RAWSISTAZ Literary Group

Wifey 4 Life (Book Spotlight)

RAWSISTAZ — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:58:52 +0000

Wifey 4 Life by Kiki Swinson
ISBN: 1934157619
PUB DATE: MARCH 10

SYNOPSIS
Kira’s quiet life in the islands is interrupted when she’s called back to Virginia to attend her cousin Nikki’s funeral. Reluctantly, Kira plans a short, incognito trip to do just that. However, her plans are derailed when news of her arrival spreads.

Now there’s a bounty on her head, and several snakes are ready to cash in. Behind enemy lines in her own hometown, Kira is faced with yet another battle to stay alive as she finds out once again, that she’s living on borrowed time. Will she be able to cheat death again, or will death snatch her from behind in part five of the Wifey series?

BIO
Kiki Swinson was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. She discovered her flair for writing after completing her first novel, Mad Shambles, while serving a five-year sentence at a federal prison. After being released, Kiki self-published Mad Shambles. Her passion for writing didn’t stop there. Writing feverishly into the wee hours of the night, she completed her second novel, Wifey, which was published by Melodrama Publishing. After the success of Wifey, Kiki penned the sequels I’m Still Wifey, Life After Wifey, and Still Wifey Material. Taking a break from the series, Kiki also wrote A Sticky Situation, The Candy Shop, Playing Dirty, and Notorious, as well as the novella “Keeping My Enemies Close” alongside a novella by Wahida Clark in the collection Sleeping with the Enemy.

Ms. Swinson has decided to return to the franchise that started it all and pen the highly anticipated, Wifey 4 Life, part 5 in the highly touted Wifey series published on Melodrama Publishing.

PROMOTIONAL ITEM
Ms. Swinson fans can log onto http://www.melodramapublishing.com/ and order her latest release, Wifey 4 Life and also receive a FREE Wifey 4 Life tote bag while supplies last.

And the Truth Shall Set You Free by Rosiland Crossland (Book Trailer)

RAWSISTAZ — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:35:48 +0000

And the Truth Shall Set You Free by Rosiland Crossland

And the Truth Shall Set You Free is a fiction novelette, and it reminds us that sin is expensive. It is about the sinful engagements of four adults. One of the adults is a well-known Chicago star ball player. Their sinful engagements seem fun; but, they quickly learn that there is a high price to pay for sin. And the price is very expensive. A basketball player quickly learns that sin is one debt; that money can’t get you out of.

Author’s Website: http://www.aandrpublishing.com

BOOK TRAILER

And the Truth Shall Set You Free is a fiction novelette, and it reminds

us that sin is expensive. It is about the sinful engagements of four adults.

One of the adults is a well- known Chicago star ball player. Their sinful

engagements seem fun; but, they quickly learn that there is a high price to pay

for sin. And the price is very expensive. A basketball player quickly learns that

sin is one debt; that money can’t get you out of.

Wretched Saints by Marc Lacy and Assuanta Howard (Book Spotlight)

RAWSISTAZ — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:50:51 +0000

Poet/Author Marc Lacy and Assuanta Fay Howard Release a Jarring Collection of Fiction Short Stories…Wretched Saints

Contact:
AVO Publishing
P.O. Box 2250
Huntsville, AL 35804
(256) 721-1600
avo@hiwaay.net
http://www.avopublishing.com

Wretched Saints – When the Righteous Path Leads to Hell’s Doorstep
ISBN – 978-0-9749712-3-0

What are Best-selling Authors Saying About Wretched Saints?
“Powerful, gripping, and eye-opening! Walk into the pages of the Wretches Saints and immerse yourself in the captivating stories that lie within. A well-written, thought provoking work of engaging stories.”
- Trice Hickman, National Bestselling Author

“In Wretched Saints, you will be treated to tales of everyday life, learning lessons through the eyes of both saint and sinner alike, some of whom will never learn…until it’s too late. For what is life, but a test of Faith and the Spirit? I hope you will enjoy the trials and tribulations served up by some of the hottest authors in the business, Marc Lacy, and Assuanta Fay Howard.”
- Eric Pete, National Bestselling Author

Book orders online are available at http://www.marclacy.com , http://www.avopublishing.com , or http://www.amazon.com .

INTRODUCTION/BOOK SYNOPSIS

Between these covers may be your spark to eternal life or a ticket to everlasting confusion…depending on how you look at it. For we all have the greatest intentions at heart regardless of whatever we may desire to accomplish. Our faith provides energy and focus during the lifelong scamper down the path of righteousness. However, one thing that poses the greatest challenge is the fact that no human being can escape being human…’til death do us part. Temptation lies behind each exit off of Heaven’s highways. Detours become more alluring as construction takes place within the most crucial times of our lives – in turn, potentially providing a next day delivery service to hell’s doorstep.

Wretched Saints provides a literary window through which we may possibly see traits of ourselves within one or more of the characters as they learn the hard way to listen when God is talking. Thus His signal, when digested properly allows suppression of sinful urges opening up the door, for spiritual growth.

Are you a Wretched Saint? Open the covers…and see.

Of course our desire is to walk within The Kingdom’s Neighborhood, but it can be very difficult leaving the alluring amenities of home. We have the protocol down pat; especially when others can witness us “witnessing.” However, when backs are turned and the sun has set, the righteous hotness of the self-proclaimed saint can suddenly turn lukewarm. Although the tongue can no longer house rationalizations, we still find a way to verbally cover spiritual deficits…thus casting us further into a pit of unrighteous debt surrounded by several unused shovels.

Find Marc Lacy online at:
http://www.marclacy.com
http://www.avopublishing.com
http://www.facebook.com/marclacy
http://www.myspace.com/mlacy
http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/marclacy

Her Husband Made Her Do Him (Book Spotlight)

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:03:53 +0000

Her Husband Made Her Do Him by Ms. Downlow
**rated 5 stars on Amazon.com**

Suicide or an affair?

When stunning, conservative, 24 year old, black law student, Katlynne LaSalle discovers that her husband is cheating she nearly flunks out of law school, and begins to have suicidal thoughts. Her husband won’t admit he’s cheating, and she fears that if she keeps pressuring him, he’ll divorce her. She chooses to live life to the fullest and have her own affair with a married Hip Hop and R&B artist who’s a lover, not a thug. Together they fulfill naughty sexual fantasies Kat never had before.

All this good girl gone bad ever wanted in life was to be in love with one man who is equally committed to her. She likes her black, white, and dull life. But when she finds that her dream has become a nightmare, she makes irrational decisions, spreads her love around, and begins a vivid down low existence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raised in Los Angeles, ms. downlow is the alter ego of the main character of this novel. This law student author’s real-life experience with infidelity inspired her to publish some of this story on her multiple-award winning blog, mydownlowlife.blogspot.com. The faithful followers of the blog became addicted, and fell in love with her story, and with her descriptive erotic writing. She describes characters in a way that makes you eager to meet them in person. Her writing is replete with colorful details that make you feel as though you are right there as the action occurs. As you ride her sizzling roller coaster love story, prepare to laugh, cry, feel the heat, and get soaking wet! ms. downlow’s goal is to become a best selling author without the help of mass media and big box publishing companies. She is looking to achieve this goal with the help of readers like you.

