AALBC.com's BESTSELLING BOOKS - JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2008
http://books.aalbc.com/bestsellers.htm

Fiction #1 - Succulent: Chocolate Flava II by Zane #2 - Getting Buck Wild: Sex Chronicles 2, Vol. 2 by Zane #3 - Dutch II: Angel's Revenge by Teri Woods #4 - Love Is Never Painless: Three Novellas by Zane, Eileen M. Johnson & V. Anthony Rivers #5 - Something On the Side by Carl Weber

Nonfiction #1 - Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans #2 - The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans #3 - Until Today! : Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind by Iyanla Vanzant #4 - Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu   #5 - Keeping Black Boys out of Special Education by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

AUTHORS YOU SHOULD KNOW
http://authors.aalbc.com/author1.htm

David Anthony Durham http://authors.aalbc.com/david_anthony_durham.htm The New York Times describes Durham's most recent novel, Acacia: Book One: The War With the Mein: “Durham vividly captures the frenzy of ancient warfare—battle-maddened pachyderms, hails of javelins and arrows, ordered ranks of Roman light infantry crumbling before Hannibal's mercenary army of ''copper-skinned'' Libyans, tattooed and dreadlocked Numidians and blond, blood-drinking Gauls. 'The world is cruel,' Durham's Hannibal proclaims, and it is.”

Allison Hobbs - The Queen of Seduction http://authors.aalbc.com/allison_hobbs.htm "Greetings! I would like to take the time out to introduce you to the newest hottest erotica writer on the scene. Don't sleep on Allison Hobbs because you are missing out on some of the most sensual and freaky writing on the market. Many have been searching for the "next Zane." Allison has her own individuality but just like Madonna wore a Brittany Spears t-shirt at her concerts, consider me wearing an Allison Hobbs t-shirt at mine. Her next novel, Dangerously in Love, will be available this fall and it is a scorcher."  —New York Times Bestselling Author, Zane

John H. McWhorter http://aalbc.com/authors/john_mcwhorter.htm McWhorter is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is the author of Winning the Race: Beyond the Crisis in Black America his first major book on the state of black America since the New York Times bestseller Losing the Race, John McWhorter argues that a renewed commitment to achievement and integration is the only cure for the crisis in the African-American community.

Stacy Hawkins Adams http://authors.aalbc.com/stacy_hawkins_adams.htm Stacy is a nationally acclaimed author, speaker and freelance journalist whose novels help readers laugh, heal and seek to lead more meaningful lives. Watercolored Pearls, her recently released third novel, deals with the issues of self-esteem, grace, transformation and God's abiding love. It continues to garner rave reviews from readers and book critics.

Shelby Steele http://aalbc.com/authors/shelby_steele.htm In his most recent book A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited about Obama And Why He Can’t Win Steele writes of how Obama is caught between the two classic postures that blacks have always used to make their way in the white American mainstream: bargaining and challenging. Bargainers strike a "bargain" with white America in which they say, I will not rub America's ugly history of racism in your face if you will not hold my race against me. Challengers do the opposite of bargainers. They charge whites with inherent racism and then demand that they prove themselves innocent by supporting black-friendly policies like affirmative action and diversity.

Jackie Ormes - The First African American Woman Cartoonist http://www.aalbc.com/authors/zelda.htm In the United States at midcentury—a time of few opportunities for women in general and even fewer for African American women—Jackie Ormes (1911-85) blazed a trail as a popular cartoonist with the major black newspapers of the day. Jackie Ormes chronicles the life of this multiply talented, fascinating woman.  Read more about Ormes in the new biography; Jackie Ormes: The First African American Woman Cartoonist by Nancy Goldstein

RECENT AALBC.COM BOOK & FILM REVIEWS, ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS & VIDEOS

Party Crashing: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence by Keli Goff http://reviews.aalbc.com/party_crashing.htm What we have here is an ill-timed Republican recruitment tool designed to entice blacks over to the Grand Old Party. I suppose when the publishers greenlighted this book, they probably never considered the possibility that Obama would have so much momentum. For Goff simply sounds silly when she suggests that black youth are eager to abandon the Democratic Party when this is the very constituency most rabidly backing Barack and likely to put him over the top. Reviewed by Kam Williams

Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? by Angelia Vernon Menchan http://reviews.aalbc.com/is_no_not_clear_enough_for_you.htm What I expected to be a Young Adult novel turns out to be a good read for women of all ages.  Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? by Angelia Vernon Menchan is an amusingly clever story about young people learning real life lessons while struggling to stay in God’s grace.  Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

Not Even If You Begged by Francis Ray http://reviews.aalbc.com/not_even_if_you_begged.htm Francis Ray has written more than twenty novels in the romance genre and has been one of the top romance authors for most of her career. In her latest release, Not Even If You Begged, readers are treated to an erotic tale of love between two opposites who find themselves attracted despite themselves. Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

Watercolored Pearls by Stacy Hawkins Adams http://reviews.aalbc.com/watercolored_pearls.htm Hawkins is a gifted storyteller. Each chapter encourages the reader on to the next chapter wondering what these women will learn as they grow in faith and in esteem. This is a good relationship novel for a generation of accomplished African American professionals making their mark on the world. I recommend it highly. Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

Sweet Georgia Brown by Cheryl Robinson http://reviews.aalbc.com/sweet_georgia_brown.htm After becoming the first-place winner in a national reality TV show, Marvin has finally arrived. He is determined to repay Georgia for the eleven years she has struggled beside him. He moves the family into their dream house, they drive the best cars, and Georgia becomes a stay-at-home mother and wife. For the first time, money is plentiful. Georgia feels that all their dreams have finally become reality. Almost. Something is happing to Marvin. Now a popular on-air radio personality, he uses his wife as the butt of painful and uncaring jokes to boost his ratings. Reviewed by Idrissa Uqdah

Raven-Symoné Interview http://reviews.aalbc.com/raven-symone.htm Born in Atlanta, Georgia on December 10, 1985, Raven-Symone' Christina Pearman moved with her family to New York City while still a toddler. By the age of two she had already been signed by the Ford Modeling Agency, and she soon started doing TV ads for everything from Cool Whip to Fisher Price toys to Ritz crackers to Jello. Here, Raven talks about her new movie, College Road Trip, a family comedy where, opposite Martin Lawrence, she plays the teenage daughter of an overprotective police chief.  Interviewed by Kam Williams

T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yourself - Living Life Without Limits (DVD) http://reviews.aalbc.com/reposition_yourself.htm ...Jakes does most of the talking, first delivering the urgent message that time is your greatest resource and that one must, therefore, be wise in deciding exactly how you will spend it. Next, he delineates the five steps involved in any process: revelation, inspiration, formalization, institutionalization and crystallization. Ultimately, he concludes with a rousing sermon passionate enough even to get the lame up out of their seats during which he exhorts you to “Live your life!” because “This is your moment!” DVD Reviewed by Kam Williams

Shelby Steele: The Why Obama Can’t Win Interview http://reviews.aalbc.com/shelby_steele.htm Shelby Steele is a controversial public intellectual who often finds himself at the center of controversy because of his conservative stances on such issues as Affirmative Action, reparations, welfare and other government entitlement programs. As an African-American, this makes him a much in demand media darling who Republicans wheel out whenever they need a black man to weigh-in on a hot-button issue.  Here, Shelby talks about his provocative new book A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited about Obama and Why He Can’t Win.  Interviewed by Kam Williams

The Lazarus Parable: A Revelation for the 21st century by John C. Bonner http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_lazarus_parable.htm The Lazarus Parable by John C. Bonner is an apocalyptic tale which chronicles what the future holds for the planet Earth in the 21st century. It is an ambitious undertaking representative of the biblical sci-fi genre popularized by of the “Left Behind” series, and calling it a cross between “Star Trek” and “The DaVinci Code”, would come close to describing it. Reviewed by Cynique

