Order of the Seers by Cerece Rennie Murphy

Order of the Seers
by Cerece Rennie Murphy


Order of the Seers poses this question within a story that fuses action, mystery, romance, and adventure in a science fiction novel that keeps you at the edge of your seat.


Part one of the thrilling Order of the Seers trilogy will take you on a journey that fuses action, mystery, romance and adventure in a science fiction novel that keeps you at the edge of your seat.  The story begins with the journey of Liam and Lilith Knight, a brother and sister who are hunted by The Guild, a ruthless world organization that seeks to capture and exploit Lilith’s unique ability as a Seer to envision the future.  Soon after they are forced to leave their home, Lilith and Liam discover that she is not alone. 

Other Seers like Lilith are routinely kidnapped and enslaved by the Guild for the purpose of consolidating wealth and power around the world.  But from within the organization, Marcus Akida, a captured Seer with powerful visioning capabilities, quietly plots his escape and revenge against the Guild with the help of three other Seers and a group of outlaws whose commune in Iowa provides a refuge for them.  When Liam, Lilith and the escaped Seers meet at the commune, they combine their resources and skills to begin rebuilding their lives.

As the escaped Seers recover from the drugs used by the Guild to control them, they learn that their visioning abilities have expanded beyond their former capacity.  Knowing the Guild will continue to pursue them, Marcus, Lilith and the others devise a plan to prevent the Guild from acquiring a pair of Seers whose powers will threaten their own safety.  In the process of executing their plan, they encounter new Seers who are mysteriously drawn to the commune and their cause by an unknown hand. 
In the midst of the Seers’ fight for survival, Liam and Alessandra, one of the Seers who escaped from the Guild with Marcus, struggle to find a way to share their love within the uncertainty and danger of their circumstances.  The book climaxes with a final battle as the escaped Seers return to the Guild’s US headquarters in Chicago and mount an attack and rescue mission that ends with heartbreaking sacrifices and shocking revelations.

Throughout the course of the series, Order of the Seers explores the strength of familial ties, the conflict between personal freedoms and the greater good, the limits of human potential and our connection to a higher power as the key to reclaiming the gifts that lie dormant in every human.  Books II and III of the Order of the Seers series will also examine the corrupting nature of power, how to cultivate individual potential in a world that is dependent on hierarchy and the true meaning of leadership. Part II of the series, Order of the Seers: The Red Order, is currently under development.    See the Power Within!



Order of the Seers Book Reviews

"With masterful storytelling and a brilliant plot that holds you in suspense from page-to-page, Order Of The Seers, is a well-written, gripping tale."

Trice Hickman, Bestselling Author of, Playing the Hand You're Dealt

“Order of the Seers is an interesting take to just what our world might be like with people who could see the future, complete with action, romance and thrills that will appeal to science fiction fans of supernatural powers. I look forward to reading the sequel to see what happens next.”
– S.J. Wist, Author of The Dragon Aster Trilogy


Excerpt Chapter 4: Run

As they cleared the restaurant doorway, Liam took in their familiar surroundings, looking for an escape route. Every corner of Chinatown was dense with colors, people, hot food carts, vendors, and a million other things he’d barely registered when he entered the restaurant twenty minutes ago. Liam and Lilli had come all this way, 4,458 miles total, and the Guild had finally found them. The two men who had come to destroy what was left of the Knight family were less than fifteen feet away.

In his peripheral vision, Liam could see the excitement growing on Jason’s face as he and Miguel remained locked in their stare, assessing each other as prey and hunter. Miguel knew enough not to underestimate Liam. Without any real experience, this young man had managed to elude or kill everyone they had sent to find them. In the course of his pursuit, Miguel had learned that Liam had become an exceptional marksman, with advanced training in weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. Liam looked at Miguel with all the bravado of a young man ready to be tested and determined not to lose. If Miguel didn’t know his own strengths, he might have been intimidated, but the emotion just wasn’t in him. Liam was a boy; Miguel was a killer. In Miguel’s mind, there was no comparison.

Feeling confident, Miguel finally broke Liam’s gaze to assess the girl holding his hand. He noted with appreciation that Lilli had grown-up significantly from the pig-tailed photos he and Jason were able to piece together. Though her body had remained small and somewhat boyish for a girl of fifteen years, she had lost most of the plumpness in her cheeks. Her features had become sharper, but still lovely. Her hazel eyes were lighter than the pictures told. Wider, he thought, and hardened from a combination of time and loss. The dye that covered her long, naturally dirty blonde hair in shades of hot pink and pale yellow, along with the multiple rings and cuffs she sported on her hands and wrists suited her, he thought, in a punk-rock kind of way. Though he assumed she was afraid, he noted with curiosity that she was not holding her brother’s hand as tightly as he would have expected and that disturbed him. She’s only fifteen. Can she see the outcome? He wondered as he took in the lack of tension in her face. She feels safe, even now.

What they didn’t know was that she hadn’t seen them coming, couldn’t see a damn thing beyond her brother out of the corner of her eye. But she didn’t need to see more than him to know that this was the safest place that she could be. Whatever happened to them now, they would be together. They would either escape and survive, or fight and die. She would not be taken away from the only family she had left.  Liam’s grip was light and gentle as their fingers intertwined. They had practiced this. As soon as his pinky moved down the inside of her own, she knew what that meant. Run, Lilli. Run left.

“Now!” Liam shouted as he cinched Lilli’s hand tightly and sprinted left into the crowd. As they ran into the opening that Liam had been looking for, he could feel Lilli already beginning to lag behind. Though her heart and mind were willing, trying to keep up with him, her feet were slow, her legs incapable of matching his speed. As they cut right into the farmer’s market, Liam risked a glance behind him.  He could feel panic spreading through his chest as he realized that if they kept their current pace, they would be caught within seconds.

( Continued... )

Find out what happens next!  Get your copy of Order of the Seers on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and ibooks.


© 2012 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Cerece Rennie Murphy.  This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.

Order of the Seers by Cerece Rennie Murphy
Genre: Fiction; Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-0985621001

Purchase from Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Order-Seers-Cerece-Rennie-Murphy/dp/0985621001


 

Intimate Conversation with Cerece Rennie Murphy

Order of the Seers Trilogy
by Cerece Rennie Murphy




What would you do if you held
infinite power in the palm of your hand?


Thank you for sharing in the excitement of the upcoming release of The Red Order.  As the sequel to the topselling sci-fi thriller Order of the Seers, The Red Order gives you everything you would expect – heart-pounding action, a layered, sci-fi mystery, nail-biting suspense and yes, even a little romance.  The stakes are high as our favorite characters and couples return to fight for the freedom of all those who have the gift of seeing the future.  The next installment in the Order of the Seers trilogy will be released in June, 2013, but you don’t have to wait to get a sneak peek. 
Click on this link to read the first 2 chapters of The Red Order for free and then head over to the “Buy the Book” page to pre-order your signed copy today!
Intimate Conversation with  Cerece Rennie Murphy




BPM:  Tell us about yourself, your family and how you began writing.  Did you write as a young person or in college?
My mother tells me that when I was a little girl, I would always ask for a book rather than a toy when I went to the store, but up until two years ago, I never considered that I could write a novel. As a lifelong lover of stories (bedtime and otherwise), I have enjoyed literary fiction and movies as a window into other worlds, perspectives and experiences.
Though I have written poetry since I was twelve years old, in my professional life my writing has focused on program design, evaluation and fundraising for community-based and international non-profits. Having grown up in what other people considered a “bad neighborhood”, economic development in poor communities is something I am very passionate about.  The first creative endeavor I ever wrote that was longer than two pages was an eight-page fan fiction piece for The X-files. It took me ten years before another awesome series (The Twilight Saga) inspired me to try my first short story, Spirit to Flesh. Two months after I finished that story, an image of a man named Marcus who could see the future flashed though my mind. Shortly after, I began to research and write what is now Order of the Seers.
I am currently a full-time mother of two children, a wife, and a part-time writer. In addition to completing the Order of the Seers trilogy, I have two other projects that are in varying stages of development: a children’s book series entitled Enchanted World: 5 tales of Magic in the Everyday and a book on understanding marriage/relationship advice for single women entitled More than the Ring.

