Are You There, God? by Theresa A. Campbell

About the Book

As a young woman in rural Jamaica, Dupree struggles to maintain a home for herself and the ailing aunt who is raising her after she was abandoned by her teenage mother. The effort of life with no electricity, running water, or money often leave Dupree battered and bruised, but she refuses to be defeated. She might have been forced to grow up too fast, but she will not succumb to the wiles of the devil, choosing instead to rely on the power of Almighty God to help her through.

After a brutal attack that takes her to hell and back, Dupree must reach for her inner strength once again to survive. Her journey for a better life leads her to Kingston, a city some people refer to as “Jamaica’s Sodom and Gomorrah.” There, she sees and experiences things beyond her imagination. Dupree seeks comfort in the arms of her Prince Charming— but he might just be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Caught up in a web of lies and betrayal, Dupree fights to save her life. In pure desperation, she seeks an answer to her question, “Are you there, God?” Will she be around to hear His response, or will it be too late?

About the Author

Theresa Campbell was born and raised in Jamaica West Indies. She received her

associate’s degree in business administration from Bronx Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baruch College, and a master’s degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Theresa has had a deep passion for reading ever since she was a child. It is her desire to inspire readers with her stories by uplifting their faith in God.  Readers may contact Theresa at her website and social media links: theresaacampbell.blogspot.com and https://www.facebook.com/theresaacampbell and https://twitter.com/theresaacampbel

New for your eReader...

About the Book

Candace Clark has a phobia about crossing the street, and for good reason. As fate would have it, her daughter's principal assigns her to crossing guard duties as part of the school's Parent Participation program. With no choice in the matter, Candace begrudgingly accepts her stop sign and safety vest, then reports to her designated crosswalk. Once Candace is determined to overcome her fears, God opens the door for a blessing, and Royce Kavanaugh enters into her life, a firefighter built to rescue any damsel in distress. When a spark of attraction ignites, Candace and Royce soon discover there's more than one way to stop traffic.

Learn more about Pat Simmons at www.patsimmons.net 

About the Book

Life was good, God was blessing and the Marshall family was riding high, until Carmella Marshall’s husband, Nelson asks for a divorce and then moves in with his girlfriend—who also happens to be her twenty-three-year-old daughter’s best friend—her son gets arrested, her daughter drops out of college, the bills go unpaid, and then Carmella has a nervous breakdown.

The Marshalls have ups and downs like any other family. However, Carmella always thought that God would see them through anything. But when Nelson left and her life fell apart, she realized just how weak she could become, without the strength of God guiding her way. Through prayer, praise, and a love that bonds families together, Carmella renews her trust in the Lord and discovers a way to turn her life around.

In TEARS FALL AT NIGHT, the Marshalls discover that even when everything goes wrong, they can still lift their hands and praise God anyhow.

Readers will be emotionally invested in the characters from the start. The character’s pain and inner struggles lead to heart-wrenching scenes. Themes of faith, forgiveness and reconciliation make this a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness that will remain with the reader long after the final page.
-- RT Reviewer 4 1/2 Stars

Learn more about Vanessa at www.vanessamiller.com 

About the Book

This is a compilation of three novellas that are also available individually. 

Novella #1 - A Time to Speak Beatrice "Mama B" Jackson is one of the most giving people in her small community. And when the interim pastor's messages threaten to divide her beloved church, she has gets a divine order to speak. 

Novella #2 - A Time to Dance Though Mama B is not known for housing marital fugitives, she realizes her nephew, Derrick, is looking for more than a place to stay; he needs help finding his way back to God. Of course, help is almost Mama B’s middle name until Henrietta crosses the line with her accusations about Mama B's intentions with their recently widowed pastor. Mama B will have to dance her way through forgiveness...and maybe love. 

Novella #3 - A Time to Love Mama B was supposed to be helping people at the community food pantry, but Eunice needs more than just a bag full of canned goods. Dr. Wilson’s not letting up on his pursuit of Mama B. Will he come on and scare her away? Catch up with Mama B again in the small town of Peasner, TX. She's still serving the Lord with humor and wisdom as only she can.

Reader may learn more bout Michelle at www.michellestimpson.com 

A Good Excuse To Be Bad Blog Tour - Day One

About the Author

Miranda Parker is the author of the Evangeline Crawford Bounty Hunter Series. After graduating from college, she began working as a features editor for various magazines and spent many years as a publicist for national recording artists, actors, ministers, and authors. However, writing fun, feisty, redemptive bad girl gone good stories is her passion. She resides with her family in Georgia near a horse ranch and her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. On a perfect day she can be found curled up with a good book or in a movie theater with a bucket of popcorn.

