1 - Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology by Zane (Editor)
2 - True to the Game III by Teri Woods
3 -  Demon Hunter, Book 1 by TL Gardner
4 - Succulent: Chocolate Flava II (Hardcover) by Zane (Editor)
5 - A Mercy by Toni Morrison

1 - Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou
2 - Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny by Hill Harper
3 - Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans
4 - Journalism Today by McGraw-Hill
5 - Raising Black Boys by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

Steven Barnes
http://authors.aalbc.com/steven_barnes.htm

Barnes is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Cestus Deception. He has been nominated for both the Hugo and CableACE awards for his work in television. 

Steven says, "After publishing about two million words of science fiction (including the New York Times bestsellers The Legacy of Heorot and The Cestus Deception) and having about twenty hours of produced television shows (including The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Andromeda, and Stargate, as well as four episodes of the immortal Baywatch), I've got opinions on the writing life."

Elizabeth Alexander
http://aalbc.com/authors/elizabeth_alexander.htm

Alexander is the author of four books of poems, The Venus Hottentot, Body of Life, Antebellum Dream Book, and American Sublime, which was one of three finalists for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. She is also a scholar of African-American literature and culture and recently published a collection of essays, The Black Interior. She has read her work across the U.S. and in Europe, the Caribbean, and South America, and her poetry, short stories, and critical prose have been published in dozens of periodicals and anthologies.

Ms. Alexander will recite a specially composed work at Barack Obama's inauguration January 20, 2009

Deja "Joy" King 
http://authors.aalbc.com/deja_king.htm

King is the author of the Triple Crown titles Bitch, Bitch Reloaded and The Bitch Is Back. And now, the highly anticipated Queen Bitch, which is Part 4 of the Bitch series, Ms. King is also the author of Dirty Little Secrets, Hooker to Housewife, Superstar and Stackin' Paper under her pseudonym Joy King.

Two of Ms. King's books are in the top 25 of all fiction books sold on AALBC.com in 2008.

Dr. Pinkie Gordon Lane
http://aalbc.com/authors/pinkie_gordon_lane.htm

Lane's literary career began in 1956 when she found some success as a short story writer. She decided upon poetry as her chosen medium and her first published poem appeared in Phylon: The Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture in 1961. In addition to her numerous publications in periodicals, she has published 5 books of poetry.

She has held positions as director of the Melvin A. Butler Poetry Festival, 1974-80; Louisiana State Poet Laureate, 1989-1992; Louisiana Black History Hall of Fame inductee, 1991; Visiting Distinguished Professor at the University of Northern Iowa, 1993-94; and Du Pont Scholar, Bridgewater College, 1994.   AALBC.com mourns the recent passing (December 3, 2008) of this great poet.

Lisa Nichols
http://aalbc.com/authors/lisa_nichols.htm

Lisa is a dynamic speaker with an extraordinary story and a tremendous ability to touch people's hearts and souls. She is a master at accomplishing unfathomable goals and teaching others to do the same. Lisa is an expert Life and Business Coach and is sure to inspire your audience to ACTION!

Lisa is a coauthor of Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul and the author of the forthcoming book No Matter What!: 9 Steps to Living the Life You Love (Apr. '09)

Willie Perdomo
http://aalbc.com/authors/willie.htm

Perdomo is the author of Where a Nickel Costs a Dime and Smoking Lovely, which received a PEN America Beyond Margins Award. He has also been published in The New York Times Magazine and Bomb and his children's book, Visiting Langston, received a Coretta Scott King Honor. He is a NYFA Arts Fellowship winner, Pushcart Prize nominee, a Urban Artists Initiative/NYC grant recipient and was recently a Woolrich Fellow in Creative Writing at Columbia University. He is currently Artist-in-Residence, Workspace, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and is co-founder/publisher of Cypher Books.