BPM:  Do you have anyone in your life that was heavily influential in your deciding to become an author?
When I first mentioned the story idea for Order of the Seers to my friend and mentor, Trice Hickman, she said “That’s a book, Cerece! You are writing a book!”  I was very skeptical.  Up until that point, I had never written a full length story based solely on my own ideas and I wasn’t at all sure that I could do it.  But she never doubted me.  That was my first step into a larger vision for this story, but it wasn’t until I was halfway through writing the book that I thought…maybe, maybe I could be an author.

BPM:  Introduce us to your book, Order of the Seers and the main characters. What makes each one special? Do you have any favorites?  
Order of the Seers is a sci-fi novel about a group of people called Seers who are enslaved and exploited for their extraordinary ability to see the future and how they ultimately gain their freedom, and in so doing, change the world.  At its core the book is about unearthing your true purpose in life, not the one that is assigned to you, but the one you discover for yourself.  There’s a lot of sci-fi stuff that I think is cool, but at its heart, that is what Order of the Seers is about.

Now to the characters…Oh!  I love these characters so much and the extraordinary journey that they have taken me on.  It’s a privilege to be able to bring them forward into the world.  The story opens with Lilli and Liam Knight, a brother and sister who love each other fiercely through some pretty terrible experiences.  Watching them evolve and grow in their understanding of themselves and what their purpose is was really excited.  I love Liam’s courage so much throughout this book.  And Lilli - watching her become a woman in full possession of her power just blew me away.

Alessandra Pino is another character whom I love. She is such a dichotomy of vulnerability and iron strength.  To know the type of horror that she experiences and still stand upright is really something to be admired.  But my favorite character is Marcus Akida.  He is who I want to be when I grow up.  Powerful, humble, kind, smart, but open to learning and above all grateful for everything there is to be grateful for.  Yeah, he’s my hero.

BPM:What topics does your latest book address?  Why?
CRM: Order of the Seers addresses the fundamental question of why we are here and what our true potential and purpose is using the powerful (and fun) backdrop of a science fiction thriller.  It’s an edge of your seat adventure that (hopefully) makes you questions a few assumptions about yourself and the world around you.  I personally believe that understanding and fulfilling your purpose in life is the ultimate quest for any human being.

BPM:  What makes Order of the Seers unique?
What makes Order of the Seers distinctive within the science fiction genre is its exploration of the intersection between science and spirituality as it relates to understanding the evolution of human potential.

BPM:  What inspired you to write this book?  Does your faith or education inspire your writing?
You know, really, I consider this book a gift from God.  I was never supposed to be a story writer.  I’ve written poetry most of my life, but until 2 years ago, I NEVER thought I could write a full length story.  So yes, writing this story and the process of putting it out to the world has been nothing but an act of faith for me.  When I look at the themes in this book, I realize that many of them spring from questions that I have had my whole life.  Questions like why are we really here?  What is our purpose?  What is the full extent of my potential?  What was I made for? There are a lot of those questions in this book, as in many science fiction novels, which is why I love the genre.

BPM:  Are any scenes from the book borrowed from your world or your experiences?
Yes.  I love to travel and I love accents.  Many of the places, nationalities and languages that are featured in Order of the Seers and the sequel, which I am writing now, are borrowed from my own exposure to different places and languages.

BPM:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
If I could inspire readers to look at themselves and their own potential more openly that would be huge.  I think the best books and movies lead you to question your assumptions about the world.  I would love to have some small part in doing that.

BPM:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. How may our readers follow you online?
Thanks for asking!  Right now I am finishing the sequel to Order of the Seers called The Red Order.  I can’t wait to finish writing it and see how everything unfolds!  After that I have the final book in the Order of the Seers trilogy to write, plus a children’s book series called Enchanted.  After that I have a book on marriage advice that I am really looking forward to delving into.  So it’s going to be busy for awhile, but each one of these stories is precious to me, so I can’t wait to see them all grown up and out in the world.  If you would like to know more, please visit my website at www.crmurphybooks.com where you can sign up for exclusive outtakes and previews for upcoming books or follow me on Twitter @cerecermurphy.  I also have a CRMurphy author page on Facebook.  Hope to see you there!

BPM:  Thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself, your journey and your book with our readers!

Order of the Seers by Cerece Rennie Murphy
Genre: Fiction; Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-0985621001
Twitter: @cerecermurphy
Website:  www.crmurphybooks.com
Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/CRMurphy/356404784423476




Imani's First Book Discussion of 2013 with Isabel Wilkerson

Imani's First Book Discussion of 2013 with Isabel Wilkerson


Imani Literary Group hosted guest author Isabel Wilkerson to discuss The Warmth of Other Suns on Saturday, February 2nd--what a wonderful way to begin 2013!  If you haven't read this insightful study, do so!

In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America.

Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves.

With stunning historical detail, Wilkerson tells this story through the lives of three unique individuals: Ida Mae Gladney, who in 1937 left sharecropping and prejudice in Mississippi for Chicago, where she achieved quiet blue-collar success and, in old age, voted for Barack Obama when he ran for an Illinois Senate seat; sharp and quick-tempered George Starling, who in 1945 fled Florida for Harlem, where he endangered his job fighting for civil rights, saw his family fall, and finally found peace in God; and Robert Foster, who left Louisiana in 1953 to pursue a medical career, the personal physician to Ray Charles as part of a glittering successful medical career, which allowed him to purchase a grand home where he often threw exuberant parties.

Wilkerson brilliantly captures their first treacherous and exhausting cross-country trips by car and train and their new lives in colonies that grew into ghettos, as well as how they changed these cities with southern food, faith, and culture and improved them with discipline, drive, and hard work.

Both a riveting microcosm and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and riveting work, a superb account of an “unrecognized immigration” within our own land. Through the breadth of its narrative, the beauty of the writing, the depth of its research, and the fullness of the people and lives portrayed herein, this book is destined to become a classic. (From the publisher.)

We had a great meeting yesterday--what a way to begin 2013!  Thank you Isabel for joining us--great seeing you again.  Charlotte--thanks for being a perfect hostess--the food was amazing, as always!

Color Me Purple Literary Services
Books Are Precious; Open One!

Website:  http://colormepurpleservices.vpweb.com
Angela Reid on Facebook:  facebook.com/LoverofLyricalbeauty

Angel Reid Reviews The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson


Angel Reid Reviews The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

They did what human beings looking for freedom, throughout history, have often done. They left. (pg 15)--Warmth of Other Suns.


Reading like a great novel, this epic work of history chronicles America’s Great Migration, focusing particularly, but not exclusively on the lives of three participants who migrated from three different areas of the South to three different Northern cities in three different decades: Ida Mae Gladney in 1937, who left Mississippi for Chicago; George Starling in 1945, who left Florida for Harlem; Robert Foster in 1953, who left Louisiana.