Visit the author online at http://www.mirandaparker.com/.

List your published books.

• Sistahfaith Anthology (Simon & Schuster, 2010)

• A Good Excuse to Be Bad (Kensington, 2011)

Which book did you find the hardest to birth?

My next release Someone Bad and Something Blue which releases in July 2012 was my hardest to write. My stories are pretty big as far as story plot points. Because it’s romantic adventure I have to accomplish two things in the story. When I wrote A Good Excuse to Be Bad I knew how the series would begin and end, but the stories in the middle that will drive the series I didn’t know what would happen there. On top of that my editor Selena wanted me to put a cliffhanger on the end of A Good Excuse to Be Bad. That cliffhanger was the catalyst for Book Two and Book Three, so connecting the dots was hard. I rewrote chapter one fifteen times. Each chapter was different from the first.

Which book is your current favorite?

I think most authors would say the book they are currently working on, because you grow as a writer. I love A Good Excuse to Be Bad. I love the idea of a feisty female lead who falls for the worst person at the worst time in her life and then have to honor her responsibilities as a young mom at the same time. This book has to be my favorite, because it’s what sold Kensington on the entire series. So I’m writing Book 3, which I need you all to help me with a title. It is messy, and Angel has put herself in a pickle that is so much fun and a bit scary to write.

How would you describe your writing style?

My writing style is a Catch 22. You either love it or you don’t. I write fast paced novels and I use pitch, diction, and sentence structure to accomplish that. Sometimes it comes across choppy, which is what I want. I want readers to feel the chaos and confusion of certain moments. The best way to do that is playing with sentence structure and pitch.

My writing influences are Chuck Palahniuk, Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas Hardy, Zora Neale Hurston, William Faulkner, Nella Larsen, Walter Mosley and Sydney Sheldon, so that should tell you my writing style is unique.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?

I can’t write a scene unless I have the write music that fits the mood. I have a playlist for A Good Excuse To Be Bad you can hear on my Facebook Wall. Hit the Vevo Tab.

There is some rock music on there, Aaliyah is a major influence for Angel’s character. One Republic, Adele, Sade…it’s sensual, adult, not dirty, dark, uplifting. I am a Christian music publicist so I have from traditional gospel Mahalia Jackson to contemporary Christian Natalie Grant also on the playlist as well.

Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.

I wrote the argument scenes just after I had an argument with my boyfriend or my daughter’s father. I channel those emotions into my story. So if Angel is crying, than I was crying when I wrote it.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Surrender to your gift by becoming a better steward of your talent. Take writing classes to learn craft. Write every day to exercise the craft. Join writer’s groups to motivate, inspire and champion you when you don’t feel like it. Realize that as African Americans it was once illegal for us to read or write. In my state less than sixty years ago our grandparents had to leave school at sixth grade. It is a privilege to write and read. Let’s respect that and do those who died for our right to read and write proud. Let’s write the best stories that can both entertain and inspire our world.

Writers are often encouraged to write what they know. Have you found that to be the case with your writing?

No. No one wants to read a novel about German church architecture. Lol. That’s what I know like I know I have five fingers. I think you should write what keeps you up at night. That is what you know and your readers can relate to. Now the story that you pull together to address that nighttime haunt can be whatever makes you excited and happy about. Because you will have to spend many hours planted in a seat in front of a computer/laptop. If what excites you is a bail recovery agent hanging in Atlanta clubs then write about that. Just make sure that this bail recovery agent shares your heart.

About the Book

Smart gorgeous and too tough for her own good, bail recovery agent and single mom Evangeline Crawford moved to the burbs for a quiet life. Fortunately, it’s not turning out that way…

Angel has to admit she’s feeling restless. The only excitement in her life is her schoolgirl crush on the town’s new pastor, Justus-too-Hot-to-be-Holy Morgan. But a fateful encounter and a job gone wrong at Club Night Candy in Underground Atlanta is about to change all that…Soon, Angel’s trying to save her divazilla twin sister from her big mouth and a scandalous murder charge, and probing a church cover-up–with none other than Justus by her side. But Angel has one more pressing concern; will Bella be ready for kindergarten? Only time will tell for this bad girl gone good whose days are once again far from boring–and hopefully far from numbered…

Book Trailer

Purchase the Book Online at:

Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, BooksaMillion.com

For More Information

Visit the author online at http://www.mirandaparker.com/.

Visit blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/AGoodExcuseToBeBadBlogTour

A CHAPTER A MONTH - Great stories all the time!

Donna Hill Online: A CHAPTER A MONTH: "Authors you love...all the time. Introducing A Chapter a Month. The first of its kind website where a team of today's top-selling au..."

