BOM SELECTIONS
For August, our theme was Through the Eyes of a Child and we focused on YA/Teen titles.  Our books were What They Found: Love on 145th St by Walter Dean Myers and Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis.

E LYNN HARRIS DAY
Today is the book launch party for the release of Mama Dearest, the newest release by the late E. Lynn Harris.  Friday has been set as E. Lynn Harris Day and bookstores across the country will hold special booksignings, hosted by authors who loved and supported his work.  RAWSISTAZ will be joining in the celebration with a special online tribute & celebration on Friday, so please stop through and join us.

The full tour schedule is HERE.

Also, there will be a memorial celebration on Friday at the Georigia International Convention Center – CLICK HERE for more info.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY AWARDS SHOW
The AALAS produces an annual  Literary  Awards show to recognize, honor, celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements and contributions that African-American authors and writers make to the publishing, arts and entertainment industries.  This year’s event happens Thursday, so stay tuned for the announcement of the winners.  Click HERE to visit site.

TYLER PERRY & FOR COLORED GIRLS
Did you know Tyler Perry is set to direct a big screen adaptation of the Tony-nominated Ntozake Shange play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf?”
Get More Info

THE COLOR PURPLE
Fantasia and the cast of The Color Purple returned to Atlanta and doing a two week run (Sep 15- Sep 27) at the The Fabulous Fox Theatre.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Jo Ann Hernandez is hosting a celebration: Rep Your Favorite Latino/a Book for Hispanic Heritage Month. CLICK HERE for more information.

EDI’S  09 SCHOOL READ
Edi is an African American female school librarian in Indianapolis working to improve the literacy of students of color in the US and around the globe. CLICK HERE for more information.

BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK
BBAW is going on and bloggers across the internet are sharing information on our favorite things…books!  CLICK HERE for more information.

LEE AND LOW NEW VOICES AWARD
The Award will be given for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including a basic advance and royalties for a first time author.  CLICK HERE for more info.

PRECIOUS OPENS IN November
LIONSGATE, the leading next generation studio, announced today that Lee Daniels’ “Precious: Based On The Novel PUSH By Sapphire,” has won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The award was announced at the festival’s closing ceremony.  CLICK HERE for more information.

AUGUST 2009

Coloronline (Blog)
http://www.coloronline.blogspot.com
We are a community organization dedicated to empowering young women. We operate a library and offer support to young girls at local non-profit in Detroit. Our blog focuses on women writers of color for children, YA and adults. Find reviews, quizzes, interviews and more.

African American Literary Awards Show (Event)
http://www.literaryawardshow.com
The AALAS is an entertainment event production and marketing company with a focus on writers and authors.  AALAS produces an annual  Literary  Awards show to recognize, honor, celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements and contributions that African-American authors and writers make to the publishing, arts and entertainment industries.

From Cover to Cover Radio Show (Radio Show)
http://www.fromcovertocovershow.com
Two bestselling authors with extensive media experience, ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Pat Tucker have joined creative forces to launch From Cover to Cover literary radio talk show.
The show, which is designed to explore aspects of the literary industry, provides a venue for authors to expand their audience and readership through the powerful medium of FM Radio and the Internet.

LABBX – Los Angeles Black Book Expo (Event)
http://www.labbx.com
The Los Angeles Black Book Expo (LABBX) is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 2004 to advance African world community literary and spoken word activity governed by an executive circle and administered by an executive director. Event is scheduled for August 22, 2009.

BlackBookReleases.com (Website)
http://www.blackbookreleases.com
A comprehensive listing of black book releases, presented by Urban-Reviews.com

Books and Beignets (Book Club)
http://www.booksandbeignetsbookclub.com
Books and Beignets (BAB) was established in March 2009 by Sonya Ward in Monroe, LA.

Mahogany Books (Bookstore)
http://www.mahoganybooks.com
Created by an enterprising husband and wife duo in the Washington DC area, MahoganyBooks is positioned to become the premier online destination for books written for, by, and about people of the African Diaspora. Coupling a dynamic social networking community, robust inventory selection, easy to use website, and provocative literary content–MahoganyBooks is the ideal online bookstore dedicated to “Books, Community, Words, & You.”