2009 EDC Creations Bookcovers of the Year

EDC Creations 2009 Bookcovers of the Year




Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the Best Bookcovers of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing and book cover design. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.




1. Tananarive Due- Blood Colony

2. Stacy Hawkins Adams - Jubilant Soul Series

3. Korika L. Johnson- Joy Comes in the Mourning

4. Smiley Books- America I AM Legends

5. T. Styles- The Face That Launched A Thousand Bullets

6. Tiphani- Millionaire Mistress Series

7. Azarel- Carbon Copy

8. Kevin Powell - The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life

9. Pamela Samuels Young- Buying Time

10. Tomi Akinyanmi- A Worthy Legacy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Best Books 2009: General Fiction,Thrillers,Paranormal




EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009: On the Shoulders of Giants

Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the On the Shoulders of Giants, Best Books of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. We have previewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Please note some of these books may have been published in 2008, but we read them in 2009.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!


Best Books 2009: On the Shoulders of Giants —General Fiction/Thrillers/Paranormal
EDC Creations Books of the Year 2009




1. Who Is He to You by Monique Mensah

2. Waking with Enemies by Eric Jerome Dickey

3. No Mercy by Lori Armstrong

4. Wildflowers by Lyah B. LeFlore

5. Heads Deacon, Tails Devil by P.J. McCalla

6. Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young

7. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

8. B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras

9. Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

10. That Devil's No Friend of Mine by J.D. Mason

11. In Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice

12. The Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Baszile

13. Hold Love Strong by Matthew Aaron Goodman

14. In Her Mind by Renee Daniel Flagler

15. Unsigned Hype: A Novel by Booker T. Mattison

16. Not Guilty of Love by Pat Simmons

17. A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi

18. Say It Ain't So by La Jill Hunt

19. Consequences by Linda Herman

20. Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young

Best Books of 2009: Our Relationships, Sisterhood, Romance, Women's Fiction




EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009: How We Love

Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the How We Love, Best Books of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. We have previewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Please note some of these books may have been published in 2008, but we read them in 2009.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!


Best Books 2009: How We Love—Our Relationships, Sisterhood, Romance, Women's Fiction
EDC Creations Books of the Year 2009


1. The Color of Jazzymne by Marian L. Thomas

2. One Night with You by Francis Ray

3. Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris

4. Ashes, Ashes They All Fall Down by Anita Ballard Jones

5. Body by Night by Zuri Day

6. Temptation and Lies by Donna Hill

7. Westmoreland's Way by Brenda Jackson

8. Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

9. Homewrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph

10. A Change Had To Come by Gwynne Forster

11. The Fulani Girls by Margaret D. Pagan

12. Infidelity by Devon Scott

13. Keeping Secrets, Telling Lies by Trice Hickman

14. Loving Simone by Jessica Tilles

15. Sizzling Seduction by Gwyneth Bolton

16. Prize of a Lifetime by Donna Hill

17. The Buzz by Stefanie Newell

18. Hostage Of Lies by Maxine Thompson

19. Songs of Deliverance by Marilynn Griffith

20. Friends & Fauxs by Tracie Howard

Best Books of 2009: Non-fiction,Spiritual,Motivational,Poetry




EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009: Black Pearls Motivation


Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the Black Pearls Motivation, Best Books of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. We have previewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Please note some of these books may have been published in 2008, but we read them in 2009.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!


Best Books 2009: Black Pearls Motivation —Non-fiction/Spiritual/Motivational/Poetry
EDC Creations Books of the Year 2009



