Bookclub: Carla Walker President Queens Book Club ATL

Meet Carla Walker President of the Queens Book Club of Atlanta

Queens Book Club of Atlanta was founded in 2006 by a group of friends who shared the love for reading. They felt the need to create a book club called Queens because they knew each woman should recognize the Queen they are.

Queens Book Club was created to reach out to women and come together to discuss and enjoy selective books of the month.

On January 2007, Queens had the first kick-off meeting with guest author Mrs. Tina Brooks McKinney (“All That Drama”) and she became our first honorary member. As of 2009, Queens Book Club is still going strong by the grace of GOD. Queens was fortunate enough to have a chapter formed in Raymond, Mississippi by Adrienne Bailey in 2008. With both chapters we continue to promote importance of reading through each other and our community. Among each other we continue to come together for the love of reading, positive fellowship and sisterhood.


President Biography:  My name is Carla Walker and I have been fortunate to have fallen in love with books at an early age. With a huge passion for reading, I joined one of Atlanta’s biggest book club for five (5) years and became member of the year there in 2004. From there GOD planted a seed in me to start my very own book club and from there Queens Book Club was born! I was blessed to have a couple of friends who decided to take the journey with me.

As of this day, some of those same friends are still a part of the club. They are my backbone when I feel I cannot go on anymore. I’m so bless to have my members because without GOD Queens Book Club will not exist. With all the hard work I continue to put into the club, my members (awesome Queens) came together on our 2007 Christmas gathering and presented me a plaque for all the hard work and dedication. When I think of that moment even to this day, that’s my motivation to keep going and allow Queens Book Club to touch someone and become a part of our circle.


Ella: What is the vision for your organization?
To offer a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, outside of the home and workplace, to, explore many bold, adventurous, and spontaneous interests as a whole. Enjoy the bond of sisterhood and fellowship.


Ella: How important reading is to you?
Reading is so important because you can reach to so many people. Giving someone a book to read can open doors to a new career, friendship and connection can be made; education can take place and so much more. Reading is something a person cannot live without. Knowledge is power.


Ella: Living your best life includes... 
Living your best life includes... knowing and continue to learn and love GOD more, living a healthy and bless life, having wonderful family and friends in my corner, good loving relationship with a mate and just being comfortable and continuous blessings from GOD.


Ella: On your nightstand now:
Right now, on my night stand, “Behind Those Eyes” by TP Carter, “To Good To Be True” by E. Lynn Harris, “Why Men Fear Marriage” by RM Johnson, “Secret Society” by Miasha and so many more.


Ella: Book all readers should own besides the bible:
“Behind Those Eyes” by TP Carter


Ella: Book that changed your life:
“Behind Those Eyes” It just gives you a whole different perspective about love, finding your true mate, relationship and the belief in true love.


Ella: Book you've bought for the cover:
A book called “Taste Like Chicken”


Ella: Favorite couple or quote from a book:
Best couple in a book is from “Red Light Special” detective agent Blessing Shields and Collyn Bazemore.

Favorite quote:
“A true Diva is a woman who knows that life is not about her, but rather the contribution she makes to others around her and the legacy she will leave behind.” - From ‘The Diva Principle’, 2004.


Ella: Book you most want to read AGAIN much slower, to savor:
“Behind Those Eyes” & “The Other Woman”


Ella: Favorite genre, series or sequels:
I like all type of books from romance, urban fiction, mystery, inspirational, self-help and any others that I think will interests me or just to give it a try.


Ella: Your top three authors. Why? 
Top three authors are Eric J. Dickey, RM Johnson and all the authors who are incarcerated. I feel some authors who are incarcerated are telling real true stories and from research they are some of the best writers. Sad they cannot personally meet those who enjoy reading their stories.


Ella: Name three authors you would like to do a phone chat with this year.
TP Carter, Risque and Wahida Clark.


Ella: Share your news or events with us. What's next for your group? 
Our next upcoming event is, preparing Halloween bags for kids at a children’s hospital, making plans for the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas to sponsor a needed family and to volunteer our time feeding the homeless.