Go, Tell Michelle: African-American Women Write to the New First Lady - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/go_tell_michelle.htm

"...in the wake of the election, they immediately started soliciting other African-American females, �Uncrowned Queens,� for open letters of support for the incoming First Lady as a way �to send her a special message, grounded in our common ancestry and in the belief that our daughters have not only been inspired by her accomplishments but empowered by her example.�

The upshot of those efforts is a quite evocative collage of heartfelt correspondence in poetry and prose ranging from the intimate to the light and lyrical. Among the hundred contributors are not only professors and professional writers but accomplished women from all over the U.S., Africa and the Caribbean, and representing virtually every walk of life, including teachers, students, a psychiatrist, a nurse, a violinist, a vocalist, an entrepreneur, a dancer, a genealogist, a social worker, a consultant and a country club president, to name a few."

Cornel West - The Hope on a Tightrope Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/cornel_west.htm

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 2, 1953, Princeton Professor Cornel Ronald West is one of America's most gifted and provocative public intellectuals. He is the author of Race Matters, a seminal classic credited with changing the course of the country's dialogue about justice and equality along the color line. A cultural icon, he is the recipient of the American Book Award as well as more than 20 honorary degrees. Here, Dr. West talks about his new book, Hope on a Tightrope, while weighing in on everything from President-elect Obama to the economy to affirmative action to the controversial notion of a �post-racial� America.

Jamal Woolard - The Notorious Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/jamal_woolard.htm

Like the late Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls, aka Notorious B.I.G., Jamal Woolard was born and raised in Brooklyn. He also raps under an alias, Gravy, and he's even been shot in a drive-by. But Jamal not only survived the attack, but immediately went on the radio for a scheduled interview ay NYC's Hot 97 before getting treatment for his wounds at a nearby hospital. Of equal import is the fact that he's the spitting image of Biggie, which gave him an edge when Fox conducted a nationwide search for someone to play him in its new movie Notorious.

Cadillac Records (2008) - Film Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/cadillac_records.htm

When Lejzor and Fiszel Czyz arrived in the U.S. from Poland in 1928, their parents changed the family surname to �Chess� and started calling their little boys �Leonard� and �Phil.� By the late Forties, the ambitious siblings had already achieved the American Dream, having established themselves in the liquor business while opening up a number of bars in the black community on the South Side of Chicago.

The bulk of the performers booked in their nightclubs were musicians from Mississippi who played the Delta blues. Recognizing the commercial potential of the exploiting the popular genre, the enterprising brothers founded a record company with such promising artists as Muddy Waters, Howlin� Wolf, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson and John Lee Hooker.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/outliers.htm

Why are so many major league baseball players born in the Fall, and so many pro hockey players born during the Winter? What do the Beatles and Bill Gates have in common? Why do Asians generally excel in mathematics? Why isn�t IQ a reliable predictor of achievement?

These are some of the intriguing questions answered in Outliers, the latest examination of human idiosyncrasies by the New Yorker Magazine's Malcolm Gladwell whose previous two books, The Tipping Point and Blink, were both #1 best sellers as well. Gladwell, the son of a British engineer and a Jamaican psychotherapist, has a knack for researching arcane subjects and breaking down his surprising findings into readily-digested layman terms. What's more, he has an engaging writing style which turns the most mundane topic into a fascinating curiosity.

The 10 Worst Films of 2008 by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_10_worst_films_of_2008.htm

Even more fun than fondly looking back on the best films of the year, is the opportunity to compile a list of the worst of the worst. There's no common theme running through these entries, except that they�re each 100% godawful.

As for individual performances, it feels strange not to have a flick from either Cuba Gooding, Jr. or Robin Williams to slam, with those perennial bottom-feeders replaced by a couple of A-list newcomers in Mike Myers and Al Pacino.

However, kudos to Katt Williams for picking up where Stepin� Fethcit left off in First Sunday, this year's winner.

Blacktrospective 2008 - Kam's Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Cinema

2008 will be remembered as a breakout year for African-American women both in front of and behind the camera, with my #1 picks for Best Feature (The Secret Life of Bees), Best Independent (I�m Through with White Girls) and Best Documentary (The Souls of Black Girls) all being directed by sisters. It also marked the emergence of a number of lesser-known actresses like Lia Johnson (I�m Through with White Girls) and Rutina Wesley (How She Move).