1. Living Check to Monday by Lynn Richardson

2. Hope on a Tightrope by Cornel West

3. Black Pain by Terrie M. Williams

4. Bicycles: Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni

5. Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith by Jewell R. Powell

6. The Conversation by Hill Harper

7. Family Affair by Gil L. Robertson, IV

8. No Matter What by Lisa Nichols

9. A Purse of Your Own by Deborah Owens

10. The Resurrection of Me by Tonya Blount

11. The Love Ethic by Kamau and Akilah Butler

12. Scared Silent by Mildred Muhammad

13. A Question of Freedom by R. Dwayne Betts

14. Ruby's Diary: Reflections on All I've Lost and Gained by Ruby Gettinger

15. A New Conversation with Men by Michael Taylor

16. Raising Boys to be Like Jesus by Sharon Norris Elliott

17. Never Make the Same Mistake Twice by Nene Leakes and Denene Millner

18. The Survival Bible by Jihad

19. Wisdom for Women of Worth and Worship by Natalie A. Francisco, ED.D

20. On The Line by Serena Williams

Best Books 2009: Christian Fiction,Faith-based,Our Experiences




EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009: Black Pearls Soul


Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the Black Pearls Soul, Best Books of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. We have previewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Please note some of these books may have been published in 2008, but we read them in 2009.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!


Best Books 2009: Black Pearls Soul—Christian Fiction/ Faith-based /Our Experiences
EDC Creations Books of the Year 2009





1. A Deep Dark Secret by Kimberla Lawson Roby

2. Practicing What You Preach by Vanessa Davis Griggs

3. Heaven Right Here by Lutishia Lovely

4. Worth a Thousand Words by Stacy Hawkins Adams

5. Beautiful Ugly by Shelia E. Lipsey

6. Forsaken by Vanessa Miller

7. Mom's the Word by Marilynn Griffith

8. The Devil Is a Lie by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

9. Par for the Curse by Toyi Ward

10. Sins of the Father by Angela Benson

11. The Ideal Wife by Jacquelin Thomas

12. Family Pictures by Rachel Berry

13. The List by Sherri Lewis

14. The Last Woman Standing by Tia McCollors

15. The Bishop's Daughter by Tiffany L. Warren

16. Journey to Jordan by Donna Deloney

17. Behind the Seen by Phyllis Kennedy Brown

18. The Manual by Sherryle K. Jackson

19. Lady Jasmine by Victoria Christopher Murray

20. The Soul of a Man by Peace in the Storm

21. Somebody Sinning in My Bed by Pat G'Orge Walker

22. Abraham's Well by Sharon Ewell Foster

23. Somewhat Saved by Pat G'Orge Walker

24. Keep Your Enemies Closer  by Sharon Oliver

25. Sex In The Sanctuary by Lutishia Lovely (reprint)

Best Books of 2009: Erotica,Urban Lit,Gay Lit,Alternate Lifestyles





EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009: Black Pearls Passions

Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the Black Pearls Passions-Best Books of 2009. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to feature to the world.

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve, they float just under the radar. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. We have previewed all of the books below and these are just a few of the magnificent books we love. Please note some of these books may have been published in 2008, but we read them in 2009.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!


Best Books 2009: Black Pearls Passions—Erotica/Urban Lit./Gay Lit/Alternate Lifestyles
EDC Creations Books of the Year 2009



1. Erotic City by Pynk

2. Diary of a Stalker by Electa Rome Parks

3. Consequences by Skyy

4. Stained Cotton by Quentin Carter

5. Section 8 by Kwan

6. Millionaire Mistress 3 by Tiphani

7. The Reason Why by Vickie M. Stringer

8. Too Much of a Good Thing Ain't Bad by Clarence Nero

9. Lies of Blue by Lynne Forde

10. Karma by Tash Hawthorne

11. Good Girl Gone Bad by Danette Majette

12. Ready to Male by Lamar Ariel

13. Alibi by Terri Woods

14. Shyt List 2 by Reign

15. ICE by Will "Half &Half" Robbins

16. Carbon Copy by Azarel

17. Sexcapades by HoneyB

18. The Highest Price for Passion by Laurinda Brown

19. Pitbulls In A Skirt 2 by Mikal Malone

20. California Connection 2 by Chunichi

EDC Creations 100 Adult Power Reads of the Decade




EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks 2009:  100 Adult Power Reads of the Decade

Ella Curry and EDC Creations is proud to announce the 100 Best Books of the Decade. Each book created an impact for readers and the Sankofa Literary Society network. Our literary hallmarks indicate excellence in writing. These are the books we want to showcase to the world.