I'm excited about this venture. I look forward to joining the site with a story this summer.

Love Found Me Blog Tour - Day 3

Love Found Me Blog Tour

"When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

Vanessa Richardson is an author, poet, and playwright. Vanessa has written several stage productions and have been blessed to perform them at various venues. Her stage productions includes: Someone To Love Me, Why Do Bad Things Happens To Good People?, Lord, I Don’t Understand, and The Fullness Of Time.

Vanessa wrote her freshman nonfiction inspirational novel titled, The Certain Ones. A spiritual impacting novel that inspires her readers to know that not everyone are called into greatness. Fact: Many can not handle the process that goes along with becoming great. Only the certain ones, who endures; can obtain destined greatness. She is currently working on the second installment of her, Inspirational Suspense Love Series titled, Love Lifted Me.  Visit Vanessa online at vanessarichardson.net.

List your published books.

The Certain Ones: You’re not Forsaken.You’re Chosen for Purpose and Love Found Me.

Which book did you find the hardest to birth?

My labor pains were strong for both of my babies for different reasons obviously. The Certain Ones is based on true events in my life. I share my hurt and healing of dealing with Catamenial Pneumothorax. This is when a woman has her menses or period and in the span of twenty-four to seventy-four hours.  This is a women’s health issue affecting only 1% of women here in America. It made for a lonely journey because it’s so rare. 

Love Found Me, was difficult because of character development and writing consistency. Fiction is totally different from non-fiction.  Authors and artists should forever-- study to show themselves approved. I am ever studying and learning. It is a delight and treasure in doing so!

Which book is your current favorite? 

I love them both.  But, I have to say-- I am currently loving Love Found Me, it is delicious story of loving finding my characters, at the appointed time.  Tested Love of family, friends, self, relationships, and God over coming hidden forces.  

How would you describe your writing style?

My writing style in inspirational. I want readers to see what others don’t see. To paraphrase a quote: “Every dark cloud doesn’t mean it is going to rain. It only looks like it.”  The pain can often times makes us blind to our realities. When the reality is that through the pain, we often time gain “something.”   Only you know what that “something is.”  This is difficult for many to accept perhaps. But it is true.  

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?

I sometimes listen to music. Mainly because I forget to do so. It depends on the mood I am wearing. Sometimes I am meditative. So, I will put on the King of worship. Fred Hammond.  Right now I am loving; Monique Walker’s “Crazy Praise’, and Myron Butler’s “I Live.”  I am also a lover of classical music and soft jazz. 

Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.

What some people don’t know about me is that every year I like to dress up as Sally the Clown, do my silly dance and paint kids faces at our annual community parade. As Sally-I am able to observe people from a different stand point. Capturing their joyful emotions and often time scribing about them in my poetry, stage productions, or books.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Study and believe in yourself. Make sure it is what you are called to do. Develop a thick skin. Connect with those who can help you get to where you want to go. EDITING, is important.  Have a marketing plan. Research your publishing house, and have fun with it!

Writers are often encouraged to write what they know.

Have you found that to be the case with your writing? Yes for me it was so. Especially with Catamenial Pnuemothorax. I find there is a deeper level or connection when a person has actually experienced certain events. There is a difference between explaining and living what you write and for me acting. I am not saying to limit your writings. Read research, interview, and produce quality work. But the empathy of connecting with someone who’s been through what you’ve gone through and/or going through is an experience of wonderment and relief.

Resources about Catamenial Pneumothorax

• www.catamenial-pneumothorax.com/id15.htm
• stanford.wellsphere.com/wellmix360/catamenial-pneumothorax
• Catamenial Support Group – www.experienceproject.com/groups/Have-Catamenial-Pneumothorax/89797

About the Book

Mike Montgomery once lived the American dream. Gainfully employed, beautiful home, and a wonderful loving wife. Growing up in a loving family whose faith was unbreakable was his source of strength. Mike’s faith would one day be shaken after losing the love of his life in an unexpected tragedy. Mike thought he would never love again until he meets Sheila Lawson. Everything about Sheila made him want to love again. Could he risk his heart again?

Sheila Lawson, a woman’s health advocate was strong and independent, yet something was missing in her life. Immersing herself in her work, she vowed off any relationships. Sheila would find her self-made decree shaken when she meets tall, dark, and handsome Mike Montgomery. There is an evil lurking in the shadows. Mike and Sheila will have to unite to overcome evil forces trying to keep them apart. Will their love be enough to see them through the testing of their faith?

Book Trailer

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/LoveFoundMeBlogTour.