Yet there are so many other captivating stories. What is most important about this volume is that it inspires readers to ask our elders to speak of our families’ stories: the whys, the hows, the whens, and the wheres of their leavings. What did they leave behind? What did they take with them? What did they face upon arrival in those northern or western cities? When and why did they return to land of their birth; did they return only to visit or to stay? So many stories, so many stories that we, their descendants need to hear. How ingenious!

Reviewed by Imani Literary Group,  Angela Reid
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

ISBN-10: 0679763880  |    ISBN-13: 978-0679763888



About the Author Isabel Wilkerson
Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson is author of "The Warmth of Other Suns," the New York Times best-seller that tells the true story of three people who made the decision of their lives during the Great Migration, a watershed in American history. The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Heartland Prize for Nonfiction, the Anisfield-Wolf Award for Nonfiction, the Lynton History Prize from Harvard and Columbia universities, the Stephen Ambrose Oral History Prize and was shortlisted for both the Pen-Galbraith Literary Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.

The book was named to more than 30 Best of the Year lists, including The New York Times' 10 Best Books of the Year, Amazon's 5 Best Books of the Year and Best of the Year lists in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Economist, USA Today, The Boston Globe, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, The San Francisco Examiner, Newsday, Salon, The Christian Science Monitor, O Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Entertainment Weekly and over a dozen others. It made national news when President Obama chose the book for summer reading in 2011.

The Great Migration
was one of the biggest under-reported stories of the 20th Century. It lasted from 1915 to 1970, involved six million people and was one of the largest internal migrations in U.S. history. It changed the country, North and South. It brought us John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Toni Morrison, August Wilson, Bill Russell, Motown, Denzel Washington, Michelle Obama -- all children or grandchildren of the Great Migration. It changed the cultural and political landscape of the United States, exerting pressure on the South to change and paving the way toward equal rights for the lowest caste people in the country.

Wilkerson won the Pulitzer Prize for her work as Chicago Bureau Chief of The New York Times in 1994, making her the first black woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first African-American to win for individual reporting. She has appeared on national programs such as "Fresh Air with Terry Gross," "The Charlie Rose Show," "The PBS News Hour," CBS "60 Minutes," NBC "Nightly News," MSNBC's "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell," the BBC and others. She has served as Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University, as Cox Professor of Journalism at Emory University and as Professor of Journalism and Director of Narrative Nonfiction at Boston University.

Follow Isabel Wilkerson on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Isabel-Wilkerson/140162739346559

The Red Order by Cerece Rennie Murphy

The Red Order by Cerece Rennie Murphy

The Quest to Control the Power of the Seers Continues…


After successfully destroying the Guild’s Purification Center in Chicago, The Lost Seers, led by Joel Akida and Lilli Knight, embark upon a world-wide mission to save their kind from the tyranny of the Guild and unveil their greatest weapon – The Restoration Project.  Developed in secret, The Restoration Project has the potential to awaken the supernatural ability within every man, woman, and child on earth and bring down the very foundation of the Guild’s power and authority. 

But the Guild has other plans.  Driven by the necessity for control, Crane Le Dieu creates The Red Order, a new league of clairvoyants whose sole purpose is to hunt down and annihilate the Lost Seers. 

Without the Guild’s mind-controlling drugs, The Red Order is able to develop its gifts far beyond the capacity to see the future, honing their skills to become the ultimate threat against the Lost Seers.  But the question remains – will the power of The Red Order be enough to defeat them?

The Red Order continues the epic battle for freedom which began in Order of the Seers, revealing the secret motives behind an organization that exists to exploit and a renegade movement that seeks to usher in the next phase in human evolution.  

What are you capable of?



Pre-Order Your Copy of The Red Order TODAY!

The Red Order by Cerece Rennie Murphy

Coming to Bookstores June,  2013
Sequel to the amazing sci-fi thriller Order of the Seers
Visit Cerece at her website:  www.crmurphybooks.com


Click on this link to read the first 2 chapters of The Red Order


Join the Facebook Order of the Seers Fan Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Order-Of-The-Seers/205753729546299

Actor and Community Leader LOU MYERS Joins the Ancestors


Lou Myers was so much MORE
than just “Mr. Gaines” from “A Different World”



It is with heavy hearts that we announce that a warrior, humanitarian, actor, father, grandfather and son, Mr.Lou Myers  has passed away. On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 9:00 pm at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division in Charleston WV.  Lou became ill with pneumonia and after battling for months succumbed.

Lou’s family is coping well, his mother  Mrs. Dorothy  Jefferies (age 95), son Melvin Myers and two grandsons Brayden and Christian are grateful for everyone’s well wishes.  As his mother said this morning, “I am well baby, but not good.” This sentiment speaks for our hearts as well.

Lou completed his  fifth appearance  on  Broadway  in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” African American Style.  “Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple” marked Lou Myers fourth Broadway appearance.  He was the only performer in the play the audience recognized and applauded every time he appeared on stage and Lou said that was better than having his name in print. . Lou  is best known as the irascible restaurant owner “Mr. Gaines” on the, hit Television series “A Different World”.  Lou always remembered that he owes his introduction to Hollywood to Bill Cosby.  Lou’s TV credits include: NYPD Blue, EVE, E.R., The Cosby Show, Touched By An Angel, Jag, and The Jamie Fox Show to name a few. 

His movie credits include:  Heirlooms,  “Stains,” Life after incarceration,  Dreams, A Funny Way of Looking At Things The Fighting Temptations, Lakawanna Blues (HBO) Wedding Planner, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Bullworth, Friday After Next, Passions of Darkly Noon (Showtime), Cobb.  Tin Cup, Volcano, Everything’s Jake, The Stand In, All About You, …and Good bye Lover, ” “King Hedley II” represented   Lou Myers’ second appearance in this critically celebrated August Wilson play. 

He won the NAACP “Best Actor” Award and  off-Broadway Audelco “Best Actor” Award   for his role of Stool Pigeon in “King Hedley II.” He was recently awarded the coveted “Living Legend Award” from the National Black Theatre Festival.   Lou first appeared on Broadway with the   Negro Ensemble Company’s production of  “The First Breeze of Summer,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and the Lovable, suit selling, gambling, piano playing, uncle in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize Play, “The Piano Lesson.”    He previously won the off-Broadway Audelco “Best Actor” Award for the tap dancing bodyguard in “Fat Tuesday.”  

Lou also preformed at local New York concert halls, cabarets, night clubs, colleges and universities, Off-Broadway, American Place production of “Do Lord Remember me and a long list of Regional Theatres.   He wrote, produced and co-directed off Broadway his critically acclaimed one man show “Just a Little Bit Something” and his historical play “Foot Steps from Before.”

He was founder and director of the “Tshaka Ensemble Players,” who for eight years, during Black History month, continually performed the historical and educational play “Foot Steps From Before” which was written and produced by Lou.   They also toured in the acclaimed play, “Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar,” set in AFRICA.  He served as the griot and dancer for several dance companies such as the Dinizula Dancers, Drummers and Singers.  He was a regular feature at the New York Museum of Natural History for (8) years. 

Lou was fluent in, French, German, Spanish and some African Dialects.  In 2005, the Appalachian Education Initiative listed Myers as one of fifty "Outstanding Creative Artists" from the State of West Virginia and featured him in their coffee table book Art & Soul.    He began singing Jazz and Blues with the touring company of “Negro Music in Vogue.”   His Cabaret show has been acclaimed in Berlin, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York, as well as Los Angeles at the Roosevelt Hotel..  Lou is Chairman and Chief Enlightenment Officer for Global Business Incubation (501c3) and Chairman of the Lou Myers Scenario Motion Picture Institute/Theatre. 