Readers please take a moment and examine the list below. There is something for all book lovers! The books are NOT listed in any order pertaining to the quality of the literature—they are all 4-5 star reads. Each book on this list will bring something of value to enrich the lives of the readers and to help to strengthen our future generations. ENJOY!




100 Adult Power Reads of the Decade: 2000-2009


1. America I AM Legends by Smiley Books

2. Audacity of Hope by President Barack Obama

3. Mandela: The Authorized Portrait by PQ Publishers Ltd

4. Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul by Jack Canfield and Lisa Nichols

5. The Covenant with Black America by Tavis Smiley

6. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

7. You Must Set Forth at Dawn by Wole Soyinka


8. Jewels: 50 Phenomenal Black Women Over 50 by Michael Cunningham and Connie Briscoe

9. Coming Together by Harriette Cole

10. Like Trees Walking by Ravi Howard

11. Tropical Fish: Tales From Entebbe by Doreen Baingana

12. Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington

13. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted: A Memoir by E. Lynn Harris

14. Down the Aisle in Style by Chamein Canton

15. May December Souls by Marissa Monteilh

16. The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier

17. Friends: A Love Story by Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance

18. What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage

19. The Baron Son by William R. Patterson

20. Reallionaire by Farrah Gray

21. Girl Get Your Credit Straight by Glinda Bridgeforth

22. Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes

23. Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson

24. All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward P. Jones

25. The Senator and The Socialite by Lawrence Otis Graham

26. Life is Short But Wide by J. California Cooper

27. Criss Cross by Evie Rhodes

28. Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell

29. Man of Fantasy by Rochelle Alers

30. This Bitter Earth by Bernice L. McFadden

31. Not Easily Broken by T.D. Jakes

32. Cruisin' On Desperation by Pat G'Orge-Walker

33. Big Spankable Asses by Kimberly Kaye Terry

34. Gettin' Buck Wild: Sex Chronicles II by Zane

35. Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones

36. Unconditionally Single by Mary B. Morrison

37. Casanegra by Blair Underwood

38. The Aftermath by Anna J.

39. Them by Nathan McCall

40. Diary of a Mistress by Miasha

41. Growing Up Girl by Michelle Sewell

42. The Hand I Fan With by Tina Mcelroy Ansa

43. Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden

44. A Taste Of Sin by Fiona Zedde

45. Passin' by Karen E. Quinones Miller

46. Living, Breathing Lies by Gloria Mallette

47. Thong on Fire: An Urban Erotic Tale by Noire

48. Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes

49. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

50. Nina's Got A Secret by Brian W. Smith

51. Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones

52. Open My Eyes, Open My Soul by Yolanda King and Elodia Tate

53. Girl Get Your Child Support by Cathy Middleton

54. Seasons by Bonnie Hopkins

55. The Just Us Girls by Evelyn 'Slim' Lambright

56. Child of God by Lolita Files

57. Can't Get Enough by Connie Briscoe

58. Joplin's Ghost by Tananarive Due

59. Gather Together in My Name by Tracy Price-Thompson

60. Casting The First Stone by Kimberla Lawson Roby

61. The Darkest Child: A Novel by Delores Phillips

62. I Say a Little Prayer by E. Lynn Harris

63. Baby Brother's Blues by Pearl Cleage

64. The Living Blood by Tananarive Due

65. Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins

66. Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

67. My Sister's Ex: A Novel by Cydney Rax

68. Fifth Born by Zelda Lockhart

69. Divorcing the Devil by Dwan Abrams

70. What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel by Deberry and Grant

71. I Know I've Been Changed by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

72. Watercolored Pearls: A Novel by Stacy Hawkins Adams

73. She Ain't The One by Mary B. Morrison

74. Something On The Side by Carl Weber

75. Dutch by Teri Woods and Kwame Teague

76. Black and Ugly by T. Styles

77. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

78. The Blacker the Berry by Lena Matthews

79. Gonna Lay Down My Burdens by Mary Monroe

80. Sexual Healing by Jill Nelson

81. A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry McMillan

82. The Hotel Alleluia by Lucinda Roy

83. Victoria's Secret by Jason Poole

84. The Prisoner's Wife by Asha Bandele

85. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley

86. Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys by Jawanza Kunjufu

87. Cream by by Solomon Jones

88. Little Ghetto Girl by Danielle Santiago

89. Gutter: A Novel by K'wan

90. No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week by Nina Foxx

91. A New Kind of Blue by Bettye Griffin