Carla Walker, President and Founder
Q.U.E.E.N.S. Book Club of Atlanta
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QueensBookClub

Bookclub: Sharon Haynes of Sisters Sippin’ Tea Literary Group

Meet Sharon Haynes, Tulsa Sisters Sippin’ Tea Literary Group

Ella: Welcome, Sharon Haynes, coordinator for the Sisters Sippin’ Tea Literary Group. It is such a pleasure to have you visit with us and introduce the chapter.


Ella: Tell us about the mission of the literary group.
The Tulsa Chapter of Sisters Sippin’ Tea Literary Group is committed to providing an opportunity for women from all walks of life to come together for a common and primary goal…reading and promoting literacy through our community outreach programs.

Our pledge is to transmit our passion for literary pursuits to future generations.





Ella: Sharon, tell us a few books that you would define as "Literary Hallmarks."
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due


Ella: That is a wonderful selection of books! What do you define as Quality Literature?
Quality Literature encompasses style, characters, plot and the ability for the written words to come to life and embrace you in a way that totally consumes you. We know the characters personally and can visualize the settings and after reading the book we’re wishing for more.  Read more about us here.

Bookclub: Marina Woods President GoodGirlBookClubOnline

Meet  Marina Woods President of  GoodGirlBookClubOnline ™

Marina Woods is a graduate of North Park University in Chicago where she received a B.A. in Communication Arts. With a strong desire to utilize her gifts in writing and speaking, Woods began pursuing her dream of working in Radio/TV. Upon graduation, Woods worked for Clear Channel Radio as a communications coordinator.


Soon after, Woods began seeking the Lord for direction of how best to integrate her creative strengths and passions while working in the media. She began freelancing for various advertising and public relations agencies. Two years later she landed the position of syndicator for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Still feeling unfulfilled spiritually and professionally, Woods again sought the Lord for direction, this time inquiring about her passion for books, her aspiration to have an enlarged territory and a medium to encourage women to spend their leisure time in a rewarding way.


Stepping out on faith, in 1999 Marina Woods founded www.goodgirlbookclubonline.com, the #1 Destination for Today’s Aspiring Woman where she serves as President and Chief Marketing Officer. She is a trailblazer for bringing Christian and inspirational books to a national audience when Christian books were unheard of and unpopular.


To her credit she has inspired hundreds of writers to become Christian and inspirational author’s and countless others begin ventures publicizing Christian and inspirational books.GoodGirlBookClubOnline™  is featured in Publisher’s Weekly, the Seattle Times, Essence Magazine; Black Issues Book Review, Precious Times Magazine, the Literary Source, Saints Mega paper, Good News Magazine, Gospel Today and Missionary Magazine. Woods has also been a guest on numerous radio and TV talk shows promoting GGBC.

The website: www.Goodgirlbookclubonline.com reaches over 125,000 aspiring women worldwide whereby helping women discover Christian books, products, ministries, events and resources that will inspire and empower.

During her 11 year career as a Christian book promoter and marketing specialist, Marina has worked with the national bestsellers such as Michelle McKinney Hammond, Patricia Haley, Victoria Christopher Murray, Joyce Meyer, Sharon Ewell Foster, and also helped launch the careers of new authors such as Mikasenoja, Kim Floyd and many more.


In addition, Marina Woods is an internet development and marketing coach with iMarketingPR.com which coaches women on starting, marketing and sustaining online ventures. Woods’ corporate mission and ministry are the same  "to inspire, empower and transform the lives of women."

She is a highly sought after speaker for women’s groups, organizations, colleges and universities on the topics of marketing, advertising and PR, and has been featured in several books including Refined by Fire: Defining Moments of Powerful Women and Inspired Attraction with international marketing expert and guru, Joe Vitale.

Marina volunteers as a communications workshop leader for the Girl Scouts of Chicago and a writing coach for College Summit. Visit the GGBC site for more details: http://www.goodgirlbookclubonline.com/

Bookclub: Diana Glasgow President Essence of Books

Meet Diana Glasgow President of Essence of Books Club

Diana Glasgow founded the Essence Of  Books book club in March 1997, due to her love of books. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA  where she attended elementary, middle and high school. Mother of two daughters and a granddaughter. Board of directors for a local mentoring youth foundation and full time job skills training specialist for a major utility company.