Lou was a futurist, historian, mentor, lecturer, trainer and has toured Colleges, Universities, and many other venues  performing, storytelling our ancestral history and speaking on panels with professors and business experts around the world about new trends in business and urban community economic development.
 
 LATEST UP DATE.  Funeral arrangements are pending.

 

Tonia McDonald, President
Global Business Incubation, Inc. (GBI)
Bringing our Strengths together to model and simulate the "Corporation of the Future"


   

Shaded By Love by Terry M. Walker

Shaded By Love by Terry M. Walker


Is love enough to keep Shayna Procton and Simón Ortega  together always?  Finding each other turned out to be the easy part.  Staying together is going to be their true test.  Shayna will find herself caught up in a whirlwind of lies and deceptions, as it becomes apparent to her that Simón is not the man she thought he was. 

Yet she can't deny the feelings she has for him.  Will she allow herself to remain in a relationship that isn't good for her?  Or will she listen to her inner voice, the one which is telling her something isn't right?  Maybe the answer would be simple for her if she weren't so...Shaded By Love.

B&N 5-Star Reader Review
Excellent Read - Highly Recommended!

"Shaded by Love" is well written and quite entertaining. The story is filled with action, love, deception, jealously, and manipulation -- the kind of book I love to read!! Even though the main characters Simon and Shayna obviously love each other unconditionally, their relationship is an unhealthy, dysfunctional one. Simon has it all -- he is very handsome, rich and powerful and could have just about any woman he want, but he strongly desires beautiful Shayna. His insecure ways make him appear somewhat monstrous. This helped make the story a great read because his love for Shayna makes him absolutely crazy! We can easily use the term "crazy in love!" His jealous, controlling ways is the very thing that makes Shayna question her love for him. You could feel the love they share with each other even when they are arguing and fighting. This book was very hard to put down. I couldn't get enough of their dysfunctional love. It is an excellent, enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story.


Shaded by Love by Terry M. Walker

Prologue

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2003



As Naldo waited for the arrival of his sworn enemy, he showed his girlfriend how
to work the video camera. “When you’re ready to film, just press this button okay?”
 

“Okay,” she said nervously. “Why do you want to video this anyway, Naldo?
What if the wrong person got hold of the tape somehow? They would be able to use it
against you.”

“I’ve been waiting a long time to bring this young punk down, Mami. He thinks
he can’t be touched, but I’m going to show him that he can. Besides, who’s going to be
gutsy enough to turn in evidence against me, huh?” He tenderly palmed her cheek.

“I’m scared baby. What if he sees me? What should I do then?”

“Keep videoing.” When he saw her worried expression he said, “Don’t worry,
everything’s going to be okay. What is he going to do? There are seven of us against just
one of him.” He chucked her under the chin. “If we include you it would make eight of
us.” He smiled to give her some reassurance. “I need you to hide behind that wall over
there.” He pointed to where he wanted her to go.

“Alright.” Worriedly, she said, “Naldo, please be careful okay? I heard he’s not a
person you would want to go up against.”

“Mamita, you worry too much.” Naldo gave her a kiss on the lips. “Now go hide
yourself and remember to be quiet. If by chance he does take all of us down, which I
seriously doubt, try not to bring attention to yourself by panicking, okay? I don’t want
anything to happen to you.” He kissed her again, and then gently pushed her towards the
hiding place.

The woman made her way over to the hiding spot just before the mystery man
appeared. “Naldo?” The younger man said confused. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s up young blood? Glad you could join us,” Naldo said cheerfully. “I’ve
been waiting a long time to get you alone.”

“Oh damn,” the younger man said under his breath. Immediately, he knew he had
messed up. It was all a lie to get him alone. How did he allow himself to be lured by this
punk ass? He should’ve known that it was a trap right off the bat. But he was told that his
aunt was being held against her will. He tried to reach her numerous times, but she didn’t
answer her phones nor was anyone able to tell him where she was. That caused him more
worry. Whenever the people he loves are in trouble, especially his family, he will risk
anything to save them. He would’ve brought backup. But to be honest, he wasn’t given
much time to round up anyone. Besides, they threatened to harm her if he did.

He looked at the men around him. There were six of them in addition to Naldo.
He knew each of their names…Alex, Antonio, Pedro, Miguel, Sergio, and Emilio. The
seven men had him surrounded with no means of escape. However, he wasn’t afraid nor
was he worried the tiniest of bits. What they don’t realize is that he has studied the
Martial Arts since he was three years old and has earned a solid red belt, the highest rank
there is, in defense. He is a master and unless one of them decides to shoot him, and it
would have to be in the head or his heart because the young man’s body is nothing but a
solid mass of muscles, he will have no problem doing fatal damage to each of them in a
matter of three minutes. That is all the time it will take for him to put them down and
walk away unscathed.

Naldo spoke. “Needless to say, we don't have your aunt. As far as I know, she's
lying around in some dudes bed making his night very special." He laughed at his own
remark. "So what you gonna do now, nigga? You don’t have your boys with you this
time and we out number you seven to one; sounds to me like your ass is finally gonna
meet your maker,” Naldo smirked. The other men snickered and gave each other daps.
Naldo Santiago, a member of one of the younger man's rival families, has always
been a thorn in his side. The Santiago’s have been coveting what his father created…a
colossal empire…since he can remember. Why the hell they think he would just lie down
and allow them to steal what his father and now he has worked so hard to build is beyond
him. Don’t they realize that he is his father’s child? That shit never happened while his
father was alive, and it sure as hell won’t happen while he’s alive either.

The younger man gestured to the men surrounding him. “Well first, I’m going to
snap the necks of all your hoodlum friends.” He hunched his shoulders before saying,

“Sorry fellas. It’s nothing personal. As a matter of fact, if you choose to leave now, I
wouldn't hold it against you. Actually, it would be the wisest decision you ever made.”

Naldo shook his head. “See? That’s why I never liked your ass. And to be
truthful, that’s why no one likes your ass. You’re so damn cocky, man. You walk around
acting like you own the damn world or something…like you’re invincible. But you don’t
own the world, nigga, and you’re most definitely not invincible.”

“Well we both know that this has been a long time coming. So why don’t we just
cut to the chase and get this over with. I have things to do, places to go, people to see.
You hear what I’m saying?”

Naldo turned to his thugs and said, “See how this nigga roll? He cracks me the
hell up. I almost admire the damn man for real…almost.” Naldo faced his nemesis again.

“If things were different, we would probably be friends.” He shook his head and said to
his men, “Kill his ass. I’m tired of looking at him.”

The younger man, who stood well over six feet tall, calmly went into a Tachi
Waza (a judo standing position), bending his knees and relaxing his arms and hands. He
did this so that he will be positioned to react fast to his attackers’ assaults. He quickly
glanced at his watch. The time is now ten thirty-five. This shouldn’t take long, he thought
to himself.

As the first man came at him, he used both his arms to grab the man and toss him
over his shoulders. The man went crashing into the pavement of the roof, back first. The
sound of his spine cracking was enough to make you cringe. He won’t be getting up.

Two other men came forward to attack the young man. However, before they had
a chance to make contact with him, he grabbed the left side of one of his attackers and
swept the man’s feet from beneath him, causing him to fall to the ground. He threw a
huge fist at the second guy, connecting directly with the center of the man’s throat. He
felt the man’s Adam’s apple crumble. The poor guy grabbed at his neck, trying to gasp
for air before falling to the ground in spasms.