92. Dubious by Tina Brooks McKinney

93. Maneater by Mary B. Morrison and Noire

94. Sweets: Soul Food Desserts and Memories by Patty Pinner

95. On The Run With Love by J. M. Benjamin

96. In Cahootz by Quentin Carter

97. Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley

98. Gabriel's Story by David Anthony Durham

99. Right Side of the Wrong Bed by Frederick Smith

100. Just Us Girls: The Contemporary African American Young Adult Novel by Wendy Rountree

Intimate Conversations with author Valencia Campbell

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




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


»Black Pearls Magazine Book Spotlight
Advice from the Top: What Minority Women Say About Their Career Success

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


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


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



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

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


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


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

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

Order from Amazon:
ISBN-10: 0313358583

ISBN-13: 978-0313358586

Advice from the Top: What Minority Women Say About Their Career Success


Advice from the Top: What Minority Women Say About Their Career Success

»» Listen to the audio book preview

»Advice from the Top by author Valencia Campbell offers tips and advice to minority women and others wondering what it takes to succeed in careers in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. To gain the insights, Valencia Campbell reviewed research on career success. Then she interviewed fourteen extraordinary minority women, all of whom shared stories about the path to the top of their fields. They include millionaire business owners like Cathy Hughes and Eunice Dudley, nonprofit executive Jane Smith, former White House staffer Zina Pierre, and television anchor Andrea Roane. But this book goes beyond the usual superficial profile of women achievers. Rather, it shares their views on what constitutes success, the factors they consider important to their success, the obstacles they encountered and overcame, and what women can do today to get ahead.

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



» Praise for Advice from the Top

“You’ve made it possible for many women to benefit from the experience of other women. Because so many of us are so busy just trying to keep our heads above water, we don’t often take the time to share what we know—and what a pity! Sharing is how we women can progress and be in a position to bring other women along. Thank your for caring enough to share this information on so many smart, wonderful, and successful women.”--- Rev. Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. Chair National Congress of Black Women


“By sharing the stories of fifteen successful women of color, Valencia Campbell helps remove myths and mystery from the concept of success, and grounds it squarely in the context of gender, race and class realities. This is a useful examination for all of us.” --- Ellen Bravo, former director, 9to5, National Association of Working Women


“Valencia Campbell has given the nation a very thoughtful examination of the workplaces successes of some of today’s top minority women achievers. Their stories will surely inspire you to set your goals high, as they recount the obstacles they have had to overcome to succeed. I encourage you to consider a diverse set of career choices, like the ones presented here—and I might add, the Congress of the United States. We need you in the House and the Senate too. The sacrifices of such civil rights activists as Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Dr. Dorothy Height, C. Delores Tucker and many women before them demand that you take your seat at the table.” --- Congresswoman Diane E. Watson, Ph.D.


“This book is well grounded in research (theory) and practice with the personal stories of dynamic working women that transverse many careers. There is something in this book for any woman who has an interest in advancing her career.” --- The Honorable Judge Mary Terrell, Retired D.C. Superior Court Judge


“I am sure this book will be informative and beneficial to all who read it, especially young people entering the workforce and beginning their careers.” ---Former Maryland State Delegate Obie Patterson


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

Order from Amazon by clicking here.
ISBN-10: 0313358583
ISBN-13: 978-0313358586




» Meet the Author
Valencia is a consultant on educational topics and women’s issues Her completed projects include those for the Baltimore Public School System, National Science Foundation, National Congress of Black Women and the National Council of Negro Women. She has taught sociology courses at Howard University and Bowie State University.