The Essence of Books book club was founded in March 1997 by Diana Glasgow. Diana has been an avid reader since a teenager, her first genre of books were romance novels. After years of reading alone, the decision was made to form a book club. Flyers and phone calls went out to all friends and family to attend the first book club of Essence.

Fifty ladies showed up to the meeting and we laughed and talked for hours, needless to say this was not the making of a good book club so the next meeting was more structured and geared towards only the serious readers. We have had 11-15 active members for more than 12 years.


What is the vision for your organization?
Our vision is to promote good books written by us for us. We pride ourselves on having a safe zone at the book club meetings, our motto: what happens at the book club stays at the book club. My vision is to create a sisterhood that far out weighs just a book club. Promoting literacy amongst our young lady readers is extremely important and a goal is to form a young ladies of essence book club for 12-18 year olds. Our vision is to become better each year and have at least one author visit us each year.

Our goal is to read, discuss and reenact the events of the book. Our monthly meetings are held on Friday night where we get together for a fun filled sisterhood night of discussion, debating, eating, drinking and bonding. We have had authors attend our meetings to discuss their books, we have also indulged in a pole dancing experiment when the book we read main character was a stripper. Our members put 110% into their meeting. Each book and theme is scored monthly and hostess of the year and book of the year receives a beautiful crystal plague.

We also end the year with a spectacular Christmas gift exchange and outing to a local restaurant to celebrate another year of books! We travel once a year with a weekend spa getaway, our favorite spa getaways have included Las Vegas , NV and Palm Springs, CA. We have a Vice President, Gina Gray and an event coordinator, Euvon Cox who are extremely important to the operations of the Essence of books book club.


Book all readers should own besides the bible:
The Secret is a book everyone should own, it is an easy guide to help you get on or stay on the right path with your spirituality.


Living your best life includes:
Good books, good conversation, good family and friends, good love and good food and wine!


Name three authors you would like to do a phone chat with this year.
Eric Jerome Dickey
Maya Angelou
Terry McMillan


Book you most want to read AGAIN much slower, to savor.
Satisfy my soul by Colin Channer

Bookclub: Tina Moss President of BLACK P.E.A.R.L.

Tina Moss President of  BLACK   P.E.A.R.L.S.   Book Club

Ella our book club started with just my sister-in-law (Tina Moss) and I talking amongst ourselves. I personally wasn't a reader and just was looking for a hobby that was just for me. I always catered my time to other individuals and one day I said I need to do something for myself. After Tina and I talked about starting the club we invited other ladies (some read all the time and others never did read).

We meet and went over guidelines and protocols...and the fun started from there. I must say from that day forward we have been very devoted ladies; each of us have grown to love, cherish, and respect each other and even the characters in most books.

At this time we have a total of 12 members with the potentials of a new member joining in May. Each of us look forward to our meeting so we can discuss, beat-up, love and rate our monthly selection. It's always interesting to see what other members think about a book.



BLACK  P.E.A.R.L.S. Book Club- Positive Ebonites Admiring Reading Learning and Sharing


Our Purpose: Inspirational Scripture ~ Proverbs 31
Mission Statement:   “Respectable Black Women’s Thoughts Bonding Together”
Inspiring Verse:  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26


Positive Ebonites Admiring Reading Learning and Sharing


P.E.A.R.L.S. believes in how the bible instructs us to be Christian women: faithful, strong, dignified, and compassionate and servants in our immediate and extended family, communities and most importantly the kingdom. We are striving to be ELEGANT Proverbs 31 women. We believe that what comes out of our mouth is what’s in our hearts. Therefore our purpose is to read, fellowship, support, and respect, encourage, laugh, and cry together. We want to be a role model for our young African- American girls. We are striving to teach them the importance of education while we bond our thoughts into our mind, body and soul.

What is the vision for your organization?
To grow in love, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, with one another. To be like the Proverbs 31 woman the Bible speaks of.

Living your best life includes: Reading, Shopping, going to dinner/movie, hanging with the family, going on out-of-town trips

On your nightstand now: Nightly devotion, Everyday Living Bible, Amaryllis, My Mom's daily devotion.

Favorite book when you were a child:Anything with Michael Jackson or Jackson Five

Book all readers should own besides the bible: Act like a Lady, Think like a Man by Steve Harvey

Book that changed your life:God's WORD ~~ The Bible!