Fifteen Years Blog Tour - Day One

Fifteen Years Blog Tour

KENDRA NORMAN-BELLAMY is a national best-selling author and the founder of KNB Publications LLC. She is the organizer of Visions in Print, an Atlanta-based national organization for faith-based writers, and The Writer’s Hut, an online fellowship for African American Writers. She is the founder of Cruisin’ For Christ, a groundbreaking at-sea ministry that celebrates writing, gospel music and other God-glorifying arts, and also serves as a motivational speaker.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Kendra currently resides in Stone Mountain, George with her family. For more information, visit www.knb-publications.com.

Kendra, list your published books.

To date, my published titles are: For Love & Grace, A Love So Strong, Crossing Jhordan’s River, Because of Grace, Thicker Than Water (anthology), More Than Grace, One Prayer Away, The Midnight Clear (anthology), In Greene Pastures, Three Fifty-Seven A.M., This Far By Faith (anthology), Battle of Jericho, The Lyons Den, The Morning After, and Fifteen Years.

Which book did you find the hardest to birth? 

It wasn’t hard to write, but In Greene Pastures was probably my most challenging simply because I made the birthing process longer than it had to be. It was my first time tackling a faith based mystery, and I was procrastinating getting started on it. Fear of the unknown, I guess. It was unchartered territory for me, and in my mind, I made the process a lot more difficult than it ended up being. Once I sat down to really start writing it, God showed me who was really in charge, and it flowed.

Which book is your current favorite? 

I’m in the middle of writing my favorite now. I Shall Not Die (release date: October 2010) will be my first nonfiction/ministerial book and much of it is a testimony of my own life experiences. I have countless emails from people who have told me that they were blessed by my fictional novels, but I know that it’s going to be a blessing to others on an entirely different level. I Shall Not Die is much more than a book; it is a motivational ministry that God has assigned to my hands. Knowing the powerful and positive impact that it will have on the lives of those that He is having me write it for is what makes it my favorite.

How would you describe your writing style?

By industry identification, I’m a seat of the pants writer, meaning that I don’t write drafts or chapter outlines prior to launching full speed into crafting the story. By no means is there anything wrong with doing that; it’s just not my personal style. I sit at the computer and type out the story as it comes to me. I equate that to being led of God. I invite and implore Him to give me what to say in the stories so that they will ultimately not only entertain the reader, but minister to him/her in some small way as well. I want God to be glorified in everything that I write, so it’s important to me to seek His direction before writing even the first word.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind? 

Often times I do. The nature of the music is largely based upon what type scene(s) I’m working on at the time. Gospel music fuels some settings, love songs stimulate others, and jazz music or neo soul might be the order of the day for others. I tend to migrate to whatever propels me the most in that moment.

Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.  I write best when I’m chewing gum. I won’t try to explain the reason for that because quite honestly, I don’t understand it myself. All I know is that the thoughts seem to flow more smoothly when I’m chewing Extra sugarfree gum (preferably the winterfresh flavor). Based upon how the creativity is flowing, I have been known to chew up to 15 sticks a day.


What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Prayer, Patience, and Perseverance.  That’s always my answer to a question such as this. Aspiring writers, in my humble opinion, need to have all three. I advise prayer because everybody needs God whether they recognize it or not. He’s there to help them over the hurdles and through the mazes that can present themselves along the way. I advise patience because writing isn’t a get rich quick scheme and most of us don’t become overnight successes. It takes time, and the waiting game can be disheartening; especially to a person who thought the journey would be a sprint rather than a relay. I advise perseverance because when you have that, you’ll stick it out even when the times get rougher than rough. Discouragements will come along the journey, but prayer, patience, and perseverance will combine to make you an overcomer every time. 

Writers are often encouraged to write what they know. Have you found that to be the case with your writing?
Not necessarily. I’ve tackled subjects in my writing that I have no personal knowledge about or experience regarding. Sometimes the subjects I write about require that I to do online research or talk to those who may have some experience in that particular area. I’m certain that it is easier to write what you know, but I don’t know if I’d encourage anyone to box themselves into a place where they only stick to those subject matters that they are personally familiar with. Instead of saying “Write what you know,” I’d rather tell an author to “Know what you write.” In other words, educate yourself about whatever you’re going to write about before you do it. That way, it’s accurate, and when people read it, it’s not obvious to them that you have no personal knowledge about the subject matter or situation.

About the Book

Josiah Tucker, the son of a substance dependent and neglectful mother, spent most of his childhood years in the custody of the State, living in foster homes throughout Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of fourteen, he was taken from  the foster family that he had grown to love, the Smiths, and returned to his negligent birth mother. Enduring the hardships faced while living with his birth mother JT manages to makes something of his life.  However, fifteen years after being taken from the Smiths and at the peak of success, he finds himself feeling empty and at his lowest.  When he decides to reconnect with the Smiths, JT finds his faith in God renewed and discovers his attraction to his foster sister.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/FifteenYearsBlogTour.