Choosing Deceit by S.R. Sarai http://reviews.aalbc.com/choosing_deceit.htm In this fantasy novel about the tenuous relationship man has with faith and spirituality, readers follow a young immortal named Lae on his quest to obliterate Kaar, the source of all evil. Fantasy-lovers will easily be drawn in as Choosing Deceit is reminiscent of beloved epics such as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Readers fascinated by tales laced with the history and rhetoric of Islam and Christianity will appreciate the many religious references included in this novel. Reviewed by Jill Robinson

State of the Black Union 2008 - Obama’s Conspicuous Absence Overshadows Annual Gathering http://reviews.aalbc.com/state_of_the_black_union_2008.htm Senator Barack Obama opted to remain on the campaign trail in Ohio rather than accept an invite to address the convention of African-American intellectuals who had gathered to participate in the 9th Annual State of the Black Union. Curiously, despite the fact that Senator Hillary Clinton did attend, Obama had enough advocates on hand to counterbalance any potential blowback generated by his conspicuous absence.

Wrong on Race: The Democratic Party’s Buried Past by Bruce Bartlett http://reviews.aalbc.com/wrong_on_race.htm Although the Democratic Party has come to be associated with liberal politics and thus embraced by African-Americans over the past 40 years or so, this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, for most of its history, the party created by Thomas Jefferson has been uniformly racist and right-wing.  Reviewed by Kam Williams

Tasha Smith - The Why Did I Get Married Interview http://reviews.aalbc.com/tasha_smith.htm Tasha Smith is a larger than life actress who brings an endearing combination of chemistry, raw intensity, vulnerability and sheer sensuality to every character she portrays on the big screen. In other words, she’s a consummate thespian who is just loved by the camera. And her memorable performances in two Tyler Perry pictures last year, “Why Did I Get Married” and “Daddy’s Little Girls,” led this critic to name her the best African-American actress of 2007 in my annual film Blacktrospective. Interviewed by Kam Williams

Blacktrospective 2007 Annual Look Back at the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema by Kam Williams http://reviews.aalbc.com/blacktrospective_2007.htm I’m sure many readers might want an explanation for the relatively-poor showings of Denzel’s box-office hits American Gangster and The Great Debaters. Well, the former was not much more than a big budget variation on the gangsploitation genre in this critic’s estimation. Meanwhile, the latter did feature several inspired performances, but was simply too riddled with comical anachronisms and historical inaccuracies to take seriously.

Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success by Dr. Farrah Gray http://reviews.aalbc.com/get_real_get_rich.htm Written by “Reallionaire” Dr. Farrah Gray, this relatively-feasible how-to guide is designed to empower individuals to maximize their potential, whatever that may be. However, in Dr. Gray’s opinion, this involves much more than chanting positive affirmations. So expect to do some serious work along the path to fulfilling your goals. You might be wondering, Why should I listen to this author as opposed to the countless others offering advice about how to get rich? Perhaps because he speaks from experience. He was raised in the ghetto, on the South Side of Chicago, by a single-mom, yet he still overcame the odds and made his first million dollars by the age of 14.

Dirty Laundry - Brother on the Down-Low Outed by His Kid in DVD Comedy http://reviews.aalbc.com/dirty_laundry.htm Even though homophobia is undoubtedly an issue in the ‘hood, the motley ensemble’s supportive response to Sheldon’s revealing his sexual preference proves to be a surprisingly sweet way to bring down the curtain on this well-meaning message movie. DVD Reviewed by Kam Williams

Nicole Ari Parker: The Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Interview http://reviews.aalbc.com/nicole_ari_parker.htm Here, she talks about her latest movie, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, an ensemble comedy about a Hollywood talk-show host who finds himself cut down to size when he returns to his Georgia roots for his parents’ 50th anniversary. Directed by Malcolm Lee, the film features Martin Lawrence in the title role. Interviewed by Kam Williams