BUY IT NOW

Visit Ms. Downlow’s blog at http://mydownlowlife.blogspot.com or follow her on twitter at: twitter.com/down2thelow

Weepin’ Willa: A Collection of Short Stories (Book Spotlight)

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:43:11 +0000

Weepin’ Willa: A Collection of Short Stories by Nariscia Lott

This is a journey of life-altering surgeries, a few romantic disappointments and the death of a caring mother. The latter tragic event pervades each line of these pages of autobiographical elements written from the heart–a heart that forgives life without realizing it needs to forgive itself first.

BOOK SYNOPSIS
Weepin Willa: A Collection of Short Stories is stained with tears of love…not girl-meets-boy love (no, Mr. Right does not make his grand appearance)…but the kind of love born of courage, endurance and reconciliation. Being 4′4″ tall is not easy; but in the end, it is possible to find peace through self-acceptance and a dry sense of humor.

AUTHOR BIO

Nariscia Lott was born on December 23, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois; but she was raised in Indianola, Mississippi, in a small house with her two sisters, mother and grandfather. Born with a severe case of idiopathic scoliosis, she attributes her creativity and story-writing talent to stubbornness and a vivid imagination. Weepin’ Willa: A Collection of Short Stories is Lott’s first self-published book.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR

Author’s Website – http://www.nariscialott.com
Twitter – http://ww.twitter.com/WeepinWilla
Facebook – Join the Weepin’ Willa Fan Page
MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/WeepinWilla

Take Off the Mask Blog Tour with Sonya Visor

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:45:37 +0000

Who I’ve Become is NOT who I AM is Sonya Visor’s first non-fiction book. Her passion is to minister to the people who hide behind masks. Sonya’s calling is to break and destroy the yokes of bondage, releasing the power of God into the lives of others by the preached Word and prayers of deliverance. When you can find the strength, to step into who you truly are; you can find the strength to BE THE (Tru U). TruU Ministries is the women’s ministry that God has charged her with to help other’s become free.

Sonya shares her heart with her husband, Pastor Tony Visor, who she calls her better half, for nineteen years. She and her husband have ministered effectively in the city of Racine together at NCC since 1999. Sonya is blessed to love two sons, Jason and Tony, Jr.

Visit her online at sonyavisor.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Who are you when nobody’s looking? It’s time to take off what hides who you truly are…the mask! Are you tired of going around family, friends and church folk with a frozen smile and a broken heart? Unmask your true identity and learn your real name as pastor’s wife and playwright Sonya Visor cuts to the heart with dynamic testimony of sexual molestation at a young age.

BEING SILENT GAVE POWER to the hands that touched her life. Can hands meant to protect you also have the power to crush your identity? YES! But when we stop allowing a mask of shame to hold us captive with CLOSED mouths, WE CAN let Jesus be real in our lives.

Discover who you have become and embrace who you really are in a book that goes past the pews and what other’s think about you — to bring glory to God by being transparent and transformed. It’s time to take off your mask and let the true you show up!

Excerpt from the Book (CHAPTER 7)

Audio excerpt version with commentary from Sonya

Can I Tell You My Story?

Can I talk to you for a minute? I mean like really; can I trust you with my stuff, or my situation? Or are you one of those people who run and thrive off somebody else’s trouble or mistakes? If people are really going to break the silence, are you a safe place for them?

Masking is often implemented because most folk can’t really handle the truth about others or what they are hearing. The situation, if shared, will usually render responses that immediately are classified as judgment or rejection. There’s a rare group of people who can handle the true story that’s being told or deposited into one’s hearing.

If someone came and told you that they were struggling with lust, pornography, lying, stealing, homosexuality, or lesbianism, what would you say? How would you address the problem presented? I mean, both you and the person know that the issue is wrong, so where do you go from there? People are dying because they can’t find anybody to be real with. So they remain quiet and undercover, which will eventually rot the inside of their souls.

My heart goes out to the person who everyone perceives to have all the answers, but in reality, they are barely making it. He finally comes to the point of sharing his heart, only to hear the person he was about to share with speak against someone else with a similar problem. So what happens? The mouth is closed; there’s a retreat. A whisper on the inside says, I can’t tell a soul.

This secret continues to eat at the inside of them. I know, because I felt that I could tell no one my story. It has to come out in order for the individual to be free. I tried, but they responded with the “right” religious jargon, but not the right spirit. Sometimes just having an ear to listen is the best gift you can give someone. The right heart or spirit loves the person right where they are, at that moment.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/TakeOffTheMask.

Discussion: If people are really going to break the silence, are you a safe place for them?

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

Black Book Chat with Brenda Jackson (Book: Wrapped in Pleasure)

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:54 +0000

Today we will be chatting with Brenda Jackson about her book Wrapped in Pleasure, one of our February BOM Selections.

WRAPPED IN PLEASURE by Brenda Jackson
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Publisher: Kimani Press, January 1, 2010
ISBN-10: 0373831773
ISBN-13: 978-0373831777

Two Westmoreland novels—one classic and one new—from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson

“Delaney’s Desert Sheikh”

A mix-up in Delaney Westmoreland’s vacation plans forces her to share a cabin with a tall, dark and oh-so-handsome sheikh who is bent on her seduction. Jamal Ari Yasir intends to school Delaney in sensuality for his own pleasure. But instead of loving and leaving her, he becomes enraptured by an irresistible and unforgettable passion for his sexy-as-sin roommate. Can the arrogant sheikh convince his secret lover that they are fated for more than just a summer fling?

“Seduced by a Stranger”

Johari Yasir has no interest in returning to her homeland to marry a man she’s never met—at least, not without sowing some wild oats first. And when a handsome charmer offers to whisk her away in his private plane, she impulsively accepts. Rasheed Valdemon is shocked that his bride-to-be would fly off with someone she barely knows— even though he’s the one doing the asking. More surprising is his hunger for this lovely, rebellious woman. Yet what will happen when she realizes she’s been seduced by the man who’s destined to be her husband?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Brenda Jackson lives in the city where she was born, Jacksonville, Florida. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University.

Brenda is a retiree who worked for thirty-seven years in management at a major insurance company. She divides her time between family, writing and traveling. She has been married for thirty-seven years to her childhood sweetheart, Gerald, and they have two sons.

Be sure to visit Brenda’s website at http://www.brendajackson.net.

Meet Rita Y. Toews – Founder of Read an E-Book Week (March 7-13, 2010)

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:50:40 +0000

For those following along on Twitter, please use hashtag #ebookweek for REBW 2010.

History – Read an E-Book Week (REBW) was first registered with Chase’s Calendar of Events in 2004 by founder, Rita Y. Toews. By having the week officially recognized, e-book authors and publishers acquired a certain extra “legitimacy” during that week to promote the new technology of e-books. The public and media were initially wary of e-books and many doors were closed to promotion. With the week officially recognized by Chase’s, authors reported they now had access to television morning chat shows and were allowed to set up library displays during the week-long event.

ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH RITA Y. TOEWS
(February 2010)

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: Rita, thanks so much for the opportunity to chat with you and discuss Read an E-Book Week. Please share with our readers a bit about yourself and why you decided to start Read an E-Book Week.

It’s a pleasure to chat with the RAWSISTAZ Literary Group.

I’m an author as well as an avid reader. When e-books were new on the scene I released several books electronically. It was very difficult to promote those books. I decided that a concerted effort from all e-book authors would have a bigger impact on changing people’s views of the new reading format than one lonely voice. A week set aside for authors to promote their books has made a huge difference. Authors now have legitimacy when they approach publicity venues.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: Well, I think it’s wonderful you were willing to step outside the box as you’re not playing catch-up like a lot of the publishers and independent authors are doing now. What one misconception do people have about e-books?

People often say they think reading electronically will fatigue their eyes. They haven’t tried the E-Ink screens, which are every bit as comfortable as reading from the printed page.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: Yes, I’ve heard this too and agree with you. I have the first two versions of the Sony Reader and I love the device! It’s so much easier than carrying books around with me; especially when I travel. With e-books on the rise and electronic readers becoming popular, how do you think it’ll affect print publishing?

Unfortunately, I think it will negatively impact print publishing. The major publishers were slow to realize people would accept e-books and weren’t on the ball with a strategy to change the way they present books. I do believe they have received the message now, but they have a lot of catch-up to do. Perhaps the electronic version of a book could be the first to be released, with print coming later if the book proves to be popular. Certain types of books should never make it to print, and there are certain books which should never be published electronically. Print publishers will have to make decisions – better sooner than later.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: So true! It’s unfortunate it had to happen this way too, but I think in the end, it’ll work out for readers and for the authors. You have some who may never buy an e-book or those who just love print books! Speaking of…what did you think about Amazon disabling the BUY links for the MacMillan titles on their site earlier this month? Was it necessary to wake publisher’s up?

I’m not sure if that was it at all. I may be really off-base here, but I wonder if Amazon had something quite different in their minds. Maybe they wanted to bring the argument to the readers and let them have a voice – or speak loudly with their pocketbooks. Amazon didn’t have to say much to make a huge point, and yes, they did have to back down in the end but the publishers sure got a taste of the reader’s anger, didn’t they?

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: That they did and I have my own speculations on what was really going down, but definitely stood on the side of the author’s with this one. I get what Amazon was saying, but to disable the print links too? Whew!

What’s your electronic reader of choice or do you read e-books via the computer or cell phone?

I own two e-reading devices – a Sony and a Nook. The Sony is my favourite. A lot of that preference has to do with the fact that I live in Canada. Sony has a terrific selection of e-books available for their reader. The Nook is a Barnes & Noble device and unfortunately they make it hard for Canadian readers to buy e-books from their stores. I hope that will get better in the near future.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: I have been admiring the Nook, so if I were to buy another one, it would be that one. The iPad looks interesting too. Do you think e-books will continue to gain popularity and eventually become better sellers than print books?

I believe there are some books that will sell better in the electronic version than in print. But, as I mentioned previously, there are books that should never be issued electronically – those beautiful art books for coffee tables, for example. Another would be books for infants. The “read them and toss” pulp fiction books, on the other hand, are better left to electronic versions.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: This is a great point and I agree. I think it’s wonderful how many authors, publishers and websites have taken an interest in e-books and Read an E-Book Week and I hope it continues to grow and bring readers to great books they may not have heard about otherwise. Do you have any other projects in the works?

Right now my efforts are on Read an E-Book Week. I do have a collection of short stories languishing in my computer, so I think I should give it some attention next month. I also create covers for e-books – mostly through Smashwords. That can take up quite a lot of my time.

Thank you for including me in your Read an E-Book Week activities! The Read an E-Book Week website is located at http://www.ebookweek.com. The website featuring my children’s anti-bully books is located at http://www.thebullybook.com. A sample of a few of my e-book covers can be viewed at http://www.domokos.com/ebook_cover_design.html.

RAWSISTAZ Lit Group: A special thanks to Rita for taking the time to answer our questions and letting us share in Read an E-Book Week!

Be sure you join us for E-Book Week here on the site as we kick off our E-Book Reading Challenge!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MORE AT THE READ AN E-BOOK WEEK WEBSITE
The Read an E-Book Website provides the latest information on e-books and acts as a collection point where you can list your event or give-away.

How to Read E-Books

E-Book Week Partners

E-Book Resource Articles

E-Book Reading Material

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:30:00 +0000

LIT NEWS: Straightening the Record – Dorothy Jane Mills at home in Naples, Fla. Baseball researchers had honored o… http://ow.ly/16JJf0 #
LIT NEWS: ‘Mad as a Hatter’: The History of a Simile – Pity Lewis Carroll’s poor Hatter. Why not “mad as a shoemake… http://ow.ly/16JJf3 #
LIT NEWS: Sunday Routine | Rebecca Stead: Pen Down, Brain Off http://ow.ly/16JJf6 #
LIT NEWS: Soldiers’ Stories – A philosopher and psychoanalyst documents the stories of veterans and brings a dual p… http://ow.ly/16Jrd9 #
LIT NEWS: Library Science – An exploration of the world of libraries and librarians, via a tour of eccentric charac… http://ow.ly/16Jrdc #
LIT NEWS: Virtual Village – Helen Simonson mischievously unleashes stock village-novel characters into a new Englan… http://ow.ly/16Jrdf #
LIT NEWS: TBR: Inside the List – Henning Mankell http://ow.ly/16IUWE #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Touchdown http://ow.ly/16INyj #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Scandalous http://ow.ly/16INyl #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Heard It All Before http://ow.ly/16INyp #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Masquerade http://ow.ly/16INyn #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Reverend Feelgood http://ow.ly/16INyr #
LIT NEWS: Ultimate Bush Insider Lifts Veil on Presidency – Karl Rove's memoir will be published on Tuesday. http://ow.ly/16INyw #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Stealthy Insights Amid Short Phrases http://ow.ly/16INyt #
LIT NEWS: Theodore Cross Dies at 86, a Champion of Civil Rights http://ow.ly/16IqtI #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Stand by Your Singer and Her Art http://ow.ly/16IqtL #
LIT NEWS: Book on Spitzer’s Downfall Sets Off Angry Replies – Eliot Spitzer called an account by his former senior … http://ow.ly/16IqtO #
LIT NEWS: Barry Hannah, Darkly Comic Writer, Dies at 67 – Barry Hannah at a writers' conference in Tennessee in 200… http://ow.ly/16HMtg #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: A Look at the Snarled Past of Armenians and Turks http://ow.ly/16HMtj #
LIT NEWS: Red Highways – The Hangzhou Bay Bridge in Zhejiang Province. http://ow.ly/16HMtm #
LIT NEWS: Math of Publishing Meets the E-Book – E-books are cheaper to produce than print volumes, but consumers ma… http://ow.ly/16HsTm #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Cotton Pickin' Paycheck-Paperback Version http://ow.ly/16HaCd #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Burning Desire http://ow.ly/16HaCf #
LIT NEWS: Publisher to Halt Printing of Disputed Hiroshima Book http://ow.ly/16H2EZ #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: America’s Health Care Crisis Visits Families, and Stays http://ow.ly/16H2F2 #
LIT NEWS: Murder by the Drop – A rich history of the development of forensics in New York, by a Pulitzer-winning sc… http://ow.ly/16H2F5 #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Exotic Creatures and the Humans Who Chase Them http://ow.ly/16GFj6 #
LIT NEWS: Arts, Briefly: Brown Professor Wins History Prize – The historian Gordon S. Wood won the American History… http://ow.ly/16GFj9 #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:30:00 +0000