Coming soon...Selling My Soul

Selling My Soul 

by 

Sherri Lewis

In Stores March 2010

When Trina Michaels steps off the plane after her two-year missions trip in Africa, she realizes that other than longing to see her mother and her best friend, her heart aches to fly back to the place that now feels more like home than anywhere she’s... ever lived. And to the man who’s stolen her heart.

Her dream of a quick return to Mozambique fades within hours when Trina discovers that her mother has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Trina is forced to go back to her job as a publicist to cover her mother’s health costs.

She’s assigned a damage control client, Bishop Walker, a megachurch pastor accused of covering up a church sex scandal within his church involving the molestation of young boys. Representing him could cost Trina her most valued friendship, the love of her life, and her soul.

Visit Sherri's website to read an excerpt www.sherrilewis.com

Have you read  the book that started it all?  Selling My Soul is the sequel to My Soul Cries Out. My SoulCries Out is now available in mass market form for $6.99. You still have time to read it before Selling My Soul is released.

My Soul Cries Out

by 

Sherri Lewis

Monica Harris Day's perfect world begins a downward spiral the day she comes home to find her husband in bed with another man.  After confronting Kevin, her husband of two years, Monica discovers he's had a lifelong struggle with homosexuality that began at the age of ten, when he was molested by a deacon in the church. 
For years, Kevin has sought deliverance, crying out to God to make him straight.  He explains his deceit by saying he truly thought he had been delivered when he married Monica, but was afraid to share his past with her for fear she wouldn't marry him.  Kevin begs Monica's forgiveness and wants to save their marriage.  He is convinced that God has indeed delivered him from the spirit of homosexuality and that the one time mistake was just his past coming back to haunt him. Their pastor offers them marital counsel but Monica suspects that his real concern is in maintaining his mega-ministry.  The membership has grown to 10,000 since Kevin became the minister of music.
When the pastor swears them to secrecy and urges Monica to stay in the marriage, she thinks Bishop Walter isn't willing to risk the potential scandal and church division that would result if the truth is leaked to the congregation. My Soul Cries Out is a compassionate look at the issue of Christians struggling with homosexuality and the redemptive power of God to bring deliverance.

Pastor Brown

Reposted from All That's Noir

Sunday, August 23, 2009
"Find Your Shoes," Grab Your Keys and Make Your Way to See "Pastor Brown!"

I just returned from a screening of "Pastor Brown" in Oakland today.

Sherri James, Vice President of Rock Capital Studios, is touring the country screening this movie to select audiences. I was lucky to get a seat at the event held at Bebe Memorial Church.

Finally, an African American family movie with great acting and a great message.

I don't want to spoil it for the rest of you, but imagine Salli Richardson as "the prodigal daughter." And if that doesn't get your attention - can you say "Angie Stone is a lady pimp?" And it's rated PG!

Seriously, this is not only a movie that you won't want to miss in the theater, you will want to own it when it comes out on DVD.

The cast includes:

Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Nicole Ari Parker
Keith David
Michael B. Jordan
Ernie Hudson
Rockmond Dunbar
Michael Beach
Tasha Smith
Tisha Campbell-Martin
Dondre Whitfield
Angie Stone

Directed by Rockmond Dunbar

For more information visit www.rockcapitalstudios.com

African American Bloggers Do Exist | Mom Unplugged

I found an interesting blog post today:

I was speaking with a good friend of mine who attended a Mom Bloggers’ event this week and she notices something that I have often complained to her about. There was a limited number of African American bloggers. When asked about the fact that there were not a lot of African American bloggers, the response was that they could not find them.momunplugged.com, African American Bloggers Do Exist | Mom Unplugged, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

Summer Reading with Anointed Authors Blog Tour

Anointed Authors on Tour consists of seven award-winning, bestselling authors of Christian fiction and non-fiction publications with a commitment to write and/or publish integrity-based literature, touring as a testament to the power of using gifts and talents for God's glory. Over the next two weeks, plan to meet Kendra Norman Bellamy, Tia McCollors, Vanessa Miller, Michelle Stimpson, Shewanda Riley, and Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress. Each of these authors have current and upcoming book releases that are must-reads for your summer reading list.

Today, let's take a peek at Michelle, Vivi and Shewanda's personal summer reading list.

Michelle Stimpson

CURRENT BOOK RELEASE: Trouble in My Way

Bestselling author Michelle Stimpson also walks in the roles as an accomplished speaker and educator. Her novels include Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (Essence Bestseller), Breaking Bondage to Biscuits, The Good Stuff and Trouble In My Way. Michelle serves in the Creative Tyme Ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and Michelle is also currently pursing her ministerial license. She ministers to women through her online newsletter: womengrowinginchrist.com. Michelle lives near Dallas with her husband and their two teenage children.

