that it has been acknowledged, just as Living, Breathing Lies was in 2007 and 2008 wherein it won a National Best Book Awards and an Indie Excellence Award. As a self-publisher who has been mainstream published, a little validation goes a long way.

I'd like to extend an invitation to readers to visit my website: www.gloriamallette.com  to see the videos for both Sassy and Living, Breathing Lies. Books ordered through my website are personally autographed. 
Writing remains my passion. I am now hard at work on my next book, Shh! Don’t Tell which will be out in 2011. 

Sassy by Gloria A. Mallette
ISBN-10: 0967878934 | ISBN-13: 9780967878935

Purchase your copy today from Barnes and Noble or by visiting Gloria's website for a signed copy.


Follow Author Gloria Mallette
Email: gempress@aol.com  
Website: www.gloriamallette.com  
Blog: http://blog.myspace.com/gloriamallette

National Best Book 2009 Awards Finalist -- Sassy
National Indie Excellence 2008 Award Winner -- Living, Breathing Lies
National Best Book 2007 Awards Winner AA Fiction -- Living, Breathing Lies
MosaicBooks.com 2007 Bestseller -- Living, Breathing Lies

Advice from the Top: What Minority Women 
Say About Their Career Success
by author Valencia Campbell

Join me in welcoming author Valencia Campbell to Black Pearls. Valencia is a consultant on educational topics and women’s issues Her completed projects include those for the Baltimore Public School System, National Science Foundation, National Congress of Black Women and the National Council of Negro Women. She has taught sociology courses at Howard University and Bowie State University. Her many awards include: Governor’s Citation for Work on the Improvement of the Status of Women, Woman of the Year for Southern Prince George’s Business and Professional Women, WHUR Hometown Hero Award, 9to5 National Association of Working Women Awards and a Presidential Appointment to the United Service Organization World Board of Governors from 2006-2008. Valencia holds a Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Sociology from Howard University and B.A. in Sociology from Virginia State University. 

Intimate Conversation with author Valencia Campbell, hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations


»Ella: Introduce us to the primary message in your book, Advice from the Top.
One of the key messages in my book relates to how the minority women define success. A common theme was the idea of setting your own goals and achieving them. Nearly all of the women did not equate money with success despite the fact that they all had achieved considerable financial wealth.


»Ella: What lead you to create Advice from the Top now?
I wrote this book to help minority women realize their career dreams. Often we minority women are confronted with race and gender barriers that impact our career aspirations. By learning from the career experiences of other women, we can move ahead at a faster pace. I include specific tips that will help women overcome some of the barriers as well. 
. 

»Ella: What impact will Advice from the Top have on the community?
I think my book will inspire women to set their career goals high. Chapter Three for example, shares the amazing stories of millionaire business owners like Cathy Hughes and Eunice Dudley. Also, former Prince George's School Superintendent Iris Metts is included. News anchor Andrea Roane and medical doctor, Beatrice Muglia, among others are included too. Readers will see how the women's family, mentors, professional networks, and personal drive propelled them to success. These women's stories will leave a lasting legacy for those who want to improve the status of women in our society. 

Advice from the Top offers tips and advice to minority women and others wondering what it takes to succeed in careers in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. To gain the insights, Valencia Campbell reviewed research on career success. Then she interviewed fourteen extraordinary minority women, all of whom shared stories about the path to the top of their fields. But this book goes beyond the usual superficial profile of women achievers. Rather, it shares their views on what constitutes success, the factors they consider important to their success, the obstacles they encountered and overcame, and what women can do today to get ahead.

Advice from the Top will inspire minority women who want to advance their careers. The compelling stories described in this book will, further, help them avoid common pitfalls on the road to success. Better, it provides action steps designed to help readers vault the same hurdles with aplomb. Advice from the Top will also help organizations, educational institutions, and business organizations develop and support career and mentoring programs that promote the success of minority women.


»Ella: Is there a defining message that you want readers to grasp and share?
It's so important to me for my readers to start sharing their own stories of success whether it is in a news article, magazine article or their very own book. It is important that minority women across a wide range of occupational fields share their stories. 


»Ella: Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS. What part does GRATITUDE play in achieving success, in your opinion?
Like the women I interviewed, I believe that success is achieving goals that you set for yourself. You should not let others define success for you. When we receive support from our families, mentors, professional and or social networks, we can show our gratitude by helping someone else realize their career dreams. 

»Website: www.advicefromtopwomen.com ; Email: valenciacampbell2003@yahoo.com  

Order from Amazon
ISBN-10: 0313358583 | ISBN-13: 978-0313358586

Former two-term Vice President of the Black Writers Guild of Maryland, Saundra E. Harris, is the author of THE PARTY, which received the Romantic Times Magazine BOOKreview 2005 Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best African American Romance by a First Time Novelist. Ms. Harris recently completed her long awaited sequel to her first novel THE AFTER PARTY which is also receiving rave reviews.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management and plans to pursue a Masters. Additionally, she is the President of SHE Media Group the parent company whose holdings include Saphari Books, Inc., an independent small press, and WSER Sassy Entertainment Radio™, a weekly internet radio show, focusing on bridging the communication gap between the sexes. Currently she is at work on her third and fourth novels, due to be released in 2010 and 2011, respectively. 


Tell us about your passion for writing.
SEH: I never knew how cathartic writing was until I was dared to actually write my stories that I told on paper. I was going through a bad relationship and an even worse breakup and it was so healing to be able to write down what happened. I was not only able to see his issue, but my own as well and my contribution to the demise of the relationship. Now I cannot go a day without writing something. Whether it’s an entry in my blog, or a thread topic on my Twitter or Face Book pages, or even an answer to a thread, I have to get my opinions out and my thoughts on paper. 

My main motivation for writing are men and sex, the very thought of the two stimulate my senses and gives me an awareness of life. It may sound strange, but the inner workings of relationships intrigue me, and the more I see women in miserable situations [sometimes of their own choosing] it inspires me to write more. I want to empower women with the knowledge that being single is not a dirty word and that your true friends will help you through all trials and tribulations.

Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
SEH: My writing is inspirational and I want to show future readers a true understanding of what it means to be a friend. I also want to leave the legacy to my family of the importance of writing and how diverse and talented the family is. It is my hope to jumpstart their imagination into a new world and a new realm of creativity.

Introduce us to your book The After Party
SEH: THE AFTER PARTY: Shaeyla, Benét, Kendra, Diandra, and Worthy have been friends for years, and are known as “the party girls”, but what happens when the party spirals out of control testing their sisterhood as well as their relationships? 

Shaeyla Andrews the preeminent event planner in the Mid- Atlantic region is roped into hosting yet another party celebrating love and life centered on her girls. Benet and Worthy barely survived the last party, while Kendra and Diandra found love and Shaeyla remained torn between two men. The After Party invites you back into the lives of five dynamic and sexy ladies… It’s a new year and the ladies have finally learned their lesson…or have they?

What Inspired You To Write This Story?
SEH: This story is actually the sequel to the first book THE PARTY, yet it has been so long between books that I wanted the readers to be able to read THE AFTER PARTY and still understand the storyline. I was inspired to write both books because of my own relationship and how I dealt with it at the time. I also noticed that women in my life were turning a blind eye to the odd habit forming vices – i.e. gambling, womanizing, alcoholism, and drug addiction, and to me they had sold their souls just to say they had a man AND they no longer had their girlfriends. I noticed that they only called on their friends when times were hard, but when times were good, they pushed their friends away. So that was another key aspect for writing the book. I wanted to show how true friendship and sistergirl’s related and how they acted with each other, that they could say anything they wanted without rancor and that it was an understanding between the ladies that we say things out of love and not hate. As a side bar, my girlfriends and I are known as “the party girls”.

What Issues In Today’s Society Have You Addressed In the Book?
SEH: I have addressed the issue of friendship; true and real friendship between women. Society tells women that we cannot be friends, and that we have to be leery of each other around our men and since that is not my point of reference, I wanted to write about women like me. Women who have friends that have lasted through all the ups and downs in life for more than thirty years, the type of women who try to cheer you up when you are down or give you a shoulder to cry on when your sad, or even the type that say “I told you so”. That is the type of woman that I am and that is the type of female sistergirl friends that I surround myself with. 

How Difficult Was It to Complete The Novel?
SEH: This novel was actually completed in 2003 when I finished my first novel, but I was not satisfied with it, so I sat it on the shelf. I did not revisit the manuscript again until 2007 and after a year and half of rewrites and edits; the story came together to the point that I was excited and in love with my characters again. So there was a six year hiatus between my first novel THE PARTY and the sequel THE AFTER PARTY. What I don’t think people understand is that you have to have a passion for your art and I can only write what I would want to read as a reader. I am an incurable romantic and despite the drama in my books I always want them to have a happy ending. So choosing to write a dramatic romance was easy, because my favorite author’s are romance writers, such as Brenda Jackson and Rochele Alers.

Share with us your latest news, awards, or upcoming book releases?
SEH: My alter-ego SassyScribe will be publishing her very first novel. It is a non-fiction book entitled SITUATIONS with SASSY which discusses dating, love, sex, and relationships, and is currently in the editing stages, with a release date set for Feb 2011. For 2012, I hope to have two more novels completed - SUMMERS OFF and DELIVERANCE AME are both in rough manuscript form and deals with marriage and infidelity and the church respectively and will make for great summer reading.