The guy that he had pinned to the ground was trying to free himself of his grasp.
However, he had a very strong grip on him. He turned to the guy and grabbed his head
between the palms of his hands and did a quick, but fatal yank to the right. He was
satisfied when he heard the bones snap. The man now lay lifeless.

From his peripheral view, he could see that another man aimed a gun his way. He
grabbed the lifeless body of the man he had just killed and shielded himself from the rain
of bullets that flew at him. He threw the lifeless body towards the man shooting at him,
catching the man off guard. He then moved at lightning speed to apprehend the gun,
which he used to shoot his assailant in the head. When he turned to the two remaining
goons, they both tried to run. But they didn’t run fast enough. He put a bullet through the
back of each mans’ skull and watched in satisfaction as they both fell to the ground
simultaneously. Six down, one to go.

The man turned to face his nemesis, Naldo. He always knew it would come to
this. As a matter of fact, he’s glad this day is finally here. Now he can get rid of this
nigga once and for all.

“And then there were two,” the younger man stated.

“Soon there’s going to be just one,” Naldo responded. That’s when the younger
man noticed the gun in his hand. Naldo already had it aimed and cocked.

“You ain’t lying about that brotha. Only one of us will be left standing. I can
assure you, it won’t be you.” The younger man smiled with cocky certainty.

“I can say this much about you, young blood. Your ass is cocky until the very
end.”

Naldo pulled the trigger and two shots rang out. He watched as his longtime
enemy fell to the ground face down. Naldo walked over to him cautiously. Everyone who
knows this bastard also knows that he is a sneaky son of a bitch. He kicked at the younger
man’s leg but he didn’t budge. Naldo let out a deep chuckle. Finally, someone has bested
the head of this rival family and that someone is him! He can’t wait to tell the other
families. This will make him the big man. Hell yeah! He is the man, damn it!

Naldo felt a powerful blow to his knee cap right before he crumbled to the ground
in excruciating pain. “Aaaaaaah, shit!” He yelled out. “What the fuck?” Naldo looked up
to find the younger man now hovering over him. “Oh shit!” He hurriedly aimed to shoot,
but the other man snatched the gun out of his grasp. How the hell did he move that fast?
Why isn’t he dead? Naldo knows he shot the damn man. He had to have…didn’t he? Yet,
Naldo saw no blood anywhere on the younger man’s body. All he saw was his murderous
stare.

Naldo tried to stand, but the pain was too unbearable. So he began to crawl away
as quickly as possible. Of course there was no use. The next thing Naldo knew, he was
being lifted off the ground and carried over to the edge of the roof. “Oh shit man! What
the fuck are you doing?”

The younger man never answered. When he got to the edge of the building, he
tossed Naldo over it like a sack of potatoes. All that could be heard was Naldo’s frantic
screams as he fell thirty stories to his eventual death. The young man waited for the
screams to end and then suddenly there were no more. He smirked at the quietness of the
night.

Turning to the other men scattered around the rooftop, he shook his head. They
should’ve left when he gave them the chance. Moving away from the wall, he walked
over to where Naldo dropped his gun and lifted it from the ground. The younger man
then proceeded to put a bullet through the heads of each man lying around. He had to
make certain they were all dead. The last thing he needed was for one of them to try and
get back at him or his family in retaliation.

Once he was convinced that neither of them will ever breathe again, he decided to
head home. As he walked to the door leading to the stairs, he glanced down at his watch.
Damn! Five minutes...that took longer than he thought it would. It doesn't matter. Today
was a good day.

The woman covered her mouth as tears rolled down her eyes. Oh my God! He
killed them. He killed every last one of them. She wanted to scream, but was too afraid
that the man would come after her next. It took all that she had not to yell out in panic
when she saw him toss Naldo over the roof. But she remembered Naldo’s last words to
her, “Don’t panic.” Fortunately, she got it all on tape and will be taking it straight to
Naldo’s father. Mr. Santiago is going to want that man’s blood for this. There is no doubt
that he will make that bastard pay for what he did to her Naldo!

(  Story Continues...  )


Copyright © 2012 by Terry M. Walker. All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author.  This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


About the Author
Terry M. Walker
was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she still resides in the city of Upper Marlboro. She is a devoted Christian, wife, mother and grandmother.  Her favorite hobby has always been reading.  She loves a good novel and would lie on the sofa reading for hours at a time.

Terry has lived with a vivid imagination all her life.  As a child, she would write short stories during her leisure and read them to her siblings.  When people began to realize Terry’s talent for creative writing, they would ask that she compose poems, essays and speeches for their personal use.  This eventually sent her on a quest to write her very own novel which turned into a series of three books.  It became a proud moment for her as she set out to make her novels known to the world.  With the help of an old high school friend, one who happened to be in the publishing business, Terry watched as her dream of becoming an author unfolded.  From that moment, a whole new world was opened to her.

While Terry enjoys bringing characters to life on paper, she also loves spending time with her family and friends.  It is their love and support that has encouraged her to embark on this new endeavor of writing.  And with the love and support of her growing fans, Terry looks forward to taking her readers on a joyous ride of mischief, adventure, and drama.  But most importantly, she plans to lead them on an exciting journey of LOVE!


Twitter link:  https://twitter.com/TerryMWalker
Facebook link:  https://www.facebook.com/TerryMicheleWalker
Booksellers:  www.barnesandnoble.com  and  www.amazon.com
 

Still Not Satisfied by SA Brown


Still Not Satisfied by SA Brown


Christian Goodman loves the ladies. So when an old girlfriend calls, it’s game on—until her play forces Chris to the sidelines. While there, his grandmother and best friend lose faith in him. With no one left, Chris turns to a psychiatrist and finds Dr. Devin Rainey in her own struggle.

Chris enters her life only to serve as a reminder of what she is missing, thus, creating tension between the two. She fights to remain professional but personal needs blur the lines. In the end, Chris turns to an unlikely ally as he learns why he is Still Not Satisfied.


Excerpt from Still Not Satisfied

Chapter 1  A Bumpy Night


Moonlight illuminated the room as Chris stumbled into his bathroom. He admired his silhouette as he walked past the mirror. Even his muscular frame was sexy in the darkness. Chris’ self-admiration was interrupted when he noticed a small figure reflecting in the corner of the mirror. His mind had always played tricks on him, and lately the occurrence had been more consistent. As always, when he looked over his shoulder, nothing was there. This time would be no different.

When he returned to his bed, he found himself alone. His lady friend had dressed and left without making a sound, but she left a note on his nightstand.

We really should stop this.

Chris chuckled. “That’s what you said the last time and the time before that.”

Chris spoke as if talking to her. He crumpled the note and lay back on his poster bed. Deep down, he knew she was right. As he stared into space, he hoped he would sleep peacefully this night. Just one night without the dream. Please, just one night.

Christian James Goodman was the epitome of a beautiful African-American man. Standing at six-foot-two and 220 pounds, Chris defined sexy. His chiseled body and broad physique got him a lot of attention from the ladies. His warm smile and mocha color added to his style. His hazel eyes simply perpetuated his swagger while his strong baritone voice made the women yearn with desire. Yes, Chris had several physical attributes that men would pay money for and the confidence to put them to use.