Who are your favorite authors?

J.California Cooper, Jennifer Weiner, Chuck Swindoll

What books are on your summer reading list?

Same Kind of Different as Me, A Piece of Cake

Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress

CURRENT BOOK RELEASE: Manna for Mamma: Wisdom for Women in the Wilderness

Vivi Monroe Congress, D.Min. is the founder of The Grand Prairie African American AUTHOR SHOWCASE and a trademarked columnist, The Voice of Inspiration™. She has earned and Masters and Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling and as a self-proclaimed Literary Servant, her works include: The Bankrupt Spirit: Principles for Turning Setbacks Into Comebacks, The McMillon Family Cookbook: Something to Shout About! and Manna for Mamma: Wisdom for Women in the Wilderness. She lives in Dallas, TX with her family.

Who are your favorite authors?
J. California Cooper, Michelle Stimpson, Tia McCollors, J.D. Mason and Lori Bryant-Woolridge.

What books are on your summer reading list?
J. California Cooper's entire body of works.


Shewanda Riley

CURRENT BOOK RELEASE: Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends

Shewanda Riley is a Dallas-based author whose debut book, Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends, was named a best seller by Essence Magazine and featured in Jet Magazine. Shewanda has also been featured on ABC Radio Networks and The Potter’s Touch Television show. She has an MA in English and a BA in English-Communication Arts. She is currently working on her 2nd book, Loving in the Red Zone: Doing Right in a Do Wrong World.

Who are your favorite authors?

I like all of the Anointed Authors(lol). Plus the classics like Alice Walker, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen.

What books are on your summer reading list?

The Shack, Passing by Samaria – Foster, The Things They Carried – Obrien, Letters to a Young Sister – Harper, The Scene Book – Scofield

Follow the rest of the Summer Reading with Anointed Authors Blog Tour athttp://bit.ly/SummerReadingwithAnointedAuthors

Bluford Series for male "tweens"- Grades 6 to 8

Someone asked me about books for males in that tween age. I don't know of anything in Christian fiction, but I do know about the Bluford Series. I purchased the first 13 for my son years ago. Lots of educators use these books in the classroom, and they really are good values based literature. There are 15 books in the series and get this? If you order from the publisher's website it's only $1 per book. I'm not kidding. $15 plus minimal shipping.

Here's a little about the series:

The Bluford Series is a collection of FIFTEEN young adult novels that focus on the lives of a group of high school students and their families. The series draws its name from the school which many of the characters attend: Bluford High, named after Guion "Guy" Bluford, America's first black astronaut.

Set in contemporary urban America, each novel addresses complex topics relevant to the lives of today's students: family, friendship, trust, isolation, violence, and peer pressure, to name a few.
In addition, the books feature male and female characters and include elements from many literary genres, such as mystery, suspense, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. In other words, the Bluford Series offers something for almost every reader.


Check it out by clicking here.

Books For Our Male Teens

Stephanie Perry Moore penned a captivating series for our young men. Last year my 17 year old read each new release of this series in one day flat. This is the kid I used to bribe or threaten to read, so they had to be good. The series includes five books that focus on a young man named Perry Skky, Jr. Here's a little about the first book:

Prime Choice

Torn between his desire for sex and his desire to please God, Perry Skky Jr. needs some guidance—before he lets down both himself and the Lord…

It’s Perry’s senior year—and he has every reason to feel good about himself. One of the most popular kids in his class, he’s not only the best football player in the state, he’s also acing every one of his AP classes. College recruiters are beating down his door to sign him. He even has such a good thing with his girlfriend, Tori, that he finally feels ready to take their relationship to the next level.

There’s only one problem. Tori isn’t ready. Her Christian beliefs tell her she needs to save herself. And with plenty of girls to choose from, Perry is tempted to break up with Tori and start spending time with someone who is ready for something more. The choice is his: to do what feels good—or to do right by God.

Learn more about the series at Stephanie's website by clicking here.

Unrealistic Expectations

Today I'm reposting a great post I read yesterday at one of the blogs I follow.

Unrealistic Expectations
by
Deatri King-Bey

The other evening I was at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff minding my own self’s business while waiting in line to see Saturn through their HUGE telescope. I’ve lived in Phoenix two years now, and we rarely have cloudy days or nights. It’s great for star gazing if you can get away from the light pollution of the city. Anywhoooo, it just happened to be one of Flagstaff’s partially cloudy nights when I was standing in the block-plus long line to see the ringed planet. When we’d entered the observatory, we’d been told of the cloud situation, but I held out hope. I’d come to see Saturn, so I’d see Saturn. No cloud would stop me!