Follow Saundra aka SassyScribe Online
www.blogtalkradio.com/sassyentertainment   
www.sapharibooks.com  
www.myspace.com/sassyscribe  
www.xcapadesofthegirlz.blogspot.com   
www.asksassyscribe.blogspot.com 

Intimate Conversation with Nikkea Smithers

Nikkea Smithers is a spoken word artists and Essence Magazine Best Selling Author She has performed on stages in front of thousands. Her literary work often speaks to issues in the community that are often under-discussed. Her readers have fallen in love with her ‘tell it like it is’ approach to writing making her readers lifelong fans. 


Black Pearls Magazine Interview hosted by Ella Curry, CEO of EDC Creations

Ella: Hello Nikkea! Introduce us to your book, On The Flip Side.
Nikkea: On The Flip Side deals with a situation that many men face but little light is shed on. We often hear the story about the single mother doing it for her kids on a daily basis. While I would never want to take anything away from them, what we don't often hear about is the single father who is standing up to his responsibilities and being burdened with social issues beyond his realm of control. What if the mother is not the one holding it down? What if the father has the kids but the mother has the greed? On The Flip Side deals with a different kind of baby momma drama and show that real men are fathers and not just baby daddies. 


Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? Why?
Nikkea: Tavares was on the path to be a very successful young man. A one night stand turns his life up side down and he finds himself in a position where he has to be accountable. As he struggles to be a respectable father the mother of his children does everything in her power to break him down. The twist to this tale is he just isn't just a single father, he is also paying child support as if his kids don't live with him and in two different states. 

Danica is a very interesting woman with a serious God complex. She truly believes that she is better than everyone around her. Not only does her complex cause her to throw stereotypes around like they are going out of style but it causes her to play the role of karma. The problem with playing karma is that it's bound to come back on you if you aren't living right. 

My favorite is Tavares because he is the epitome of real man. He immediately steps up to the plate and makes things happen. As you read the book you genuinely feel for him. His kids come first, plain and simple. Who doesn't love a man like that?


Ella: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? What inspired you to write this story?
Nikkea: The characters aren't based on real people but are influenced by conversations. I love talking to people and my husband and I often throw these parties where there are debates on different topics. Of course one of the most popular topics of debate is child support. The men thought they paid too much. The women thought it wasn't enough. One man talked about how he was paying support in both NY and VA. He talked about how neither state would take into consideration the order in the other state. This blew my mind! My mother was even present and shared her views on the subject which opened my eyes even more. I see story lines in the strangest of things so I thought, what if was the other way around? What if the man had his kids and was still paying child support? So I wrote the poem On The Flip Side and was surprised at the response it got from men that were going through this very thing. Then a friend of mine and I were talking after she saw me perform the poem and was telling me about a friend of hers going through this only his child's mother left the kids at the hospital after birth! I immediately thought oh this needs to be a book! I then took the poem and turned it into this book.


Ella: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
Nikkea: Child support is the obvious issue addressed in the book but there are several subliminal messages. I love dealing with subliminal messages and try my best to place a few in every novel I write. One issue is accountability. Society is really hard on women in regards to promiscuity but men don't always get the same scrutiny. I want to show young men that they have to be responsible for their actions as well. That one night of passion could mean kids with a woman you don't know or worse, a death sentence of H.I.V. Another issue that is addressed is karma. We really need to understand that what we throw out into the universe will come back to us pressed down, shaken together and running over.


Ella: What was your primary quest in publishing this book?
Nikkea: I love to break down barriers and talk about things that no one is talking about. At least not in this sense. I wanted the roles to be reversed and stretch my imagination. Especially with Danica's character, I had to dig deep for her because she is so far from me and what I would naturally do. I wanted this book to be true to the characters and show them for who they are regardless of the outcome. I love being able to uplift my brothers and say kudos to those doing the right things. Through Tavares I get to connect with readers and share with them the story of a good man. 


Ella: What sets your book apart from other books in your genre? 
Nikkea: It's all about the message. My work is educational but entertaining. I want to enlighten people. I want them to finish one of my books thinking about the subject matter and want to take action. How can we change things if we don't start by talking about them? I actively strive to write away from what's popular and get to the bottom of social issues that need to be addressed.


Ella: What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
Nikkea: When I'm not writing I love to read! I'm the biggest book worm. My husband and I joke that our house looks like the Library of Congress. I don't discriminate. I have poetry from Langston Hughes to Nikki Giovanni. I have nonfiction from George Jackson to Steve Harvey. I have fiction from John Gresham to E. Lynn Harris. With me being a self published author I am also a huge supporter of self published authors because I understand their grind. I also enjoy culture. I love museums, art viewings, jazz clubs, and poetry readings. I love the movies too! 


Ella: What does your family think of your writing? 
Nikkea: My family is very supportive. My husband has a prized collection of all of my books in his 'man room' that he shows off to all his friends. He gets the first copy in every edition of all of my works. When he sees something has discouraged me he tells me to shake it off and keep doing what I do. My mother buys my books in bulk like she doesn't know me! They are my two biggest supporters. I appreciate being surrounded by positivist and they keep me inspired to keep on writing.


Ella: What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Nikkea: Do your research, stay positive and value the message over all else.


Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
Nikkea: I was excited to find out that two of my books (Keith's Story and Attitudes of a Woman) were awarded with the Literary Hallmark & Legends Top Books 2009 award by your Magazine. That honor was one of the highlights of my year! Within the next year I have three more books that will be released. I also look forward to touring and performing. I want to dedicate my time in the new year connecting with my readers. Book clubs who select my book as their book of the month can reach out to me so that I can make plans to either be present or available for a teleconference. Email: info@nikkeasmithers.com ;  Website: www.nikkeasmithers.com   

Purchase the book at: Amazon Online
Purchase the book at: Barnes & Noble Online

 
1. Listen attentively while your spouse is speaking, rather than concentrating on what you are going to say in response. This way, you can hear what your spouse is really saying. You may be also able to hear what your spouse is not saying, as well as what he is.

2. Learn to speak the same things (for example, you want to live debt free or have a happy, fulfilling marriage). If you are speaking the same things, you are in agreement. The scriptures ask, “Can two walk together unless they are in agreement?” The answer is no. Therefore, agreement is very important in a marriage.

3. Make eye-to-eye contact when you are speaking. Eyes will reveal anger, pain, sickness, and so on. Eye-to-eye contact also creates a connection between you and your spouse.

4. Think before you speak, thereby giving yourself time to speak your words with love. People are easily offended. Once anger or offense enters the conversation, the person who is offended stops listening and goes on the defensive. So think carefully before you speak.

5. Pray together. Again, this brings agreement, but more importantly, brings God into the conversation.

6. Dream together and write a vision. Understanding the purpose for your marriage should drive you and your spouse to accomplish God’s will for your life. Whether His reason is for you to raise your children a certain way, to start a business, to start a non-profit organization, to start a prayer meeting in your community, or to sing, every couple has a purpose.

7. Know your spouse and why she does what she does (for example, is it based on her upbringing? military background? being from a single-parent home? growing up poor?). Knowing this will help you to communicate more effectively. For example, if your spouse grew up poor, then you can understand why she responds a certain way when you spend a lot of money. Because of your spouse’s past, she might be used to people telling her to not spend as much or feelings of poverty may rear their ugly head.

8. Communicate with your spouse—he is not a mind reader. You must communicate your wants and desires.

9. Know what your spouse expects from you (such as dinner every night, or a phone call to let her know you are okay). You have been with your spouse long enough to know what she expects.

10. Understand what your mate is trying to say. Men are definitely from Mars and women are different from Venus. We can speak the same things, but in different ways. Understanding your spouse’s background and gender, and knowing his heart, will help you to decipher what he is really trying to say. For example, your spouse may have a hard time expressing love verbally but may be able to express it physically, giving you hugs or kisses that say, “I love you.”

11. Forgive one another. Every marriage, including yours, will get to a point at which your spouse will do something to hurt you. At the end of that day, make up in your mind to forgive your spouse. If you don’t, that unforgiveness will grow day by day until your heart is hardened or your ears get dull and you no longer want to hear what he has to say. Those are walls that start the separation process. Don’t let that happen. Forgive and move on. God says that He gives us new mercies every day; therefore, because He has given freely, you should give freely, too.

12. Complement and say “I love you” and “I appreciate you” often. By doing this every day, this is something that can keep a marriage peaceful and strong.

13. Know the best time to talk with your mate. If your spouse is not a morning person, 7 AM is not the best time to have a serious conversation. If your spouse needs an hour after work to relax, wait to have that heart-to-heart.

14. Conduct family meetings regularly. This allows you to discuss what’s going on with the child(ren), plan dates and vacations, agree about large purchases, and other important matters.

15.  Control your emotions. Keep your mouth shut! DO NOT discuss issues when either of you is upset. If your spouse is trying to discuss a matter while angry, find a way to let her cool off first. For example, excuse yourself to the bathroom and go pray. If you are the one who is upset, definitely pray first and wait until you are able to speak nicely. 
 