Book you've bought for the cover:Wives and Girlfriends by Nishawnda Ellis

Favorite line or couple from a book:My favorite couple: Hunter and Jade in "In Green Pastures"

Favorite genre, series or sequels:
Series/Sequels: "A Man's Worth" and (sequel) Amaryllis by Nikita Nichols
Your top three authors. Why?
Zane.....she keeps it real, Nikita Nichols......I like her style! ummmm....let me think

Name three authors you would like to do a phone chat with this year.
Nikita Nichols---we have already but she's GOOD!
Steve Harvey----Too funny-but I'm enjoying the book! I like!

Bookclub: Readers in Motion President

Meet Kim McRae  President of  Readers in Motion Book Club



Share with us the history of the organization.

Hello, my name is Kim McRae and I am the president of Readers in Motion Book Club. I am a 26 year old nurse and mother. As you can tell I am very busy; however, I have always had a passion for reading. I have tried to start a local book clubs here in Chicago , but it never was successful. It was hard to find individuals that shared the same passion for reading that I hold. I became a member of my favorite author, Wahida Clark’s social network. I felt very comfortable and welcomed. After seeing that everyone on the site had the same enthusiasm for reading that I had, I decided to do an online book club.

The first step for creating the book club was to create a name. We are all busy people; however, we make time throughout our hectic day to read. The name Readers In Motion seemed to fit perfectly Readers in Motion Book Club was established in January 2009. When RIM started we held our monthly online chats at Wahida’s site. In March 2009 RIM launched its own site, www.readersinmotionbookclub.ning.com and with the help of my 2 Vice Presidents, Minah and Misha, we created our MySpace page, which is www.myspace.com/readersinmotion. I enjoy different genres, which range from urban literature to Christian literature. Therefore, I didn’t want to limit the book club to a certain genre. I will admit that urban literature and contemporary fiction is my favorite, along with most of the members.

What is the vision for your organization?

My Vision for the book club is to have a place that readers’ passion is appreciated. RIM is a place where known authors as well as aspiring authors can come and get honest feedback by people that respect their work. We are a family and we want every member to feel welcome and important. We have monthly chats on our featured book, which we collectively chose. I also try to have authors attend the chats if possible. Our past guest is essence best selling author, Wahida Clark, author of the highly anticipated book, Thug Lovin’, which is the fourth addition to her Thug series. Mike Sanders, author of the highly acclaimed book, Thirsty is scheduled to log on for our April 25th chat. Both Wahida and Mike are honorary members. At the end of the day I want RIM to be known as the place where readers, authors, and poets can come and share their excitement for literature.

Favorite book when you were a child: 

My favorite books when I was a child were the American girl Abby series.

Favorite genre, series or sequel:

My favorite genre is Urban Literature; however, contemporary fiction is a close second. My favorite series is Wahida Clark’s Thug Series.

Your top three authors. Why?

My top 3 authors are Carl Weber, Kimberla Lawson Roby, and Wahida Clark. These are my favorite authors because their style of writing is unique. You can read any of their books without their names on it and know that they’re the authors. Their styles can not be duplicated. Their imagination and insight is endless.

Book that you’ve bought for the cover:

The book that I bought for the cover is Keyshia and Clyde by Treasure E. Blues. On the cover was a woman with dark sunglasses and a man that looks like he wants to embrace her but doesn’t know how. It is a great book and I am happy that I got it.

Favorite line or couple from a book:

My favorite couple from a book also came from the novel Keyshia and Clyde by Treasure E. Blues. They had a love for each other that was everlasting and pure. The feelings were palpable while I was reading it.

My favorite Line from a book is “It’s got to be God first or nothing will work long term, whether you like it or not. He will not be ruled by you or moved by your pouting, whining, or acting out”- Tamara’s mother Playing God by Michelle McKinney Hammond

On your nightstand now:

On my nightstand now is Single Husbands by Honey B

Book that changed your life:

The book that changed my life is The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. This was the first urban book that I read. I feel like this book was something that I can relate to as well as learn from. This book really showed me how there is only one “hood” or “ghetto”. They are all the same and we face the same problems. The only thing that changes is the names, address, and weather.