LIT NEWS: Straightening the Record – Dorothy Jane Mills at home in Naples, Fla. Baseball researchers had honored o… http://ow.ly/16JJf0 #
LIT NEWS: ‘Mad as a Hatter’: The History of a Simile – Pity Lewis Carroll’s poor Hatter. Why not “mad as a shoemake… http://ow.ly/16JJf3 #
LIT NEWS: Sunday Routine | Rebecca Stead: Pen Down, Brain Off http://ow.ly/16JJf6 #
LIT NEWS: Soldiers’ Stories – A philosopher and psychoanalyst documents the stories of veterans and brings a dual p… http://ow.ly/16Jrd9 #
LIT NEWS: Library Science – An exploration of the world of libraries and librarians, via a tour of eccentric charac… http://ow.ly/16Jrdc #
LIT NEWS: Virtual Village – Helen Simonson mischievously unleashes stock village-novel characters into a new Englan… http://ow.ly/16Jrdf #
LIT NEWS: TBR: Inside the List – Henning Mankell http://ow.ly/16IUWE #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Touchdown http://ow.ly/16INyj #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Scandalous http://ow.ly/16INyl #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Heard It All Before http://ow.ly/16INyp #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Masquerade http://ow.ly/16INyn #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Reverend Feelgood http://ow.ly/16INyr #
LIT NEWS: Ultimate Bush Insider Lifts Veil on Presidency – Karl Rove's memoir will be published on Tuesday. http://ow.ly/16INyw #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Stealthy Insights Amid Short Phrases http://ow.ly/16INyt #
LIT NEWS: Theodore Cross Dies at 86, a Champion of Civil Rights http://ow.ly/16IqtI #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Stand by Your Singer and Her Art http://ow.ly/16IqtL #
LIT NEWS: Book on Spitzer’s Downfall Sets Off Angry Replies – Eliot Spitzer called an account by his former senior … http://ow.ly/16IqtO #
LIT NEWS: Barry Hannah, Darkly Comic Writer, Dies at 67 – Barry Hannah at a writers' conference in Tennessee in 200… http://ow.ly/16HMtg #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: A Look at the Snarled Past of Armenians and Turks http://ow.ly/16HMtj #
LIT NEWS: Red Highways – The Hangzhou Bay Bridge in Zhejiang Province. http://ow.ly/16HMtm #
LIT NEWS: Math of Publishing Meets the E-Book – E-books are cheaper to produce than print volumes, but consumers ma… http://ow.ly/16HsTm #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Cotton Pickin' Paycheck-Paperback Version http://ow.ly/16HaCd #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Burning Desire http://ow.ly/16HaCf #
LIT NEWS: Publisher to Halt Printing of Disputed Hiroshima Book http://ow.ly/16H2EZ #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: America’s Health Care Crisis Visits Families, and Stays http://ow.ly/16H2F2 #
LIT NEWS: Murder by the Drop – A rich history of the development of forensics in New York, by a Pulitzer-winning sc… http://ow.ly/16H2F5 #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Exotic Creatures and the Humans Who Chase Them http://ow.ly/16GFj6 #
LIT NEWS: Arts, Briefly: Brown Professor Wins History Prize – The historian Gordon S. Wood won the American History… http://ow.ly/16GFj9 #

The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook

Dee Stewart — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:45:36 +0000

Dee on Twitter

Last month I asked a question on my Facebook profile: If you could give up one social media platform– Twitter or Facebook– what would it be? Most respondents chose Facebook, because they didn’t get it. Although the results weren’t shocking, they were problematic. Many of those responders were authors… African-American authors. But in this “Relationships are Imperative for Survival” age, black authors need to get Twitter. They need to get it like two years ago…

Social Media affords us (all writers) the opportunity to communicate with our readership about our stories. However, we must realize that communication is a two way activity that requires both listening and speaking. And truthfully, more listening than speaking.

Oftentimes authors come to me with an interest in becoming a public speaker, but little to no one ever asks me how to become a Public Listener. The latter is the tipping point.

If you want to have a long lasting relationship with your readers you must listen to them. To do that effectively, authors need to master the art of building better listening stations.

Twitter is the foundation of that listening station, because:

services like monitter helps the authors listen to the reading community within their zipcode
services like summize helps authors listen to publishing industry buzz, especially digital publishing issues, bookstore needs, and reader feedback about your book
services like tweetgrid allows you to listen and respond in real time faster than Facebook
services like hootsuite allows you create specific listening channels like
- publishing
- bookstore
- deegospel
- bookclubs
services like disqus allow your to listen to your blog subscribers via twitter
and guess what services like Facebook’s many twitter applications allows you to listen to your facebook friends without being tied to your laptop

All of this vital chatter, authors miss by the second, hour and day because they aren’t listening. Granted, Facebook helps you to talk to your readers better. However, Twitter allows you to listen to them and then give them what they say they need and want.

Psst…I’m seeking listeners for my upcoming book release, A Good Excuse to Be Bad. Follow me as MirandaParker2 and DeeGospel on Twitter.

Email for RAWSISTAZ is down (resolved)

RAWSISTAZ — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:17:44 +0000

Greetings all!

Just a quick announcement that we’re having technical difficulties with our email, so it has been down since Tuesday afternoon. We hope to have it back up by tomorrow mid-day, Monday at the latest. So, if you’ve emailed us, please give us a few days to catch up to everything and if you haven’t heard from us by next Tuesday or Wednesday, please email us again.

UPDATE: March 8, 2010 – Our email addresses are back up and operational!

My Mother’s Child Blog Tour with Dwan Abrams

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:00:10 +0000

Dwan Abrams is a full-time novelist, freelance editor, and publisher. She’s the best-selling author of My Mother’s Child (the sequel to Divorcing the Devil), Married Strangers, Divorcing the Devil, Only True Love Waits, and The Scream Within. She’s the founder, publisher, and editorial director of Nevaeh Publishing, LLC a small press independent publishing house. She’s currently signed to Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books/Kensington. Her sixth novel, the second book in the Married Series, is set to hit national bookshelves in 2011.

Visit Dwan online at http://dwanabrams.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lyric Stokes lives, by most standards, a charmed life. Married to Michael Stokes, a prominent heart surgeon, she has financial security and lives in the lap of luxury. All is not perfect, though. Lyric feels inadequate because she gave birth to a daughter, rather than the son that her husband so desperately wanted.