© Jewell R. Powell, the Marriage Coach and author of Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith. For more information, visit www.marriage101.us  

 What is financial freedom? More than just a dollar amount on your paycheck, financial freedom is a state of mind. It’s the comfort of knowing you’re debt-free. Getting started with eliminating debt is easier than you think. If you follow these seven simple steps, you’ll be on your way.  

1. Change the way you look at money – renew your mind!
We tend to think of money as the enemy, a scapegoat for all of our financial woes. Learn to look at money as a means to living comfortably, not the cause of your struggles. Ultimately, we are the ones who decide where our money goes. It’s not like dollar bills sprout legs and go buy a new TV, right? Money discussions can be uncomfortable for many married couples, but talking is an important first step. A good book on this is “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” by T. Harv Eker 
or “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.  

2. Get out of debt – owe no man anything!
Living with debt is more than a financial drain and mounting interest. It’s also constant worrying over whether you can pay your bills. Here’s the most effective (and simple) way to tackle your debt:  

Start by paying off the credit card with highest interest rate. Set some specific goals here. How much extra can you pay each month? Always make more than the minimum payment. Once that card has been paid off, start working on the bill with the next highest interest. Throughout this process, you should be paying the minimum on all of the credit card bills you have. Check out this free e-course on getting out of debt ( http://www.youneedabudget.com/index.php#order ).  

3. Don’t create any more debt – be a wise steward!
Now that you credit card balance is down to zero, you want to keep it that way. To remain debt-free, all you have to do is spend less than you take in. Easier said than done? Maybe. This is another opportunity to have a good heart-to-heart talk with your spouse about both of your spending habits.  

Some people recommend cutting up all your credit cards. However, keeping one credit card as a safety net in case of emergency is perfectly fine. Keep only one card, take it out of your wallet, and put it some place less accessible – such as your family’s fire safe. The time it takes to get out the card will serve as a “cooling off” period.  

4. Create a budget – count the cost!
Budget can be an unpleasant word – like ‘diet’. But don’t think of it as depriving yourselves – think of it as investing in yourselves. Which sounds better: one dinner at your favorite steak house or going to be every night knowing you’re debt-free? Think of your budget as an opportunity to cast a vision together as a couple. What’s important to both of you? Your spending should reflect your values, what you hold most dear in your heart. Here’s a simple software program you can use for creating and keeping your budget together ( http://www.youneedabudget.com/index.php#order ).  

5. See where it goes – make a list and check it twice!
For an entire month, track everything you both spend money on – down to the last penny. Evaluate whether you are prone to making impulse purchases. Also, look at whether advance planning will help. For instance, plan your meals at least a week in advance. Multiple trips to the grocery store mean multiple opportunities for impulse purchases.

 6. Start saving – plan for the future!
Build yourselves a nice cushion of cash. After you’ve lowered your debt and begun living on a budget, you should money to put into a savings account each month. When an emergency arises, you’ll have cash to cover the expenses – no need to borrow money or use a credit card.  

Seek wise counsel about different kinds of accounts you can use to save money tax-free. For example, you can contribute to a 401(k) and steadily build a nice nest egg – and the difference in your net paycheck is so small you might not even notice it.  

You’re not limited to stocks, bonds, and savings accounts, either. There are a lot of pretty creative ways to save money that you might not have considered before. Check out www.liveoutloud.com for some great ideas.  

7. Get insurance – get yourself into good hands!
If you don’t both have enough health insurance, one accident or illness could devastate you financially. Even if you have insurance through work, evaluate whether it’s enough to prevent a financial crisis. Consider getting supplemental insurance if you believe you’re underinsured. Also, don’t overlook disability insurance. Should you find yourself unable to work, debt is guaranteed to mount. You might think extra insurance is too expensive – but you’re wrong! For most young adults, life insurance and disability insurance cost less than a dollar a day. You’ll never know unless you ask – so call around and start learning about your options.  

Small changes add up quickly. Don’t let bad money habits wreck your marriage. You’ve got to both be committed to this goal if you’re going to make it happen. Financial freedom is closer than you think. Don’t wait a minute longer to achieve your dream – start on these seven steps today!  

© Jewell R. Powell, the Marriage Coach and author of Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith. For more information, visit www.marriage101.us

Literary Sistahs National Book Tour Group featuring the authors Donneil D. Jackson, T. Nicole Robinson, Tamika Newhouse, S. Dodson, and Ni'cola Mitchell.


Literary Sistahs Authors Tour
A group created by Best Selling Author Tamika Newhouse, Literary Sistahs is a national tour group of black authors touring the nation to bring a new literary experience. These are women who have toured all over the nation, gained a best seller’s status, operate their own publishing companies, and together they will collaborate to bring events you will always remember. 

The purpose of the Book Tours is to meet many avid readers all at once, bringing them fun and exciting book signings with activities. You get the fulfillment of getting your books signed by more then one prominent author that has many stories to tell. We are passionate about our work, our readers and fans, and making it to see them for a more personal meeting. These book tours will not only entice you, you will not want to miss them coming into your city. Email: literarysistahs@gmail.com 

Readers get ready for laughter, hugs and smiles, good books, and a personal conversation with today's most passionate writers. Visit us:  www.literarysistahs.com  and  www.twitter.com/literarysistahs 



African American On the Move Bookclub
AAMBC is a award nominating literary group of African American women and men. Each week members from all over the country discuss and read novels by independent writers. They monthly Books from Independent Authors, Weekly Radio Shows, Thousands of members, and the vision to push African American writers to the top. 
Become a supporter of AAMBC's mission which is to highlight our African American authors to the fullest. Connect with us on many networks and get started with our book of the month today. Visit the website: www.aambookclub.com  

Follow AAMBC on the web: 
www.aambcbooktours.blogspot.com   
www.twitter.com/aambookclub  
www.myspace.com/aambc2008 

         Tamika Newhouse author The Ultimate Moment No Regrets

Tamika Newhouse is the award-winning best selling author of The Ultimate NO NO and The Ultimate Moment No Regrets. Currently she is the Founder of an online organization for black authors called AAMBC and the CEO of Delphine Publications. You can currently hear her on AAMBC Radio and see her on tour with Literary Sistah’s. She resides in San Antonio with her husband and two children. 

Ella: The Ultimate Moment No Regrets Introduction
The Ultimate Moment No Regrets is the follow-up to the best selling novel The Ultimate NO NO. In a continuance quest for true happiness Jazzaray, Nitrah Charmaine, and Dahlia will face yet more trials before they can reach the end of the tunnel. As everyone tries to grow and forget about the lies that transpired more deception surfaces making them question their relationships. More deceit, more heartache, and more deceiving as theses women face one of their hardest task in life, finding true love. You’re discovered what their ultimate no no was but now can you handle their ultimate moments. 

Ella: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
In retrospect a person writes from what they know. I want my novels to come off as relatable and realistic story line. So to achieve that I use sources from people I know; such as family, friends, old class mates, former boyfriends, and even some enemies. It’s all a process of writing people that your readers can relate to.

Ella: What inspired you to write this story?
The Ultimate Moment No Regrets is the sequel to my debut novel The Ultimate NO NO. I wrote the sequel because when I wrote the first book almost three years ago I was an amateur. I did not know anything about the industry and I wrote for pure entertainment. I had ended the novel abruptly on purpose and when I finally took writing seriously I knew I had to write part two. So after three years I sat down and wrote The Ultimate Moment No Regrets and the drama just spilled all over the pages. My journey to becoming a published author is a faith filled one. Everything I started off to do I believe was a blessing, none of this was my planned destiny.

Ella: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
I have addressed a lot of things from welfare, food stamps, projects, housing assistance, and the dark verses light skin. A lot of stereotypes are run through our culture and I made my main character a dark skinned woman because I wanted to get rid of their stereotype. Most books I read, the main character is always a brown bombshell. I needed to step outside the box and show you that we all have different shades. I am a dark sista and I love my dark skin. I have never wanted to be bright, never wanted to be a stick figure and I have loved every part of who I am. When reading a character that looks like you or someone you love it makes the story all so real. That’s who we are, real people. 

Ella: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
I learned that this isn’t a competition. I never started out as an author who wanted to beat other authors in a game of who can sale the most. To me that defeats the purpose of writing and the art of it. Staying humble is what can keep you asleep at night. When I get fan mail, I get overly excited. Because if just that one person reads it and says they loved it and go into detail about it, I feel like I just earned several thousand bucks. Although that feeling isn’t in forms of dollars the benefit is very fruitful. I love being able to do this. What else would I do to talk everyone to death? 

Ella: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story?
With each story I write it’s a new task. With this one I started off as doubting myself. Because I was now in the industry this would be the first book I wrote knowing that other people were going to read it. I had to nip that in the butt quick and get on the grind of writing another best seller. With each story line I want there to be a lessoned learned. I always have these hidden messages in which I think their not so hidden because my readers catch on very quickly. Its all apart of life and with life comes heartache and triumph. So will I ever write a fantasy or a perfect character? I probably want because who in life is perfect? Remembering that I want my stories to be relatable defeats the idea of writing a perfect character. 

Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
In 2009 I was awarded the women of the year award by Alive Magazine. I was also nominated for several awards such as Radio Personality of the Year and Self Published Author of the Year by African American literary Awards. I have been featured in several magazines such as Ujima magazine, San Antonio Black News, Dallas Black, Dallas Morning News, Alive Magazine, and Step Up Sista. I have also been on various BTR shows, KAZI Radio, Artist First Radio, and from cover to cover radio show. I am currently hosting my own show on BTR called AAMBC Radio, a literary consultant, book marketer, and founder of Delphine Publications. I plan to do a lot more as I grow in this industry. I love every part of it bad and good.

Book Sellers: Ingram/Baker and Taylor
Book Store: The Literary Joint in Forestville, Maryland
Website: www.TamikaNewhouse.com  
Blog: www.tamikanews.wordpress.com 
Fan Club: www.tamikafanclub.ning.com  
Publisher: www.delphinepublications.com  

                           T. Nicole author of My Own Terms

T. Nicole has always had a love for writing. As a young child she could be found in her room writing anything from poetry to short stories and graphic novels. Her love for the written word has continued to grow and she now has decided to share her projects with the world.

My Own Terms has been said to be "happening and fresh", giving the reader a good blend of action, suspense and romance. This novel takes your typical girl done wrong story and intertwines scenarios that leave the reader wanting more. Three thousand miles isn't far enough for Shana, the main character, to escape the life she once loved. How will she get away and move on?

Intimate Conversation with Ella Curry of EDC Creations

Ella: T. Nicole, are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
All the characters in My Own Terms have personality traits of people that I have come in contact with in my life at some time or another.

Ella: What inspired you to write this story?
Inspiration for this story came in many different forms. Life experiences from myself and those of friends and family contributed to the story line. The story just about wrote itself.

Ella:  What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
The most valuable lesson I have learned in this industry is to educate yourself as much as possible. The more educated you are about the publishing industry, the less likely you will be taken advantage of. Always do your research!

Ella:  What makes a successful writer?
Three things that make a successful author, in my opinion, are: Confidence in their work; Knowledge of the business, whether you are publishing your own work or not; The ability to take people's opinions about your work, whether they are good or bad.

Ella:  What is your most significant achievement as a writer?
My most significant achievement as a writer is the fact that I decided to take myself seriously as well as my writing. This allowed me to move forward and publish my work.

For more information on T. Nicole go to www.writtenbytnicole.com 

T. Nicole Author of:
My Own Terms
Scattered Thoughts Of Unpromising Romance
Moments of Clarity

A Jamaican native, Ni'cola Mitchell published her debut novel Over and Over Again through her independent publishing company NCM Publishing. Much of her work revolves around situations that are a compulsive desire to see women over come challenges. She holds a Bachelors degree of Science in Business Management and is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration in Health Care Management. 

Introduce us to your story and the main characters. 
NM: Over and Over Again is a fictional work based on life experiences of people and me that I have met throughout my life. It is set in present day Las Vegas, and it revolves around my main character Dionni Stone. She is a successful business owner that appears to the outside world that she has everything under control, but in actuality, it is not always what it seems. Her boyfriend of several years Dale, has had a string of affairs throughout the duration of their relationship, and has made Dionni somewhat insecure. Dionni finally decides to move on when she catches him in the act of infidelity.

Her two best friends Eva and Tiana tries to ensure that she doesn't fall back under Dale's charming spell, and with the help of their beautician David, introduces Dionni to Zay an investment banker. Dionni believes that she has found her knight in shining armor but in the end has been sucked into a black hole filled with even more lies and secrets leaving Dionni feeling as if she is going out of her mind. The message that I am trying to portray in this story is very simple. In life everyone in the world, especially women are faced with trials, tribulations, and hardships, but what allows them to be classified as a strong woman, is the way they overcome and rise above it.


Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? What inspired you to write this story?
NM: All my characters are fictional, but I did take situations, mannerisms, and characteristics from real life people to create them. What inspired me to write this story is to demonstrate to my children that if they follow their heart; anything is possible.

What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
NM: I addressed many issues in this book such as infidelity, deceit, low moral and self worth, sex, lies, relationships, and prostitution.

What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
That if you stay grounded, focused, and believe in your self, you can put out a successful book that can hold its own among other works in your genre. 

Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
NM: I was selected to be featured in the second edition of Who's Who in Black Las Vegas. Over and Over Again was also featured #10 by EDC Creations Recommended Reading list for the 2009 fall season under Mainstream Fiction and Women's Fiction. My next book entitled The Appetizer, when your not his main course, comes out in February, and Twisted is coming out in the summer of 2010. 


Contact info for Ni'cola Mitchell, Author of Over and Over Again 
Stimulating Your Mind, One Word at a Time

Email: nicola@nicolacmitchell.com 
http://www.nicolacmitchell.com 
http://www.ncmpublishing.com 
http://www.nicola.ning.com 
http://www.twitter.com/msnicola 
http://www.facebook.com/msnicola 

Links to booksellers
http://www.amazon.com/Over-Again-Nicola-Mitchell/dp/057801114X 
http://www.theliteraryjoint.com 
http://www.lybrary.com 

Donneil D. Jackson author Chante's Song

Jay-Z has a song that says, “I can’t see the tears rolling down my eyes so I gotta make the song cry. ” Chante’s Song is Chante’s Chambers Song Cry.  Chante Chambers is a thirty-something beautiful brown bombshell. By day she’s a top production studio executive, with a Prada and Manolo fetish funded by her once lover and current boss, Jason McGhee. Ms. Chambers is extremely candid in a “you either take her or leave her” sorta way. She has the means to get anything and everything she wants except for true love. Her rock hard exterior hides the soft and pink side of her, once revealed it opens her up to all types of vulnerabilities. 

Chante Chambers is a self-proclaimed princess. What mama wants her ex fiancé, Jason, makes sure she gets. The one task he failed at was being faithful, and so Chante moved on. In a pursuit for love, happiness, and monogamy sometimes mistaken for sex, she encounters an array of men, whom if you took the best traits from them all and combined them, it still didn’t create the perfect man. As soon as Chante was ready to admit defeat in her quest for love, in walks Keith, a caramel Adonis. Chante has plans of living happily ever after with Keith that is until Jason re-enters the picture. A lunch hour spent in between the sheets with Jason can complicate things or can’t it. What's a girl to do when she's torn between two lovers? Does she grab her panties off the floor and vow to never drop them again? Or does she go back for seconds?

Intimate Conversation with S. Dodson

S. Dodson is originally from Arkansas and currently resides in Virginia. She is pursuing her doctorate in education. She holds a BA in psychology and a MA in counseling. She is the owner of a small publishing house Mahogney Ink Publications. Her upcoming releases are Cheating On My Mistress (the sequel), and From Minority to Thinking Like The Majority. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, cooking and spending time with loved ones.

Ella:  Introduce us to your story, message and the main characters. 
Cheating On My Mistress is about the life of a retired NBA player named Carmelo Miller. 
He has the money, cars, house, and the family. Looking from the outside in, everything seems perfect. There is one small issue. Carmelo is bored with his sex life. Instead of talking it out with his wife, he steps outside of his marriage and starts a relationship with two women: Monique and Augustine. 

Monique is a young vixen. She is freaky, but ambitious. She uses what she got in hopes of making it big and becoming a video girl. She is a typical mistress believing that one day Carmelo will leave his wife for her. In contrast you have Augustine. She is pretty enough to be on the arm of any well established man. She is the type that doesn‘t have marriage anywhere on her agenda. These outside relationships result in Carmelo learning what is done in the dark will eventually come to light. The message I want readers to get is when you do wrong it will come back on you no matter how smart you think you are. 

Ella:  What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book? 
In Cheating On My Mistress, I address the issues associated with cheating. I give you the good, the bad and the ugly: the risk of having unprotected sex, being seen as the “man”, and the revenge. In addition, I give you the perspectives of the mistress, the wife, and the cheater.


Ella:  Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Cheating On My Mistress and the characters are a work of fiction. The story came to me in a dream. The next morning I got out of bed and began putting my thoughts on paper. My main characters are Carmelo, Augustine, and Monique. Each of these characters bring something different to the story.

Ella:  What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
The most valuable lesson I learned is that you need to do research before you get involved with anything that is unfamiliar. When I decided to write a book, I searched the internet and went to the library. I wanted to know as much as possible about the industry. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I recently began promoting my company Mahogney Ink Publications. Mahogney Ink Publications is a small publishing house searching for raw and new talent. The company is searching for everything from poetry to street lit. Also, I am getting ready to promote my 2010 novel Cheating On My Mistress (the sequel). I also plan to release a self help book in 2011 titled From Minority to Thinking Like The Majority. 

Links:
www.mahogneyinkpublications.com 
www.cheatingonmymistress.blogspot.com 

Book seller links:
Cushcity.com
Amazon.com
Precious Memories Bookstore

                                 Intimate Conversation with Stefanie Newell

Stefanie Newell was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Finance. While finance has been her day job, she has been a writer for many years in different facets. Stefanie first co-wrote a song for Latin recording artist, Yohany and later began freelance writing for Unrated Magazine and her entertainment blog The Music Hot Spot. After observing the entertainment industry and lurking on various message boards and blogs over the years, Stefanie came up with the idea for her debut novel The Buzz. Published by Write One Publications, Inc., The Buzz has created an incredible buzz amongst book readers and fans of celebrity gossip. Stefanie is currently working on her second novel Rules of the Game.