Book all readers should own besides the Bible:

The book that everyone should own besides the bible is The Audacity of Hope by President Barack Obama

Book you most want to read AGAIN much slower, to savor:

Book that I most want to read again and slower so that I can savor it is the Bible.

Name three authors you would like to do a phone chat with this year:

The authors that I would love to have a phone chat with are President Barack Obama, Wahida Clark, and Carl Weber

 

Website: readersinmotionbookclub.ning.com

BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE TOP 20 BOOKCLUBS

We Appreciate the Book Lovers of the World!

EDC Creations, The Sankofa Literary Society and The Black Authors Network are proud to announce the launch of the 2011-2012 "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy. We encourage all readers to purchase books to give as gifts all year long. 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. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives. Let's "Give the Gift of Knowledge" and help to strengthen our future generations!

We would like to honor the men and women who are the force behind the "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign." The featured groups create the foundation of the literary world! They are the people who make bestsellers. Listed below are the bookclubs the SLS voted on as the Top Bookclubs of 2010 based on their community service and dedication to promoting quality literature!


January 2011 Keepsake Bookclub Showcase

Open publication

Click the image to view full screen and click the menu for more options to print or download. Enjoy!




BLACK PEARLS TOP 20 BOOKCLUBS
We are proud to announce our list of 2010 favorite bookclubs. The list below is compiled of book clubs that are serving their community and its authors by helping to increase literacy and the visibility of Black Books.
You can read in-depth interviews with the bookclubs here.

1. Go On Girl! Book Club-31 chapters in 13 states
2. R.A.R.E. (Reading And Rapping Experience)
3. Girlfriends Book Clubs - 7 chapters
4. The Readers Journey Book Club Network
5. Reading Circle of Friends (RCOF)
6. SAGE, Sistahs Acquiring Goals Through Excellence
7. Divine Sister Book Club of Memphis, TN
8. The Pillars Book Club, TX and LA
9. Phenomenal Women Book Club, of New Orleans
10. Alakaye Book Club
11. Book Talk Book Club Atlanta
12. The Black Orchids Book Club, Houston, TX- 21 members
13. 7th Ward Readers, New Orleans -147 members
14. Faith's RN Readers, Washington, DC - 23 members
15. Literary Lunch Bunch (LLB) - ages from 62 to 87 years old
16. The Reading Divas Book Club, Maryland
17. Circle of Color Book Club (COC) Mississippi
18. Only One Key Stroke Away (O.O.S.A.)
19. KC Girlfriends Book Club
20. D.I.V.A.S Divine Book Club NY


Bookclubs are Important!
The words "book club" conjures up visions of middle-aged women gathering to gossip, discuss books and to chat about their ordinary lives over wine and cheese. However, this is far from the truth as organized, independent book clubs of all sorts have recently gained attention across the country. We now have a network of social clubs, youth groups, savings clubs and non-profits as members of The Sankofa Literary Society! Reading is a passion to be proud of and we have a wonderful selections of groups to prove it! If you would like for your group to be interviewed for the next issue of Black Pearls, email Ella Curry here.

We are here to give these groups the recognition they deserve! These clubs have varied goals, but are definitely creating a impact in the publishing industry. The primary focus of this initiative is to advance African American literature and to increase awareness of their voice in the marketplace. Please join me in welcoming the readers, bookclubs and social networks that create bestsellers. View all of the featured bookclub interviews here.     Download the keepsake magazine of the bookclubs here.


Thank you all for supporting the authors who are living their dreams!  Please share this list of awesome readers with your network too. If you are a bookclub on this list, please stop by and share with us your latest news, events and book-of-the-month.  What are you reading now?

Ella Curry, EDC Creations Media Group
Website:   http://www.edc-creations.com/

EDC Creations Reviewer Introduction

Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign

Hello!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the EDC Creations book review team! I would love to add you on the roster as a reviewer. We do not pay our reviewers cash , but we will keep your reading supply up with new releases and will give Amazon Gift Certificates for the reviewers with the most printed reviews per month. I don't require any contracts and you can start and stop at your leisure. However, if we don't get written reviews back within a reasonable time, we will ask why.