After an unexpected turn of events, Lyric discovers that she’s pregnant again, but now she has to decide whether she even wants to keep the child she has longed for. She seeks solace in her church, where her daughter also feels at home; but they can’t get Michael to join them. Disagreeing with organized religion, he has put his job before all else, including God. The distance between the couple grows further every day.

Nigel Fredericks has a history of stalking women. He’s been accused, but never convicted. Now he’s set his sights on Lyric. She’s at a low point in her life, and Nigel knows just how to take advantage of that vulnerability. Lyric’s life is turned upside down; Nigel is like a cancer eating away at her mental stability, her marriage, and ultimately, her life. Will Michael reevaluate his priorities and his faith in time to save his family?

CHAT/DISCUSSION

Read brief excerpt from My Mother’s Child …

Lyric couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t bless her with a son. If only she could get pregnant. She really wanted to give Michael, her husband of fifteen years, a son, a namesake. No matter how much Michael assured her that he was happy with her and their twelve-year-old daughter, Autumn, a part of her felt as if she were less than a woman because she couldn’t give her husband a son.

On the surface, she didn’t lack for anything―big house, fancy cars, and money. She didn’t know whether she was the luckiest or unluckiest, woman in the world.

A lot of women think that having a husband with money would make them happy. Why do you think that women who seem to have it all still find something to complain about? Could it be that some women are never satisfied and want what they can’t have? LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/MyMothersChild.

*A Tywebbin Blog Tour

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

LIT NEWS: The Free-Appropriation Writer – Copying passages from another author used to be an unforgivable sin. But … http://ow.ly/16G8Vk #
LIT NEWS: The Day the Music Died – An epic novel of rock ‘n’ roll, from its glory years to the guttering and sputte… http://ow.ly/16FT5R #
LIT NEWS: Gilbert Sorrentino’s Last Novel – Gilbert Sorrentino http://ow.ly/16FT5U #
LIT NEWS: Hardcover Nonfiction – Top 5 at a Glance1. GAME CHANGE, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin2. THE POLITIC… http://ow.ly/16FT5X #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: A Nation 400 Million Strong – Joel Kotkin http://ow.ly/16Fdtl #
LIT NEWS: Descartes Letter Found, Therefore It Is – The mathematician and philosopher René Descartes. http://ow.ly/16ERpa #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: A Devil Who Takes the Side of Angels http://ow.ly/16ERpd #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Feeling at Sea on the Roads of New China http://ow.ly/16EFgs #
LIT NEWS: TBR: Inside the List – Jackie Collins http://ow.ly/16EFgv #
LIT NEWS: Lay vs. Lie (vs. Laid) – Q: Lay, lie, laid—when do you use each? —Annemarie Valian A: Don’t forget a… http://ow.ly/16DWff #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: The People We Pay to Look Over Our Shoulders http://ow.ly/16DDgu #
LIT NEWS: Front Page, Back Story – A novel that combines newsroom drama, espionage and military adventure. http://ow.ly/16DDgx #
LIT NEWS: A Blessing and a Burden – Gerald M. Boyd in 2002. http://ow.ly/16DDgA #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Blending Tea and Hearts – Helen Simonson http://ow.ly/16DiPQ #
LIT NEWS: Arts, Briefly: Racy Memoir for the French National Library http://ow.ly/16DiPT #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: She Who Finds A Husband (New Day Divas) http://ow.ly/16DcGG #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Put It On Paper http://ow.ly/16DcGI #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Wildflowers http://ow.ly/16DcGK #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Why Men Fear Marriage http://ow.ly/16Daek #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: The Weight is OVER! http://ow.ly/16Daem #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: Soul on Fire http://ow.ly/16Daeo #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Alibi – The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers reviewed:Alibi by Teri Woods … http://ow.ly/16Daeq #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: Lace & Honor (Love Storm Romance) (Paperback) http://ow.ly/16Daes #

Heard It All Before by Michele Grant (Book Review)

Tee C. Royal — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:57:18 +0000

Reviewed: Feb 28, 2010

Heard It All Before by Michele Grant
Dafina Books, January 2010
320 Pages, Paperback, $14.00
ISBN: 0758242190
Genre: Street Fiction

RAW Rating: 4.0 (out of 5)

After successful suburbanite, Jewellen Capwell and her ex-fiance went their separate ways two years ago, she couldn’t wait to get back into the dating scene. However, she quickly learns dating can be emotionally draining. Jewellen has heard it all before; the games and lies from the men she’s dated. When her best friend Renee invites Jewellen to attend a basketball game on the Southside, she is reluctant to go because she’s afraid of going into that part of town. Although still unenthusiastic about venturing to the other side of town, she accepts the invite. When she literally falls under the spell of Roman Montgomery’s alluring eyes, where she is no longer matters.

Playing games is Renee Nightingale’s forte. Before anyone thinks to play her, she always has a game plan in the back of her mind. She doesn’t want to reach the age of thirty still single, so she schemes to get her boyfriend Gregory to pop the question. However, the attraction to another man puts a sensual twist in her plan; will she lose it all?

Cleverly and creatively written, Michele Grant’s debut novel, HEARD IT ALL BEFORE, contains plausible characters and issues about young African American professionals. The characters express their lives and situations in their own point of view. Highly spiced with boundless drama and hilarious moments, the reader surely will be entertained.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis, RAWSISTAZ.com
—-
Sharon Lewis, a married mother of five and a grandmother of eight, is an eclectic bookaholic. She works as an Administrative Assistant and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Self-Publishing Symposium 2010 (March 7th)

RAWSISTAZ — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:44:42 +0000

The Self-Publishing Symposium 2010 will be held March 7th, 2010 at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York). Attend to take advantage of what this important business event can do for your publishing company. Whether you’re a self-published author, small/independent press or writer considering self-publishing, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to:

- Learn successful business strategies from industry experts
- Network with professionals and make powerful connections
- Grow your business to new heights

The Self-Publishing Symposium’s huge success has secured its presence in the self and small publishing arena as a sought-after event for self-published authors.
Some of the important topics of discussion will be:

- Critical Trends Impacting the Market
- How to be Successful with Virtual Marketing and PR
- Driving Sales in a Tough Market
- Self-Publishing: Things You Must Know
- Maximize Revenue Streams (e-books, audio books, etc.)

The electrifying “Hot Topics” panel affords attendees the opportunity to have their pressing issues addressed by a panel of publishing experts in an open forum.

Visit http://www.selfpublishingsymposium.com for more information.

Read an E-Book Week (March 7-13) & Kick-off of E-Book Reading Challenge

RAWSISTAZ — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:36:57 +0000

Read an E-Book Week educates and informs the public about the pleasures and advantages of reading electronically. Authors, publishers, vendors, the media and readers world-wide are welcome to join in the effort. We encourage you to promote electronic reading with any event. These could include: public readings, library displays, reading challenges, school visits, newspaper and blog articles, chat show appearances, internet radio interviews, e-book give-ways, and banners on your website.