While veteran character thespians Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Life of Benjamin Button) and Viola Davis (Doubt) have generated Oscar buzz for their stellar support work, Alicia Keys (The Secret Life of Bees) proved that she has a big future in Hollywood, should she ever opt to shift her focus from music to the big screen. Most of the best black male performances were delivered by the usual suspects, brothers like Jeffrey Wright and Rob Brown, although Evan Ross and Omar Benson Miller proved themselves to be rising stars to be reckoned with.

Isaac and the Bah Family Tree by Adrienne C. Wilson with illustrations by Benton Rudd - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/isaac_and_the_bah_family_tree.htm

Genealogy is a sensitive issue for most African-Americans, given the way that black families were torn apart during slavery. Consequently, it can be very awkward indeed for parents trying to figure out exactly how to respond to a youngster's natural curiosity about his or her roots, when they can only be traced back several generations to somewhere around Emancipation.  Help has arrived in Isaac and the Bah Family Tree, a delightful fairytale by Adrienne C. Wilson sweetly illustrated by Benton Rudd. (Reading level: Ages 9-12)

Michelle Obama: Meet the First Lady - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/meet_the_first_lady.htm

After an overview of her hometown, Chicago, we learn about that Michelle inherited her enviable work ethic from her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson. Her dad spent his entire career with the city's water department, although he was also a precinct captain who helped to get out the vote for the Democratic Party. Her mother was employed as a secretary until she had children and decided to devote herself to her kids full-time.

Michelle only had one sibling, her big brother Craig, an admired role model whose footsteps she would follow to Princeton University. Despite his presence on campus, she apparently still felt �like an outsider,� especially because when she arrived as a freshman �the mother of one of her white roommates rushed to the campus housing office to demand that her daughter be moved immediately.� (Reading level: Ages 9-12)

Company I 366th Infantry by Harold E. Russell, Jr. - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/company_i_366th_infantry.htm

So, at just 17, Harold was shipped out to Fort Dix in New Jersey where, as he describes it, he �was then separated with all the other blacks and sent to an all black unit.� He was assigned to Company I � 366th Regiment of the 92nd Infantry Division, the same so-called Buffalo soldiers, African-American soldiers whose heroic exploits were recently recounted by Spike Lee in the film Miracle at St. Anna.

It's Pimpin' Pimpin' (Kam Williams) - DVD Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/its_pimpin_pimpin.htm

They say there's a thin line between genius and madness, and it's often very hard to tell which side of the line Katt Williams is standing on. I've been so curious about what make's the diminutive comic tick that I've scheduled several interviews with him, each of which he either canceled at the last minute or simply failed to show up for.

Now there are reports that the inspired comic recently underwent psychological testing at the urging of his concerned relatives. I can�t say I�m surprised, given his long being associated with bizarre behavior, such as walking down a red carpet with a noose around his neck at the time that the Jena 6 case was in the news.

Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope by Elizabeth Lightfoot - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/michelle_obama_first_lady_of_hope.htm

Ms. Lightfoot, a Harvard grad who also has a Master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press. Unfortunately, as the author freely admits, she was �been denied access to Michelle and her close friends and family� while doing her research, so it's no surprise that the final text definitely has the secondhand feel of an observer standing at a considerable distance from her subject.

Half of the insights made here sound like the casual observations of your average political junkie or couch potato who followed the campaign closely. The rest is comprised of copious quotes from TV talking heads or ordinary folks who might have had a brief brush with greatness, encountering Michelle in some capacity either in childhood, college or during her professional career.

Steve Harvey Adds Blue Humor Back to His Standup Act

The movie marks the colorful comic's fifth solo special, and the subjects he touches upon here are generally quite topical. He jokes about everything from the female astronaut caught wearing soiled adult diapers after driving 1,000 miles to murder her lover's other girlfriend, to the homely-looking housewives in that polygamous cult located in Texas, women he compares to Aunt Bee of The Andy Griffith Show and Jane Hathaway of The Beverly Hillbillies.