So an hour into the line, I’m about twenty people from the entrance and getting excited because I’ve only seen pictures of Saturn and now I would be seeing the real thing. Then it happened. The clouds moved over this area of stars. I wasn’t worried. With the billions of stars out there, what were the chances this bunch of clouds had covered my view of the planet Saturn? One of the astronomers came out and said something on the lines of, “We didn’t want you all in line expecting to see Saturn, and not see Saturn. The clouds are moving and may be covering Saturn when you go inside, so let me give you a tour of what you’re seeing now.”

was disappointed. I came to see Saturn and those dang blasted clouds were trying to stop me. I was disappointed because my expectations weren’t being met. He proceeded to whip out this way coooool laser pointer that seemed to reach all the way to the stars. He pointed to different constellations and even Saturn. I was like, wow, I thought Saturn was another star.

By the time it was my turn to look through the telescope, I’d resigned myself to possibly not being able to see the rings of Saturn. Why set unrealistic expectations and then be disappointed? So I’ll give you one guess what I saw when I looked through the telescope—SATURN! Yeah baby, no stinking clouds could stop me. LOL. Seriously though, if I hadn’t of been able to see Saturn, I would have been slightly disappointed, but fine because I’d dropped my unrealistic expectations of seeing Saturn through the clouds.

How many times have you set yourself up for disappointment by having unrealistic expectations? Click here to read more.

My Journey to Publication - Part IV

Agents – Who can find a virtuous one?
by

Rhonda McKnight

I’m a silly person. Everyone who knows me well learns that pretty quickly, and I find humor in just about any situation that doesn’t involve sickness or death. I can also readily find a scripture that matches up with whatever the drama may be; sometimes that’s done in a serious vein, sometimes to flesh out the irony. When I began my hunt for an agent the one that immediately came to mind was Proverbs 31:10. You know it ladies, The Virtuous Woman. How did I equate Proverbs 31 to finding an agent? Like a good woman, agents seem to have great value if you have one, but as the word in Proverbs says, “Who can find one?” And who can find one who’ll work with a newbie author? Dare I throw in an African-American newbie in a niche genre? (I just guffawed). I could do a disscertation on the agent thing using chapter 31 of Proverbs, maybe another day. Maybe when I've been published longer and know more.

Agents are an enigma to me. In the whole big US of A where 300K plus books are published every year by nearly as many authors, there’s a very small list of people who are considered reputable agents. If that’s not a job that needs to be on the Bureau of Labor Statistics list of “Most Needed” I don’t know what is. Suffice to say the agents’ low supply and high demand lead to this little thing that bugs people like me crazy: the ability to be picky.

I began my search for an agent on January 1st after I left my parents house. I had done some preliminary reading about what to look for, so I created a short list of about ten agents that I was interested in. I had a few “yeah right” choices in the mix, but it was largely comprised of agents who specialized in Christian or Inspirational fiction that had at least one African-American client. (I hate being alone at a party.) I email queried them all and two responded. Both said thanks, but no thanks, and good luck looking. I quickly made a list of five more. Emailed them. None responded. Five more. Not one answer. I waited and waited. Checked my email every fifteen minutes for three weeks and no one answered me. No one wanted to represent me.

From the agents perspective I kinda understand the rejection. Newbie author – they're thinking what are you going to sell – 5,000 copies if you hustle a little. That’s a buck a book if you average gross and net sales royalties. They get 15% commission. Earnings of $750 a year on the high end for them. Not a mint, but come on my book was sold. They didn't even have to shop it. $750 to make a few phone calls, negotiate a “standard” contract and send a few emails a year asking me how I’m doing and how’s the 2nd book coming. We’re talking maybe 5 hours of work all year; $150 an hour isn't bad money, but then again my day job isn’t on the BLS list of jobs most needed, so what do I know about money.

Despite what I considered good agent bait (easy money), I couldn’t bag one to save my life. I’ll always think highly of the few that took the time to respond in the “negative” to my query. If I’m ever in the market for a new agent, I’d come begging at their inbox again. So now you’re wondering – did I ever get an agent? And if yes, how? More crazy faith? Not quite. I asked an author friend to refer me to hers.

Lesson #10 – You’ve already learned this one, but I can't say it enough: network and make friends. People will help you.

