John Oliver Killens
http://aalbc.com/authors/killens.htm

An important figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, Killens was a close friend of Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists.  John O. Killens created the Black Writer's Conference (which has been hosted every few years at Medgar Evers College since 1986), was a Medgar Evers College professor and one of the most respected authors of his time. He died of cancer on October 27, 1987. He was 71 at the time of his death and lived in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York.  Read a biography written by Keith Gilyard

Kalisha Buckhanon
http://authors.aalbc.com/kalisha_buckhanon.htm

Her first novel, Upstate, won the 2006 American Library Association ALEX Award and was nominated for a 2006 Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation Legacy Award in Debut Fiction. The Upstate Audio production won the 2006 Audie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literary Fiction. The novel was published in the UK and France. Her second novel, Conception, was released from St. Martin’s Press in early 2008. Terry McMillan selected her to receive the Terry McMillan Young Author Award at the 2006 National Book Club Conference, and she was named one of Essence Magazine’s “Three Writers to Watch” in 2005. She won a 2001 Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship in Prose for an unpublished historical novel entitled The Junction.

Caleb Alexander
http://authors.aalbc.com/caleb_alexander.htm

"My name is Caleb Alexander, and I am a novelist. Many of you know me as the author of Eastside, and Two Thin Dimes, while others know me as the infamous ghostwriter who penned some of the biggest novels in the Urban Lit industry. What I would like to do at this time, is take this opportunity to correctly introduce myself to the publishing industry, and to readers around the world. This is important to me, because as the age old adage goes, if you don’t define yourself, others will happily do it for you." 

Electa Rome Parks
http://authors.aalbc.com/electa.htm

Parks currently resides outside Atlanta, Georgia. After successfully self-publishing her debut novels, The Ties That Bind and Loose Ends, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group, bought the rights. Electa signed a three-book deal with New American Library. All three books were immediately chosen as Black Expressions Book Club main selections and embraced as Books of the Month by book clubs across the country. Dubbed a "book club favorite," avid readers have embraced Electa's true to life characters that tackle prevalent and heavy hitting issues.

Christopher Chambers
http://authors.aalbc.com/christopher_chambers.htm

In 2001 Mr. Chambers left the world of law practice forever to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a writer. He’s published the FBI Agent Angela Bivens© series of mystery novels through Random House. The third novel in the series (unfinished) was sold to Lifetime TV. He’s the author of two short story collections, Shades of Black, and Intimacy, and has numerous short fiction works published in magazines such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen and Thug Lit. 2009 will see the release of historical novel about slavery and the War of 1812/Burning of Washington, DC, Yella Patsy’s Boys, and his re-interpretative novel on the iconic figures Amos ‘n Andy.

Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph by C. Vivian Stringer - Book Reviewed by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/standing_tall.htm

When Don Imus referred to the young women on the Rutgers University Basketball Team as “nappy headed-hos” a year ago, it deeply affected their coach, Vivian Stringer. As she relates in her heartbreaking autobiography, she “couldn’t shake the feeling that I had fallen down in my responsibility to protect these girls.”

So, a couple of weeks later, with the media fallout still building in intensity, she called a press conference in defense of her student athletes who should’ve been celebrated instead of humiliated after their surprising run to the NCAA Championship game. What almost nobody knew is that while Stringer was in the limelight last April, she was also privately battling breast cancer at the time.

Gotta Keep On Tryin’ by Virginia DeBerry, Donna Grant - Book Review by Idrissa Uqdah
http://reviews.aalbc.com/gotta_keep_on_tryin.htm

In the sequel to the novel, Tryin’ To Sleep In The Bed You Made [1996, St. Martin's Press] life-long friends Gayle Saunders and Patricia (Pat) Reid are together again in this new release, Gotta Keep On Tryin’. Gayle and Pat are running a business they founded based on Ell, a storybook character, that Gayle developed years ago for her young daughter. The Ell and Me Company is a success due to Gayle’s creativity and Pat’s business experience and talents. Gayle’s children’s books in this series about Ell have become very popular. Marketing director Pat convinces Gayle that they should create an Ell doll to promote the books. The story opens as the company is poised to release the new product.

Dafina Books Executive Editor Selena James and Abiola Abrams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUGvex6vp4

Dafina Books Executive Editor Selena James and Abiola Abrams chat about Dafina's latest and forthcoming titles for AALBC.com.  Books discussed include Lori Johnson's After the Dance and Unfaithful written by Devon Scott.

Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson by Mayme Johnson and Karen E. Quinones Miller
http://reviews.aalbc.com/harlem_godfather.htm

Check out the real Story:  Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson has been a long time coming on the heels of the popular movie, American Gangster. It is the real story of the infamous African American Harlem Godfather, “Bumpy,” told by Mayme Johnson, his 93-year-old widow. Refuting many of Frank Lucas’ stories in the Gangster movie, Mrs. Johnson sets the record straight about the man she unconditionally loved and stood by as long as he lived.  Visit http://reviews.aalbc.com/harlem_godfather.htm to watch a video from the Harlem book launch party and read an AALBC.com book review

Meet the Browns - Film Review by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/meet_the_browns.htm

Tyler Perry has his finger on the pulse when it comes to entertaining an African-American audience in an uplifting fashion which resonates as real with that target demographic. And Meet the Browns is no exception, this being the latest in a string of the prolific playwright-turned-film director’s screen adaptations of a popular stage production.

Also check out the interviews with Angela Bassett (http://reviews.aalbc.com/angelabassett.htm) and Rick Fox (http://reviews.aalbc.com/rick_fox.htm)
 

Soul Poems for My Sistas by Michele Washington - Book Review by Felicia Pride
http://reviews.aalbc.com/soul_poems_for_my_sistas.htm

Poetry is one literary form that far too many attempt with the misguided notion that it is easy to write. Between the length or the ability to rhyme within a poem, some have approached the genre without much allegiance to craft.

In reading Michele Washington’s slim poetry collection Soul Poems for My Sistas, it’s obvious that she’s a writer who respects the complexity of the genre and her passion for its power exudes through her work.

The Dhamma Brothers - Film Review by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_dhamma_brothers.htm

The Dhamma Brothers, directed by Andrew Kukura, Jenny Phillips and Anne Marie Stein examines the before and after mindsets of the cons converted to the Eastern spiritual path. This fascinating film focuses on a quartet of contrite individuals, starting with Edward Curry Johnson, a once-promising student-athlete who was being scouted by pro baseball when, against his better judgment, he foolishly took part in a gang-related homicide.

Thandie Newton - Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/thandie_newton1.htm

Born in London on November 6, 1972, Thandie Newton spent some of her formative years in Zambia with her Zimbabwean mother, Nyasha, and her British father, Nick. However, political unrest would prompt the family to relocate to England where Thandiwe would attend the University of Cambridge.

Also read the review of Thandie Newton's latest movie Run Fatboy Run http://reviews.aalbc.com/run_fatboy_run.htm

Skid Row - DVD Review by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/skid_row.htm

Prakazrel Michel, better known just as Pras, was one of the founding members of the hip-hop group “The Fugees.” But despite the fame and fortune he has enjoyed since meeting with success as a rap star, he’s never forgotten his humble roots, having been born in Haiti, and raised in Brooklyn, NY and South Orange, NJ.

This helps explains why in 2006 he decided to go undercover for 9 days straight, living amongst the homeless on Skid Row, a 50-block area of Los Angeles teeming with over 100,000 transients. With the help of hidden cameras, Pras filmed the entire ordeal, editing the essence of his experience into Skid Row, an eye-opening documentary which paints a good picture of what life is like for today’s hobos.

Life as a Single Mom: It Isn’t Easy, or Is It? 10 Steps to Achieving success as a Single Mom - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/life_as_a_single_mom.htm

According to the latest statistics, over 70% of all black children are born out of wedlock and about 80% will spend most of their childhood without a father figure in the house. This means that most of the child-raising in the African-American community will continue for the foreseeable future to fall on the shoulders of the black woman.

For this reason, a book like Life as a Single Mom is arriving at an optimal moment in history, given that it was written by a seasoned single mom of 15 years. Stephanie Clark is also the founder of My Daughter’s Keeper, a non-profit organization created “to provide support and resources to mothers/caregivers and daughters (ages 8-19).”

Planet B-Boy - Evolution of Breakdancing Examined by Electrifying Documentary - Film Review
http://hiphopbookclub.com/planet_b-boy.htm

Back in the Seventies, when black and Latino teenagers from the Bronx first began gyrating wildly and spinning on their heads on pieces of cardboard to hip-hop beats emanating from thudding boom-boxes, I doubt if anybody expected the street fad to last. But breakdancing has not only flourished, but it has spread around the planet like wildfire, finding even greater acceptance in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East than in its birthplace.

State of the Black Union 2008 - Article
http://aalbc.com/reviews/state_of_the_black_union_2008.htm

...In fact, Mr. Gregory enjoyed the most memorable moments, primarily because he repeatedly went for the joke, this in sharp contrast to his colleagues who were soberly focusing on the social, political and economic concerns of the black community. As for Hillary, she appeared onstage alone with host Tavis Smiley at the very end of a very long day. However, her brief comments amounted to an anti-climatic uphill battle, because she had to follow a long line of inspirational speakers who had long since whipped the probably already pro-Obama crowd into a frenzy over her opponent. More a Barack pep rally than a critical assessment of African-American issues.