Overall, the blue Steve Harvey rates an A, although this critic would prefer that he leave out the cursing, since he already proved to me that he can be just as funny without four-letter words.  Also read an interview with Steve Harvey as he reflects on the lost of Bernie Mac: http://reviews.aalbc.com/steve_harvey.htm

The Souls of Black Girls - Film Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_souls_of_black_girls.htm

Why have African-American women become so maligned by popular culture that we have a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Karen Hunter, writing a best seller seriously posing the question, �Are black women necessary?� And how has this shocking state of affairs affected the psyches of the sisters of the Hip-Hop Generation shaped during the dominance of gangsta� rap, an age marked by misogyny and an embracing of a European standard of beauty?

These are the questions posed by The Souls of Black Girls, a provocative documentary which suggests that African-American females are suffering from a form of self-image disorder. Produced and directed by Daphne Valerius, this provocative examination of a timely subject features sage contributions from such icons as actresses Regina King, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and others

Choreographing the Folk: The Dance Stagings of Zora Neale Hurston by Anthea Kraut - Book Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/choreographing_the_folk.htm

Most people think of Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) as a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a literary icon fondly remembered as the author of the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. However, many forget that she was also a gifted choreographer whose innovative productions helped transform the landscape of modern dance. Sadly, due to racism, she never received the credit she deserved for her contributions to this then emerging field.

The disrespect she was shown was very similar to the way in which African-American jazz artists were denigrated in their day, while many of the white imitators who arrived in their wake, such as the Gershwins and Tommy Dorsey, were celebrated as cultural geniuses.

Alicia Keys The Secret Life of Bees Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/alicia_keys.htm

Alicia Keys burst on the scene in April of 2001 with the release of the single Fallin� from Songs in A Minor, the critically-acclaimed debut album which launched her meteoric rise. A piano prodigy who studied both jazz and classical composition at the prestigious Professional Performance Arts School of Manhattan, the class valedictorian was admitted to Columbia University at just 16 years of age, but soon took a leave to pursue her musical career. Among the many accolades she's already collected are 11 Grammys, along with multiple American Music, Billboard, Soul Train, Teen Choice, People's Choice, NAACP Image, Rolling Stone Magazine, VH1 and BET Awards.

Columbus Short - The Cadillac Records Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/columbus_short1.htm

Columbus Keith Short Jr. was born on September 19, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri, although his family moved to L.A when he was just 5. Soon thereafter, he started studying acting at a youth theater and began performing before he was a teenager. After graduating from Orange County High School of the Arts, he joined the traveling Broadway production of Stomp. He also appeared on stage in Grease, Bus Stop, Once upon A Mattress, Guys and Dolls and The Wizard of Oz.

Here, Columbus talks about his new movie, Cadillac Records, a musical with an ensemble cast which includes Beyonce�, Cedric the Entertainer, Mos Def, Gabrielle Union, Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Film Review
http://reviews.aalbc.com/the_curious_case_of_benjamin_button.htm

Very loosely based on the classic tale of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a melancholy meditation on love, mortality and loneliness revolving around a baby (Brad Pitt) born old who grows younger over the course of his life. This melancholy parable was adapted by Academy Award-winner Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) who managed to stretch a 14-page short story into a meandering, 167-minute parable of Biblical proportions.

The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
http://aalbc.com/authors/stacy_hawkins_adams.htm

Rachelle Covington has it all. A fabulous home, a handsome and prestigious husband, two beautiful children, and a place in the upper crust that's quite comfortable. But her life is not all it's cracked up to be. When her husband goes away on business trip and the kids are sent off to the grandparents for a month, Rachelle takes up the challenge of a dying friend to start a list of things to do before she dies. She heads back to Jubilant, Texas, to reconnect with her past, her purpose, and herself. But when her ex shows up in town looking very fine and very single, Rachelle must confront feelings she thought she�d long buried. Will she give up everything to recover the past? Or will she find a reason to plan for the future?