E-Books are becoming quite popular with the avid reader and a lot of people are purchasing devices such as the Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and more. No matter which device you prefer or where you stand with print books vs e-books, e-books are making an impact on publishing as we know it. So, what better way to spread the news than to encourage folks to go out and read an e-book?

So, in our efforts to promote & share information about e-books, RAWSISTAZ is joining the celebration of Read an E-Book Week on March 7-13 with the kick off of our 8-week E-Book Reading Challenge.

We have a host of authors lined up who will be giving away free copies of their e-books and then joining us for a chat & book discussion via our popular Black Book Chats series. The free e-book downloads will be available directly on the site as well as links to authors who have shared their e-book details & links, and an interview with the founder of Read an E-Book Week, Rita Y. Toews. She is the co-author of three award-winning e-books: Prometheus, The Centurion and The Price of Freedom. She is also the author of two children’s e-books, Kelly’s Baby Brother and Christmas Stars.

For more information on Read An E-Book Week, visit the site at http://www.ebookweek.com.

Sins of the Mother – After Party Chat w/Carleen Brice

RAWSISTAZ — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:48:31 +0000

Hopefully everyone has had an opportunity to watch Sins of the Mother, the LMN movie based on Carleen Brice’s book, Orange Mint & Honey. If you haven’t or you don’t have LMN, you can now view it via the LMN site at http://www.mylifetime.com/watch-full-movies-online. So, go check it out and be sure to come back and join in the discussion once you’ve watched it.

Based on author Carleen Brice’s moving novel, Orange Mint and Honey, Sins of the Mother features Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) as reformed alcoholic Nona, Nicole Beharie (American Violet) as her daughter Shay and Mimi Rogers (The Door in the Floor) as Nona’s sponsor Lois. Graduate student Shay Dixon (Beharie) reaches a crossroad in her life when she finds herself broke, burned out and unable to cope with the stress of school. With nowhere else to go, she embarks on a journey home to Tacoma, Washington, to face her abusive, alcoholic, estranged mother, Nona (Scott). When she returns home, Shay finds Nona living life as a recovered alcoholic, with a new daughter and completely transformed. Thrown by her mother’s new path, Shay must now accept Nona’s changes and influences, including her sponsor Lois (Rogers) — all forcing Shay to move past her pent-up anger and awaken her own relationships. READ MORE

A special thanks goes out to Carleen Brice for joining us today. Congrats, congrats, to you! To have a movie based on your work is a wonderful opportunity and I hope the success of Sins of the Mother will open the door for more great Black books to be made into movies for television and film. This is our third Book Chat with Carleen. We featured her back in June 2009 to discuss Orange Mint & Honey and most recently in November 2009 to discuss her latest book Children of the Waters, both of which were RAWSISTAZ favorites. It’s such an honor to have her here again to discuss the movie and celebrate with her!

Visit her website at http://www.carleenbrice.com and her blog at http://pajamagardener.blogspot.com.

Now…for those who are ready to go, let’s do this!

Feel free to ask questions, share your thoughts on the movie and how it stood up to the book, which actress was your favorite and more!

Fifteen Years Blog Tour with Kendra Norman-Bellamy

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:55:46 +0000

Kendra Norman-Bellamy Addresses Foster Care in her latest release, Fifteen Years
Listen to the Excerpt

Can children in foster care be affected their entire lives by their experiences even if they have obtained a level of success?

ABOUT THE BOOK
Josiah Tucker, the son of a substance dependent and neglectful mother, spent most of his childhood years in the custody of the State, living in foster homes throughout Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of fourteen, he was taken from the foster family that he had grown to love, the Smiths, and returned to his negligent birth mother. Enduring the hardships faced while living with his birth mother JT manages to make something of his life.

However, fifteen years after being taken from the Smiths and at the peak of success, he finds himself feeling empty and at his lowest. When he decides to reconnect with the Smiths, JT finds his faith in God renewed and discovers his attraction to his foster sister.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KENDRA NORMAN-BELLAMY is a national best-selling author and the founder of KNB Publications LLC. She is the organizer of Visions in Print, an Atlanta-based national organization for faith-based writers, and The Writer’s Hut, an online fellowship for African American Writers. She is the founder of Cruisin’ For Christ, a groundbreaking at-sea ministry that celebrates writing, gospel music and other God-glorifying arts, and also serves as a motivational speaker.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Kendra currently resides in Stone Mountain, George with her family.

For more information, visit www.knb-publications.com.

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/FifteenYearsBlogTour.

**A Tywebbin Blog Tour

Sins of the Mother Chat & After Party (Thurs, Feb 25th)

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:54:42 +0000

For those who caught the premiere of Sins of the Mother on Lifetime Movie Network last night, starring Jill Scott and based on Carleen Brice’s novel Orange Mint and Honey, you’re in for a treat! Carleen will be joining us on Thursday, here via the blog to share thoughts on the movie, the book, and what we hope will be future opportunities for more books-to-film projects. Please save the date and plan to join us!

For those of you who were not able to see it, there will be an encore on Wednesday. For those who don’t have LMN, you can watch it ONLINE starting February 25th. Just go to: http://www.mylifetime.com/watch-full-movies-online.

So, mark your calendars, watch the movie, and come hang out with us Thursday.

And, in case you didn’t hear…

LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK’S Sins of the Mother

becomes second highest rated AND SECOND MOST WATCHED

original movie in network history

Film Based on Carleen Brice’s Novel Orange Mint and Honey

Generates 1.0 Among Women 18-34, 1.7 in Women 18-49

and 2.0 in Women 25-54, with 2.7 Total Viewers

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 22, 2010) – Building on its record-breaking year in 2009, Lifetime Movie Network continued to generate strong ratings with the premiere of its original movie Sins of the Mother last night. The film, starring famed R&B singer and actress Jill Scott, delivered a 1.0 among Women 18-34, 1.7 rating in Women 18-49, 2.0 in Women 25-54 and 2.3 in Women 18+, making it the second highest rated original movie in the key women demos in the network’s 12 year history (behind the April 19, 2009, debut of Natalee Holloway). Sins of the Mother, which secured a 2.5 Household rating, also became Lifetime Movie Network’s second most watched original movie ever in Women 18-34 (225,216), Women 18-49 (737,017), Women 25-54 (867,973), Women 18+ (1,813,163), Adults 18-34 (280,050), Adults 18-49 (944,461), Adults 25-54 (1,119,517), Households (1,902,170) and Total Viewers (2,647,388).

2009 was the most watched year in Lifetime Movie Network’s history in both Total Day and Primetime across Households, Total Viewers, Women 18-49, Women 25-54, Women 18+, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18+. Additionally, it was the network’s highest rated year ever in Primetime among Households, Total Viewers and Adults 18+. Lifetime Movie Network began 2010 with the most watched week ever in its history, averaging the most Total Day viewers ever in the key demographics.