African American Lives 2 - Black Luminaries Find Roots in 4-Part PBS Series http://reviews.aalbc.com/african_american_lives_2.htm A year ago, Harvard Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates hosted a groundbreaking series on which he and eight other African-American icons explored their roots via a combination of genealogical and DNA research. The show was so successful, that PBS has brought Skip back along with eleven new recruits curious about their roots. Review by Kam Williams

NEW FROM CROWN PUBLISHING GROUP

Major by Todd Balf http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307236586&ref=banner&name=majoraalbc At the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of handsome, lightning-fast racers won the hearts and minds of a bicycling-crazed public. Scientists studied them, newspapers glorified them, and millions of dollars in purse money was awarded to them. Major Taylor aimed to be the fastest of them all. A prominent black man at a time when such a thing was deemed scandalous, his mounting victories, high moral virtue, and bulletlike riding style made him a target for ridicule from the press and sabotage by the white riders who shared the track with him. Taylor’s most formidable and ruthless opponent—a man nicknamed the “Human Engine”—was Floyd McFarland. One man was white, one black; one from a storied Virginia family, the other descended from Kentucky slaves; one celebrated as a hero, one trying to secure his spot in a sport he dominated. The only thing they had in common was the desire to be named the fastest man alive. Their rivalry riveted first America, and then the world. Finally, in 1904, both men headed to Australia for a much-anticipated title match to decide, beyond dispute, who would claim the coveted title.

Standing Tall by C. Vivian Stringer and Laura Tucker http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307406095&ref=banner&name=stringerAALBC “Work hard, and don’t look for excuses,” Stringer’s parents told her, “and you can achieve anything.” But her faith and perseverance would be tested many times. A gifted athlete, she had to fight for a place on an all-white cheerleading squad in the sixties. In 1981, just as her coaching career was taking off, her fourteen-month-old daughter, Nina, was stricken with spinal meningitis. Nina would never walk or talk again. Still grieving, Stringer brought a small, poor, historically black college to the national championships—a triumph hailed as “Hoosiers with an all-female cast.” In 1991, her husband, Bill—her staunchest supporter, the father of her children, and the love of her life—fell dead of a sudden heart attack, but that same year, she led yet another young team to the Final Four. Through these dark times and others—including her bout with cancer, shared here for the first time—Stringer has carried her burdens with grace. Given her history, it was no surprise that she led her team to respond to Don Imus’s slurs with dignity and courage.

The Echo from Dealey Plaza by Abraham Bolden http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307382016&ref=banner&name=echoHISTORY From the first African American assigned to the presidential Secret Service detail comes a gripping and unforgettable true story of bravery and patriotism in the face of bitter hatred and unthinkable corruption.   Abraham Bolden was a young African American Secret Service agent in Chicago when he was asked by John F. Kennedy himself to join the White House Secret Service detail. For Bolden, it was a dream come true—and an encouraging sign of the charismatic president’s vision for a new America. But the dream quickly turned sour when Bolden found himself regularly subjected to open hostility and blatant racism. He was taunted, mocked, and disparaged but remained strong, and he did not allow himself to become discouraged.  More of a concern was the White House team’s irresponsible approach to security. While on his tour of presidential duty, Bolden witnessed firsthand the White House agents’ long-rumored lax approach to their job. Drinking on duty, abandoning key posts—this was not a team that appeared to take their responsibility to protect the life of the president particularly seriously. Both prior to and following JFK’s assassination, Bolden sought to expose and address the inappropriate behavior and negligence of these agents, only to find himself the victim of a sinister conspiracy that resulted in his conviction and imprisonment on a trumped-up bribery charge.

AALBC.com RECOMMENDS

Off The Page on WBAI New York 99.5 FM http://aalbc.com/off_the_page.htm Hosted by Esther Amah, Off The Page on WBAI New York 99.5 FM is the one hour lively weekly radio talk show about the world of books with those who write, critique, profit and publish, publicize and organize, agitate, inspire and pioneer. Provocative, personal, dynamic, vibrant, Off The Page brings books to life. Off The Page is unique in we do a creative media franchise. Off The Page goes from the print, to the airwaves to the webscreen. You can hear Off The Page on the radio, you can watch segments of the show online, and you can get the books you hear us talking about. Welcome to 21st Century creative literary media! The audience is global. Due to the creative media franchise, Off The Page reaches audiences in the US, UK, Norway, France, South Africa, British Virgin Islands, Ghana.