( Continues...  )

© 2012 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author.  This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


About the Author
SA Brown
is a writer in every sense of the word. This literary journey started as a contributing author for Sugar and Spice: Anthology for the Grown and Sexy. Now it includes scripts for film and the stage. A short story, In The Dark, will be featured in Zane’s upcoming anthology.   With hopes of inspiring, encouraging, and entertaining readers with compelling characters and thought-provoking story lines, SA's biggest desire is that everyone learns a life lesson every time they walk away from any of the stories.  The first solo effort, Still Not Satisfied, chronicles the journey of someone who might have to lose everything to gain anything. Stop by www.sabentertainment.com to learn more about SA Brown.


Still Not Satisfied by SA Brown
ISBN-10: 0984745505
ISBN-13: 978-0984745500
http://www.amazon.com/S.-A.-Brown/e/B004GY4D7M
http://www.amazon.com/Still-Not-Satisfied-ebook/dp/B00A9N9E0A
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/still-not-satisfied-s-a-brown/1029686289
 
YOU COULD RECEIVE THIS BOOK TO REVIEW!  Repost this material on your Facebook page or re-Tweet the link. The first 5 people to host the author on their blog, Facebook pages or websites will receive review copies of the book. Email Ella Curry with the link to your post to be entered in the drawing for weekly book giveaways!

Submit your posts here: EDC Creations Blog Tours, email - edc_dg at yahoo.com Leave comments below to be randomly entered into a drawing to receive this book as a gift. US residents only can receive book in the mail. Must be 19 to enter. Void where prohibited. Winners are announced weekly on the Black Pearls Magazine Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BlackPearlsMag

Excerpt from Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe

Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Prequel to the Upper Room

If you are a fan of Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, you will love Mama Ruby and the writings of Mary Monroe!

New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe presents an unforgettable tale featuring Mama Ruby, the indomitable heroine of her acclaimed novel The Upper Room. Now readers will get a peek into Ruby’s early years, as she transforms from a spoiled small-town girl into one of the South’s most notorious and volatile women…

Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw is the kind of girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. By the time she’s fifteen, Ruby has developed a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Most everyone in the neighborhood knows you don’t cross Ruby. Only Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands what makes Ruby tick.

When Ruby discovers she’s in the family way, she’s scared for the first time in her life. After hiding her growing belly with baggy dresses, Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella’s house. With few choices, Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away and with the help of a shocking revelation, convinces Ruby to run off with her to New Orleans.

But nothing can erase Ruby’s memories of the child she lost or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. If there’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare, Ruby is surely treading it. Because someday, there will be a reckoning. And when it comes, Othella will learn the hard way that no one knows how to exact revenge quite like Ruby Jean Upshaw!


Excerpt from Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe


How did Ruby and Othella Mae come to be who they are today? Find out in the exciting prequel to The Upper Room. There’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare…but there will be a reckoning....


Introduction to Mama Ruby Prequel to The Upper Room

Originally published in 1985, Mary Monroe's engaging debut novel, The Upper Room, features Ruby Montgomery, an obese, indomitable character who steals her best friend's baby daughter and flees to rural Florida, where she establishes herself as an almost mythical figure. The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston. The Upper Room by Mary Monroe is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.


~ Shreveport, Louisiana, 1934 ~

Nobody ever had to tell Ruby Jean Upshaw that she was special, but she heard it from every member of her family, her father’s congregation, her classmates, and even the people in her neighborhood almost every day. She was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. To some black folks, that was a very high position on the food chain. It meant that she had mystical abilities usually associated with Biblical icons. But as a child, Ruby didn’t care one way or the other about being “special” like that.

She balked when people insisted that she’d eventually have “healing hands” and the ability to “predict the future” like other seventh daughters of seventh daughters. But Ruby didn’t care about healing anybody, that was God’s job, and those snake oil salesmen who rolled through town from time to time. And she certainly didn’t want to be telling anybody what the future held for them. Because if it was something bad, they didn’t need to know, and she didn’t want to know.

The bottom line was, and she’d told a lot of people this when they brought it up, she didn’t want those responsibilities. The last thing she needed cluttering up her life was a bunch of superstitious people taking up her time, and drawing unwanted attention to her. Just being the daughter of a preacher was enough of a burden.

And since Ruby was the youngest member of the Upshaw family, her parents watched her like a hawk, and tried to monitor and control most of her activities. “Why do I have to go to church every Sunday?” she asked her mother one Sunday morning when she was just eight. “I want to have some fun!”

“You go to church because you are supposed to, gal. How would it look to the rest of your Papa’s congregation if his own daughter don’t come to church?” Ida replied, giving Ruby a stern look. “Don’t you want to be saved?”

“Saved from what, Mama?” Ruby questioned, looking out of the living room window at the kids across the street building a tent in their front yard.

“Saved from the world, worldly ways. This planet is full of all kinds of pitfalls out there waitin’ on a girl like you. Drinkin’. Men with more lust in their heads than brain matter. Violence. Loud music and sleazy outfits that would shock a harlot,” Ida answered.

Ruby already knew all of that. From what she’d been able to determine; it was a lot more fun to be “worldly” than it was to be the way her parents wanted her to be.  “I want to have some fun like the rest of the kids!” she pouted, knowing that she faced a no-win situation. Her parents’ minds were as nimble as concrete. Once they laid down the rules for Ruby, there were no exceptions.

“You can still have fun and keep yourself virtuous,” her father insisted. “Me and Mother ain’t makin’ you do nothin’ we didn’t make your sisters do, and look how well they all turned out.”

Ruby pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Before they got married, all six of her older sisters snuck out of the house at night, drank alcohol, slept with men, and wore clothes that would shock a harlot. That was the life that Ruby thought she wanted, and she had already started on the journey that would lead her to a life of fun and frivolity. And as far as violence, she wondered what her over bearing, but naïve, parents would say if they knew that she was already carrying a switchblade in her sock.

Ruby made good grades in school and she had a lot of friends, but it was hard for her to maintain both. She didn’t like to study, and she didn’t like having to attend that run down school four blocks from her house. Those activities took up too much of her time. She appreciated the fact that her classmates and playmates were at her beck and call, not because they liked her, but because they feared her. They all knew about that switchblade she carried in her sock, and they all knew that she was not afraid to use it. She was the most feared eight-year-old in the state.

(continued)


© 2011 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author and the publisher, Kensington Publishing Group. This excerpt has been adapted for Internet viewing. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


About the Author
Mary Monroe is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling God series, which includes God Don’t Like Ugly and God Ain’t Blind. Mary Monroe is the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of her family to finish high school. One of her proudest moments was when she became a winner of the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award.

She is currently celebrating the release of Mama Ruby, the prequel to the Upper Room, the book that started it all. She still writes seven days a week and gets most of her ideas from current events, and the people around her, but most of her material is autobiographical.

Mary Monroe currently lives in Oakland, California. She is divorced, loves to travel, loves to mingle with other authors, and she'll read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson.  Author website: http://www.marymonroe.org/



Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Hardcover: 336 pages

ISBN-10: 0758238614
ISBN-13: 978-0758238610

Purchase from Black Expressions


Download to NOOK Book (eBook)


Download to KINDLE

African American Cancer Resources



African American  Cancer Resources
Forward this email to all of your friends today! 
Sisters Network® Inc. is committed to increasing local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. Join the fight here: http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/history.html

Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI) is a leading voice and only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. Sisters Network is governed by an elected Board of Directors and assisted by an appointed medical advisory committee. Membership is 3000, which includes more than 40 affiliate survivor run chapters nationwide.