This is about unity, expanding our reading selections and just having fun!  The only thing we want from you is to tell at least 10 people about a great book and a written review. You do not have to be a professional writer, just become a reader who wants to express their appreciation for books!


Reviewing Printed Material
Before becoming a reviewer I need to know these things. You can send your answers to the following email address: edc_dg@yahoo.com .

1. Full name, photo, email address, home mailing address and a cellphone number.

2. Favorite genre to read; least favorite genre; will you read ebooks and mass markets?

3. Do you have a Amazon account? Are you willing to provide written reviews?

4. How often, per month, will you be willing to participate?

5. Will you host authors on your blog, website, radio show or social network?

6. Your website or blog address; brief  50 word bio to give you credit for the reviews.


Stay Connected
Please go to the reviewer news site today and sign up for the mobile bookclub, so that we can notify you when new reviewer contests start. We will also notify you of exclusive author interviews and literary games. You will have a chance to enter drawings for great books and gift bags. Sign up here: www.broadtexter.com/blackpearlsmag


Procedures
We will send you books to review monthly. All that we ask is for you to submit the written reviews and answer our 5 questions in relation to the book. After approval of your written review, we ask that you post the reviews to our blog and/or Amazon. Once we mail you the books, we would like a review back within 15 days. If you will email me your home address, we will start sending you books and galleys. The questions will be sent to you via email. You will receive an entire review packet once you agree to come on board as an official EDC Creations Reviewer.


Sharing the Reviews
As a EDC Creations Reviewer, we would love to have you come on the BAN radio show and the conference calls to tell us about your book and any good books that you have read. Our goal is to always introduce our readers to the next great read. Authors, you are welcome to become reviewers too! Tell your network about the books, as well as direct others to where they can buy the book. EDC Creations has a bookstore and most books will be carried for the readers. The Black Pearls Reading Room will also host most of the books.


Digital Book Reviewers
Book-clubs and readers groups, if your book-club members would agree, we would like to add them on as our ebook reviewers and audio book-club. They would read the books on the Nook, Kindle or over the PC as an ebook, then prepare their honest comments about the book. We ask that the digital reviewers answer 5 questions about the book on our Black Pearls blog. We will host weekly live readings from books, the digital reviewers would listen to the call, then blog about it the next day on the Black Pearls Blogs. Free books will be given away quarterly to the digital reviewers based on their contributions. We need the following information:

1. Full name, photo, email address, home mailing address and a cellphone number.

2. Favorite genre to read; least favorite genre; will you read ebooks and mass markets?

3. Do you have a Amazon account? Are you willing to provide written reviews?

4. Will you host authors on your blog, website, radio show or social network?


You can send your answers to the following email address: edc_dg@yahoo.com


Feel free to share this post with as many avid readers as you can.
We need people to host our blog tours, review our books and to join in the Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign!


Warmest regards,
Ella Curry, President of EDC Creations Media
Black Authors Network Radio-Founder
Black Pearls Magazine -Founder
Website: http://www.edc-creations.com/

2010 EDC CREATIONS LITERARY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2010 EDC CREATIONS
LITERARY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

These are the books I personally read during 2010 for our Sankofa Literary Society (SLS) reading challenge. I read a total of 115 books for the year and this is my list of the best books from that group.

The books were submitted for review by the author, publisher or given to me as gifts. Each of the books on this list are considered 4-5 star reads. They are NOT listed in order by ranking. Each title below will enrich the lives of the new owners! I hope you will take the time to explore this list and to email this to at least 20 others, so that you too can Give the Gift of Knowledge!

The books below will make great gifts all year long! View all of our Best Books Recommended Reading Lists here: http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com/.  Please follow our blog for more exciting news on the authors and the books coming out in 2011.