Literary Freedom Project http://literaryfreedom.org/ The Literary Freedom Project is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit arts organization. LFP supports writers of African and Latino descent through education initiatives and print

Baldwin's Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin by Herb Boyd http://aalbc.com/authors/herb_boyd.htm "Herb Boyd's study of Baldwin and Harlem features vivid literary portraits of a powerful writer in sometimes controversial dialogue with other major figures of his era. It also centers Baldwin's Harlem in a memorable, necessary way. Boyd's book is fascinating and authoritative on a subject that he knows well and writes about with insight and sympathy." — Arnold Rampersad, author of Ralph Ellison: A Biography

Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers by Rachel Vassel http://aalbc.com/authors/rachel_vassel.htm From Actress Sanaa Lathan to Georgia State Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, many African-American women attribute much of their success to a positive father figure. In Daughters of Men, author Rachel Vassel has complied dozens of stunning photographs (by celebrity photographer Derek Blanks) and compelling personal essays about African- American women and their fathers. Whether it's a father who encouraged his daughter's artistic eye by taking her to cultural events or one who unwaveringly supported a risky career move, the fathers in Daughters of Men each had their own unique yet successful style of parenting. Daughters of Men is the first title to showcase the importance of the Black father's impact on the accomplishments of his daughter. With a heartfelt foreword by best-selling author, professor and radio host Michael Eric Dyson, this book provides an intimate look at black fatherhood.

Recent Interviews with AALBC.com Founder Troy Johnson HOT BOOKS in '08!! - Interview with by DuEwa Frazier on Blogtalkradio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/duewafraziershow/2008/02/24/HOT-BOOKS-in-08-Interview-with-AALBC-Founder-Troy-Johnson Also check out DuEwa's Interviews with Dr. Haki Madhubuti - Founder of Third World Press, Playwright Richard Fewell and others. Blogging In Black -  Interview with Emanuel Carpenter http://blogginginblack.com/?p=703 Blogging in Black is a collective of mostly black literary professionals sharing their views on the writing life, publishing, and anything else related to books, writing and the biz on our minds. Part of the 32 Days of Black History Project - with Deesha at "Mamalicious!" and Yvette at "About Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast" Blogs http://deeshaphilyaw.com/2008/02/27/q-a-troy-johnson-founder-of-the-african-american-literature-book-club/ I have mixed feelings about Troy. Sure his CV is impressive (see bio below), he is a True Friend to black writers, and through his site’s discussion board (Thumper’s Corner), Yvette and I met each other AND the irrepressible Cynique. But in 2004/2005, I lost way too many hours being entertained and informed by the brainy, zany Thumper’s Corner regulars. So to the extent that I have not completed my Great American Novel, I blame Troy. But all is forgiven as Troy shares with us his thoughts on black literature, past and present, and a glimpse at what’s currently on his nightstand.

Marvelous World (Book One The Marvelous Effect) by Troy Cle http://books.aalbc.com/2008_essence_literary_awards_nominees.htm 2008 Essence Award Winning Book - Children's Books Targeted to readers ages 10 and up.  Louis Proof is an ordinary kid. He loves listening to hip-hop, racing radio-controlled cars, and hanging out with his best friend, Brandon. Then a mysterious letter invites him to visit the local junkyard. There he finds a secret, underground amusement park like no other in existence. This is the best day of Louis's life. The park even has the most amazing race course for radio-controlled cars. Louis starts racing right away. It's a close contest; he's about to activate his nitro boost to take the lead, when...  This is the worst day of Louis's life. Without warning or reason, thirteen-year-old Louis Proof falls into a coma due to a virus of a mysterious, celestial origin. When he awakens three months later, the world that he once knew and loved is totally out of control. He will learn that his illness is connected to everything that is wrong, and that it's not only his responsibility but his destiny to set things right.