The Buzz is the story of three people all searching for buzz in their own ways. Ebony Jenkins has exactly what most women are seeking - a good looking devoted boyfriend, a flourishing business and a beautiful little girl. But people don't know about the lies and deception behind her faux celebrity lifestyle. Despite her loving the glitz and glam, she despises celebrities and her Internet addiction is feeding her dislike more and more everyday. Buzz is an up and coming rapper and Ebony's boyfriend. He's a great boyfriend and father to their child but he feels unappreciated. Arika is an R&B singer who's just hit the music scene. She's busy living her dream and adapting to her new celebrity life. Chaos erupts when all of their lives cross paths and Ebony suspects that Buzz is cheating with Arika. To what lengths will Ebony go to ruin Arika's career?

Ella:  Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? Why?
A: I liked all of them in their own way but my favorite character hands down would have to be Ebony. She's fiery and has a very strong personality. You either love her or hate her! There's really no in between with her! She's a successful hair stylist, but nothing is ever good enough for her. She wants to be known as the baddest chick in the Chi. She despises celebrities and spends most of her day gossiping on the Internet. 

Arika is a lot more timid. She's really trying to adjust and stay grounded in her new celebrity lifestyle. She's the R&B newcomer in the music industry. She's everywhere! On TV, the radio, magazines and her hometown of Chicago is really showing her a lot of love. Buzz is Ebony's boyfriend and an up and coming rapper. He's passionate. He's dedicated. And he's loyal. He's an all around good guy but he has a girlfriend who doesn't appreciate him. So imagine the turmoil.

Ella: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
A: Yes Ebony definitely is! Not someone I know personally but people I observed on the internet. I am a freelance writer and blogger and I often visit message boards and blogs looking for content for my site. But I would get sidetracked because some of the people I would encounter on these sites were characters waiting to happen. Their comments were witty and funny, their opinions were strong. These are people that really enjoy reading and commenting on celebrity gossip! So I thought it would be interesting to tell The Buzz from the perspective of a person spreading the celebrity gossip. Who would this person be? What would motivate them to create a rumor? 

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
A: I would encourage them to approach the process as creatively and genuine as possible. When I was writing The Buzz, I would engross myself in the characters. There were things that happened in the book that even I didn't see coming. (laughs)


Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
A: I'm really excited about the newest release from my company. Its a self-help book entitled Pull Your Pants Up and Be a Man! by Bernice Harris. This book is truly inspiring and a must have for every young man! Its a book that inspires thought and change but also provides steps for the young men to take towards having a prosperous life. The foreword was written by actor Malik Yoba and his contribution was a seamless compliment to the words of the author! 

The Buzz and Pull Your Pants Up can be purchased at www.writeonepublications.com. And you can find me at www.twitter.com/stefanienewell,   www.facebook.com/stefanienewell  and www.themusichotspot.com 

Black Pearls family join me in welcoming the dynamic writing team of Tracie E. Christian and  Adra Young. Tracie Christian is a native of Detroit, Michigan and has nine years in the field of education and seven years experience of special events planning. Entering into the world of independent publishing in 2007, Ms. Christian's first book titled, The Black College Sabbatical Fall Quarter, has taken the country by storm. Her second release, The Black College Sabbatical Winter Quarter was released in March of 2009. Effortlessly working on this fiction trilogy series, Ms. Christian is wife, mother, poet, motivational speaker,  widely known and acclaimed advocate for the Detroit  Arts Community. Currently, Tracie Christian is on her Live Ladies of  Literary Tour with partner AdraYoung.

Adra Young is a native of Gary, Indiana and educator of 14 years for the Detroit Public Schools. Wanting the issues of children to be heard and represented, Ms. Young wrote her first book, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues in 2005. In 2006 Ms. Young created ARDANNYL, a after school performing arts company that provides acting, singing, dance, and creative arts.  Ms. Young's second release, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues Volume II was released in November of 2008.  Ms. Young is currently on her Live Ladies of Literary Tour with partner Tracie Christian.

" ... as  literary artist, we are showing the world how secure sisters can have each others backs."

Ms. Christian in collaboration with Literary Partner and Ms. Adra Young, kicked off the LIVE LADIES of LITERATURE BOOK TOUR where the ladies host signings, readings and selling of their fiction and non-fiction titles, The Black College Sabbatical (Christian) and The Everyday Living of Children and Teens Monologues (Young). Aside from the release of the second installment to her book series, Winter Quarter in March 2009, Christian also launched the "Say It Loud...I'm Black College Proud" seminar series for junior and senior high school aged youth to become informed, entertained and engaged in exploring the numerous educational opportunities made available through historically black colleges and universities.

Ella: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you? What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?

Tracie Christian's Passion for Writing:
Ms. Christian's everlasting ability to always have something to say not only purged her passion to write her first book and others to come.

Adra Young's Passion for Writing:
Adra Young simply wanted to be the voice for the unheard child.

Ella:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 

Tracie Christian's Legacy to Future Readers
Ms. Christian's writing offers real life reminders of the awkwardness and vulnerability of the human condition. In other words, art imitates life. Seeing the real life depictions offered through Ms. Christian's writing's allows readers to connect and draw back to realistic situations and endings.

Adra Young's Legacy to Future Readers
Ms.Young's legacy is to ensure that the unforgotten child is exposed in her writings.  That is the legacy that Adra Young wants to leave behind to all her readers.

Ella: Ladies, Introduce us to your books and the messages within.

Tracie E. Christian's Book Introduction
Tracie E. Christian, a native of Detroit, Michigan attended both Central State and Wayne State Universities, studying both speech Communications.  A former educator with Detroit Public Schools, Tracie is founder/ CEO of KTE foundation for literacy Discovery incorporated, a non-profit Literacy Arts organization dedicated to producing innovative special events that support their mission of "Keeping it R.E.A.L."  Revitalizing Excitement Around Literacy for the Detroit area youth.  Tracie resides in Detroit with her family.

Ms. Christian's book series, The Black College Sabbatical, is based upon a fiction adventurous plot of four young ladies learning life experiences while attending a historical black institution. Currently, Ms. Christian's topic for discussion pertaining to her book series is, the following, "Please provide in your own words in 60 seconds or less your knowledge content on Historical Black Institutions.

Adra Young's Book Introduction 
Adra Young is a native of Gary, Indiana.  She is an author and acting coach. Young was accepted and attended the prestigious Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. In 2005, Ms. Young wrote her first book, The Everyday living of Children & Teens Monologues. The concept was to provide a acting guide for today's youth that placed a direct emphasis on appropriate socialization skills. Her second book, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues Volume II is a sequel to the first was released in 2008.  Modeling the same concept as the first, Volume II is a realistic testament of dilemma's20and situations that today's youth have been exposed to.  Currently, Ms. Young's topic for discussion is the following, "How many individuals are aware of the traumatic issues are kids, tweens, and teens are exposed to today?"

Ella: How did Tracie Christian start her writing journey?
Tracie Christian started her writing journey at the age of nine. Ms. Christian would both write and illustrate short stories based upon her experiences with her friends.

Ella: How did Adra Young start her writing journey?
Adra Young started her writing journey as an acting coach at the age 30 . She offered to write the scripts and dialogues for a local entertainment company in Detroit and from that point her creativity in writing took off.

Ella: Why was it important  for Tracie Christian to create her books?
Ms. Christian reasoning for creating her books is to share her insight lessons and ideology with the world in hopes of making their lives better.

Ella: Why was it important for Adra Young to create her books?
Ms. Young believed and felt that the voice of the unheard youth needed to be addressed.  She simply wanted to be there advocate.

Ella: How will Tracie Christian's books impact  parent-child relationships?
Ms. Christian books impact parent-child relationships by providing an informal setting for touchy topics associated with adolescence while growing up to be addressed and explored.

Ella: How will Adra Young's books impact parent-child relationships?
Adra Young's books will impact parent -child relationships by allowing parents and children both to observed and see the issues at hand of the youth today together which shall in result initiate a positive beginning of effective communication and understanding necessary and needed for productive loving parent/child bonds.

Ella: What can we expect from Author Tracie Christian in the future?
Tracie Christian and partner Adra Young are in the process of creating their non-profit organization titled, (UWAN) United Writers Artist Network, an organization solely designed to support artist in all arenas.  In addition, Ms. Christian and Ms. Young want to take their seminar titled, "The Guide to the Book in You Series, on tour nationally. Tracie Christian's third book from her series, The Black College Sabbatical will be released in 2010. And her fourth coming book, A Toast to the Fool will be released in 2012.

Ella: What can we expect from Author Adra Young in the future?
Adra Young and partner Tracie Christian are in the process of creating their non-profit organization titled, (UWAN) United Writers Artist Network, an organization solely designed to support artist in all arenas. In addition, Ms. Young and Ms. Christian want to take their seminar titled, The Guide to the Book In You Series ,on tour nationally. Adra Young's goals for the future are to write her first fiction book titled " The Misfits"

Ella: Tell us about Tracie Christian's awards and latest news?
Ms. Christian won the Spirit of Detroit Award in both 1999 and in 2004.  In addition she was also nominated as the 2002 poet of the year with Poetry.Com.  In 2008,RawSistaz Book Club, a  renown nationally review club stated that Christian's First book, The Black College Sabbatical Fall Quarter was simply hard to put down.  Ms. Christian was the 2009 Spot light featured author for Book Event's Center, and Black Author's Showcase.  Ms. Christian's first free lance article shall be released in 2009 in City Talk Magazine, a local magazine established in  Detroit  by Katrina Brown, that caters to the positive activities taking place within the South-East of Michigan.

