Reacting To & Learning From 2009

Today marks the last day of 2009 and it has certainly been a year of change, both personally and professionally, but it’s been a great year!  I’m closing out December over at Blogging in Black with an article on Reacting To & Learning from 2009.  It’s not just about the things you may have gone through this year on your literary journey or even the things to come, but what you learn from them. –> READ THE FULL ARTICLE. I’ve had a wonderful year of doing what I love most and I’m grateful.  I’d like to take this time to extend a special THANK YOU to everyone... 

Black Book Chat with Angelia Vernon Menchan (Book: Mrs. Black?)

Today I am absolutely delighted to be discussing Mrs. Black with Angelia Vernon Menchan!  For those who don’t know, she is not only an author, mentor and those other things in her bio…she is a wonderful person and supporter of other authors.  So today’s book chat will be a special one as we give back to her, as she’s so freely given to us, this challenge, and the authors whose books we’ve read! This is Book 10 of our Holiday Reading Challenge! Let’s do it! MRS. BLACK by Angelia Vernon Menchan acVernon Menchan, September 2009 208 Pages, Paperback, $12.00 ISBN-10:... 

Black Book Chat with Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker (Book: Millionaire Wives Club)

Happy Holidays, everyone!!  We are back this week with BOOK 9 of our Holiday Reading Challenge, Millionaire Wives Club by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker. So, let’s get things started! Feel free to ask any questions and/or share any comments regarding the book and we’ll also discuss some of our favorite reality shows.  MILLIONAIRE WIVES CLUB by Tu-Shonda Whitaker One World Ballantine, November 2009 320 Pages, Paperback, $15.00 ISBN-10: 0345486676 ISBN-13: 978-0345486677 BUY IT!! BOOK SYNOPSIS In Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker’s steamiest novel yet, we meet the four deliciously dramatic, designer-clad... 

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-27

LIT NEWS: Dennis Brutus, Poet, Dies at 85 – Dennis Brutus, 83, poet and professor from South Africa, in Caracas, Ve… http://ow.ly/16dPM2 # BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: A Ho Needs 2 Stay In A Ho's Place http://ow.ly/16dLVX # BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Fixin' Tyrone (Indigo) http://ow.ly/16dG2P # BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Code-47 http://ow.ly/16dG2N # BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Cougar Tales http://ow.ly/16dG2L # BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Another... 

Save the Date: 10 Year Anniversary Celebration of Sugar by Bernice McFadden (Jan 5th)

Save the date!  On January 5th, 2010, RAWSISTAZ (online & local chapters) will be having an online celebration for the 10 Year Anniversary of Sugar, written by Bernice McFadden on January 9th, 2000. If you’re looking for the chat, click HERE to join us, starting at 10AM EST. On her blog, she shares: Dear Book Lover: You may not know me or my novels, because I am a member of a growing band of African-American writers of literary fiction who are slowly disappearing. And not because I am lacking in talent and credentials; in fact I have already published a number of books with major... 

Holiday Reading Challenge – Halfway Point

We’re a bit past the middle of our Holiday Reading Challenge and it is going wonderfully.  I, for one, am very glad to be doing the challenge since I haven’t read as much as I’d like this year.  Granted, I’m constantly rushing to get the books read, but so far, I’ve only missed one read, so for that I’m happy. How is everyone doing? Can YOU hang? Update us on what you’ve read thus far, ratings, and which book/chat you enjoyed the most. We’ve had some great discussions on the various books and I didn’t mention it, but at the end of the challenge,... 

Black Book Chat w/Zane (Book: Total Eclipse of the Heart)

Did you miss the few days “off” from our Holiday Reading Challenge? Well, we’re back at it today with Total Eclipse of the Heart by Zane which is Book 8 of the challenge.  For the RAWSISTAZ who have been around a while, you’ll remember Zane was one of our earlier members and a member of our review team for several years.  We can all say we knew her before she became so famous. So, let’s get the chat started. We will be here throughout the day, so come in and out as your time allows. TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART by Zane Atria, December 2009 336 Pages, Hardcover, $25.99 ISBN-10:... 

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-20

LIT NEWS: Design: Peter Miles Applies His Quirky, Simple Style to a Range of Platforms http://ow.ly/16bFgJ # LIT NEWS: Milorad Pavic, Unorthodox Novelist, Dies at 80 – Milorad Pavic http://ow.ly/16bFgG # LIT NEWS: Bookshelf | Photo Collections: The City in Pictures, and in Lists http://ow.ly/16by5A # LIT NEWS: Milorad Pavic, Unorthodox Novelist, Dies at 80 – Milorad Pavic http://ow.ly/16bwmh # LIT NEWS: John Edwin Smith, Philosopher and Author, Dies at 88 http://ow.ly/16biP5 # LIT NEWS: Bed, Bath and Beyond – “The Comforts of Matrimony — A Smoky House and Scolding Wife,”... 

Christmas Book Songs by CandaceK

To any of you who did not attend the first four or five RAWSISTAZ Affair events, you missed a special treat — the soothing, soulful voice of CandaceK.  This woman has many, many talents and while most know of her literary & design work, she is also a wonderful singer.  One of my favorites is her song, Time Will Tell Me. Several weeks ago, while joking around trying to come up with a name for our Holiday Reading Challenge, she started making up lyrics for various Christmas songs.  They were so cute we decided to share them with everyone else. So grab your eggnog & fake microphone,... 

Story Structure: And The Crowd Roars, An Unforgettable Ending (Plotting Your Novel – Part 4) by Tyora Moody

Story Structure: And The Crowd Roars, An Unforgettable Ending Plotting Your Novel Series – Part 4 by Tyora Moody Have you ever watched a basketball game and your team was down by a few points? They have possession of the ball and the clock is winding down fast. Whether you are sitting in the bleachers or on your living room couch, the anticipation of the final outcome has you riveted. All is quiet as the crowd watches a player throw the ball from what seems like miles from the basket. Swoosh! And the crowd goes wild! “We won! We won!” Okay, so what does this sports analogy have... 

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