A Killing in This Town: A Novel http://authors.aalbc.com/olympia_vernon.htm The winner of the first annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence (http://www.ernestjgainesaward.org) is Ms. Olympia Vernon for her novel, A Killing In This Town. Ms. Vernon received a $10,000 award and commemorative sculpture created by artist Robert Moreland at the award ceremony January 24, 2008 at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge. Her  novel was selected from 29 entries from across the country by a panel of nationally-known judges.

The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson http://books.aalbc.com/2008_essence_literary_awards_nominees.htm 2008 Essence Award Winning Book - Fiction In 1946, a storm-wrecked boat carrying Hollywood’s most famous swashbuckler shored up on the coast of Jamaica, and the glamorous world of 1940’s Hollywood converged with that of a small West Indian society. After a long and storied career on the silver screen, Errol Flynn spent much of the last years of his life on a small island off of Jamaica, throwing parties and sleeping with increasingly younger teenaged girls. Based on those years, The Pirate’s Daughter is the story of Ida, a local girl who has an affair with Flynn that produces a daughter, May, who meets her father but once. Spanning two generations of women whose destinies become inextricably linked with the matinee idol’s, this lively novel tells the provocative history of a vanished era, of uncommon kinships, compelling attachments, betrayal and atonement in a paradisal, tropical setting. As adept with Jamaican vernacular as she is at revealing the internal machinations of a fading and bloated matinee idol, Margaret Cezair-Thompson weaves a saga of a mother and daughter finding their way in a nation struggling to rise to the challenge of independence.

Inside every student is a graduate. A Boost can make the difference between dropping out or graduating. http://www.boostup.org/ Dropping out is a process. It is not just a decision that happens overnight. Students who are at risk of dropping out show signs of pulling back from school long before they actually drop out—they miss classes, skip school, do not complete homework, get low grades, and engage in disruptive behavior. In addition, students who are at risk for dropping out often seem less interested in school and have low expectations for their own success.

Self Publishing Symposium - THIS SUNDAY - March 9, 2008, Harlem, NY http://www.aspicomm.com/selfpublishingsymposium/ Make plans to attend the third annual Self-Publishing Symposium at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, March 9, 2008. We welcome you to come and take advantage of what this important business event can do for your publishing company. The first annual Self-Publishing Symposium was a huge success and has begun to secure it’s presence in the self and small publishing arena as a sought-after event for self published authors and independent publishers.  And as always, during the electrifying “Hot Topics” panel, we will address major issues affecting self-publishers and independent presses in a candid and open forum.

The Ninth National Black Writers Conference - Friday, March 28, 2008 - Sunday, March 30, 2008, Brooklym, NY http://events.aalbc.com/the_9th_national_black_writers_conf.htm The Ninth National Black Writers Conference: Black Writers: Reading and Writing to Transform Their Lives and the World will offer panel discussions, readings, workshops and conversations to focus on the ways in which black writers use literature to transform their lives and the larger global community. Inspired in 1986 by the late John Oliver Killens, the National Black Writers Conference was convened to bring together writers, critics, book-sellers, book reviewers, and the general public to discuss issues affecting black writers. Since 1986 the National Black Writers Conferences at Medgar Evers College have attracted a wide range of writers and scholars from the African Diaspora.