Ella: Tell us about Adra Young's awards and latest news?
Ms. Young was featured in the National Rolling Out Magazine in 2008. Her second release, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues Volume II was name the Monologues Guide To Have for the youth by City Kids World Magazine in 2009.

Purchase books by Tracie E. Christian at Amazon

Purchase books by Adra Young at Amazon

Infidelity by Ericka Williams
Email: erickawilliamsinfo@yahoo.com  
Author Website: www.erickaw.com 

"Once a cheater, always a cheater" is a popular saying. Is it true? Some people believe that if you are not married, then you are single and free to "see" whomever you want to, until you take vows and become committed to your spouse. Others believe that if you are in a relationship with someone, it is cheating to talk to someone of the opposite sex; especially if the conversation is one that cannot be had in the presence of your significant other. To this group, going out on a date or any intimate contact with someone else is wrong and drama will unfold. 

Nowadays, with Facebook, My Space, and a million other social networking sites, not to mention, everything else that we can do online, it is very hard to trust or be in a committed relationship with someone at all—married or single. One cannot possibly make sure that their "other half" is not involved with someone else with all the possible ways to "mix and mingle". 

So what is a person to do in this day of AIDS epidemics? How do you guarantee that you’re safe and in a monogamous relationship? Some believe that "snooping" is unacceptable, but I beg to differ. Yes, we all would love to be able to just trust and believe that our partner is being true. But, isn't a cheater also a liar? So how can someone who is cheating on you tell you the truth? I will be frank in saying that if I suspect that my "man" is cheating, that I will do my homework. I will do what I have to do to protect myself, my interests, and my health. I am very open when it comes to being in a relationship, because if there is nothing to hide. I don't have to hide my cell phone, or have a lock on it. What about the right to privacy? I don't need it if I am being faithful. My business is my man's business. What are your thoughts on this?

Yes, men and women are different and men oftentimes feel trapped in relationships, so it doesn't necessarily mean that he is cheating because he doesn't want you reading his texts from his "ex." Then again, "Why can't I?" if there's nothing in them indecent. I think the problem really lies in lying to begin with. A man, or woman for that matter who is not ready to be in a committed relationship, should not commit to being in one. The reason many people "go along" with being in a relationship, when they are not ready for one, is to hold on to the person they love, until they are ready to be loyal. But that is just a selfish way to live. It will only come back to bite you when you get caught out there. It is not fair to the person who you are supposed to love and it is cruel to put their health in danger because you are not ready. An Essence poll showed that many Black men who cheat admitted that they do not always or regularly use condoms when they cheat. That is just not fair.

There are so many distractions and attractions for people, but there is also such a thing as self-control. Actually, it is understandable that people will have urges, but do they have to act them out? Why is it that a man will throw away his whole family for a night of indiscretion? Why is it that having one woman is not enough? I must side with some men who say that their women get comfortable, and no longer are concerned with keeping them satisfied, once they have the man. It happens. I must also say that there is a noticeable lack of respect from the single woman in regards to married men, with wives at home! Unfortunately nowadays, anything goes, relationships are temporary, and people are only together until they break up. What happened to true commitment and to “death do us part?” Are we really doomed to lives of expected infidelity? What’s sad is that nothing is sacred, cherished, or sustained. Many children will not know what it is like to have two parents in the same home; just as many children of divorce must see the breakup of their families. All while, some just continue to "stick and move." Are there any people in this world who want to stick together, through thick and thin and live out the real til’ death do us part? It doesn't look that way. If you are in a committed and loving relationship, speak up and tell us about it! Bring back the HOPE to our relationships.


Meet the Author
Ericka Williams is a determined business woman and author. She never takes no for an answer. When she sets her mind on a goal, she doesn't stop until it is reached. She is a graduate of Teaneck High School, in Teaneck New Jersey. She attended Howard University and graduated from Rutgers University. She is currently a teacher. Ericka has always had a yearning for knowledge, expression, and creativity. She is the author of three books the Essence Magazine bestseller “All That Glitters”, and the sequel “Shining Star”, as well as the forthcoming release A Woman Scorned.  ISBN-10: 1934230715 or ISBN-13:9781934239718. Pick up a copy at Amazon Online. http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Scorned-Ericka-Williams/dp/1934230715 

Eat and Compete's Story: 56% of New Yorkers are overweight or obese. 40% of them are elementary school children who are currently at risk for having shorter life spans than their parents; in addition to Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and a host of other serious health conditions. Eat and Compete is a producer of Natural Specialty Foods that started in response to the obesity crisis currently facing New York. We believe that eating well helps to put you in the right state of mind and body in order to be able to compete and succeed in the world, hence our name Eat and Compete™. 

Ella:  What separates you and your firm from the competition? 
We offer products that are socially and environmentally responsible; creative, full of flavor, versatility and zest! We strive to always support community food education programs that target, support and empower disenfranchised inner city youth and their families with information they need to make better food choices.

Ella:  How would you describe your experience as an Entrepreneur? 
Eventful, challenging and rewarding.

Ella:  What do you like most about your profession? 
Meeting and conversing with people who want to live a better life and are now more mindful about the types of food that they put into their bodies. 

Ella:   What is your biggest challenge in business? How did you overcome it? 
One of our biggest challenges in business is getting the word out that our company exists. We have begun to overcome it by coming out to the community and letting people experience our products.

Ella:   What advice would you give someone just starting out in your industry? 
Failure is easy. Success takes a lot of work, focus, faith and prayer.

Ella:   What do you hope to offer your clients or customers to shape their lives? 
We offer versatile, great tasting and creative quality Natural Specialty products that transcend the spectrum of international taste buds while benefiting the mind and body. We add NO: ? Hydrogenated Trans-fats ? Sugar ? Caffeine ? Artificial additives and Colorings ? Sulfites or ? High Fructose Corn Syrup to our products.

Ella:   What are 3 things all leaders possess? 
Vision/focus, energy and consistency.

Ella:   How does your mission or vision keep your business growing? 
Our passion for producing quality natural specialty food products and helping people make better food choices keeps us inspired and out in the community which in turns builds our brand recognition and grows our business.

Eat and Compete™ 
Specialty Natural Food for the High Energy Lifestyle

We are "Your Better Choice"! 
Visit Us Online:
www.eatandcompete.com  
www.twitter.com/eatandcompete
www.myspace.com/eatandcompete

Who Was The Mysterious Queen Nefertiti?
By: Rob Mabry 

In 1924, a bust of a beautiful woman was put on display at the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. The bust depicts a woman with a long, slender neck and possessed of great beauty. In fact her name, "Nefertiti," means the "beautiful one has come."

Despite her vast beauty and the rise of her legend in modern times, details of Nefertiti’s life are scarce and were it not for the discovery of this exquisite bust, she may have faded from ancient history all together.

Queen Nefertiti was wife to the Pharaoh Akhenaten, ruler of Egypt around the time of 1350 B.C. It is believed that after his death, she may have ruled Egypt herself for a time. But history whispers that Nefertiti had many enemies, and that those enemies may have assisted in erasing both her life and her legacy.

What we do know of this elegant Egyptian queen comes mostly from the Aten Temple and an ongoing excavation at Amarna by the British Egypt Exploration Society. Some Egyptologists theorize that her name’s meaning, "the beautiful one has come" is evidence that she entered Egypt from a foreign land. Others believe she may have descended from royal blood. There is also a contingent of scholars that believe she was daughter to Ay, a powerful political figure, who became Pharaoh after the death of King Tut. A death in which they suspect he may have played a hand.

While details of her life before marriage are scant, her rise to power along with her husband, the Pharaoh Akhenaten, provides some insight into the mysterious queen. Their elevation of Aten, the sun disc god, as the "true god" proved controversial and many believe this monotheistic direction was plotted by Queen Nefertiti herself. This practice did not sit well with the Egyptian priesthood and surely garnered the ruling couple an army of powerful enemies.

Questions still shroud the life and death of this controversial and enigmatic queen of the Nile. Her name and history were erased from historical records and statues and busts that bore her likeness destroyed as Egypt returned to polytheism. Only traces of the intriguing story of her past remain. The cause of her death too remains a mystery. With so many powerful enemies in the priesthood, she may well have succumbed to the perils of her own ambition.

With so little historical evidence, we are left mostly with speculation and conjecture that draw an incomplete picture of an intriguing historical figure. Anyone who has the good fortune to visit the Egyptian Museum in Berlin and see the bust of this exquisite Egyptian queen will wonder at her beauty and wonder even more about her life as a queen of the Nile.


About the Author
Rob Mabry is owner of  Your Museum Store, an online store offering unique museum replicas and reproductions including dinosaurs fossils and art and artifacts. Not likely to make it to the Egyptian Museum in Berlin any time soon? Why not bring home the enticing beauty of the Nefertiti bust?