ABOUT SINS OF THE MOTHER

Based on author Carleen Brice’s moving novel, Orange Mint and Honey, Sins of the Mother features Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) as reformed alcoholic Nona, Nicole Beharie (American Violet) as her daughter Shay and Mimi Rogers (The Door in the Floor) as Nona’s sponsor Lois. Graduate student Shay Dixon (Beharie) reaches a crossroad in her life when she finds herself broke, burned out and unable to cope with the stress of school. With nowhere else to go, she embarks on a journey home to Tacoma, Washington, to face her abusive, alcoholic, estranged mother, Nona (Scott). When she returns home, Shay finds Nona living life as a recovered alcoholic, with a new daughter and completely transformed. Thrown by her mother’s new path, Shay must now accept Nona’s changes and influences, including her sponsor Lois (Rogers) — all forcing Shay to move past her pent-up anger and awaken her own relationships.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Sins of the Mother is a Lifetime Pictures Presentation for Lifetime Movie Network. Damon Lee (Obsessed, Undercover Brother) executive produces. Paul A. Kaufman (Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story) directs the film and also serves as executive producer. The teleplay from Elizabeth Hunter (Beauty Shop, The Fighting Temptations) is based on the novel Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice (Children of the Waters).

CONTINUE READING FULL PRESS RELEASE

(Source: TV By The Numbers)

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

LIT NEWS: Georgelle Hirliman, ‘Writer in the Window,’ With Answers, Is Dead at 73 http://ow.ly/16CWQJ #
LIT NEWS: Off the Shelf: In Practice, Stock Formulas Weren’t Perfect http://ow.ly/16CWQM #
LIT NEWS: Of Gold and Bondage – A history of the Chinese immigrants who streamed to America in the wake of the Cali… http://ow.ly/16CFZU #
LIT NEWS: Newly Released Books – New books by Eric Puchner, Paul Theroux, Cathleen Schine, Chitra Banerjee Divakaru… http://ow.ly/16CFZX #
LIT NEWS: Written on Coffeehouse Walls – Justin Taylor’s sharp first story collection documents the confusion of be… http://ow.ly/16CqtF #
LIT NEWS: 3 Known for Creativity Will Oversee DC Comics – Jim Lee, an artist, and Dan DiDio, executive editor, will… http://ow.ly/16CqtI #
LIT NEWS: Judge Hears Arguments on Google Book Settlement – Members of the National Federation of the Blind after a… http://ow.ly/16CqtL #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Under a Strange, Soulful Spell http://ow.ly/16BYpS #
LIT NEWS: Apple’s Prices for E-Books May Be Lower Than Expected http://ow.ly/16BCAB #
LIT NEWS: TBR: Inside the List – Rebecca Skloot http://ow.ly/16BCAE #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: A Collector of Road Trips, Just Passing Through http://ow.ly/16BvfD #
LIT NEWS: A Cartoon Depiction of Real Iranian Life – A comic strip, called "Zahra's Paradise," will blend current e… http://ow.ly/16BvfG #
LIT NEWS: Lucille Clifton, Poet Who Explored Intricacies of Black Lives, Dies at 73 http://ow.ly/16B3dK #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 4 stars to: In the Midst of It All http://ow.ly/16AQYo #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: WOMEN'S WRITES http://ow.ly/16AQYq #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 3 stars to: Holiday Kisses (Kimani Romance) http://ow.ly/16AQYs #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: A Second Helping http://ow.ly/16AQYu #
BOOK REVIEW: The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers gave 5 stars to: A Wish After Midnight http://ow.ly/16AQYw #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Tolstoy & Co. As Objects of Obsession http://ow.ly/16AQYy #
LIT NEWS: Freedom’s Laboratory – Timothy Ferris argues that the scientific frame of mind played a leading role in t… http://ow.ly/16AQYB #
LIT NEWS: Pride and Avarice – Adam Haslett meditates on the financial crisis through this timely novel’s protagonis… http://ow.ly/16AQYE #
LIT NEWS: How to Improve Your Writing Style – Q: How can I improve my writing style? —Lily S. A: Read, read, read… http://ow.ly/16AIkV #
LIT NEWS: Ralph McInerny, Scholar and Mystery Novelist, Dies at 80 http://ow.ly/16AvW0 #
LIT NEWS: Books Of the Times: It’s a Plot! No, It’s Not: A Debunking http://ow.ly/16AmIO #
LIT NEWS: Arts, Briefly: Sidewalk Verse in St. Paul – The city of St. Paul, Minn., has announced the third year of … http://ow.ly/16A2o3 #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Damages: Bill Clinton’s Legal Mess http://ow.ly/16A2o0 #
LIT NEWS: Dick Francis, Jockey and Writer, Dies at 89 – Dick Francis in New York in 2000. http://ow.ly/16zXQC #
LIT NEWS: Dick Francis, Novelist, Dies at 89 – Dick Francis in New York in 2000. http://ow.ly/16zQ3F #

What We Read – Jan 2010 Ratings & Reviews

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:14:04 +0000

What We Read

Let’s talk books!!

By now, everyone has had time to complete the book(s) selected during January as our Book of the Month (BOM) reads, so I hope you’re ready to share your thoughts & ratings. The January Theme was Best of the Best and each member chose a book rated as a favorite by either The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (TRR) or another book club member (from either the online or local chapters).

It’s going to be interesting to see the various thoughts on the books as this was our first ever “pick your own book”. So, we should have full participation, right? LOL.

Some of the TRR Favorites recently reviewed are:

Where There’s Smoke 2: When The Smoke Clears by Terra Little (RAW Rating: 5)
Cursed To Death by L. A. Banks (RAW Rating: 4.5)
A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott (RAW Rating: 5)
Crap Game by Bonz (RAW Rating: 4.5)
Westmoreland’s Way by Brenda Jackson (RAW Rating: 4.5)
Joy Comes In The Morning by Korika L. Johnson (RAW Rating: 5)
Can’t Let Go by Michele L. Waters (RAW Rating: 5)

So…let’s hear from you. What did you read and what was your take on it?

Dreams That Won’t Let Go Blog Tour with Stacy Hawkins Adams

RAWSISTAZ — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:00:59 +0000

The Jubilant Soul Series by Stacy Hawkins Adams

Dreams That Won’t Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams is the third and final book in the Jubilant Soul Series. Stacy is well known for writing Christian Fiction that truly uplifts the reader. Today, we want to introduce this series of books to you.

Have you read one of the books? Let us know which book inspired you.

**The Someday List (Book 1)

Rachelle Covington has it all. A fabulous home, a handsome and prestigious husband, two beautiful children, and a place in the upper crust that’s quite comfortable. But her life is not all it’s cracked up to be. Rachelle visits a dying friend who leaves her with an unsettling challenge. As she seeks to meet it, she takes an honest look at her dissolving marriage, loss of identity and an abandoned faith and tries to pick up the pieces. Read this inspiring tale to discover how one woman finally faces the truth and triumphs in the face of it

What did you add to your “someday list” after reading the novel?

**Worth a Thousand Words (Book 2)

Life has always gone Indigo Burns’ way. She’s smart, pretty, and talented, and she knows exactly what she wants. A photography internship at her hometown’s local newspaper is the next step in her well-laid plans for her future. But her long-term goals are put to the test when her boyfriend Brian proposes–two years before he’s supposed to and in front of all the guests at her college graduation party. Too concerned about his feelings to say no, she heartily agrees, but inside she’s cringing. Indigo knows in her heart that she’s not prepared to sacrifice her dreams to become Brian’s wife–not before she has achieved any of them.