Shades of the Diaspora: Voices of Black Women Writers - Saturday, March 29, 2008, 1:00 PM, Baltimore, MD Sponsored by The Baltimore Times, The Antigua & Barbuda International Literary Festival and Enoch Pratt Free Library Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD 21201 - Call for more information 410-396-5494 Shades of the Diaspora: Voices of Black Women Writers will present, to a book-loving audience, a selection of Black women writers as they discuss and examine culture, the writing process and the writer’s personal journey through the publishing landscape. We will span the literary Diaspora and delve into the many facets of what constitutes and establishes culture created via the written word:  Lalita Tademy – author of Red River, Lori Tharp – author of Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain, Lorna Goodison – author of From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island, Esther Armah – author of Can I Be Me? (moderator) Also: Save the Dates! 7-9 November, 2008, Jolly Beach Resort, Antigua, West Indies: http://www.antiguaandbarbudaliteraryfestival.com/index.php

National Black Book Festival, May 17-19, 2008 Houston, TX, George R. Brown Convention Center http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com The National Black Book Festival (NBBF) is an annual event, sponsored jointly by Cushcity.com, the world's largest African-American retailer online, and the Houston Black Expo, the largest African-American tradeshow in the state of Texas. The event is held in conjunction with the Houston Black Expo and attracts a wide array of authors, publishers, book clubs, libraries and individual readers from the Southwest U.S. and nationwide. NBBF 2008 will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas. The event features a pavilion of authors, including those who are notable and new. Book signing and discussion sessions with featured authors, workshops and seminars, a spoken word poetry slam and book club give-aways are just a few of the exciting featured activities at NBBF.

Official Harlem Book Fair Web Site http://www.qbr.com/page10688.asp The programs of the 10th Anniversary Gala and Celebration of the Harlem Book Fair will begin on Thursday, July 17th at Abyssinian Baptist Church and conclude on Sunday, July 20th at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The outdoor festival will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on West 135th Street between 5th and 7th Avenues.

Kelli Martin has been hired as the new senior editor, Kimani Romance, and will bring ten years of excellence and editorial innovation to the only African-American series imprint in the marketplace today. She has previously worked with many award-winning, Essence, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times bestselling authors such as Nikki Giovanni, bell hooks, and Darren Coleman along with other reader favorites such as Erica Simone Turnipseed and co-authors Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray and Mitzi Miller. Kimani Romance offers sexy, dramatic, sophisticated and entertaining love stories featuring realistic African-American characters that work through compelling emotional conflicts on their way to committed and satisfying relationships. Told primarily from the heroine's point of view, Martin will be publishing stellar authors such as Brenda Jackson and Donna Hill, along with new voices on the

True or False: Book Publishers Can Avoid the Agony of Deceit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030403190.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/books To: The publishing industry. From: Your friends in the news biz. Re: Fake memoirs. Two words: Fact check! Once again, a publisher has been shocked to learn that the author of a memoir has made stuff up. We're not talking extended lines of dialogue magically remembered from decades earlier -- that...The Washington Post Wed, 05 Mar 2008

First lady advocates literacy (AP) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080305/ap_en_ot/books_laura_bush AP - In brief remarks Wednesday to publishing executives, first lady Laura Bush called books her "greatest love affair" and warned that a "nation that does not read for itself cannot think for itself." yahoo.com Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:13:49 GMT

Unadvertised Special: Top Position, Right Hand Side, only $79 per week - Fixed Placement, No Other Books in Rotation.  Email troy@aalbc.com for more information

Power to the Small Publisher! http://mosaicbooks.com/banner.htm Join successful author Marissa Monteilh author of Something He Can Feel, and have your book prominent displayed on AALBC.com (the most popular site dedicated to African-American literature, Cushcity.com (the largest African-American Internet retailer) and MosaicBooks.com (the first site created to showcase Black literature). Never before has it been so easy to reach the Black reading audience.  That is why we call it the "Power Network" visit  http://mosaicbooks.com/banner.htm for more information

One Million Views Join Go On Girl! book Club author of the Year (2003), Persia Walker and take advantage of our brand new 1 Million Views Campaign.  You give us up to 4 different media; any combination of advertising banners, videos, or book covers and we'll display it all over the AALBC.com for an entire year! Your campaign will run a minimum of 1 year and your media will be displayed for a combined minimum total of 1million times. Contact AALBC.com for more information We can customize an advertising campaign to meet your needs.  Contact sales@aalbc.com for more information.