 

African American Diet
By: Shalisha Alston 

50 Ways to Commit Suicide With Food
By: Shalisha Alston 

Effective Time Management For Today's 
Christian Entrepreneur
By: Ericka Jackson 

The 10 Steps To Emotional Healing
By: Ericka Jackson 

You may think that emotional issues should be relegated to the couch in your local therapist or psychologist’s office, yet if you have experienced anything in your past that has left you feeling hurt, disappointed, or not enough, you are walking around with unresolved emotional issues. While you may think you are masking them effectively and they don’t affect your business, guess again. Have you ever met an irate or rude vendor that just seemed to have a “chip” on their shoulder? Have you had to deal with an employee who seems to be depressed or have sadness in their energy? Have you ever held back from sharing a business idea or your business vision with someone because you doubted that they would take you seriously? 

All of these scenarios exist solely because of unresolved and unhealed emotional issues. Whether or not you are aware of it, I would be willing to bet that you are still harboring something that is holding back your success. Unless you are highly aware of the state of your heart and know how to walk yourself through the steps to emotional healing, you are more than likely slowing your potential success because of your issues. 

Now for the good news…you can do something about it. As a matter of fact, you can be completely free of any and all emotional triggers, pain, and unresolved hurt. Although it doesn’t happen overnight, the old myth that time heals all pain is simply not true. You only heal and release to the extent that you handle the pain. While women usually cover their emotional issues with sadness, shopping, or developing a hardened attitude, men’s hurt shows up with exaggerated toughness or a larger than-life ego. It may also show up in cockiness or avoiding relationships that could potentially leave them open to future hurt. 

By following the following steps, you can eradicate your messed-up emotions once and for all: 

1. Acknowledge that incomplete pain is present. 

2. Identify the source of the pain. When did it begin? Who is it associated with? When was the last time you remember not having this emotional pain? 

3. Fully realize the depth of the pain you are feeling. When you allow yourself to feel it, how badly does it hurt? Where do you carry the pain? 

4. Ask yourself what you made it mean about yourself. What conclusions did you draw about yourself? What did you attach or Velcro to what happened? How are you punishing yourself? How are you sabotaging yourself? Did you make it mean that you aren’t good enough or worthy enough? 

5. Remember the negative and positive that you experienced. What lessons did you learn? What blessings have come out of the pain? 

6. Express your pain. Let it out…bring completion to the situation without doing harm to yourself or anyone else. Go beyond the anger. Write it. Speak it. Scream it (into a pillow or on a walk in the woods). 

7. Re-program yourself to redefine your reality. Work on the things that make you feel lovable and deserving of the best. Post what you really want to internalize and believe on your walls, in your wallet, on your desk and on your dashboard. 

8. Pray! Pray! Pray! Take time to get in touch with God and the fact that you are a child of God. Give your burden to God. Release it. Ask God to take the pain from your heart and spirit. He will. You can wake up and no longer have to carry that raw feeling of hurt and pain. 

9. Forgive yourself and the other(s) involved. They didn’t know better or didn’t act on what they know to be right at the time. Even if it appeared that they vindictively or purposely set out to hurt you, they did what they knew to do at the time. They may have even been doing the best they could at the time. Write a letter to every person you have not yet forgiven. Ask a friend to pretend to be that person and listen to all you have to say. Talk it out with yourself. Do what you have to do in a safe way. 

10. See it, speak it, be it!!! 

You can take any issue still hiding out in your emotional baggage (see Ericka’s article, Are You Masking Your Success? for a full explanation of your emotional baggage) and walk it through these steps and you will be released from it. The best way is to think through the steps and then write them down to get them out. Once you write them down, do something with them. Burn them. Tear them up. Bury them. Perform some ritual that represents letting it go. I once even went to a stream, ripped up my steps and watched them go downstream. Do whatever it takes to be emotionally free of your barriers to the fearless life you deserve. It is not only possible, it is time.

About the author: Ericka D. Jackson is a Christian Speaker, Author, and Business Coach. She provides individuals, organizations, and churches with the tools to achieve God’s vision for their lives. Visit http://www.erickajackson.com  
for insights, techniques and resources to fulfill your calling.

Article Source: www.isnare.com; Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=149338&ca=Self+Help 

Dominique LeSane is the author of the sexy new series "The Housewife Diaries". She pens mystery and erotic short stories that leave her readers panting for more! A native of Baltimore, MD, Dominique LeSane now calls the Dirty South her home. Dominique loves to share her gift of writing with her readers. 

Ella:  Tell us about your passion for writing. What drives you? What impact do you want your book to make?

I have so many friends with such interesting lives. People are always offering me their stories to tell. I love to read, so I'm driven to write the kind of stories that would keep me interested and entertained. I want my readers to be entertained and make sure they come back for more!

Ella:  Introduce us to your books, The Seven Year Itch and The Housewife Diaries Series. 

The Housewife Diaries series is three parts. Each tells the story of a woman who is faced with making decisions about herself and facing the true questions about her marriage and how to still maintain her independence. The Housewife Diaries Series features women who are struggling to keep their marriages together and who also have to find who they are as individuals in the process. 

The Seven Year Itch introduces us to Dara and Isaiah Moore. Isaiah and Dara Moore have all the creature comforts that life can afford, but as they reach year seven in their marriage, they realize their perfect life is missing an essential ingredient: sex. They are also missing another integral key in their marriage- passion. Dara and Isaiah Moore, a couple who are in love with each other, but find that the passion is gone, after spending too much time trying to mesh their schedules and to make time for each other. They pull out all the stops to bring the passion back to their marriage.  Isaiah whisks Dara away for their anniversary to a place he believes will re-ignite the spark, but when they arrive at the location, will Dara be game?

Ella:  What issues in today's society have you addressed in your books? 

Marriage and most importantly finding a balance between living and loving.

Ella:  What inspired you to write The Seven Year Itch and The Housewife Diaries Series?

 I'm married and I know that it takes time and patience and effort on both the wife and husband's part to keep a marriage together. You both have your independent lives, and your lives together and you have to find a way to make that work.
 

Ella:  What did you hope to accomplish by writing The Seven Year Itch?

To show a woman that wants to keep her marriage. She didn't step out on her husband when things weren't going right. She did what it took to keep them together.

Ella:  Are your characters in both books from the portrayal of real people?

They could be. I think that's why people relate to it so well.

Ella:  What writers inspire you and why?

Fern Michaels, Danielle Steel- these ladies have so many stories that they tell and so many readers that they reach. I would like to do the same with my growing audience

Ella: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...

 The chance to experience romance and passion which is timeless

Ella:  What can we expect from you in the future?

Sugar and Spice- coming Fall 2009!!!   Dominique LeSane is the newest writer on the Blue Planet Publishing roster. I'm so excited about finding a home for my full length stories. Stay tuned on Lady Leo because there will be more short stories to come!   Lady Leo Publishing:  http://www.ladyleopublishing.org/home.html     

Visit her at www.dominiquelesanestories.com  or email her at dominique.lesane@yahoo.com 

Available at the following online bookstores: 

Powells.com

Blish.com

Ebookmall.com

Fictionwise.com

Booksonboard.com

eBooksAboutEverything.com

Lynetta Marlin, mother, wife, and decorated Desert Storm veteran began her journey of writing at the very young age of twelve and after serving many years in the military, she decided now would be the time to release and show her many dreams.

Ella: Introduce us to your book An Image of Imperfection, the message and the main characters. 
Is perfect love or the perfect life even possible? Trechelle Young wonders if her marriage will hold this perfect love. However, her commitment to family is stronger than her husband’s, and Trechelle’s hope for the perfect family quickly fades away. The fairy tale she always desired is gone and now she’s left with the realities of life.
After fifteen years of mistrusting her husband, Ralph, Trechelle is tired of holding on for better days. To even the score, she indulges in a few hot and steamy interludes with Frank Henry, Ralph’s partner and friend. Will she move on to fulfilled days and promises of happiness with Frank? Or will she put the Young’s family image back together again?

Find out what happens in An Image of Imperfection, where readers will indulge in self-esteem issues on top of betrayal. As the story weaves its tale of deceit and lust, readers will come to understand that the breaking point is different for every person, and wonder what their final straw would be.

Ella: What inspired you to write this story, An Image of Imperfection? 
My name is Lynetta Marlin; my debut book is called “an Image of Imperfection.” I began writing around the age of 10 to escape such a troubled and abusive life and enter a life of creativity and peace. My writing enabled me to escape to a serene life that I made-believe to be true. I love writing today more than ever because it still gives me the opportunity to escape. The times have changed for me in a positive way but sometimes the revisit of old pain resurface and to escape I love to write a new story. I have only self- published one book so far but wrote five. 

Ella: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
An Image of Imperfection is a fictional book but some of the story line is built on truth. I wrote the story to let out a part that had dug deep into my heart and hurt me for so many years. In this story a talk about a woman who has to take care of children, a cheating husband, friends, family, and her self and still be strong and mighty. The pretense of nothing bothers her has to be held in front of so many people and she has weakened and allowed another man to see her pain. She does have a feeling that her husband has strayed but she doesn’t know how far and the question is with whom? I desire readers to get the story especially women, and decide if their pretense in life is worth a life time of pain or will they say I am more than just a side item forced to be in the front to cover, even my husband, facades in life. I want readers to say enough is enough and become real with their self and others. 