The organization's purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country.  As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, Sisters Network is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women.

See the chapters:  http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/affiliatechapters.html


African-American Breast Cancer Alliance

The African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc (AABCA) is dedicated to building and sharing awareness, connections, education, resources and support for African American/Black women, men, families and communities affected by breast cancer.  Founded in October 1990 by Linda Finney, Brenda Anderson, Theresa Davis, Mamie Singleton, Reona Berry, Elaine Elliott, Sylvia Beamon, Bea McFadden, Carol Fitzgerald (d) and Norma Collins (d).


AABCA
is committed to spreading the word about breast cancer to Black women that have the highest mortality rate in the US, to promote the benefits of early detection and treatment. AABCA provides emotional and social support for breast cancer patients and survivors along with culturally specific information to help them have better rehabilitation experiences as they cope with this disease.

Know Your Facts...Your Action Plan

Keeping Focus In Hard Times by Elder Paulette Harper Johnson


Keeping Focus In Hard Times
by Elder Paulette Harper Johnson  

 

"Distractions are designed to derail us, to sidetrack us, and to redirect our attention-ultimately causing us to miss our mark.   Distractions can create the illusion of being important issues, but in reality they aren't? they're merely illusions. A distraction can be anything from a previous issue resurfacing to perhaps an old boyfriend, girlfriend or business acquaintance fighting to recapture your focus. Have you ever experienced a former acquaintance calling you from out of nowhere? These kinds of distractions can trigger an emotional imbalance, causing you to entertain thoughts that are far from the truth. Distractions will take your focus from what God is doing, causing confusion."

Excerpt from "Completely Whole"

We are all guilty of allowing distractions to get our attention, especially in hard times. In times of great pressure, life's challenges, and difficulties is sometimes more of a task to stay committed and focused on your goals, visions, and dreams. It is a guarantee that everyone will face some type of storm, test, or trial. I have been challenged many times, particularly when I have believed God was telling me to do something. The moment I took a step of faith and acted on the Word, all opposing forces began to surface. People not only questioned me, but I begin to question, "Had I really heard from the Lord?" What looked impossible to the naked eye was in reality an opportunity for God to show up! Have you been there? Distractions will come; dream killers will arise; and vision haters will try to discourage you.

Nehemiah faced the same opposition when he decided to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem.

"And said to the king, Let the king live forever! Why should I not be sad faced when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste, and its [fortified] gates are consumed by fire?"

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard this, it distressed them exceedingly that a man had come to inquire for and require the good and prosperity of the Israelites.

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for the good work (Nehemiah 2:3, 10, 18).

Just as Nehemiah spoke to Sanballat, Horonite, and Tobiah by declaring and decreeing what God was going to do, so shall you do the same. Continue building and stay committed to what God has placed in your Spirit. When God has called you to do something large, expect opposition, haters, and those who will try to get you to come off the wall. Stay focused and continue to plant, write, sow, preach, and build for surely what God has called you to do shall be completed! May what others say push and drive you to succeed.

Elder Paulette Harper Johnson
is a speaker, mentor and the author of Completely Whole and That Was Then, This Is Now. She serves in ministry with her husband, Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson, at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton and North Port FL.

© 2012 Paulette Harper Johnson. Find out more about her ministry visit: http://pauletteharper.com  

Working Mothers Enjoy Second Chance in Returning to School

Working Mothers Enjoy Second Chance in
Returning to School

   
Summary: Examine steps to assist working mothers who want to return to school.

Karen continues to work at two full-time jobs to care for her three children. As a single mother, she found little help from her family. Therefore, she acted as an independent woman, needing no one's assistance. She realized that if she wanted to improve the quality of her family's lives, she would need additional education. Yet, the more she thought about taking the first steps, the more excuses she would make for not taking action. Several days later, she found out several of her co-workers were laid off. She knew she would be next. She needed to make her move: Now or never. 

Economic troubles make career planning more difficult. Since November 2009, America has lost 7.2 million jobs, with the unemployment rate topping 10%. Companies have shed many employees from their payroll. State agencies have had to lay off or furlough workers.

Millions of Americans are now waiting longer for food stamps, unemployment checks, and disability payments. Margaret Simms of the Urban Institute notes, "The length of the recession clearly has put a strain on the resources that states bring to bear." Therefore, our lives continue to unravel as things we depend on disintegrate before our eyes. This article shares practical advice for working women in their transition to higher education.

Today's women comprise more than half of the labor force. According to the U.S. Labor Bureau, mothers with children from 6 to 17 years of age are more likely to participate in the labor force than mothers with children under 6 years of age. Furthermore, unmarried mothers have higher participation rates than married mothers.  Working mothers need practical, proven methods if they are to make a successful transition to college life. Yet, many working women find various obstacles that prevent them from reaching their dreams. Noriko Iwanaga Chapman, a Japan native, is a working professional with over 16 years' experience in the automobile industry.

As a young, single-parent Baby Boomer, Chapman understands the demands of caring for elderly parents and raising a young family. Chapman was preparing to enter graduate school when she encountered a severe obstacle. Chapman notes, "In 2009, when being diagnosed with cancer, I was devastated by the life-threatening disease and unknown future. A year later I have survived and gained my health back for a second chance of my life." Overcoming the health challenge, she was able to start graduate school at Lincoln Memorial University while balancing work and family life.

Her first book, Second Chance, fully utilizes Chapman's "can do" attitude to assist others in her community. Likewise, the correct strategies can help encourage a working mother who is straddling the fence when considering returning to school. 

She provides the following advice for working mothers: (a) check out the latest college scholarship books at your library, such as Peterson's Scholarship, (b) remove or limit negative people from influencing your personal decisions related to your goals, (c) build a positive support group that can assist you with the demanding lifestyle of returning to school with children, (d) get a good grasp on how you will finance your education by talking with financial aid officers, applying for grants and scholarships, or borrowing the money from non-traditional sources such as local community groups in your area, and (e) join a group that shares your values and beliefs in order to build your network.

With such a weak job growth outlook, many working adults are looking to sharpen their skills in order to be more competitive. Women comprise a large share of the labor force and an increasing proportion of those who are returning to universities and colleges. Yet, the hectic lifestyles of most working mothers stop them from pursuing this career strategy. Going back to school can provide the mechanism to assist them in improving the quality of their lives. Therefore, taking the right steps in this transition is critical for working mothers so they can be successful.

© 2012 by Daryl D. Green

About Dr. Daryl Green:
Dr. Daryl Green provides motivation, guidance, and training for leaders at critical ages and stages of their development. He has over 20 years of management experience and has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to www.nuleadership.com  or www.darylgreen.org.

 

Top Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing by Gwen Richardson


Top Ten Reasons Why African American Bookstores Are Closing by Gwen Richardson

1. Book sales migrated to the Internet
Most Black bookstores failed to take advantage of this trend. According to WebPro News, books are the #1 item people purchase online. Other brick-and-mortar chains, such as Blockbuster, also were flanked by their online competition, so this trend is not exclusive to bookstores.

2. Price competition
The advent of Internet sales ushered deep discounting on books. Because large online sites like, Amazon and Wal-Mart, are able to take advantage of volume discounts, Black bookstores could not match these discounted prices and, if they tried to, they were unable to maintain profitability.

3. Failure to diversify
With the advent of price competition and Internet book sales, diversification into other product lines was the only way Black bookstores stood a chance of maintaining viability. Most did not make this adjustment fast enough and some didn't make it at all.