Her many awards include: Governor’s Citation for Work on the Improvement of the Status of Women, Woman of the Year for Southern Prince George’s Business and Professional Women, WHUR Hometown Hero Award, 9to5 National Association of Working Women Awards and a Presidential Appointment to the United Service Organization World Board of Governors from 2006-2008. Valencia holds a Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Sociology from Howard University and B.A. in Sociology from Virginia State University. Website: http://www.advicefromtopwomen.com/ ; Email: valenciacampbell2003@yahoo.com

Living, Breathing Lies by Gloria Mallette

Living, Breathing Lies by Gloria Mallette
ISBN-10: 0967878926  |  ISBN-13: 9780967878928


Breathe a lie, live a lie. That's what Nadirah Lewis learns when she uncovers the stunning lie she was forced to live for seventeen years. Nadirah was twelve years old when she was blamed for crippling her Aunt Stephanie. Guilt and her trust fund kept Nadirah a prisoner in Stephanie's home and the object of Stephanie's cruel tongue, but it took another vicious lie and a threat to Nadirah's career as a teacher to infuse her with the energy to fight back.

Nadirah's fight, however, is not just for herself. It is also for one of her young students, Bree Morrison. When Bree is hospitalized after drinking a near fatal dose of poison, Nadirah petitions the Administration for Child Services for guardianship. Bree's mother has inexplicably disappeared, and what Bree won't say is what Nadirah needs to hear before Bree's aunt Erma, a she-devil on wheels, wins the custody battle.

Erma, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Austin Gray, Nadirah's handsome new landlord, and close friend of Lynn, Nadirah's cousin, lets Nadirah know in no uncertain terms that she will never get Bree or her husband. But what unforgivable lie does Erma live that could stop her cold yet devastate all around her?

And Lynn, as well put together and as orderly as her life is, what shameful lie lurks behind her picturesque suburban doors?

While the revelation of many of the lies give Nadirah the courage to find herself, she must accept the fact that those same lies may well destroy the lives of those closest to her. Unveil the shocking, real life truths of Living, Breathing Lies.


Video Introduction for Living, Breathing Lies by Gloria Mallette



National USA Book News, Best Books 2007 Award Winner
National Indie Excellence Awards 2008 Winner --USABookNews.com / Indieexcellence.com


Book Reviews:

"Gloria Mallette is back with Living, Breathing Lies, a tale so rife with drama, lies and schemes, it just might have you taking a second, third, or even fourth look at your life and the people around you to see if what you believe to be true actually is." --- Rawsistaz.com

"Living, Breathing Lies has all of the drama and raw emotion that fans of this author have come to know and live. This novel is another fine example of why Gloria Mallette is one of the master storytellers of our time."
--- Urban-Reviews.com

"LIVING, BREATHING LIES is a powerful character study that focuses in on dysfunctional interrelationships built on fabrications. As the web of lies....begins to unravel one thread at a time, readers will demand more angst family dramas like this tense tale." --- Harriet Klausner

Purchase your copy: Amazon Online, Barnes and Noble or by visiting Gloria's website for a signed copy.


"Powerful and riveting. Gloria Mallette has mastered the art of taking readers on the ride of their lives, leaving them drenched and begging for more." --- Tracy Price-Thompson, 2005 Hurston/Wright Award Winner for Contemporary Fiction.






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

Gloria has been featured in The New York Daily News, USAToday, ToDay’s Black Woman, Upscale Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and The Pocono Record. Gloria also has a featured novella, Come Tomorrow, on the USAToday website.

To her credit, Gloria now has ten published titles including the newly released SASSY, a Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards; Weeping Willows Dance; and Living, Breathing Lies, winner of the National Best Books 2007 Awards and the 2008 Indie Excellence Award.


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

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

EDC Featured Author- Gloria Mallette


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


Gloria has been featured in The New York Daily News, USAToday, ToDay’s Black Woman, Upscale Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and The Pocono Record. Gloria also has a featured novella, Come Tomorrow, on the USAToday website.

To her credit, Gloria now has ten published titles including the newly released SASSY, a Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards; Weeping Willows Dance; and Living, Breathing Lies, winner of the National Best Books 2007 Awards and the 2008 Indie Excellence Award.



Intimate Conversation with Gloria hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations

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

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

Book Review for Sassy:
"[Sassy] is a fascinating psychological drama...." Harriet Klausner, #1 Amazon Reviewer


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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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


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

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


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

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

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

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