Ella: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
The legacy of strong black women has already been laid down for many women today and I try and touch on that continued legacy and say “women we can still be strong with boundaries. It’s okay to say no more pain and be happy with life.” I feel like women have life harder than men many times and as they push forward there are five hands pushing them backwards yet we have to press and many do just that. I served in the United States Navy and this is where I found the pressure of women having to do more and be more with more put on them. 

Ella:  Did you self-publish? What genre is the book?
An Image of Imperfection is self-published completed 67,324 word erotica novel that’s set in the suburbs of Atlanta , Georgia . This story is targeted at the strong yet naïve black woman who believe in love and main focus is on making their family the prime priority, while their supposed blameless cheating husbands desire them, their friends, and men. 

Trechelle Young is a believer in love and at all cost she wanted the life that romance story novels proposed as ideal. When she tackles the battle of (Ralph Young) husband, children, and happily ever after she finds that there are at least two different directions in which her marriage is traveling and the desires of her heart are not on the route. As multiple disappearing acts take premier and suspected marital flings arise Trechelle is faced with doubts of her marriage stronghold. She discovers Ralph’s infidelities might not stop at just women and is thrown into fear of knowing the truth. When Frank Henry (Ralph’s partner) notices a damsel in distress in Trechelle and hurries to aid and see to her every need, will she take the bait and enter into a life altering experience or will she stay in her troublesome marriage and piece her family image together again? 

Ella:  What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book? 
Issues of down-low men, adultery, real or fake church-life, rearing of children in a complicated home where the children could suspect something, friendships and their true meanings, and death plus after-life are present in this novel. My book is a an erotic novel because it is another part of me that I enjoy delve ling into and bringing forward without being loud and upfront with my most intimate thoughts. This is another life I can disappear into and have happiness. 

Ella:  What writers inspire you and why? 
Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Mary B. Morrison, Tina Brooks McKinney, Wahida Clark, Michael Baisden, Kimberly Sims, Thomas Green, E. Lynn  Harris, Erica Lewis, Anita Bunkley, Omar Tyree, and many new comers are some authors that I love and are influenced by. They all have different styles to me and have different lessons to learn from their books and they are entertaining. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
My upcoming book is called “A crucial decision” which is a follow up to “An Image of Imperfection.”

An Image of Imperfection by Lynetta Marlin
ISBN: 9781587368714
Buy the book here

Intimate Conversation with Venom Patton

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, New York, Venom Patton was introduced to the world of writing as early as the eighth grade. She expressed herself through journals and diaries over the years until one day she decided to take one of her journals to the next level. Her debut novel "I Can Go to Hell by Myself!" is a journal entry transformed into a masterpiece that many can identify with. It encourages you to indulge in the life of the main character Decadent, and to see life through her eyes. Venom's writings are a combination of life as she views it through the eyes of others and her creative imagination. Her purpose is to inspire, motivate and challenge her readers to look beyond the obvious and judge reality. 

Venom is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a BA in Political Science, and also holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA where is working on her second novel which continues the story of Decadent and the journey she takes through life. 

Ella:  Where are you from? How did you start your writing journey?  What drives you? 
I am from Niagara Falls, NY and I started writing in 1989, at least that was my first dated journal entry. My writing journey was about me expressing myself emotionally. I did not necessarily share my writings with others; however, my writings often influence my reactions. I have evolved in this journey as I have turned some of these writing into blogs, novels and I still keep a personal prayer and general journal to reflect.
 
My passion for writing comes for my inability to express my emotions verbally. I would often have to write my thoughts down in order to get across to people and be understood. I have been writing and keeping journals since 1989. These journals, some personal and other I share allow me to express my emotional side. My passion is not just for the love of the art but the ability to express myself explicitly without barriers.

Ella:  Let's me introduce your book, I Can Go to Hell By Myself, to the Black Pearl family.
"I Can Go to Hell By Myself"-- Compiling numerous stories Venom has come across in her experiences as a social worker, her novel is a work of fiction that tells the story of the main character, Decadent, who uses her gift to trap anyone that crosses her path into her web of sexual seduction. Decadent entices one too many people when she finally meets her match, reality. She becomes a victim of karma and finds herself wrapped up in a fight for her life.

"I Can Go to Hell By Myself" is not just another tale of a young girl battling the challenges of life. Instead, Venom Patton creates a masterpiece that challenges the reader to look through the eyes of Decadent, experience some of the events that she encounters, recognize those things that seem familiar and then judge accordingly.
Inspiring, motivating, and challenging, "I Can Go to Hell By Myself" is a must read. ISBN: 978-0-615-21743-7\

Ella:  What was your motivation in crafting I Can Go To Hell By Myself?
In my professional career I have encountered so many people who thrive on negativity. Negativity about people, themselves, within their behaviors and life in general. The often are cynical and look at the world in a "what can you do for me" mentality. "I Can Go To Hell By Myself! "focuses on those negative behaviors. We can blame the entire world but at the end of the day we have to answer for our behaviors. 

My main character, Decadent is one of these people. She has a lot going for herself but would rather play the victim than take responsibility for her actions. We see this all the time in our families and communities, as we try to support those who have been wronged but eventually their cry of "woe is me" will cause those intended to encourage them to walk away.  Just like many people in society today, Decadent chooses the wrong friends and loves the man who loves himself more. All the time she alienates her family and the gifts of God. Decadent for a long time feels like I can do this and I don't need any advice but when she reaches for help it may be too late.

I don't want to give too much away but you will see a lot of inspirational messages as well how some of the characters personalities match their name meanings. I am also a big fan of William Shakespeare and I have even made my own little twist of the Othello tragedy. I also give you the story strictly from Decadent's point of view, you feel what she feels, and you think how she thinks. If Decadent is mad at someone, you have no choice to be mad at them as well. No other opinion matters but that of Decadent's and you will almost find yourself becoming her.

Ella: Introduce us to your main characters. Why did you create this story now?
Decadent Indulgence Vincent-Allen is the main character of "I Can Go To Hell By Myself! "her name alone causes her behave in a certain manner. Athena and Nathanial are the fighters and supporters of Decadent. While, I will let you make your own conclusion of Maurice and Kennedy.

I created this novel because of a need I had to express my dealings with people from my professional life. I have heard many stories of despair and victimization. However, it is how you overcome this issues that make us who we are. I have listened to some horrific things and I wanted people to read and be able to identify with someone besides a "hustler" or drug addict.

Ella:  What is the most surprising thing you have learned from the community? 
 I have been surprised by some of the responses I have gotten so far. I have actually had people tell me that could not read it anymore because they had similar experiences and others became more aware of their surroundings. There were some who were offended and did not want to read and that too is understandable. I want the community to recognize that there are silent issues that people face and if you are one of those people you are not alone.

After reading the book as a reader instead of the writer. I realized how much emotion I have in me. In Nathanial I poured my love into him and I think I surprised myself of how much I could actually love and show it.

Ella:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want them to gain a joy for reading. If they don't learn anything from the book at least they have read it. We are at a time in which we want everything instantly. If I can't get it one DVD then I don't want it. So I want the community to get back into the habit of reading and although this is not a book for children, as the children observe adults reading then they will be encouraged to do the same. Then I want them to gain awareness for things that can happen to people as a youth that ultimately translates to their behavior as an adult.

Ella:  What would you say has been your most significant achievement with this book?
"I Can Go To Hell By Myself!" has opened so many doors for me. I have met so many different people through this journey and had the opportunity to share and inspire. I have inspired myself to continuously be a blessing to those that read and support this journey. This alone is an achievement above all others.

Ella:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers in that it gives those that are struggling hope. Although my novel is fiction it gives readers the opportunity to relate and hopefully redirect themselves in a positive manner. This is not saying that all readers will have experienced something negative or traumatic in their lives but I hope to always offer a spirit of reflection, redemption, restoration and rejuvenation.

Ella:  What can we expect from you in the future?
I hope to definitely write more books, continue to blog and advance into a motivational speaker by using my passion and profession to encourage the youth. I am definitely looking into becoming a household name but as I continue to advance in this career my interactions with the community evolve as well. So I cannot clearly tell you how the future looks but I know I am definitely moving up in it. I am expecting my next novel "It's Not Always About Me" out in November 2009 just in time for Christmas. I will also be doing some video blogging as well as supporting and encouraging other potential writers to get their stories out.

Visit the author online:
Website: http://www.venompattonbooks.com 
Myspace: www.myspace.com/venompattonbooks 
Shelfari: www.shelfari.com/venompattonbooks 
Radio: www.blogtalkradio.com/Venom-Patton 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venom-Patton/89745894338 

Intimate Conversation with Lorraine Elzia

Ella: 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
I am honored to announce that I have been nominated for the 2009 African American Literary Award Show in the category of Break-Out Author of the year. I thank my readers and those that nominated me and humbly ask for your vote for me, my label mates and our publishing company, Peace in the Storm Publishing at www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html,  I also have begun my next novel, “Ask Nicely and I Might”, which will be released in the spring of 2010. If you thought Kahla was sassy, sexy and intriguing, wait till you get a chance to meet Jade! She’ll leave your mouth wide open, watering in the corners and yearning for more. 

Mistress Memoirs by Lorraine Elzia, available at:
www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com  
www.amazon.com 
www.barnesandnoble.com   
www.lorraineelzia.com 

And local Borders and Walden Book Stores Worldwide