The Someday List is an honest look at what makes us who we are and what can throw us off track. Author Stacy Hawkins Adams writes with a voice that is fresh, sincere, and completely real. Her characters jump off the page and into her readers� hearts.

32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609608282/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20

As a young man, Earvin �Magic� Johnson admired his father and other small-town entrepreneurs who created jobs and served as leaders in his Midwestern community. He worked for them, watched them, and his interest in building communities through economic development grew even while his basketball career flourished. His fame as an NBA star gave him access to some of the most successful business leaders in the country. It was Earvin's own entrepreneurial spirit that inspired them to serve as his mentors.

Earvin made the transition from great athlete to greater entrepreneur through hard work and by avidly pursuing opportunities. He recognized that densely populated urban communities were ripe for commercial and residential development. He partnered with major brands like Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, and T.G.I. Friday's to lead a major economic push in these communities. The success of his businesses proved that ethnically diverse urban residents would welcome and support major brands if given the opportunity. Earvin continues to be a leader of urban economic development that provides jobs, goods, and a new spirit of community.

Includes Edward P. Jones, Walter Dean Myers, Stephen L. Carter, ZZ Packer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mat Johnson, Junot D�az

�A treasure trove of discovery�Readers across racial lines will find reason for delight in this debut of what is intended as an annual series.� �Kirkus

�There hasn�t been an anthology of such talented African-American literary figures since Marita Golden�s Gumbo, and the result is a masterful bouquet of literary flowers, some grand, some subtle, but none shrinking�With something for every reader's taste, this is a collection not to be missed.� �Publishers Weekly

�This engaging collection�shows the incredible range of talent and focus of fiction written by African Americans.� �Booklist

breath of life - A Conversation About Black Music
http://www.kalamu.com/bol/

Every week we will post three songs (a classic, a contemporary, and a cover) in downloadable MP3 format. Additionally, the jukebox will include the three featured songs as well as specific songs referenced in our write-ups.  The music will stay up for only one week and then be replaced by a new set.

We encourage comments and feedback. Even though the music will be removed, the write-ups will remain available in the archives�so you can see what you missed even though you won�t be able to hear it.

The Gang and Youth Violence Prevention Symposium
January 29, 2009, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 1200 Myrtle Avenue, Plainfield NJ
http://events.aalbc.com/gang_symposium2.pdf

"Protecting Our Investment", Featuring Award-Winning Author, J.M. Benjamin
Topic Include; Reflections from Former Gang Members, Law Enforcement Perspective

Presented by the Plainfield Public Schools.  For more information contact Rose Davis at rdavis@plainfield.nj.k12.us or at 908-731-4425

The 17th Annual African American Children's Book Fair
http://events.aalbc.com/17th_aa_childrens_book_fair.htm

This years fair will be held at the Community College of Philadelphia (17th and Spring Garden Streets) on Saturday, February 7, 2009, 1:00-3:00PMa. The event is one of the largest and oldest single day event to promote reading and the importance of buying books. Our mantra is "Preserve A Legacy, Buy A Book."

This event is sponsored by The African American Children's Book Project, and is free and open to the public. For more information contact founder, Vanesse J. Lloyd-Sgambati at (215) 877-2012.

National Black Book Festival
May 16-17, 2009 - Houston, Texas - George R. Brown Convention Center
http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/

Author Testimonials
2008 NBBF
"The National Black Book Festival provided a fantastic opportunity to meet fans, connect with book clubs, make new friends, chat with readers and of course, sell lots of books. This is a great venue for both new and established writers to showcase their work."
�Anita Bunkley, Author of Between Goodbyes

"The National Black Book Festival was a hit! I loved the event and hope that Cushcity will continue to showcase national best-selling authors and local writers on the rise."
�Victor McGlothin, Essence Best Selling Author

All About AALBC.com - Promotional Video
http://aalbc.com/aboutus.htm

See AALBC.com in action and learn more about our services and features.