4. African American sections added to stores like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, WaldenBooks and Borders

Black consumers urged the major chains to include African American sections in their stores. Once this occurred, most Black consumers flocked to these stores for their purchases and kicked the Black bookstores to the curb. (See reason #5)

[  READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ON  AALBC.com  ]

Ella Curry Featured on Book Look

 
ELLA CURRY WAS FEATURED ON:  The Book Look,  Season 2, Episode 1, January 2013



The Book Look is back for Season 2 with new authors, celebrities and contributors! In Episode 1, host Monda Webb and contributors Kwame Alexander and Charisse Carney-Nunes cover Nicole Sconiers' Escape from Beckyville and Walter Mosley's The Gift of Fire while hearing from Rev. Bernice King on the new book about her mother, Desert Rose: The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King.


Several emerging authors are put on BLAST (Book Look Author SpotlighT) including Trice Hickman, Stephany Greene and Jaunique Sealey; the AALBC Bestsellers List is presented; and EDC Creations', Ella Curry is recognized for her ongoing contributions to the world of African American literature.

Charisse Carney-Nunes is the award-winning author of several children’s books including, I Am Barack Obama, I Dream For You A World, and Nappy. She is also a literary advocate, and the Executive Producer of The Book Look a webseries airing here on AALBC.com

The Book Look Social:   http://thebooklook.com
Join us on The Book Look – your online TV source for celebrating books and events relevant to the African American community.

BOOKS FEATURED ON BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE JAN-FEB 2013


BOOKS FEATURED ON BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE
JAN-FEB  2013


 




When Baldwin Loved Brenden by Electa Rome Parks
 http://www.audioacrobat.com/note/Cp7yk5z4

Don't Tell a Soul by Tiffany L. Warren
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/index3.html

God Don't Make No Mistakes by Mary Monroe
http://amzn.com/0758238649

Groove by Geneva Holliday
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/groove-geneva-holliday/1100267741

Taste of Insanity by Morenike'
http://www.amazon.com/Taste-Insanity-Morenike/dp/0988861518

Lost Daughters by Mary Monroe

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-daughters-mary-monroe/1113122645

A House Divided by Kimberla Lawson Roby
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-house-divided-kimberla-lawson-roby/1112412053

When Memories Fade by Tyora Moody
http://www.amazon.com/When-Memories-Fade-Victory-Gospel/dp/160162753X

Somewhere Between Here and There by Jason Gilmore
http://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Between-There-Jason-Gilmore/dp/147821225X

Drop Dead, Gorgeous by J.D. Mason
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drop-dead-gorgeous-j-d-mason/1111298301

Playing the Hand You’re Dealt by Trice Hickman
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-the-hand-youre-dealt-trice-hickman/1020575885

The Eleventh Commandment by Lutishia Lovely
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-eleventh-commandment-lutishia-lovely/1111674219

Get You Good by Rhonda Bowen
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/get-you-good-rhonda-bowen/1112034926

Reality Check by Kelli London
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reality-check-kelli-london/1111399759

Breaking all My Rules by Trice Hickman
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-all-my-rules-trice-hickman/1111674623

Gangsta Divas by De’Neisha Diamond
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gangsta-divas-denesha-diamond/1110623658

Forces of Nature by Cheris Hodges

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forces-of-nature-cheris-hodges/1112772713

Hollywood High: Get Ready for War  by Ni-Ni Simone
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/get-ready-for-war-ni-ni-simone/1112034924

Rumor Central by Reshonda Tate Billingsley
http://www.amazon.com/Rumor-Central-ReShonda-Tate-Billingsley/dp/0758289510



Sweet 16 to Life by Kimberly Reid
http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Life-Langdon-Prep-ebook/dp/B009AY3X9M

My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kimberly-reid

Me and Mr. Right Now by Terri D.
http://www.amazon.com/Me-Mr-Right-Now-ebook/dp/B00A9X93J2

Anointed by Patricia Haley (Christian Fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/Anointed-Patricia-Haley/dp/1601627335

Red Dollar by Andrea Clinton
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Dollar-1-ebook/dp/B008U94PLS

 A Blessing and a Curse by Andrea Clinton
http://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Curse-Knows-Bounds-ebook/dp/B007RU67IA

Land of Promiscuity by Sherryle Kiser Jackson
http://www.amazon.com/Promiscuity-Urban-Christian-Sherryle-Jackson/dp/160162736X

Flames of Attraction by Brenda Jackson
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flames-of-attraction-brenda-jackson/1112815414

All I Ever Wanted by Francis Ray
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-i-ever-wanted-francis-ray/1112126544

Haven Creek by Rochelle Alers
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/haven-creek-rochelle-alers/1112061422

The Perfect Marriage by Kimberla Lawson Roby
http://www.kimroby.com/bookshelf_theperfectmarriage.php

The Abbey by Chris Culver
The Outsider by Chris Culver

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/chris-culver

The Ex-Wife by Candice Dow
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ex-wife-candice-dow/1110607914

The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-woman-he-loved-before-dorothy-koomson/1103907032

Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman--90,000 Lives Changed by Dr. Hawa Abdi
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-hope-alive-hawa-abdi/1112434993

Villa Triste by Lucretia Grindle
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-villa-triste-lucretia-grindle/1104285941

The House Girl: A Novel by Tara Conklin
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-house-girl-tara-conklin/1111397993

Calling Me Home: A Novel by Julie Kibler
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/calling-me-home-julie-kibler/1111298419

The Man in 3B by Carl Weber
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-man-in-3b-carl-weber/1110621153

The Rich Girls' Club by HoneyB
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rich-girls-club-honeyb/1106244286

Mistress, Inc.  by Niobia Bryant
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mistress-inc-niobia-bryant/1106568195

Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sister-mine-nalo-hopkinson/1112412040

Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skin-folk-nalo-hopkinson/1100305916

The Middlesteins: A Novel by Jami Attenberg
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-middlesteins-jami-attenberg/1104863099

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-twelve-tribes-of-hattie-ayana-mathis/1108073035

Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina by Raquel Cepeda
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bird-of-paradise-raquel-cepeda/1112483560

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-teaspoon-of-earth-and-sea-dina-nayeri/1112223018

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mr-penumbras-24-hour-bookstore-robin-sloan/1108946314

What He's Been Missing by Grace Octavia
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-hes-been-missing-grace-octavia/1107955864

Sinning & Sanctified by Amy Warren-Patterson
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinning-sanctified-amy-warren-patterson/1114112715

Dirty DNA by BlaQue
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Street-Chronicles-Presents-ebook/dp/B00A86AZ7O

Black Diamond 3 by Brittani Williams-Moore
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-3-Brittani-Williams/dp/1601625243

Still Not Satisfied by SA Brown
http://www.amazon.com/S.-A.-Brown/e/B004GY4D7M

Just Make Him Beautiful by Mike Warren
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1934230650

And You Call Yourself a Christian by E. N. Joy
http://www.amazon.com/Call-Yourself-Christian-Still-Divas/dp/1601628218

The Perfect Christian by E. N. Joy
http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Christian-Still-Divas/dp/1601628374
Joylynn M. Jossel-Ross now writing as Author E. N. Joy

Five Days of Darkness by J.J. Michael
Amazon:   http://amzn.to/T2UirL

A Blessing and a Curse by Andrea Clinton
http://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Curse-Knows-Bounds-ebook/dp/B007RU67IA

When Baldwin Loved Brenden by Electa Rome Parks 

http://www.amazon.com/Baldwin-Loved-Brenden-Electa-Parks/dp/1601623763