Will she find the answers among family and friends in Jubilant, Texas? Or will the picture-perfect life she dreams of be left behind?

What personal truths were you able to embrace after reading about these characters’ choices?

**Dreams That Won’t Let Go (Book 3)

Indigo Burns is excited. Her wedding preparations to the man of her dreams are underway, her photography career is a success, and her family seems to be doing better than ever—all except her brother Reuben, who nobody has seen in years. But that’s about to change.

When Reuben decides to move back home to Jubilant, Texas, he hopes to find healing with his sisters. But Indigo isn’t so sure their relationship can be mended. And when younger sister Yasmin makes a life-altering choice, it seems like only a miracle can put the Burns family back together.

Will these siblings – and the rest of their family - ever be able to love unconditionally and release each other to live their dreams?

What dreams are simmering in your heart and waiting to be birthed?

DREAMS THAT WON’T LET GO GIVEAWAY!

WIN a set of signed books from the Jubilant Soul Series AND a free one-hour session with Helena Nyman, an executive coach. Answer one or more of the following question in the comment section to be eligible for the giveaway.

THE SOME DAY LIST
What did you add to your “someday list” after reading the novel?
WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
What personal truths were you able to embrace after reading about these characters’ choices?
DREAMS THAT WON’T LET GO
What dreams are simmering in your heart and waiting to be birthed?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stacy Hawkins Adams is a nationally-published, award-winning author and speaker. Her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with social themes and spiritual quests that take readers on journeys into their own souls.

She holds a degree in journalism and served as a newspaper reporter for more than a decade before turning her full attention to penning books, speaking professionally and writing freelance articles.

Stacy lives in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two young children. Visit Stacy online at stacyhawkinsadams.com.

Visit the full blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/DreamsThatWontLetGo.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14

RAWSISTAZ — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

LIT NEWS: Morbidity and Hilarity – This novel turns a teen’s fatal condition into a hilarious and hallucinatory que… http://ow.ly/16zGhd #
LIT NEWS: William Tenn, Science Fiction Author, Is Dead at 80 http://ow.ly/16zE8K #
LIT NEWS: The Life of a Death Penalty Lawyer – David R. Dow is a Houston lawyer. His dark, raw memoir exposes death… http://ow.ly/16zi2L #
LIT NEWS: Crime: Free-Range Villains – Mystery novels by James W. Hall, Robert Crais, Charlie Huston and Elly Griff… http://ow.ly/16zi2O #
LIT NEWS: Young Adult: Game Face – A damaged former football pro befriends a high school quarterback in this novel. http://ow.ly/16zi2R #
LIT NEWS: TBR: Inside the List – Tim Dorsey http://ow.ly/16yKTp #
LIT NEWS: Is It Plagiarism or Just a Mixing of Information? – Helene Hegemann in Berlin. http://ow.ly/16yAw2 #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Mother Nature’s Lost Children, Up Close http://ow.ly/16yAvZ #
LIT NEWS: Unsealed Letters Offer Glimpse of Salinger – Salinger’s letters to the friend who designed the book jacke… http://ow.ly/16yuzv #
LIT NEWS: E-Book Price Increase May Stir Readers’ Passions – “As far as I'm concerned, Amazon has committed to the … http://ow.ly/16ydPk #
LIT NEWS: French Contentions – The “ogre of modernity” in 1888. http://ow.ly/16ydPn #
LIT NEWS: Books of The Times: Mark Twain: A Public Image as Tailored as His Snow-White Suits http://ow.ly/16y35y #
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Winners of the Holiday Reading Challenge

RAWSISTAZ — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:41:14 +0000

Okay, okay! It’s taken me a month to recuperate from all the reading and chatting from our Holiday Reading Challenge, held November 24th – January 12th, but I did not forget about our winners. Thank you all for participating!!

So finally after 2441 comments in the various chats & 22,644 page views our winners are:

:::drumroll please:::

Wait! For those who don’t remember, we did a 7 week reading challenge, with 15 books & 14 authors joining us via our Black Book Chats. The rules were pretty simple. (Read. Discuss. Read. Discuss.) We had some awesome chats, met some new friends and added even more books from our guest authors to our reading lists.

Prizes were to be awarded to the 4 people 5 people who read the most books and participated in the most discussions with our guest authors. We also had special author prizes. (*I added an extra winner for both the chatters & the authors.)

Okay…here goes…

PRIZES & WINNERS
1st Place – $50 Amazon.com (or other bookstore) gift certificate — Sharon
2nd Place – gift pack of books — Jaime
3rd Place – gift pack of books — Angelia
4th Place – gift pack of books — Linda
5th Place – gift pack of books — LaDena

Please send your complete name and mailing address to us at info [at] rawsistaz [ dot ] com to claim your prizes.

AUTHOR PRIZE - The 2 authors 3 authors who brings the most active participants to their chat will win 3 months of FREE advertising on RAWSISTAZ.com for any month of 2010 (alternating between Top Shelf, Side Bar & Book Trailer ads).

Winners: Shelia Goss, Dyanne Davis & Beverly Jenkins

*Also, as a treat for our ALL our participating authors, we would like to offer you a free one month ad. Just send the book cover for your latest book (or upcoming book) attached to the email and include the book title, release date, your website address and the requested month(s) you’d like the ad to run on the RAWSISTAZ.com website in the BODY OF THE EMAIL MESSAGE to: advertise [at] rawsistaz [dot] com with HOLIDAY READING CHALLENGE in the subject line. We will add it as either a TOP SHELF or SIDE BAR ad for any remaining month in 2010.

RAWSISTAZ Literary Group

Wifey 4 Life (Book Spotlight)

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And the Truth Shall Set You Free by Rosiland Crossland (Book Trailer)

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Wretched Saints by Marc Lacy and Assuanta Howard (Book Spotlight)

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Her Husband Made Her Do Him (Book Spotlight)

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Weepin’ Willa: A Collection of Short Stories (Book Spotlight)

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Take Off the Mask Blog Tour with Sonya Visor

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Black Book Chat with Brenda Jackson (Book: Wrapped in Pleasure)

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Meet Rita Y. Toews – Founder of Read an E-Book Week (March 7-13, 2010)

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

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The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook

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Email for RAWSISTAZ is down (resolved)

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My Mother’s Child Blog Tour with Dwan Abrams

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28

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Heard It All Before by Michele Grant (Book Review)

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Self-Publishing Symposium 2010 (March 7th)

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Read an E-Book Week (March 7-13) & Kick-off of E-Book Reading Challenge

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Sins of the Mother – After Party Chat w/Carleen Brice

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Fifteen Years Blog Tour with Kendra Norman-Bellamy

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Sins of the Mother Chat & After Party (Thurs, Feb 25th)

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21

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What We Read – Jan 2010 Ratings & Reviews

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Dreams That Won’t Let Go Blog Tour with Stacy Hawkins Adams

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14

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Winners of the Holiday Reading Challenge

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