Black Facts Calendar 2008
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00132EDUM/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

Thank you for your interest in and support of the 2008 edition of the Black Facts Calendar. In response to numerous requests for hard copies, we have printed, bound and shipped a limited supply of the calendars to Amazon.com for immediate availability. I know people always say the supply is limited, but we really mean it (smile). So, to purchase the calendar, please visit the following Amazon.com URL at your earliest opportunity:
Thank you for your encouragement and inspiration. This was not initiated as, and is not intended to be a money-making venture. And, we were only able to afford the printing and binding of a limited amount of calendars. We hope you appreciate our best efforts and value the hard copies. Thank you again for your interest in and support of Black History.

Written
www.writtenmag.com

Written is a nationally syndicated insert to African American newspapers - similar to a Parade or USA Today weekend. Our mission is to celebrate the reader and to celebrate the word. We are currently in 14 newspapers across the country with over 130,000 readers.

If you are an author and would like to submit a book for review it can be sent to: Written PO Box 250504, Atlanta, GA 30325. If you are apart of a book club, we would love to profile you. Please submit your clubs info to editor@writtenmag.com. Please check out our website www.writtenmag.com. Subscriptions are $8 for one year and $15 for two.

Breath of Life
www.kalamu.com/bol

From the website:
Even though Black music is ultimately a reflection and expression of the experiences of people of African descent, Black music is not an exclusively racial product. People from diverse backgrounds all over the world produce rap, jazz, blues, gospel, funk and many other forms of Black music. Additionally, from classical music to what is humorously called “hick hop” (rap influenced country music), Black music has directly affected all major forms of music in the world today.

This website is a celebration of Black music. We update every Sunday and offer three selections each week: a classic (music that is a major example of a specific genre or style), a contemporary (music produced within the last decade or so), and a cover (previously recorded music that is given a new or different interpretation).

Reading Across Continents
http://www.readingacrosscontinents.com/

The literacy program “Reading Across Continents” provides an interactive experience for both teachers and students in their reading of multicultural literature. The program has two communication components: a blog and an e-mail exchange. Through a blog monitored by their teachers, students in Washington, DC and Abuja are writing to one another about books from both countries. Currently, American and Nigerian teachers are developing a conceptual framework to get their students thinking about their own and their counterparts’ “way of seeing.” Working together, these teachers generate assignments that challenge their students and themselves to think about the books, not only in terms of their particular cultural perspectives but also those of their international counterparts.

The authors of the two chosen books Copper Sun (United States) by Sharon Draper and Purple Hibiscus (Nigeria) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will be speaking with students in Washington, DC and Abuja, respectively. In both locations, the programs will be simulcast abroad permitting American and Nigerian students to see and hear one another in real time.

The Writers Studio - Fiction and Poetry Workshops Since 1987
http://www.writerstudio.com

Learn writing in a technique-oriented, nurturing environment. We welcome both beginning and advanced writers and poets.  Praised by the NY Times as "the most personal of the programs." Private tutorials available. (212) 255-7075

Exhibitors Wanted - African American Authors Pavilion - Book Expo America
http://events.aalbc.com/bookexpo_america_2008.htm

Now in it's fifth year, the 5,000-square feet of joint exhibit space showcasing African American books, authors, products and publishers is the market place for thousands of African American publishing industry professionals. Influential exhibitors and book buyers form a community of unprecedented strength. "The African American Pavilion is a growing presence at BEA," says Exhibitors Carol Rogers, CEO/Founder and Brenda Piper, COO/Co-Founder, C & B Books Distribution and the 2007 African American Pavilion "Book Distributors of the Year", "There will be great opportunities to learn, educate, sell, and network and it's making African American history a vital, visible part of the 107-year history of BookExpo America/American Booksellers Association.

 If you are interested in learning more about a wide range of exhibiting opportunities please contactTony Rose, Executive Direct, Cofounder of the African American Pavilion and publisher of Amber Communication Group, Inc. at 520-568-6692 - email: amberbk@aol.com and tell him AALBC.com sent you.

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.

AALBC.com Founder, Troy Johnson will be participating in a Seminar: “Marketing Your Book on a Limited Budget,”  which will take place Saturday afternoon, May 17 at 4:00 p.m.

Black Writers Reunion & Conference June 19-21, 2008 ~ Tampa, Florida
http://www.blackwriters.org/

Whatever your writing interest, this conference will help you to improve your writing, develop new skills, increase your publishing knowledge, launch and build your writing career or business, and expand your network of people who can relate to your dreams and inspire you to surpass them. Formerly dedicated solely to aspiring and published authors of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama, the 2008 conference includes other opportunities for profitable writing including sessions on careers for writers outside of the publishing industry, how to break into those careers, develop your writing resumes and portfolios, and start your own writing businesses, to name a few.