EDC Creations Books of the Year

Personally Selected by Ella Curry

1. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson


2. Whatever It Takes by Paul Tough
Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America. The story behind the documentary Waiting on Superman


3. 19 Years Old and 19 Men Later: How Someone Truly Loved Me
by Tenisha Gainey


4. Justice Older than the Law: The Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree
by Katie McCabe and Dovey Johnson Roundtree


5. Perfect Peace by Daniel Black

TOP 40 BOOKS OF 2010

ELLA'S RECOMMENDED READING LIST

EDC Creations Literary Hallmarks

1. The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker

2. Fierce Angels: The Strong Black Woman by Sheri Parks

3. Victoire: My Mother's Mother by Maryse Conde

4. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

5. The Last Days of Ptolemy by Walter Mosley

6. Bitch Is the New Black by Helena Andrews

7. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

8. Substitute Me by Lori L. Tharps

9.The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi Durrow

10.Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

11.Searching For Tina Turner by Jacqueline Luckett

12.Two or Three Things I Know for Sure by Dorothy Allison

13.Midnight by Beverly Jenkins

14.Relapse by Nikki Turner

15.How to Escape from a Leper Colony by Tiphanie Yanique

16.Wildflowers by Lyah Beth LeFlore

17.Stop Being Niggardly by Karen Hunter

18.Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority by Tom Burrell

19.Shake Loose My Skin by Sonia Sanchez

20.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

21.Zora and Me by Victoria Bond (YA)

22.Sassy Series by Sharon M. Draper (YA)

23.The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara (YA)

24.Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes (YA)

25.Hollyhood by Valerie Joyner

26.Ashes, Ashes They All Fall Down by Anita Ballard-Jones

27. The Little Black Book of Success by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha and Rhonda

28.A Purse of Your Own by Deborah Owens

29.Sing About That Black Rose by Janet "Jaize" Brown

30.How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler

31.The Grace of Silence: A Memoir by Michele Norris

32.The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

33.Cheetah by Missy Jackson

34.Daddy by Default by Pat Tucker

35.Little Black Girl Lost 5 by Keith Lee Johnson

36.A Slip In The Right Direction by Rachel Berry (YA)

37.Still Waters by Crystal Rhodes

38.Life is Like a Soul Train Line by  Monda Raquel Webb (Poetry)

39.From This Moment  by Sean Young

40.Unsigned Hype by Booker T. Mattison (Mature YA)


SPEAK UP AND OUT
Authors, if you see your book listed, please leave a comment with your website address, bookseller links and any news about you and your books! Ask your network to stop by and share their reviews of your books too. Make sure you tell your fellow author friends if you see their names listed below.

If your name is listed below, you can copy the award image to your computer and add to your website as well as your promotional material.  I would like to interview ALL of the authors on this list for Black Pearls Magazine and for the Black Authors Network Radio Show. Email me at: edc_dg@yahoo.com to setup the interviews.


Ella Curry, president of EDC Creations Media Group
Visit Black Pearls Magazine: http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/


Shop at our Black Pearls bookstore for the books: http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20

2010 SLS Best Bookcovers

2010 Best Bookcovers 
Awarded by the Sankofa Literary Society

The Sankofa Literary Society and its founder Ella Curry are focused on the issues and lifestyles that define today's avid readers — what they read, what they want out of their literature, how they connect to each other, what motivates them and how they feel about their community as a whole.

Many have stated, “There is no African American village…it’s dead,” we don’t feel that way. The Village is here, the village in now! Expand your horizons! We are a community of 11 bookclub units, 4 social networks and 22 nurses who want to enrich our community with books and the written word. Listed below are the books we have read in 2010 presented by small press publishers, traditional publishers and self-published authors. Join us today to add your voice and experiences to our union. Come on in and join this movement to Give the Gift of Knowledge!


SPEAK UP AND OUT
Authors, if you see your book listed, please leave a comment with your website address, bookseller links and any news about you and your books! Ask your network to stop by and share their reviews of your books too. Make sure you tell your fellow author friends if you see their names listed below. If your name is listed below, you can copy the award image to your computer and add to your website as well as your promotional material.


2010 Bookcovers of the Year Awards go to the following Authors and Publishers:








1. Farther Than I Meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay (MM)
by Tiffany L. Warren


2. Dreams That Won't Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams


3. When the Cake is Made by Lisa Wu Hartwell


4. If It Don't Hurt... It Ain't Love by Junnita Jackson


5. Sunny Rain by Ci Ci Foster


6. Die Free: A Heroic Family History by Cheryl Wills


Ella Curry, president of EDC Creations Media GroupVisit Black Pearls Magazine: http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/



Shop at our Black Pearls bookstore for the books: http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20