My best-est author friend in the world, Sherri Lewis, gave me a referral to Crichton & Associates. Ms. Crichton, who I now call by her first name, telephoned me and conducted a quick 1-2-3 interview. She asked my about my goals, my future projects, my plans for marketing – yada, yada, yada. She didn’t hear anything crazy or unrealistic, so she offered to represent me. I asked her a few questions, but at this point I was pretty desperate. Sherri and some of the other authors I knew whom she represented had good things to say. Then there was the added benefit of her being an attorney who specializes in contracts. I learned from attending writers' conferences that the best agents are lawyers because they understand the legalese. By the beginning of February, I want to say February 13, 2007, I had an agent. There was much ((((((clapping))))))) and wiping of my brow.

So what's next? "Ummm, can somebody tell me when my book is coming out?"

See you on Tuesday.

Thanks to all of you who are following this story. I'm loving the comments and questions.

For those of you who have just started today, scroll down and start at the beginning.

Remember, I'm available for pre-order on Amazon, so pre-order Secrets and Lies. They don't charge you until it ships, and you'll get the pre-order price once it goes down. Click here... and thanks for your support.

Victorious Magazine - Blog Tour - Day 1

Victorious Magazine Launch Celebration

VICTORIOUS Magazine is the cornerstone of our public communication, providing access to articles representing our victorious message! By reaching out directly to each woman and touching on the concerns that are on her heart we are able to encourage her to press on toward her dreams to live victoriously, taking control of her own destiny and achieving her true purpose. Our editorial content is designed to validate the importance of the things that appeal to her on all levels - personally, professionally, spiritually, and mentally - in a way that only women can understand.Our article categories include Destiny & Purpose, Inspiration & Empowerment, Stewardship, Victorious Living, Victorious Wellness, and Style & Grace. The publication launched its digital version March 30, 2009. The first print issue of VICTORIOUS MAGAZINE will hit the newsstands September 2009, with an initial circulation of 25,000.

Meet Brooks J. Young, The Founder of Victorious Magazine

It’s been nine months since I conceived Victorious Magazine – a long nine months. I’ve gained 60 pounds, midnight manna cravings, tears of joy and out-of-control hormones. I was ready to see my baby. I was ready to see what the Holy Spirit had implanted in me. See, I was a “teenage mother”. I knew nothing about birthing a magazine. My family and friends told me I was crazy to want to keep the vision that God had gave me. It’s not like this pregnancy was planned. Victorious just “happened”. It was a late night and I was out seeking to become intimate with God. I wanted to know what true love was and boy did He show me. I finally understood what intimacy was in a way that was never shown to me…this was true love and in the end I was pregnant. What would I name her? Destiny? Purpose?

Did I ever think about aborting my baby? No. Not once. Even when family and friends walked away and told me that my baby would not live in this economy, I knew she would thrive! When the neighbors and “online buddies” were whispering about how I was alone - an unwed mother - with no staff and no money… I kept going. I was determined to give birth to my baby. My baby was not an illegitimate child - her father’s name is Yahweh; she is not a mistake and I refused to allow anyone to call her that. She was one of the best gifts that God has given me - and He named her Victorious!

Victorious is just a baby now and in a couple of months she will be a toddler. Standing on racks across the country¸ in the hands of women who need to realize the conception of their own spiritual gift in God. While everyone else was talking, I was giving my baby the proper nutrients to grow: prayers, love, and support. I kept my eyes on the Father and not on the world. I trusted Him to provide child support… and He never let me down! I closed out all the naysayers and those who are dream killers because I know what God said. There were plenty of days I rocked myself to sleep because of hurt and pain. There were days where my heart was so heavy from the “nosey neighbors” but I had to give birth.

This was not an easy pregnancy; there were several complications and tests run. I was at a point where I thought I was going to lose her but God stepped in and declared that “Victorious shall live and not die.” So, I prayed for clarity and help – I was given wisdom and midwives. I was blessed with awesome women of God to tell me to keep pushing when labor got so hard that I just wanted to give up. They assured me that I could and would deliver a healthy baby. They were right – she’s perfect.

We as visionaries have to remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. We have to look at the true enemy and understand that if he can get us to abort our spiritual babies then he has won and we are not victorious people. There will be labor pains, lack of sleep, and cravings (tests of our will power to resist things that we cannot feed our baby!) God always makes provision for the vision. He always has a Master plan. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Every trial and test is NOT for us but for someone else - and for GOD’s glory. I may not be an expert but God has given me an assignment and I must complete it. God knew I would protect my baby. He knew what kind of mother I would be even when I had some doubts. He knew what was inside of me. He knows exactly what we need to reach our destiny. Here’s a secret: Everything you need to reach your destiny is inside of you .

Check out the digital issue at VictoriousMagazine.com.

For the full Blog Tour schedule visit, http://bit.ly/VictoriousMagazineLaunch.